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There is another option. Get a toyota RV. I would recommend a Sunrader due to its 2 piece fiberglass clamshell construction. Other RVs such as your are a non-stop battle of keeping the seams sealed. No such issues with a Sunrader and even if you did have water get in through a roof vent, the fiberglass doesn't mind.
1500 lbs is quite a bit of weight, but, there is a good bit of weight you could get rid of. Sunraders come in 18 and 21 ft models. The 18 would likely be too small. Find a 21 ft, rear dinette and gut it other than the bathroom which is a very efficient design. Imagine a 4 ft long shower with a toilet mounted on the floor and a small sink integrated into the fiberglass shower wall. Very space efficient and much better than the larger baths with a separate tiny shower.
This bath room is immediately behind the driver. Gutting the rest of the interior would lose a lot of weight, probably better than half the 1500 'bot payload. You could easily saw a big hole in the back wall and hinge it at the top for a loading hatch. Older short sunraders had this rear hatch from the factory.
This is a little over 19 ft, but, well under the 11K GVW which, I assume means you can park it in the road.
And one of these, stock with the bulletproof 22R four will get you in the neighborhood of 17 mpg, possibly a bit more if you have a 4 speed. I think a few aero mods and conservative driving could get it into the 20s.
If you would like to learn more about them, there are a few good sites. toyotamotorhome.org and a yahoo toyota campers group.
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