motor homes

[hd6gtom]

Going to retire in a while, need to find motor home to go to trade and craft shows. Must be able to haul or pull about 1 ton of products. Can anyone give any advice with your experience pro or con on brands. We must be able to stay on sites of the some of the shows. If this wasn't the case I would buy a newer pickup and pull a trailer, stay in motels. Thanks folks

 

[Dick2]

Avoid any motorhome that has as a JD engine; they were a disaster in motorhomes.

A lot of motorhomes come up for sale about this time of the year in AZ. Often one spouse dies and the surviving spouse just wants to sell the motorhome and go back to where the kids are. Lots of good deals available in the next couple months.

An engineer that worked with my son in CA bought a motorhome with a CAT engine when he retired. He drove it to FL and decided that he didn't like that lifestyle so he sold the motorhome and flew back to CA. He was lucky; he only took a $35,000 loss on the motorhome- but it was still an expensive one-way trip.

 

[Jim in New Mexico]

I did a lot of checking out of many MH's before I bought. I found that a 36 Ft. to 38 Ft. was about the best for getting and out of spaces. I do pull a jeep behind! as you said you'd pull a trailer. I also found out a Cummings pusher seems to be the choice of most buyers. I get 10 to 11 MPG all day long pulling the Jeep. I'd also not consider anything older than a 2007 or 8. When I bought mine it only had 22K miles one owner. Something else to remember is the tires are only usually good for about 7 years as they get rotted and are not safe, BUT if the MH has been kept inside all the time that's a plus on the tires! Email is open if you need any more info. Jim in N M

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Idea, ask the boys at the festivals, trade and craft shows what they drive. I'm sure fuel milage might be the top thing on the list.

I've noticed on craigslist, they are giving away low milage 20-25 year old motor homes they can't sell.

Brother-in-law bought a 12 year old, new $350,000 40 ft diesel pusher, mint condition with 50K miles, new tires, for $45K. The guy he bought it off just had to buy a bigger $500,000 motor home. BIL is lucky to get 10 mpg's. Perhaps less if he used the genney to power up the A/C, run the boiler to keep the cargo area heated, the motor heated in the back.

So, if you do the math, the guy lost $305,000 in 12 years. That would pay for a new truck, trailer and a lot of Holliday inns.
George

 

[John T]

Ive owned, used, bought and sold motorhomes (all types and sizes) for years and currently spend 3 to 5 months a year in mine either in Florida for the winter or to Tractor shows or Bluegrass Festivals etc etc. After alllllllll that experience and considering we like to go to the mountains of Utah and Colorado and to several National Parks or Natl Forest or Army Corps or BLM land campgrounds, a smaller 29 ft Class C works best for our travel and campgrounds and mountain roads and lifestyle.

The thing is some Natl Parks and Natl Forest and State Parks AND MOUNTAIN ROADS don't suit very huge motorhomes as well as our shorter less tall 29 Ft Class C.

Still, with my Chevy 454 Vortec V8 and 4L80E Overdrive Tranny with auxiliary cooler I can pull a loaded trailer or my car behind with no problems. For our use 25 ft is too small while 31 (let alone 35+) is too big to get in and out easily.

Having owned all kinds, I prefer a Class C because they are less top heavy,,,,,,,,lower center of gravity,,,,,,,,,,less height,,,,,,,,catch less wind,,,,,,,,,,get better mileage,,,,,,,,,easier to get in and out the front cab doors,,,,,,,,,,easier to maneuver and park,,,,,,,,,easier to drive.

Since we do a lot of dry camping with no hookups in the west or tractor shows or festivals I wanted to be able for the two of us to last a whole week where there was no readily available water or electricity or dump stations so I added 200 watts of rooftop solar panels with charge controller,,,,,,,,installed 460 Amp Hrs of battery energy storage (4 Golf Cart Batteries) and added extra fresh water and black water storage tanks. I have an Onan 4KW Genset plus a Xantrex Truecharge2 smart charger plus an inverter.

Of course, your travel and location and lifestyle NOT WHATS BEST FOR MY USE (or what others prefer) is whats best for you.

Do your homework, study, talk to people, get opinions here and in RV magazines.

I prefer V8 Chevy versus a V10 Ford,,,,,,I prefer a Class C,,,,,,,,,If I had a diesel Id prefer a Cummins with an Allison Transmission

I use more gas then if I traveled in my car, however, I don't have to buy 3 meals a day in restaurants, no costly motel rooms, best of all, I know who slept in my comfy queen bed the night before and who cleaned the bathroom lol

So now study and determine whats best for YOU

John T

 

[Rusty Jones]

We used to go to a lot of Bluegrass weekends, and used a Class C cab-over type MH. If there are only 2 people going, there is plenty of sleeping capability. and storage of stuff used every day. Also, i have seen folks pulling a ut ility trailer with one of Class C. Depends on the engine size, too.

 

[dpendzic]

consider a slide in camper on a pickup with a tow trailer for your stuff. I had numerous slide ins and they were real handy and had even unloaded them at campsites--then free to drive around in just the pickup.

 

[Jim in Ma.]

I have had several motor homes over the years. If you are thinking about one I would recommend that you look around first. Go to a camping show this Spring and you will notice many different floor plans to chose from. See what works best for you and " Boss ".
Another option is to rent one for a weekend. Some people fond that a motor home is not for them. Used can be a crap shoot but you can find good deals out there. But - If you see any signs of water damage walk away and keep looking.

