Coachmen·Class B·2025

Coachmen Nova 20C

Name: Coachmen Nova 20C
Brand: Coachmen
Price: 148000 USD

4.3across 1,200 reviews on retail listings

|21 ft|9,600 lbs|Sleeps 2

The Coachmen Nova 20C is a well-priced Class B on the Ram ProMaster with a permanent rear bed and wet bath. Good build quality with modern amenities at a competitive price.

CouplesWeekend WarriorsBudget Class B

MSRP from

$148,000

$$$ Premium

ChassisRam ProMaster 3500

Engine3.6L V6 Gas

Solar200W

Slide-Outs0

Specifications

Length

21 ft

Weight

9,600 lbs

Sleeps

Fresh Water

26 gal

Gray Water

18 gal

Black Water

10 gal

Features

Permanent Rear Bed

Wet Bath

Lithium Battery

Induction Cooktop

Swivel Cab Seats

Power Awning

MaxxAir Fan

Highlights

Permanent queen bed means no daily setup/teardown routine

Lithium battery system ready for boondocking out of the box

Priced well below comparable Winnebago and Airstream models

What owners report

Summarized from Reddit and owner forums — not a first-hand test.

The Coachmen Nova 20C is the value pick among lithium-equipped Class B vans, and it leans on the Ram ProMaster's biggest advantage: width. Owners consistently note the extra interior room over a Sprinter or Transit, which makes cooking and moving around easier in a van under 21 feet long. The Li3 lithium package — a 630 amp-hour battery, 3000W Xantrex inverter, and a second alternator — turns it into a genuine off-grid rig for a couple, and Coachmen's cabinetry earns real praise, with some owners calling it the best short of custom work.

The knock, as with much of the Class B world, is quality control. Owner reports include a Li3 that spent roughly six months in the shop chasing faulty sensors and electrical issues that ended in a motherboard replacement, a battery that shipped with a screw protruding into it, dead outlets despite a full-charge reading, and an unreliable gray-tank monitor. Smaller misses like sloppy headrest stitching make some owners question final inspection. The flip side is that Coachmen's factory and dealer support is genuinely strong — the head of the Class B division is active answering owners online and at rallies, which matters when you're sorting out a new van.

This is a couple's adventure van for buyers who want lithium off-grid capability and ProMaster width without paying Sprinter money. At $148K it undercuts comparable lithium Sprinter builds and the gas ProMaster V6 is cheaper to fuel and service than a diesel. Against an Airstream Interstate or a Sprinter-based van, the Nova gives up AWD traction, some refinement, and resale, but wins decisively on price and interior width. Buy from a supportive dealer, shake it down thoroughly early, and you get a lot of capable van for the money.

What owners like

+Under 21 feet long, it parks like a large van and fits in standard spaces — easy to daily-drive
+The rear lay-flat power sofa converts to a bed for two with the push of a button
+Gas ProMaster V6 means cheaper fuel and far easier, less expensive service than a diesel Sprinter
+Dealer and factory support is a standout — the head of Coachmen Class B is active answering owners on YouTube and at rallies
+At $148K it noticeably undercuts comparable lithium-equipped Sprinter vans

Common complaints

−Quality control is the recurring theme — one owner's Li3 spent roughly six months in the shop for faulty sensors, electrical problems, and a motherboard replacement
−Lithium system gremlins show up: a battery shipped with a screw protruding into it, and dead outlets despite a full charge indicator on some units
−Minor fit-and-finish misses like poor stitching on a passenger headrest make owners question final inspection
−The mid-coach wet bath is space-efficient but cramped, and everything gets wet when you shower
−Front-wheel-drive ProMaster lacks the AWD traction of a Transit-based rig for snow or loose surfaces
−It's still a $148K van — a big spend for two people and limited square footage

Questions owners ask

Why is the Nova 20C built on a ProMaster instead of a Sprinter?

The Ram ProMaster is wider inside and uses a gas V6, which keeps the price down and makes service cheaper and easier than a diesel Sprinter. Owners specifically praise the extra interior width for cooking and moving around. The trade-off is front-wheel drive instead of available AWD.

How capable is it off-grid?

Very, for a couple. The Li3 lithium package — a 630 amp-hour battery, 3000W inverter, and second alternator — supports days of boondocking and even running larger loads. The limiters are the small holding tanks and limited storage rather than power.

What problems should I watch for?

Quality control. Owners report lithium-system electrical gremlins (one van needed a motherboard replacement after months in the shop, another shipped with a screw into the battery), dead outlets despite full-charge readings, and unreliable gray-tank monitors. Do a thorough shakedown early and lean on Coachmen's responsive support.

Is the wet bath usable?

It's a mid-coach wet bath with a fiberglass shower — space-efficient but tight, and the toilet area gets wet when you shower. It's typical for a sub-21-foot van. Many owners use campground facilities when available and keep the onboard bath for convenience.

How does it compare to a Sprinter-based van like the Airstream Interstate?

The Nova is far cheaper and has a wider ProMaster interior, but the Sprinter-based vans offer available AWD, more refinement, and stronger resale. If budget and interior width matter most, the Nova wins; if you want AWD traction and premium fit-and-finish, the Sprinter rigs justify their higher cost.