Looking to buy my first RV, leaning towards getting a motorhome. Can you help me with

[jturkish]

here's one, i'm appealed to the price and also that it says it's designed for boondocking (not completely sold on that, seems like all motorhomes are designed for boondocking) 23 foot Motorhome LazyDaze 1986

here's another

1996 Four Winds XL 30' class A

there's only 3 in our family, we'll have a 4th in a year or two -- we don't need anything fancy and anything big - i'm digging the toyota dolphin but they seem hard to find

thanks for your help

[450Donn]

Those Toy based motor homes were a joke. Lots of overloading issues extremely small, and not very comfortable. Are you really stuck on the MH route? A small trailer might be a better option. One vehicle and the flexability to leave your camp site and explore without taking the house with you.

[jturkish]

Originally Posted by 450Donn

Those Toy based motor homes were a joke. Lots of overloading issues extremely small, and not very comfortable. Are you really stuck on the MH route? A small trailer might be a better option. One vehicle and the flexability to leave your camp site and explore without taking the house with you.

i'm not stuck on the mh, there's appealing pros and cons to both mh and trailer.

we saw a lance trailer yesterday that looked to be very sturdy

which one of the two is the toy based motor home, what does toy based mh really mean?

[Aguyfromcalg]

What is your preferred floor plan?

I have a class c with a bedroom in the back that has a door.
Yes mine does have the cab over bed too, but remember the cabover bed is usually rates for no more than 350 lbs.

Even with your small children I believe you would find in short time the 23' class c small.
Another point to consider is storage and carrying capacity.

What ever you choose keep in mine that whatever you think or say, you will find yourself in a few years looking to trade up for another RV.
Best of luck in your search.

[Quaddinmad40]

450Don was referring to Toyota based motorhome. Kinda cute but not very practical. Don't think they would have passenger capacity you need either.

Choice may depend on your budget. Older class C may be good entry level price if it is a solid rig as advertised.

Class A would defiantly give more storage and livability space and is 10 years newer.

Either way be aware that there is a lot of maintenance require with a motorhome and hope you mechanically inclined.

I love having everything onboard and not having to leave the vehicle to make a sandwich or use facilities or setup for the night. I camp with friends with trailers and it seems to take them hours to set up and breakdown their camps.

Yes sometimes it would be nice to have vehicle to run around in but really can have everything stowed for travel in about 20 min and don't mind parking a little further away and I try and avoid busy downtown areas. I could also get a toad that would allow me to do that.

Everybody is different in what they find is the best.

They $4000 unit may be a good introduction to a little family camping and you really don't have much to loose with that investment

[jturkish]

Originally Posted by Aguyfromcalg

What is your preferred floor plan?

I have a class c with a bedroom in the back that has a door.
Yes mine does have the cab over bed too, but remember the cabover bed is usually rates for no more than 350 lbs.

Even with your small children I believe you would find in short time the 23' class c small.
Another point to consider is storage and carrying capacity.

What ever you choose keep in mine that whatever you think or say, you will find yourself in a few years looking to trade up for another RV.
Best of luck in your search.

i don't have a preferred floor plan, honestly haven't looked at much

the $4000 looks to have sold last night though

is the boondocking part important, should i look for one that can boon dock?

[jturkish]

Originally Posted by Quaddinmad40

450Don was referring to Toyota based motorhome. Kinda cute but not very practical. Don't think they would have passenger capacity you need either.

Choice may depend on your budget. Older class C may be good entry level price if it is a solid rig as advertised.

Class A would defiantly give more storage and livability space and is 10 years newer.

Either way be aware that there is a lot of maintenance require with a motorhome and hope you mechanically inclined.

I love having everything onboard and not having to leave the vehicle to make a sandwich or use facilities or setup for the night. I camp with friends with trailers and it seems to take them hours to set up and breakdown their camps.

Yes sometimes it would be nice to have vehicle to run around in but really can have everything stowed for travel in about 20 min and don't mind parking a little further away and I try and avoid busy downtown areas. I could also get a toad that would allow me to do that.

Everybody is different in what they find is the best.

They $4000 unit may be a good introduction to a little family camping and you really don't have much to loose with that investment

i see, thanks - yeah i'm appealed to having everything on board

the $4000 got sold last night, so that's out

[Pepper2]

All can boondock. We started with a C and have had 2 A's. More storage,livable space and a great view driving or parked.

[jturkish]

Originally Posted by Pepper2

All can boondock. We started with a C and have had 2 A's. More storage,livable space and a great view driving or parked.

cool thanks, what do you think of the class a i listed, good buy?

[jimmyjnr]

Lazy daze and born free have reputation of top quality c class , look for something that has been well maintained by a fastidious owner , even if its above budget make an offer . Good luck

[Aguyfromcalg]

I would get one that has its own generator.
That way you will be totally self sufficient if the need arises
.

is the boondocking part important, should i look for one that can boon dock?[/QUOTE]

[frankdamp]

If funding permits, I would stay newer than 1989. Older rigs have carburators and in the late '80s, were real gas hogs because of all the smog gear. Our '85 26' Class C only got about 6 mpg at sea level and about 4.5 mpg at altitude. Our '02 32-footer gets almost 8 mpg and is not affected by altitude.

If you go for one of the Toyota-based vehicles, be sure to get the one with duallies and the V6 engine. You'll have a better ride quality because the wheelbase is longer. The ones based on the smaller truck are just about useless. Bear in mind also, that when you're in the house section of one of those, you're too high up to see out of the windshield.

Think about floor-plan also. Our "C" had a corner bed, no slide-outs. It was boxed in by the rear wall (the head end of the bed) the sidewalk-side outside wall, the bathroom inside wall and a closet across the foot of the bed. The only way into the bed was a 45-degree cut-off corner at the foot of the bed. Two people couldn't use it. We never used the overhead bed as we both found it too claustrophobic.

It also had two pedestal tables that lined up with the sofa for meal-times. The pedestals were 4" diameter steel and dropped into unlined holes in the wooden floor. They were very wobbly.

[Pepper2]

I would look at something with lower mileage. Price seems fair.

[Pepper2]

And with a generator as Aguyfromcalg mentioned.