Community Forums

keymastr · 03-25-2015, 06:07 PM

I would consider buying out west. We don't salt the roads much out here and have been in a drought for a number of years so rust and water intrusion problems tend to be fewer.

I also think you may be better off if you make the first trip in your 5r and not rush to buy a rig to fit a one time trip. It can take months to find just the right unit but it WILL come along.

austx · 03-25-2015, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

In my shopping, found many more gas RV's were set-up for larger groups (like bunk beds units).

Interestingly, the Diesel Pusher's were often focused on the 6-4-2 rule...
...6 for drinks, 4 for dinner, 2 for the night.

Often Families do not have the $300,000 and more for a DP at initial purchase, so are not as well catered to in the DP market.

Best luck

Thanks Steve and Kim for the great laugh on the 6-4-2 Rule!!! LOL

unicus5 · 03-25-2015, 07:05 PM

Thanks so much to everyone! Good info, lot to think about. Have thought about renting for the current trip. Get a feel for things (3 weeks on the road) and let them be responsible for any troubles on this trip. Really only need the space for 6 on this trip. Using the 5th wheel is an option, plenty of room! But wife hates to drive it and not excited about driving 5000 miles on my own.

We have 4 boys, 2 girls and all but one in college (2 going to Grad school) and he is in the Air Force in CA with our first grandchild. Some of the kids going with us on this trip to help move and see their brother in CA. Then take more time to find (and find out) what we want.

rv9apilot · 03-25-2015, 07:46 PM

I am kind of new to the RV forums but I have been rving one way or another for a while. I started out with a tent trailer behind my motorcycle in 1996 traveling all over the United States then in 2011 I bought a Casita TT, took it to Oshkosh, WI, 2012 sold it and bought a 28' 5th wheel, it went to Oshkosh last year, just sold it and bought a 2002 Monaco Knight 36' DP. with 43,000 miles on it. Bought it in Dallas, TX and drove it home to Norman, OK. That drive was so nice and quite, ride was really nice too. Haven't got to take it camping yet but going to Branson, MO next month. I did have to do a couple repairs to it but it was used and I kind of expected that. I don't mind doing some things to it, it kind of let me see how things worked on it. I have it in my shop at my house so working on it is not an issue. I am going to do an oil change an fuel filter, and it needs new tires (date code on all 6 are 2008). Got the MH for $38,500. As far as I can see and have seen there are a lot of very good used coaches for well under $100K.I bought the MH for the dw and me, the kids got to do their vacationing on the back of the motorcycles, now it's wife and my turn to go by ourselves. Good luck which ever route you choose.

Mr_D · 03-25-2015, 07:53 PM

Been Rv'ing for over 50 years now. Have never found a park that enforced a 10 yr rule but then our rigs never looked old. Usually we traded every few years except for the '02 Dutch Star we just traded.
We like the ride and quietness of a DP, but that might not be in your budget. Lots of people like their gas rigs and wouldn't have a diesel.
The Magna is our third diesel and they really aren't much more expensive to maintain, UNLESS the engine blows up like ours did after only 3,000 miles of ownership. A $29,000 repair bill but Cummins is being nice and taking $10,000 off so we only have to close out one IRA to pay for it!

Mr_D · 03-25-2015, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

Interestingly, the Diesel Pusher's were often focused on the 6-4-2 rule...
...6 for drinks, 4 for dinner, 2 for the night.

Often Families do not have the $300,000 and more for a DP at initial purchase, so are not as well catered to in the DP market.

Best luck

The 6-4-2 rule seems to be correct! Our 2002 Dutch Star was that way, the, new to us, Magna is a 6-4-3 as only one human can sleep on the J couch and the 6 cats join us on the king bed in back!

frankdamp · 03-25-2015, 08:11 PM

Mr. D:

I thought we were pushing things with two Labradors in a 32-footer, along with me and DW. I can't imagine having taken six cats on our trips! We're no longer in the RV hobby, as it got too expensive on our limited budget.

aviator37 · 03-26-2015, 08:53 AM

The Ford 6 .8 v10 and 5 speed trans is a very good combo. For less than $100k you can get a new or nearly new Class A. Maintenance is easy for the do-it-your-selfer and certainly less costly. We go cross country in ours a couple times a year with no trouble. If you keep it around 34 feet or less, State Parks are a breeze to use.

1ciderdog · 03-26-2015, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Been Rv'ing for over 50 years now. Have never found a park that enforced a 10 yr rule but then our rigs never looked old. Usually we traded every few years except for the '02 Dutch Star we just traded.
We like the ride and quietness of a DP, but that might not be in your budget. Lots of people like their gas rigs and wouldn't have a diesel.
The Magna is our third diesel and they really aren't much more expensive to maintain, UNLESS the engine blows up like ours did after only 3,000 miles of ownership. A $29,000 repair bill but Cummins is being nice and taking $10,000 off so we only have to close out one IRA to pay for it!

Seems like it would have been nice to have one of those service/warranty programs but about the last thing you would expect is a blown diesel.