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04-09-2017, 04:47 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 1
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Hi All! Doing my Due Diligence before buying
Thank you for the welcome. My name is Rebecca and I am a free-lance photographer. I have an opportunity to photograph all 59 US National Parks but I have to figure out the best way to get to them. I am thinking of a Class C but as a female traveling alone I'm very concerned about the reliability of a rig, but motor-wise and "home"-wise. I have not ruled out a small travel trailer and I most definitely want something on the smallish side that is maneuverable. But it HAS to have a shower! ;o)
Any advice for such an adventure would be most appreciated. Budget is also a concern. I know, I know... you get what you pay for. But I also know a guy who spent $220k on his Class A and has one issue after another. I'm just trying to get some advice as to what to look for.
Thanks in advance!
~R
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04-09-2017, 04:51 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 3,133
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Leisure Travel Vans, Unity. Mercedes engine and chassis. Can't get more reliable than that. Maybe used will work for your budget.
Could tow a small car (mini cooper or Smart Car)
https://leisurevans.com/unity/
__________________
Bill, Kathi and Zorro; '05 Beaver Patriot Thunder
2012 Sunnybrook Harmony 21FBS (SQEZINN)
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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04-09-2017, 05:00 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,804
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__________________
2018 ORV 24KTS 30,000+miles
2017 Ford 3.5 TwinTurbo w/MaxTow
640 Watts solar/600 Ahr
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04-09-2017, 05:06 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Muskoka Ontario Canada
Posts: 3,142
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If you keep around 30ft and under, you will have less problem finding available spots in the parks system. Some can accommodate larger units, but easier with the smaller units.
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2000 coachmen santara 370 5.9 cummins isb
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04-09-2017, 05:23 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 14,456
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Back in the mid 90's my wife and I started looking for a Class C. She wanted the smallest one we could find because she was afraid to drive anything bigger. One weekend she was away and I went to an auction and bought a new 31' Class C. She was a little intimidated at first but eventually used it solo all the time. In 2008 we upgraded to 38' Class A and she's driven it solo by herself more then us together. Even pulls a Jeep. So don't let size intimidate you.
That being said, if you are traveling solo I'd suggest a Class B van, they are small enough to go just about anywhere and some are fully equipped. Make sure whatever you buy has good size fresh, gray, and black water tanks. Also make sure it has a generator and AC unit and is capable of boon docking meaning you don't have to be hooked to power to survive.
A small camper will be tight quarters but if you think you can live that way it might be your best option.
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Jim J
2002 Monaco Windsor 38 PKD Cummins ISC 350 8.3L
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/5.7 Hemi
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04-09-2017, 05:40 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Hamilton, Indiana
Posts: 578
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Sounds like a fantastic experience awaits you! You didn't say where you are located. Go to dealers, look inside at floor plans, find one that suits your needs. A class C would be a good starting point, will feel like driving a pickup truck, not to intimidating. If you're going to parks where there may not be electric you will need a generator, they're easy to run. Since you don't say you will be towing a vehicle I would stay around the 25 foot range, you'll have enough room to be comfortable, good storage for long trips, and still be fairly maneuverable.
Wish you the best on your choice and your trip!!!
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USMC VETERAN
2017 Thor Windsport 29M
Dave & Myra FMCA 101070S
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04-09-2017, 08:14 PM
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#7
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,248
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Glad to have you here with us in the forum.
If you stay around 28-30' you'll have plenty of room for yourself, it will be easy to handle and park. Look for a used class C.
Good luck with your search.
Happy Trails!!!
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Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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04-10-2017, 07:55 AM
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#8
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
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Hi Rebecca! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!
A Class C might be a good choice. Just do a lot of research before buying!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
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Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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04-10-2017, 08:27 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Olympia, Wa
Posts: 2,772
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Doing the photography you want to get to the subjects. Normally I would recommend a C, but in this case if you are not going to tow a get around rig, I would go with a small all fiberglass 5th wheel and a nice small 4x4 to tow with. To really get to the subjects to be photographed you will be in snow, sand, and back roads plus the foot travel involved. If you are a pro you will be out early morning, later evening and some nights, just after rains and snows to get that spectacular shot in the right light. That will require a good get around rig. If you are going to tow a smaller 4x4 will make accessibility good and a C will do the job. I tow a 4-runner behind my C and has worked well. Just visualise just what you need and your subjects, and then your living conditions, and weather( temperatures) . Then look within your budget.
LEN
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2004 Clss C 31' Winnebgo
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04-10-2017, 12:03 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Where we park it!
Posts: 13,145
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Welcome and good luck on what sounds like a great adventure.
Do remember that with a MH a tow vehicle is almost a must for you (in your situation) to get out and about. I do feel you will do better with a small class C and a small SUV tow vehicle.
We have a 25ft Class c and tow a small car...no problem
momdoc
__________________
momdoc
2018 Tiffin Allegro RED 37PA
2020 JEEP Trailhawk
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04-10-2017, 01:16 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,824
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I think we really need more information, for example, how long do you plan to spend at each park. Will you need a vehicle capable of travelling the back roads at the park, what time of year will you be travelling (do you need a 4 season capable RV), what is your budget, and is buying used an option?
National park camp grounds vary considerably in the services available, some are dry camping only, many provide only electricity and maybe water at the camp site but not sewer hookups, so you must use dump stations to dump your black and gray water tanks. So tank capacity needs to be on your list of concerns, as well as the cargo carrying capacity of any RV you may choose. You mention the importance of having a shower, a typical RV shower head flows between 1.5 to 2 gallons of water per minute (many here will suggest upgrading to an Oxygenics shower head as they can feel more powerful than the stock RV showers), therefore a 5 minute shower will consume 7.5-10 gallons of water, expect to use another 3-4 gallons per day per person for toilet flushing, doing dishes, etc. All things considered without too much active water conservation taking 1 5 minute shower per day, you can expect to use 12-15 gallons of water per day per person. As a general rule class B motorhomes have the smallest tanks, class C's are in the middle and class A's have the largest. Traditionally speaking class C's were designed to sleep as many people as possible, and class A's were generally designed for 2 people most of the time, with perhaps 3-4 occasionally, and class B's were all about making things fit in a tight space. Having said that there are exceptions to this rule. Given the little you have told us so far, if you plan to use the motorhome as the exploration vehicle I would strongly consider a class B, or B+ there are a few do offer a real bathroom, and enough space for 1 person to live reasonably comfortably. I would also give consideration to the Thor Vegas / Axis series of RUV's these are sort of a class A / Class B crossover and have been on the market for 3-4 years now so are starting to show up on the used market for under $45,000.
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04-10-2017, 04:37 PM
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#12
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Member
Grand Design Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Hahira, GA
Posts: 72
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I would definitely look at the 24' + or - Mercedes diesel class C motor homes. This was our first purchase, but realized we needed more room. We averaged between 12 & 14 mpg towing a VW bug. The coach would fit in any parking lot and could turn on a dime. Hope this helps
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