Community Forums

Doc S · 02-27-2012, 11:29 AM

As I posted earlier in the year, my wife and I are working at going from a 5th wheel to a motor home. The main reason is due to my health challenges, we need something she can drive, back and set up. We feel the motorhome would be much easier than a 5th wheel.
We have looked extensively at an Insignia we REALLY like the floor plan on. It has a large bathroom/shower and large bedroom easy to get around in. Problem is the coach is 40'. DW is very concerned about driving and parking that long of a coach.
So, we are looking for say a 32'-34' coach with those main requirements - large shower and bedroom. We are willing to lose space in the living room / kitchen area to gain space in the other areas.
Anyone have suggestions of brands and floor plans like this ?

Thanks ! Doc S

Ramblin · 02-27-2012, 11:57 AM

If you have found a floorplan you like other than the 40' length, I would go with it. Really, a 34' class A is not terribly different from a backing/parking/setup perspective than a 40' class A. She will have all the same challenges to overcome, and in the end it'll be a breeze for her to handle.

I made the same mistake buying a horse trailer. My wife was to be the primary user, and would be pulling it 90% of the time. I wanted a 4 horse one that was 6' longer, she was worried that it was too big. We ended up buying the shorter 3-horse one. At least once a month after that, I had to hear her complain that the trailer was too small to do what she wanted to do.

We finally sold that one and ended up with a 4-horse one with a 10' living quarters that was 20' longer than the original. She pulls it everywhere with no problems.

Moral of the story: Driving an RV is driving an RV. Driving a 32' class A presents the same challenges to a new driver that driving a 40' class A does. They are all intimidating at first, and become second nature in the end. Don't sacrifice features for fear. The features are tangible, the fear is not. After you overcome the fear, the lack of features will always make you regret your decision.

Steve N Sal · 02-27-2012, 12:12 PM

I do believe you'll be much happier with the longer coach. Driving it or backing it in won't change that much if at all. Once you get used to it you'll be glad to have the extra room. If the floorplan works and it has the ammentities for you then that's what I would stick with. Good Luck with your decision.

jackrobinryan · 02-27-2012, 12:22 PM

There are some nifty newer smaller Class A's in the 34-36' range with full wall slides that give a bigger feel (my opinion, of course). Might check them out.

My wife, like me, has been driving for almost 40 years. She will never comfortably get behind the wheel of our 38+ footer. I've tried. If she doesn't feel it now, doubt she ever would at this point.

fwiw
jack

mccsix · 02-27-2012, 01:32 PM

Couldn't be happier with my Insignia, looks, reliable, fit & finish of the highest priced MH at a "reasonable" buy-in price! Service at the factory is un-matched.

Don't let the number 40 mess with your head. The difference to a coach that's 4-6' smaller is negligible, even when parking. You will pay more attention to the parks you want to go to, but even there that's not a problem. And don't forget the steering cut on the Insignia Freightliner chassis is 55*, so it can out maneuver most other coaches.