Community Forums

doglover44 · 03-27-2011, 06:40 PM

Which is the best starter moterhome ? this will be my first rv

TXiceman · 03-27-2011, 07:03 PM

There is no "best" motorhome for everyone. For a starter, I'd suggest that you rent a class C about 26 to 28' and give it a trry to see what you like and do not like. This will help you decide if it is too small or just right or too large.

There are Class B, B Plus, C, Super C, class A (bother gas engine and rear diesel pusher).

Next you have to decide if you want new or used. New ones depreciate very severely the first year. I would suggest a used unit as the first RV.

Visit some of the Rv shows and dealers and look around. The first rule of RV shopping is NEVER believe the RV salesman. But you can tell when they are telling you a lie...there lips will move every time.

Have fun shopping. Once you have decided on a size and type, let us know and we can offer additional information and experiences.

Ken

W4RLR · 03-28-2011, 12:34 AM

Second on the renting if you have never RVed before. If you have, a used one that you and your significant other can agree on. Be prepared to do maintenance and occasional repairs, especially if your rig is older.

I love my fiver, it was bought used, I have fixed what was broken, added things it didn't have, made it our second home, and the only home I own that is completely paid for.

Enjoy!

read & learn · 03-28-2011, 05:00 AM

doglover44 TAKE YOUR TIME BEFORE YOU BUY. Go to RV shows that have seminars listen and ask questions, have a good idea on what you want. Then RENT that type of RV.
If you are looking at a Travel Trailer or 5th Wheel many Camp Grounds rent them, that way if you do not have a vehicle to pull them you can see if that is what you want, just make sure you do not get a Park Model.
We had left camping for about 10 years before we got back in and took about 3 years looking. We Took a 1,000 mile round trip with a Rented Class A just to make sure that was what we really wanted.
Went to Very large show in Harrisburg, PA made a great deal for a 37 ft Gas model only to trade it in 18 months later for a 40 ft Diesel Pusher, we were lucky as only loss $4,000.00 as dealer had someone who wanted our 37 ft Class A.
Bottom Line Do your homework.
Good Luck

TW · 03-28-2011, 05:41 AM

Looks like, that you live close to some manufacturers. Take some Factory Tours

in, read as much as you can about RVing

TW

GaryKD · 03-28-2011, 08:26 AM

Hi doglover44,
The previous posts provide good information. I'd like to add for you to understand your needs, what kind of RVing will you be doing, for how long (each trip) and who will be going on the trips.

understand your needs = no hookups or full hookups or something in between? RV resort RVing or out in the wilderness or something in between. The maximum interior space is obtained in a 5th wheel. How important is this and are you willing to tow? What are the local parking restrictions (if any) that must be obeyed? Where will the RV be kept when not in use?

what kind of RVing will you be doing = touring means moving every few days or a week or less in one spot. Area RVing = going to a CG and staying there for several weeks. Tour the area in your towed car or tow vehicle.

how long will each trip be (on average). Long weekend RVing, several weeks at a time, several months at a time?

Who will be going on the trips. Your ID indicates you have dogs. Will they be going with you? Kids? Ages of the travelers and any special needs.

Get a vision of what the RV will need to do to meet your needs. Then go to the shows and local dealers so see what is available to meet your needs.

hoppers4 · 03-28-2011, 10:05 AM

A class C (perhaps a rental) would be a good place to start IMO.

rough road · 03-31-2011, 05:13 AM

Best advice from me, hang out here.

Warden · 03-31-2011, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doglover44

Which is the best starter moterhome ? this will be my first rv

I would rent to see if you really like it, if you buy, you own it and at this stage of the economy do you want to be stuck with a payment. Take a trip in a Rental.......... figure out what you want to buy..... how much room you need....slides / no slides........... my first was used...I paid cash, 27' with no slides....took a trip to Tenn. was nice...... before a years was up I bought a 35' with two slides............ took a Trip to Florida, best thing I ever did was get one with slides............ so don't jump into it without really looking...... it is a big investment and you need to enjoy it. You will also have maintenace to contend with, winterizing, tires, tuneups, oil changes, roof maintenance....... so just be prepared to spend more each year for as long as you own it.......... it is fun and we love it. Just make sure that it is what you want to do.......... it is a total different life style. Find someone who has one ask all kinds of questions........ once you decide, read and learn how to do most of the work yourself, been three years now and I am still learning things that I can do mayself....99.9% of how to do things is from IRV2 and I love doing it.

John H... · 03-31-2011, 06:01 AM

What ever you decide, welcome to the forum. We started out with old and small TT,s, had a pop-up, a 5th wheel, Class C, and now a Class A. Love the A, but my wife won't drive it, so trying to sell it to go back to a C which she did drive. Lot of things to ponder. Like the other posters, I would rent first and see what you like.

frederick w · 03-31-2011, 08:33 PM

Dog Lover 44

Check out the RV section on Craigs List. Your area and
the larger cities. You will get alot of info; price, equipment,
and pictures. And of course check out this forum. It's a
good one.
Best of luck:

Finhawk · 03-31-2011, 10:38 PM

Check out the PPL website.

frankdamp · 04-01-2011, 10:36 AM

We started out in 2002 with a 17 year old (at the time) 26' Class C. Loved the lifestyle, hated the RV. We hadn't done anywhere near enough "due diligence", as the lawyers say.

What we found we didn't like were the corner bed, the pedestal tables (on ours, the hole for the pedestal was bored in the wood floor with no metal sleeve) and the class C over-cab set-up. We weren't really agile enough to get up there and were too claustrophobic to use it. Also, it was almost impossible to get from the house into the cab without a head-strike.

On the mechanical side we decided we sure didn't like a 460 with a caburator. Carburator is a French irregular verb that means "leave well enough alone". It had so much anti-smog gear on it, you could barely see the engine, except at night while climbing a hill at full throttle. The red glow from the manifolds was bright enough to read a book.

We unloaded it after 2 seasons, when gasoline was still under $2.50 a gallon. It was a damned expensive "starter". Paid-for pro repairs I couldn't do myself ran about $2000. Gas mileage varied from 6 at sea level down to about 4.5 in the mountains.

We re-started our RV life just last year. This time we're Class A, EFI V10, 2 slides (none on the old rig), "walk"-around queen bed (aactually a "shuffle-round") and a 4-place dinette. It gets a little better than 7 mpg and no difference with altitude. We put about 2400 miles on it in half a season. Unfortunately, because of spinal surgery last week (herniated disc), we may only get a bit more than a half season this year, too.

I agree with the idea of "try before you buy", despite the astronomical price of rentals. Our 'try after you buy" would have covered about a month of rentals, given what we spent altogether.