 

[Ron-MO]

I cannot help on the motor home part, as my experience was with travel trailer and a 5th wheel, but I did have an experience with water damage. Look closely if buying used as I missed it on my first one, and before I knew it the only thing left of the floor (under a storage area) was the vinyl flooring. I had no choice but find the source of the leak (not an easy task) and fix it, and replace the damaged floor. I came out ok and other than the material cost and labor I was able to repair and when I sold it, the leak was repaired, and the trailer was better than when I bought it. Ended up being a leak at the fresh water fill just below a gutter - every time it rained, it was going down the side and into the side through the fresh water fill - between the fill and metal. Easy fix once I found it, but lots of damage and I had to replace at least 1/3rd of the flooring, and carpeted the entire trailer. I am now certain that was why the trailer was placed up for sale, but was not readily obvious when I looked at it so look inside all the storage compartments, and "moldy" odors. The odor was there, but I dismissed it thinking it was just from being closed up during winter.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

JohnT,
You are right about a big coach catching the wind, top heavy, hard to get in small places.

Brother-in-laws, motor coach is like a Willie Nelson on the road motor home. It has a backup camera to help get you out of tight spots at a gas station.

I felt like I was driving a semi. It was a full 8 ft wide, outside to outside of back tires. If I drifted one ft left or right, I was on a line in the road. NO FUN DRIVING SOMETHING THAT BIG, EXPECIALLY WHEN A SEMI BLOWS BY YOU IN A SNOW STORM.
George

 

[John T]

We agree, hey Im NOT knocking those who prefer them, they are nice and have a lot of room and are great if you go to a destination and stay 3 to 6 months BUTTTTTTT if you travel and roam more especially in the mountains and Natl Forest and Natl parks many of which have a length and height restriction, then a shorter more nimble easier to drive park and maneuver 27 to 29 ft coach IS A MUST.

John T One Happy Camper

 

[wisbaker]

Just started working at Winnebago industries this week. They claim to be the largest and don't build anything on a Chevy anymore, hear they haven't since the bankruptcy. We build Mini's/Class C units on Ford, Mercedes and Fiat/Dodge chassis. Our Class A chassis are either Fords or Freightliners. I don't see how the pushers can have a high center of gravity the frames are pretty low slung with the top of the engine not much more than 18-24" above the tops of the tires.

 

[Dusty MI]

We have an Itasca by Winnebago, 24' Class C on a 2003 E-350.
You need to check the weights. I could go into detail but I'm not a very good scrib. Just go to Open Roads foruman.
One thing that helped us a lot was to use a weight distrubtion hitch.
Slides on motor homes seem to be the #1 cause of problems. Also the front overhead windows often leak. I would prefer not to have one.

Dusty

 

[redtom]

No motor home experience but had 4 5th wheels and a pick up camper. The number one issue...water leakage. Go to the dealer when its pouring rain and look in the used units, you'll be surprised. Go inside and check every single corner up and down, pushing on the paneling. Look in closets and "basements". Anything, and I mean anything soft means extensive water damage. I know from experience. All these things except for the high end models are made out of wood from the pallet factories. When they get a leak they rot like mad. Take your step ladder too and inspect the roof for leaks and repairs. I look for units from clean decent owners, especially if they stored them indoors off season. Not a guarantee but I have a friend that can wreck something in 6 months and his place looks it and another that can own something for ten years and it still looks good. Personally, I long for a Class C.

 

[Hobo,NC]

You left out most ANT shop can work on it... If it does break down its not a whale out of water...

 

[John T]

Youre right, small time mechanics or shops are far more willing to work on a one ton chevy chassis then a big Cummins or Cat diesel and an Alison Transmission

John T

 

[GordoSD]

Well if March is the high death rate time in AZ I'm going to FL in Jan. LOL

 

[Iowa Barber]

Tom, what the others say about water damage is very true in class A or class C vehicles. I purchased an Alumalite class A, it has an aluminum frame. It is lighter than wood. When not if you get water damage, it usually not as severe because you notice it sooner and you are able to make repairs. I've had mine since 1986 and would buy another. Brian

 

[Motorcraftman]

Redtom has it figured out I totally Agree with Him, Also... If You want it to last, GET A GARAGE FOR IT, NO EXCEPTIONS, I'm speaking from Exp..hope this helps, Larry

 

[Samuels68]

Not a motor home, but another idea is a "toy hauler" style travel trailer or fifth wheel. Good used ones can be found at somewhat reasonable prices. My in laws has a 12' garage area with a 2600 lb. payload. Their prior unit was a 28' bumper pull and was an open floorplan that easily accommodated 3 ATVs.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

My brother had a few new 5th wheels with tip outs. Tip outs were a non stop problem, leaking, motor gets jammed. No fun when he was in Florida with a problem and he would have to take them back to elkart to get them repaired.

 

[lemroy]

I have a 1994 Rockwood mtrhome with a cummins diesel pusher engine with an allison push button transmission. It gets 11 0r 12 miles per gallon It has new tires on it. I haven't used it in about 4 yrs. It is parked in my shed at the farm. I would consider trading it for a 100 hp JD tractor of equal value. Call Roy Lemmond at 580-326-4794.