Small Class A Diesel Not Worth Sacrifices?

[garyswann]

It depends how far you go. After a few years we found we only drive the Rv around 2000 miles a year. The Rv park prices when you follow the weather are more important than fuel mileage or fuel prices.

[davidahn]

Originally Posted by akeyzoo

To the OP, you are doing GREAT to rent. Great investment. Before I bought my first TT 9 years ago we rented a class C. It taught me that first and foremost my family and I enjoyed "camping", but that I personally never wanted a class C. ;-) You will also learn to appreciate what amenities you and your wife learn to consider as needed vs. wanted.

Enjoy your outing!

Thanks, we are mainly trying it on "for size," as it were.

[Diesel Guy]

Hello bigger is better went to 42 footer and never looked back as far as setting up park in your spot go out6side check to see slides won't hit anything push 4 buttons dump air push level and all done under 5 mins.

[whiterhino]

Funny, my wife didn't want to go larger than our 32' Itasca. But now she loves the 34' Tiffin.

No matter what your decision, ALWAYS remember this......... Happy Wife = Happy Life.

[rlott2k]

Originally Posted by GreaTOne65

This just my humble opinion, but the best advice I could give, is do what the little lady says! If you do it without her blessing, you will pay a terrible price! It's not worth it, trust me. If she wants a pop-up, buy the pop-up, after she's spent a few night's in that thing, you will have her blessing to buy anything you want. Make sure your first trip, is on a good rainy timeline. This is from a man who has learned his lesson. LOL!!

Always let them think they're right!

[MarkofSJC]

Originally Posted by akeyzoo

To the OP, you are doing GREAT to rent. Great investment. Before I bought my first TT 9 years ago we rented a class C. It taught me that first and foremost my family and I enjoyed "camping", but that I personally never wanted a class C. ;-) You will also learn to appreciate what amenities you and your wife learn to consider as needed vs. wanted.

Enjoy your outing!

I'm not sure where the original OP is located, but in S. CA I found a place that rents privately owned Class A coaches. Look up "Rent my coach" and have a look, as "trying it on for size" over a long weekend my save $$$ in deciding what you must (and must NOT have)!

[NRR]

Rent a “C” and/or “A” first. Worth the money to find out what works and does not work for you.

Then look for floor plans you folks think you would like. Go see one and spend allot of time in it pretending to cook, shower, potty, store things, sleep, etc.. You may find some cabinets are to high or not deep enough for what you thought you would put there. Another item is what you can not do or get to with the slides in.

Then there are the details like; heating, cooling, weather proofing, size of holding tanks, etc.. It is nice to have a backup house on wheels that you or a guest can live in if you need it.

[jimmyjnr]

We bought a sightseer 28ft single slide , used the heck out of it the first 18 months , moved up to 36ft DP , love it but its still a big jump in size and complexity .
Buy used and try to limit losses on trade

[bertnspike]

David, I full time in a 36' (w/3 slide outs) coach. Occasionally I have a traveling companion. I always have a dog. Every square inch of the interior is used pretty efficiently. It is quite comfortable for 2 people, but the third rainy day in a row might be a little tense. There is NO room for a washer and dryer and 2 people in my coach. If your wife wants a washer and dryer and space, she needs to go big. I saw a 39' coach once with a washer and dryer. Now that I've lived in 36' for a couple of years I know I would not have been happy with that coach.

Tell her also that a 62 year old widow told you this and the old lady said that it's fun to drive too!

[Christian51]

You got to chuckle when you read of people going through the same thing you are. I started out looking at small RVs and when I saw the Entegra line I thought that was over the top. But with my wife, she had issues with the idea but her concerns kept me looking at higher and higher end coaches. She wanted to be able to drive it and take it out on her own with her sisters. Ok, I loved the Newmars, especially the Essex and who wouldn't be satisfied with that and come on, what is the chance of a roll over? She took a look at some of those crash videos and that did it, if it ain't wrapped in metal and built like a tank, she didn't want it. What if, what if, what if...
Hey, who am I to argue? I'm willing to blow my last buck on a 45 foot mobile condo if she is. :-)

[frankdamp]

About 8 years ago. after we had managed to get rid of our POS Class C, we were looking at alternatives. A local used car dealer had a 1991 30' DP, a Beaver (I think) Charleston. It was a beautiful rig, very well taken care of and we loved it. I'd been driving 30' DP transit coaches for a year or so and figured we could live with the ride quality issues.

NADA said $28,000. The dealer was asking $45K and wouldn't budge. We kissed it off and waited four more years before we bought our current rig. The Charleston sat on the dealer's lot for over 2 years, but he still wouldn't consider an offer. Surprise, surprise, that property is now an organic farmer's market - dealer is long gone.

[MN_Traveler]

Originally Posted by davidahn

I wish MY wife would push for a 45 footer! She won't listen to me, so I'm trying to let YOU GUYS talk her into it: I'm telling her what you folks are saying, to go as big as you can afford, to buy your third RV first, etc.

I agree that a mint condition 40 footer sounds like the bang-for-the-buck sweet spot for a first coach. I really do like the bath and a half floor plans, and my wife really wants a washer and dryer. I just need to tell her washers and dryers are only available in 40' and up! :P

David

Washer and dryer were a requirement for my wife as well - and we have space for a pair in our 36' -er. Actually the Bounder classic can be had with a washer dryer pair. Too bad it is not a DP. :-)

[Peralko]

I thought the smaller Diesels like the Serrano and Palazzo were pretty neat with the better mileage so I took the wife to see them. She went: " You want me to give up our motorhome for this?", and that was the end of our look at those. So instead of downgrading, we are waiting for the right 42-45 foot Country Coach to come along.

[gemini5362]

Originally Posted by GA Navigator

Get a 45 foot with tag axle and pull a pop-up behind it. Let her stay in the pop-up.

My wife and i got a good laugh from your suggestion. Way to think outside of the box