Anyone regret having too long/short a motorhome

[DHart]

Oh yes, we've had enough regrets.

Our first coach was a 41' DP, bought used. Realized soon that we were going to use it a LOT and traded for a new 44' DP (2011 HR Endeavor 43DFT).

That seemed just perfect to us, for a few years.

Then, when not rv-ing as much, we thought we'd save $ and downsize, and could get by with a 30' Airstream. It was a very nice trailer, awesome if you like a small trailer! But we ran out of space almost immediately. We were storing things in the shower and on the dinette. NO ROOM! We felt claustrophobic. Missed having counters and shelves. Missed a LOT that we once had.

Unlike many people, we really like hanging out IN the RV, more than sitting outside the RV, so having a spacious interior really means a lot to us. And, for us, recliners are an absolute MUST. Hanging out for hours on an RV sofa does not cut it for us. We finally learned these lessons well over the years.

After a quick year, we traded the 2016 30' Airstream for a 32' gas motorhome, a 2016 Newmar BayStar 3124 with full wall slide and a king bed, and installed two recliners. That coach felt spacious to us (after having the airstream), but only for a short while. The bathroom was so small as to be nearly un-useable. We really missed the roomy interior space of the 44' DP, the washer/dryer, the ability to tow a larger/heavier tow vehicle (Tahoe, Yukon, Sierra p/u), room for the two 60 lb. dogs, etc.

Now, 1 year after buying the 32' BayStar, we've fully learned that we should have just kept the 44' HR Endeavor DP that we had! It was perfect for us.

So, last week we traded the 32' BayStar gasser for a 2017 Newmar Ventana 4369 (about 44'). It just suits us perfectly! It's cost us a lot of $$$ to gain the experience, but we finally learned that a 40' to 44' DP suits our needs the best. And, finally, we got an RV that we didn't have to remove a sofa from and replace with recliners!





Though there may be some spots where we will not be able to fit, all-in-all, the 44' DP suits our needs best. And the good news, for us, is that the 2017 Newmar has advanced dramatically in features, options, benefits, and creature comforts over our 2011 HR Endeavor. So, we did at least get a lot more coach than we had with the 2011. I'd still be happy having that 2011 Endeavor, though - it was a great coach.

In the meantime, Holiday Rambler has been sold to yet another company and the new Endeavor has been cheapened to the point of not even being in the same echelon as the previous Endeavors were - not even close. Unfortunately, today's Holiday Rambler/Monaco coaches are nothing like they once were - though they're trying to sell on the once-great reputation.

[ginaandharol]

We've been on the road 23 years and started with a 24'Tioga, did 2 years in it and couldn't understand why full timers were always laughing at us. Birkenstocks and a small rig, loved it. Then we went to a 28' Trek with the bed that came out of the ceiling, then the bed came all the way to the dash with us in it, loved it before that, but then got a 36' Pace Arrow with one of the first slides, seemed like a castle, we loved it because we could boondocks almost anywhere with it, but the finish started to get funky after about 10 years, we messed up and tried this terrible product called TSRW, WORST thing we ever did, the decals started alligatoring. We called Protectall Company and they said that's what happens with this product and our only choice is to have the finish stripped and repainted. We weighed the options and then a consignment dealer called us and said that a "smokin'" deal just came on the lot, a 1 year old 39' Newmar Ventana with 4 slides said that a guy was going to have it repo'd and he paid $375k last year and needed cash 'cuz his house and business were foreclosed on too, we offered him $100k, he said don't embarrass me, I said, I didn't put the Rig on the lot, you did,and it's CASH, he said give me $105k and we did. This is a great RV for living, but our 36' Pace Arrow was much better for traveling and boondocking because of the slides and the weight. So I guess my point is, you have to decide what and how you are going to travel, each has it's benefits and drawbacks. We absolutely love our Ventana, but we miss our Pace Arrow. We were only 50 and 48 when we started, so each size fit the time I guess, but this is our final one.

[hammer55]

mine is a coachman 27 KB, 29 ft, I was thinking anything longer would be difficult to drive, boy was I wrong, once on the road, with experience in towing and driving bigger vehicles, it doesn't matter what is behind you, I wish I would have went for the 40' diesel with the freight liner chassis, you can always find a place to pull over and sleep, and most KOA's I have been too a long I40 and I10 accross the country have the spaces to accommodate what ever you have,,,

[Ladypilot10]

Your wife looks like my double! And I love that you travel with a cat...so do I.
I run into so few campers who travel with a cat; mostly dogs. My cat loves
my motor home and likes to lay on the dash while we are driving down the
highway. My 24' is our last motor home.

[Rossi6998]

Originally Posted by brucemcdou

Looks like Rossi's coach is a gasser - gassers generally aren't equipped with airbags from the factory but they can be added as aftermarket. One of the many reasons gas Class A's are less expensive than equivalent-sized diesels.

We just traded our gas class A (2008 Workhorse chassis) and we had also added upgraded shocks, front and rear anti-sway bars and Safe-T-Steer. Only thing we didn't add were airbags. Our new diesel will be the same length (34-ish) but should have a smoother ride with airbags

That is correct. My RV was not equipped from the factory with airbags.

[Ktaylorr1]

I feel it all depends on what you use your mh for. We prefer remote camping most of the time to use or jeep and off-road toys. My first class A was a 28' Georgieboy and loved it. Small but plenty of power to tow an enclosed trailer with exceptional gas mileage. We now own a 35' Safari Passage with triple slides. It has plenty of room for wife and I and 3 boxers pups. The only thing I wish it had was a diesel motor and 4wd. The Dynamax 4wd class c could very well be my next purchase in 5-6 years.

[TBorstad]

We started with a 26' travel trailer with no slides, then a 30 Class A with one slide. We now have a 2004 Fleetwood Flair with 3 slides. We feel like that's the sweet spot for us. We look at longer units and don't find anything more appealing. We tow a car on a tow dolly.

[Rbhein]

See post by Roadstar, titled, Stuck In Driveway

[8TiresRollin]

Love our 43footer. Took advice from a friend who owns a 40 Damon and he said buy a tag model. This thing rides like a dream, does 8.5mpusg, and is able to boondocks without losing any comforts. When travelling we stay right in truck stops or Flying J's etc. Steers in violent X-winds with 1 finger on steering wheel. Only thing is one has to plan ahead to find campgrounds for big rigs. But to me the pros outweigh the cons.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by biggcrisp

My 28' v-10 gasser can out pull a DP in the rolling hills. Speaking from recent experiences.

Flame suit on.

Did the DP driver even know you were racing him? People pass me all the time, I don't feel any need to race them so I let them go.

[Itasca66]

Race strip for motorhomes is always big up hill grades . Some where someone should start a race circuit need 1/4 mile uphill grade . A scale and a lot of fuel .
I'm only guessing but the 23ft class A with 454 at 10,000lbs would be the race demon there.
👍😁

Itasca66

[Rudimac]

Last week we picked up our new Journey 42e, upgrade from 30' class C. We were in the class C for 4 years. The only mistake we made was we should have upgraded sooner.

[biggcrisp]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Did the DP driver even know you were racing him? People pass me all the time, I don't feel any need to race them so I let them go.

Wasn't a race, he kept passing me on the downhills and I kept having to pass him on the upgrades (I was using the CC) at the time.

[CountryFit]

Originally Posted by biggcrisp

Wasn't a race, he kept passing me on the downhills and I kept having to pass him on the upgrades (I was using the CC) at the time.

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