Community Forums

GLish · 05-04-2019, 06:27 AM

Hello all, I am new to this forum and never owned an RV. Always been a boater until my youngest decided he hates boats. Now I am entering into RVing. I am looking to take it to their various sporting events, weekend vacations and at least a month long road trip every summer. I am pretty handy around the house but not a mechanic. That being said researching Class A RVs makes me long for the days without an internet, information overload. The choices are a lot like buying a boat. New or used? Single or twins? Inboard vs outboard, etc....
For a newbie, it seems like to safest bet should be just get a new one, after researching it almost feels counter intuitive. Most complaints and horror stories seem to come from new owners.
Anyway, I have about $80,000 and am looking for a something around 32' with bunks all 5 kids.
My choices seem to like a, these are just examples from my research
1- new winni intent 31P gas
2- 5 year old tiffin open road 35qba gas
3- maybe an 8 yr old Fred like the tiffing above
3- 12 year old diesel
I would love to hear your thoughts on which direction I should go.

Thanks

**Spdracr39** · 05-04-2019, 06:41 AM

Did you start boating with a twin engine 35' cabin cruiser that needed some TLC? Jumping into a class A would be the same thing IMO (except you don't have to know how to swim). Why not ease in with a travel trailer and see how everyone likes it? RV'ing is different and some take to it and some don't. Manuevering a class A into these sporting events will require a towed vehicle also most likely. Slightly used TT's are readily available. The kinks are already worked out usually and they can be bought and sold with a minimum of depreciation loss. Class A's lightly used are also available and if this is what you are committed to that's the way to go. For the way you describe your anticipated usage a gasser would work fine.

AllanK · 05-04-2019, 07:13 AM

We chose an 8 year old DP. Was hoping the kinks would be well worked out but no and had others eat the initial depreciation. Not sorry with our choice. Gas has far less storage than a DP. Gas is easier to get serviced if you need help. Sounds like you will be camping a lot without hookups. Note the size of your tanks and compare to your needs. We are 2 people and find 4 days about our limit before needing a pump out.

There is a ton to learn either way. We are yet to be on a trip without learning something. At the beginning we rated the importance of our questions/issues and only dealt with the top 5 at any one time. This forum was and continues to be a huge help.

I was a n 18' I/O with a cuddy cab person before.

Gormleys · 05-04-2019, 08:11 AM

First off, welcome to the forum! Here you will learns lots about things you didn't know (and things you really didn't want to know).

Another option is to rent an RV first. It can be a trailer, a class C or a class A. Or, try all three. That way, you will get a feel for the lifestyle without investing heavily. I agree taking a month long trip will only be economical if you own the RV, but it will be murder if you discover that your family can't do it. Try a couple of weekends first in a rental to see how it goes.

Bahamaniac · 05-04-2019, 11:26 AM

With family size I would go bigger.

MSHappyCampers · 05-04-2019, 11:31 AM

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

I would go with the 12 year old diesel! Have fun and keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

brokenrule · 05-04-2019, 01:06 PM

Went from a new Four Winns 240 to a 1959 40' Chris Craft Connie... started with the 1996 Itasca and have no desire to move up to a new one - UNLESS it had bunks!

DP are going to cost you more to buy upfront and own down the road as I've learned from my friends with DP's. Lots of local trips on flat ground then gas works just fine.

Most of the things that break (and stuff breaks with use) on the coach side is normally an easy DIY with the help of YouTube. Truck service center for the other side of the RV.

Newer class a's will drop like a rock until they hit 12 years old as that is the cut off for financing via a bank. After 12 years they don't drop too bad - and good ones like the Wine/Itasca Tiffin would their value well. You can see $20-$30K difference between and 11 year old and 14 year old coach in the same make model and size. Plus, they are built well and the bugs are worked out.

We bought our old coach three years ago to see if we liked RV'ing for dog shows before getting a new one. Glade we did. Except for the bunks, we have elected to stick with ours over a newer one. So if it's you first one, I recommend gas, bunks, well made (winne/itasca - tiffin - newmar) to try it and to see if you like it. Get one about 5-8 years old. Then if you don't care for it you can sell it before it hits 10 years old and not lose that much. They are like boats - they do better if used a lot rather than sitting a lot.

Just one x-boater and first time RV'ers opinion.

cavie · 05-04-2019, 01:17 PM

With 5 kids I'd get a TT bunkhouse. See if every body likes it. About $10-12 Grande should get you something about 6-10 years old 30-35'. Get your feet wet. 250 or bigger 4 for pick up.

oscarvan · 05-04-2019, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavie

With 5 kids I'd get a TT bunkhouse. See if every body likes it. About $10-12 Grande should get you something about 6-10 years old 30-35'. Get your feet wet. 250 or bigger 4 for pick up.

Five kids and two adults in a pickup. Right.

Why don't you give him the name of a good divorce attorney while you're at it.

A 1 ton passenger van may work......

momdoc · 05-04-2019, 07:17 PM

Welcome to the forum.

You are joining a good group of folks here with good info to share. My vote would be for a 10 year old or so quality, good condition DP. Also with that many people keep an eye on your weight limits.

Good luck and enjoy the adventure!

Cliffy · 05-04-2019, 08:43 PM

First- what brokenrule said above was right on. Used gasser to get your feet wet and if they don't go for it in a year or two you can dump it and not get hit too hard. A new Class A will kill you with depreciation if you want to dump it in a couple years

Something to think about -
Do you worry about seat belts for the entire brood while traveling?

Once you get to the camp ground and park the Class A what are you going to do if you want to go somewhere like Wally World or a movie? You ain't gonna pull up stakes and drive the Class A. You can't fit the brood in most small toads.

Another thought is a good 5 year old TT (30-33') pulled by a 9 pax 1 ton as suggested. Seat belts for everyone, something to take everyone in if you want to go to Wally World and you leave the rig in place in the camp ground. If you find you all don't like the camping idea you can dump it all and not lose much at all.

After a year or two you might find that you really would like a new Class A or you might just keep what you have.

Get your feet wet before you dive into the deep end of a new rig.

Just as a point of reference, we bought a used Class A first, had it for 2 years and dumped it. We went to a TT and a truck (just 2 of us) and we haven't looked back now for many years. We love the TT aspect.

oscarvan · 05-04-2019, 08:51 PM

Cliffy has good points. Then again, there are plenty of capable 7 passenger SUV's that can be pulled by a properly rated Moho, a savings if you already own it.

fhmac · 05-04-2019, 09:43 PM

Perhaps this video will be of some help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKYjE1YPVU8

completelymo · 05-05-2019, 06:59 AM

I was a life long power boater. Lived on a classic 1969 32' Pacemaker (Egg Harbor) twin gas as my first live aboard than a 1968 44' flush deck aft stateroom Pacemaker with twin 6v53 diesels and finally just sold a 1997 44' Bayliner 4788 with twin Hinos. Plus many smaller boats over the years. From my point of view I have worked through issues with both gas versus diesel and I would only consider a DP. More similar to the big yachts. There are pros and cons to both but I think it will boil down to personal preference and what you have experience with. With a big family I think you would benefit from renting a couple different coaches that fit you criteria. This will give you and your family a real life experience to help you better make the buying choice.

Good luck and I hope this helps a little!

Mike