How do I even Start looking for a good Class A

[WhiskeySierra]

Wife and I are new to this, so I dont know anything and readily admit that. We’re looking for a Class A to live and travel in extensively 8-9 months a year in all seasons. The most important thing to me is quality workmanship and equipment. We have a 250-300k budget for the purchase and would like to get something new or close to it. Not in any rush to buy and definitely don’t want to until I have a reasonable amount of information to make the best decisions possible. Is my budget sufficient, and where do I start to effectively be able to narrow down at least manufacturers? Appreciate any advise or guidance.

[wnytaxman]

Go to shows, read this and other forums, and don't get sucked into something that you may regret later. Think about how you want to use the unit. How comfortable will you be living in the unit and driving it? Start to narrow your wants and needs to specific floor plans and then down to brands after that. Get a feel for which amenities may be important to you and which ones don't matter. The big shows like Hershey and Tampa are great places to start. Look around and take in as much information as you can. You have time on your side so take your time and learn.

As you narrow down your brand selection then become familiar with discounts, dealers, and things like extended warranties and the need, or lack of need, for them.

[saddlesore]

Keep in mind..
Your 1st coach is a learning tool..
When You tour/view "In Person" any perspective coach..
View it First with all slides retracted,
If the coach is fully usable without the slides extended, then give it a second look.
(Think wally-docking,rest areas,truckstops...any where that you cannot/do not have room for the slides to be extended)

BUY USED! & buy one with everything you "think" you want and will need..
As You will make mistakes and have booboo's We all have.....(sometimes more than twice..)
Within a year or two you will discover..about the RV

What you love about the RV...
What you can kinda-sorta tolerate with the RV..
And what you absolutely hate about that !@#$%^%$#@! RV.
Then you can go get what you should have gotten in the first place..
Happy Hunting

[Tha_Rooster]

It’s my opinion the chassis is more important than the layout. Don’t be one of those people that hates to drive it cause your all over the road.

[Fireairdrop]

Welcome. Like you, we are brand new to the process. We have taken over six months of looking, talking to owners, techs and dealers. Reading all we can about everything we can. This site is great. The biggest thing we were told by everyone was take your time and buy your third one first.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Get out there and start kicking those tires!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[UTTransplant]

Have you had other RVs, maybe a travel trailer or a Class C? If so, you are probably comfortable with the decisions on space. If not, you need to rent something for a week, even a class C. Nothing better to tell you how big the bathroom needs to be, what size of kitchen counter is appropriate, etc. then start looking again, I just bought a 2018 Tiffin RED for under $200K. That’s their lower trim level of DP, but I don’t like orname interiors so it works for me. Even with inflation, you should be ok getting a 35-40’ DP in your price range. Look at the lower trim lines in the quality manufacturers - Newman, Tiffin for example. You will get more quality in those than you will in upper trim lines of the lower pack. But the most important thing is for you to know what you need in a layout. For that you just have to live for a while in at least one type of RV.

Example of something you might not think of. We had a travel trailer with a television that required I turn my head to view it. After a while, that drove me nuts! I would not have expected it to be a big deal. Heck, we don’t even watch much television, but viewing angle became an absolute must have for us. Your “must have” list will be different, but you need to know what it is.

[Nellybelle]

Well it looks like you've started in the right place. I bought a 99 Tropical 36 foot, by National back in 2004. It was a nice coach and the price was right but it was gas.
Read, Read Read all you can on this and other forums. I am once again looking and I intend to buy a Newmar or Tiffin when I'm ready. Get the manufacture brochure on several different models and go over them and over them.

Consider , bathroom size, torque and horsepower, kitchen space , INSULATION in walls, floor and roof. I know I'm missing several things but with your budget you can buy a very nice coach. Learn as much as you can about all facets of the coach before you buy. I continue to read about furnaces, solar panels, hydraulics, plumbing etc...etc...etc... It is a brain game be on yours. Good luck

[Mr_D]

Been RV'ing since I was 10, still took me 10 rigs to find what I liked.

[tropical36]

Originally Posted by TeufelWolf

Wife and I are new to this, so I dont know anything and readily admit that. We’re looking for a Class A to live and travel in extensively 8-9 months a year in all seasons. The most important thing to me is quality workmanship and equipment. We have a 250-300k budget for the purchase and would like to get something new or close to it. Not in any rush to buy and definitely don’t want to until I have a reasonable amount of information to make the best decisions possible. Is my budget sufficient, and where do I start to effectively be able to narrow down at least manufacturers? Appreciate any advise or guidance.

Pretty easy for cutting through most of the chase, actually and with you stating that you were most interested in quality first and foremost. Your budget is more than sufficient and just as long as you don't try and go brand new, otherwise it probably won't cut it, since you'll most likely want to go with a Diesel Pusher or DP at a min. of 40ft.
Sooooooo, my recommendation as always, when looking around, is to first go to the rear, rather than through the entry door. Once back there, look for a side radiator, for knowing that it's a quality coach throughout and from top to bottom. Not to mention the convenience of maintenance and lesser labor costs for the engine, if it should be needed. This is the last place a manufacture spends it's dollars and after all the rest has been covered, including the all apparent wow factors that sell so many entry level models. You shouldn't have to worry about engine (min 10HP per foot) and transmission size, using this rule of thumb, either, so story short, if it has a rear radiator, keep on walking and then worry about the entry door and the floor plan, once you have the right chassis.
You stated not too old, so while you're looking, Entegra, Monaco and Newmar, comes to mind. With Newmar, a nice used London Aire would be well worth a look. Going even older, Foretravel would come to mind.

[TexasTom]

First off, read this forum, a lot and often. I got incredibly valuable information from members here that helped me buy a couple great RVs. Then go visit and see a lot of coaches if you can. Both used and new. You will see a lot of used coaches that look great, and even more that you can't believe someone left in such horrible condition to sell. There are some gems out there, but you won't recognize it unless you have looked at a lot of dogs.

[Roadfrog]

As others have advised: Go to RV shows. There should be a few coming up in the coming months (Snowbird RV shows). Many of these shows will have seminars and lectures every few hours, covering everything from full-timing to maintenance to winterizing.

[RunningHard]

Go check out RV's, see what you like, then come here and use search engine for that particular model. Read, then read some more. Your in a great position, time will be your friend, and at some point you will realize what you really want and do not want. Good luck!

[lrsses]

New or Used anything built before 2008 and anything after Nov 7 2016 must I say more! Good Luck