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These last 2 posts have been a great morning laugh for me.
Forgetting the toaster oven.... just like every other perfect plan gone wrong. I always say Thank God we live in America where there is a store almost everywhere and we can buy whatever we forgot.
RedNC - “Two good days, the day you buy it and the day you sell it.” Yep, that's so true.
More thoughts needed! We are pretty sure we'll be buying a motor home, and the 5th wheel was our first thought, but we don't want to invest in a truck to pull it, and I'm not sure we could handle the tow as easily as the 'bus'. We really do want to live in this thing for at least 3-6 months as we travel during spring, summer, fall in the US. We're not Mexico fans and living in Phoenix area - well, it doesn't get any better than this for the winter months.
Is there some type of personaly profile that matches the motorhome type? What personal traits are typically in the happy motor home owner?
Is there some type of personaly profile that matches the motorhome type? What personal traits are typically in the happy motor home owner?
I have met many people having owned a TT for the last 11 years. Your question doesn’t have an easy answer.
I have met some real questionable and wonderful people in the same campsite. I have been next to people that have occupied the same spot for 6+ months. Some are full timers some are just living there until their homes are built. Some just passing through.
For the most part they were nice friendly people. I have never considered associating a personality type motor home type. So I can’t help you there.
The heavier the rig the easier it will handle when a truck sneaks up on you. I pull a 24ft TT with an 86 suburban and believe me you learn to drive with both hands and watch your mirrors. Trucks will pull you all over the road it’s a real workout.
A bus type of motor home would probably not be as effected by trucks, but you will have to pay attention.
A 5th wheel with a ¾ ton or larger diesel truck for me is the best of both worlds. When you get to the campsite you can un-hitch and have a vehicle to go site seeing in. With a motor home you either have to tow a vehicle or take the motor home. This is something to consider. Also the cost difference between the truck and 5th wheel or motor home is not that much. With the 5th wheel rig you can use the truck when not towing or camping. When you are not camping the motor home is just sitting and a sitting drive train is a rotting drive train.
Something to consider.
Hmmm, yes, you do have an excellent point again about a sitting drive train a rottin' away.
I've been looking for a business opportunity - maybe I will use our new (when we buy) motorhome to survey all owners that will talk to me at campsites for a year and then write a book about personality types best suited and compare them to the type of rig they prefer. What do you think? haha
You have been a great help to us. Thanks for keeping this going, I do hope others jump in as the more information and perspectives the better.
I agree with the opinion about towing a trailer instead of towing a car. But the farthest we go camping is 3 hours away. If we were to go farther it would be nice to be able to take a nap or entertain the kids while my husband does all the driving.
I hear him talking about wanting a fifth wheel with airbags. I guess the airbags make for a smoother ride. All the technical stuff I don't pay attention too. I just want to know how much storage I have, girlie stuff
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The heavier the rig the easier it will handle when a truck sneaks up on you. I pull a 24ft TT with an 86 suburban and believe me you learn to drive with both hands and watch your mirrors. Trucks will pull you all over the road it’s a real workout.
Something to consider.
OUCH...I've never really thought about what happens as I drive my truck past a towed RV; thanks for bringing that up! (Maybe that's something the truck driving schools and trucking companies can emphasize...)
It's not clear to me if you already have your heart set on a Class A monster, but, based on my 25 years of dealing with RVs, I would be more inclined to go the 5th wheel route.
On the finance side of things, a seperate truck and trailer are not going to be cheap, but neither is a large Class A.
RedinNC made a very good point about a the usefulness of having a seperate vehicle (truck) both when using the RV and when not using the RV.
Contrary to what you may believe, a fifth-wheel unit attached to a properly sized tow vehicle will actually be easier to manuver than a similar sized Class A.
Have you considered getting a unit with slide outs? Electric slide outs deploy at the push of a button and greatly increase the interior space and livability of any unit. This might be particularly important if you plan on spending long periods of time in your unit. A 30 foot 5th wheel with a bedroom slide and a living area slide permits a queen sized bed in the goose neck, and living area with a 13 foot width.
As an option to dual roof AC, you might look at powered roof-vent. These units have a dual flow, (inflow or exhaust), fan which allows the user to draw in cool, outside air at times when the single AC unit isn't required. RV AC units are available in sizes up to 15,000 BTUs which is large enough to easily cool my 35 foot unit in 95 degree weather.
If you decide to go the 5th wheel route, do yourself a favour and opt for electric front stabilizer legs.
Perhaps you could do some hands-on research by renting, for a week, a Class A of similar size to the one you envision purchasing. Take a little road trip while pretending it's your new home. This would allow you determine if the reality matches your expectations.
Most of all, do not rush into any purchase. Take your time and ask every question that comes to mind; RVs are expensive toys.
OUCH...I've never really thought about what happens as I drive my truck past a towed RV; thanks for bringing that up! (Maybe that's something the truck driving schools and trucking companies can emphasize...)
I drove from CA to NC last October, 2600 miles. I rarely go over 60 pulling the TT and from CA to OK I was lucky to get it going that fast. Trucks on I40 were going at least 70 so I had a lot of opportunities to hone my skills at hanging on.
In April I drove a 22ft moving truck pulling a car on a dolly and the difference was night and day. The truck had a diesel and was able to maintain 70mph(that was terminal velocity for the truck) with the cruise control. I passed a lot more trucks this time than last, but the ones that did pass didn’t have the same effect as with the sub and TT.
I drove from CA to NC last October, 2600 miles. I rarely go over 60 pulling the TT and from CA to OK I was lucky to get it going that fast. Trucks on I40 were going at least 70 so I had a lot of opportunities to hone my skills at hanging on.
In April I drove a 22ft moving truck pulling a car on a dolly and the difference was night and day. The truck had a diesel and was able to maintain 70mph(that was terminal velocity for the truck) with the cruise control. I passed a lot more trucks this time than last, but the ones that did pass didn’t have the same effect as with the sub and TT.
Glad to hear your rental truck experience went a little better! Most of the large trucking fleets govern their trucks to 65-68 mph, so that makes getting past 'em a little easier.
HELP! About the 5th wheel - we never considered this, but we are now that this group seems to be so happy with your travel choice. My husband seems to think that a 5th wheel does not have a generator, and that everything is run on batteries??? Is this true? I would think you could add (if not factory installed) a generator to anything that has space, but where do you keep the fuel supply then?
Also, a 5th wheel.... then can you use the bathroom, and ride in the back when you are truckin' down the road?
And a stupid general question... with a motorhome, can you be up walking around when in transit, or does everyone have to be sitting with a seat belt?
Most 5th wheel trailers do not come with a generator. However, the furnace, stove, and refridgerator will run on propane. Many of the lights will run on 12 volt current which can be supplied by a deep cycle battery attached to the unit and which can wired in such a way that allows the tow vehicle to recharge that battery with its alternator.
For larger AC loads like the microwave, its quite simple to install a generator in one of the front compartments of the 5th wheel. Simply carry a gerry can of gasoline to fuel the genny. My father-in-law has such a setup and it works great. Fifth wheel trailers are designed for travelling. Most manufacturers build in copious amounts of storage space that can be used for gensets, etc.
In most jurisdictions, passengers are not allowed to ride in towed vehicles. Besides, you'll have a nice, comfy, air conditioned truck cab to ride in. Most travellers tend to stop every couple of hours to stretch their legs; plan your bathroom breaks accordiingly.
In jurisdictions that require seatbelts, passengers are supposed to wear them at all times.
You really should give serious consideration to renting a big Class A to find out if it's truly all you dreamed it is.
Good luck.
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