Community Forums

tropical36 · 12-01-2016, 06:11 PM

[QUOTEMaybe if we could have afforded a larger MH than a 35' it would have made a difference.][/QUOTE]
Having a problem understanding this last statement.
Are you saying that you refuse to buy, other than new or what?
Even so, prices vary wildly and unless of course, this 35ft MH you're speaking of, was already at the very bottom of the barrel.
New never enters my mind, but that's just me and with our recent purchase, we paid much less than someone we know, paid for their 33 or 35ft gas Tiffin.
I think we even have it broken in now, with about 38K on the odometer and 33K when we got it in June. Killing the bugs myself for the most part, so no dealer/warranty aggravation to stress me out and possibly making things, even worse.

Funhaus · 12-01-2016, 07:32 PM

After many years of traveling across the country on our motorcycles and tent or motel camping we decided to get a 30' class C (with no slides)and a small trailer for our two bikes, we loved it so much, after a couple years we moved up to a 39' Class A DP (2 slides) with our small trailer. Nothing beats traveling in a class A DP that thing went down the road like a cadillac, when the wife needed to use the potty she could, get hungry, fix dinner, make popcorn or just grab drinks out of the fridge.
One problem for us... the motorcycles are still part of our lives but some trips we longed for a car to get around because of the cold, rain or what have you.
So this past summer we sold the Class A and went to ToyHauler. For us right now we think it makes more sense, we usually only took one long MH trip a year and one long motorcycle trip and the rest of the time we camp at campgrounds on the weekend that are within a couple hours drive.
Now we can have our motorcycles and a vehicle to drive around in if we need to.
When we retire and spend more time traveling we will probably go back to DP but for now this fits our camping style better.

Rkesselus · 12-01-2016, 08:55 PM

RVing for 49 years finally into a 1996 Columbus by Thor. Was a good unit except for the Chevy Auto Park system enjoyed the unit for 4 years when wife decided we needed a smaller unit she could drive so back into a nice class C Conquest Classic by gulf stream added jacks and banks power. Wow what a rig we could cruise at 80 and pass 18 wheelers. Wife decides it is too small and hard to get from passenger seat to back and she never would try to drive the C so we are back in an A, 2000 Allegro Bus. I like to work on stuff so I have had plenty to keep me busy through the years. We like to buy high and sell low so we can use up our kids inheritance. Hope this is the last one, but who knows what the wife will think up next. She has not smelled the Diesel yet.

dix39 · 12-01-2016, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyoFree

It's interesting the comments some have made about the front entry doors and stairs on a DP. My wife saw a Forest River Legacy recently and the first thing she said is "I like that side entry". After seeing the inside she said "I like the passenger seat area a lot better, I can have my own space"!

I of course explained to her that the Legacy is a straight rail chassis and the others we looked at are raised rail, blah-blah-blah and I got that look saying "talk to my hand"!

Very few DP's with a side entry!

Ha, we looked at a 32' Monaco Windsor DP (front entry) a few weeks ago to replace our 26' Flair (side entry) gasser. Those were my wife's sentiments exactly. What's a guy to do???

Steve

Gordon Dewald · 12-02-2016, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stripe34

AHEM. yes you did - third or fourth response. CC is me :-) aka stripe34

I have driven all our RVs - we are on our third. I did recently complete RVSchool driving lessons with this one, because it is so much longer, taller, & wider than our last two.

I can back this thing into a site as well as anyone, and we had extra time at the end of the 12 hour block, so I also learned to parallel park it - just for fun. Our 2017 has a super sharp turning radius so we had a LOT of fun with that, turning inches away from my instructor standing at the corner (playing the role of a Prevost I didn't want to hit).

You go girl! Friend of our does all of the driving (43'). She wheels the unit into any spot without any issues or fanfare.

WyoFree · 12-02-2016, 10:05 AM

Thanks for all this great information. I'm most pleased about what I didn't hear like;

• Hated RV parks
• Hated dealing with the hookups
• Hated the people we met
• Hated the need of a Toad
• Etc

A couple things mentioned I'd heard before, not a lot but I'd heard it before.

• The feeling of being blown off the road... My guess is a 35' gasser may get blown around more than a 35' diesel? But I don't know that for sure. I'll be buying a 40 footer (no Tag) and would hope it holds the road so I don't have to hold the wheel with both hands and feet!

My sense of this motion problem is not wide spread because I've not heard it all that often. I'll not be surprised if something so large and bulbous is effected by a large wind guest. But my hope would be that it would not be the case under normal driving conditions!

• Coach falling apart... We've all heard terrible stories about a coach spending more time in the shop than on the road. I know many things can happen with a home on wheels from how well a coach has been maintained to an over the top punch list of a brand new coach.

This has to be the exception and not the rule because folks, especially retired folks, are not going to enjoy the motorhome life if every trip, big and small, requires fixing something. At least I hope thats the case...

Harry

twogypsies · 12-02-2016, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyoFree

• The feeling of being blown off the road... My guess is a 35' gasser may get blown around more than a 35' diesel? But I don't know that for sure. I'll be buying a 40 footer (no Tag) and would hope it holds the road so I don't have to hold the wheel with both hands and feet!

We went from a 33' 5th wheel to a motorhome. When we began looking we zeroed in on a 35' or so motorhome.... even testing up to 38'. They all seemed to wallow with normal driving. Then we drove a 40' and it was a world of difference. We're convinced that the wheelbase is the reason. The shorter ones have a long overhang which makes it feeling unstable - to us, anyway. We never regretted getting a 40' and never had an issue with winds, semis passing us or in curvy mountains. It was extremely stable.

WyoFree · 12-02-2016, 10:37 AM

Hi Two-G, you have a Tag and Comfot Drive right? I'd think both of those would be helpful for sure.

But weight and wheelbase has always dictated best ride!

CampDaven · 12-02-2016, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyoFree

Hi Two-G, you have a Tag and Comfot Drive right? I'd think both of those would be helpful for sure.

But weight and wheelbase has always dictated best ride!

With 40', you are pretty stable.
Add 2' and tag, and you have truly arrived. Dare you to test drive both!

WyoFree · 12-02-2016, 01:20 PM

Hey CampDaven,

I'll not take you up on the "Dare you to test drive both"! My Mamma always told me "young man, don't drive what you're not willing to pay for"! OK, my Mamma may not of said that but has said things like it...

NMRVer · 12-02-2016, 04:44 PM

Great question...
Why do people do things all the time. Financial, health and life changes to name a few. A class A motorhome isn't for everyone. Taste vary.. some people love Air Streams trailers, where I just plain don't. DP are great, until you need major motor repairs...then empty your wallet.. Gas may be cheaper, then you hit the mountains. My wife and I are on RV #6. Love each each (for awhile), then our needs changed forcing a change.

My .02

twogypsies · 12-02-2016, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyoFree

Hi Two-G, you have a Tag and Comfot Drive right? I'd think both of those would be helpful for sure.

But weight and wheelbase has always dictated best ride!

No tag. No Comfort Drive. It handled beautifully! That's why we BOTH wanted to drive it daily.

CampDaven · 12-02-2016, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyoFree

Hey CampDaven,

I'll not take you up on the "Dare you to test drive both"! My Mamma always told me "young man, don't drive what you're not willing to pay for"! OK, my Mamma may not of said that but has said things like it...

But I payed less than a new gas Bounder.
Perspective!

WyoFree · 12-02-2016, 05:33 PM

Hi again Two-G,

I just saw a 2004 Dutch Star like yours at the Motorhome Specialists website. Very nice coach and a 276 wheelbase to boot. That has to be about the longest wheelbase you can get without a Tag.