Wanting to RV. Class C or pull behind?

[Johnnyg222]

I know there are pros and cons, just wanting everyone's opinions. I do have a truck to pull a travel trailer. I am getting older and thought a class c might be easier and less trouble with all the unhooking and such.

[77Travco]

Class A all the way...

[Mudfrog]

I help my DadnLaw with his 30 foot travel trailer. Installing the antisway/equalizing hitch into the receiver, backing up to the trailer, dropping the trailer to the ball, then latching up and adjusting everything takes a few minutes.

Then we arrive at campground and back into site. Have to make sure the trailer is level side to side, if not, add blocks under low side tires. Chock the wheels if the site is inclined. Get that done, then we can raise the camper slightly to take some load off the truck. We then disconnect the electric cord, the sway control, unlatch the equalizer bars, release the hitch, raise trailer up to clear the ball, then drive the truck out from under. Then we level front to rear and lower the four stabilizers. (easier with electric jacks but his are manual).

With a motorhome, load up, drive, arrive, and park. Leveling, if needed, is usually easier. Many motorhomes have leveling jacks that activate with a combination of pushbuttons. If it doesn't have jacks, then blocks under tires can be used to get the rig level.

Everything else (hooking up utilities, letting awning out, etc,,) is basically the same on both. Overall, motorhomes are easier to camp with than a trailer. One drawback is that they have a chassis that requires more maintenance.

[Rzrbrn]

Most people with Class C or A also pull a toad and so have hitching issues. Braking is not quite as good as with a trailer, especially if the trailer has brakes on each axle like mine does. I have a Big foot 25RQ, no slides, and pull with a 2019 Ram 2500 4x4 diesel, which I probably will trade in a couple of years, primarily to get new technology. Still and all, I now and then review the trailer vs motorhome issue. I use a Blue Ox WDH and it is fast to hitch up and can remain hitched while backing up. If the passenger car pump looks too confined I use the semi truck pumps. Can't really do that with a gas motor coach. Fueling stations in large cities can be a real pain in the butt due to not having enough room to maneuver. If I ever get another trailer it will probably be a bumper pull toy hauler, so I can take along ATV or UTV for exploring in those remote areas that a large truck cannot get into.

[Camp CA]

Fifth wheel trailer.....park, automatically lower the front legs, unhitch and drive the truck off in less than a minute. The rest is the same as a Class A.........auto level, slides out and electric/water hose/black flush hose/sewer hook-up. If you want to speed up hook-up and disconnect install quick disconnects on your water and black flush hose connections at the rv with a y-valve at the shore water connection.

[twogypsies]

A Class C or A would definitely be easier for an older person - even for backing up. Keep in mind the size and how you will spend your free time once you get to the campground. If going to a park, spending xx days and then going home you wouldn't need a towed vehicle behind the Class C or A. However, once you get to a park, if you want to do extensive siteseeing on gravel roads or drive to a hiking trailhead you may want to take a small car along. A car would get much greater mileage than an RV. Travel trailers and Class C's typically don't have much basement storage space. Class A's - a lot more. It just depends......

[Unplanned Tourist]

Make a list of pros and cons.

There are good and bad about both.

If you like touring around, then a trailer is better. Staying put with your feet up, then MH will equal a TT.

How are you at backing a trailer? A spotter is very handy (Use cheap GMRS radios)

Do you want another drive train to maintain?

Lots to think about. Just have fun.

[Mudfrog]

I forgot about the need to have a vehicle for sightseeing after setting up camp. Motorhome would need a toad which involves hitching and setting up lights and braking system. My Jeep was easy but there are some vehicles that are a bit more involved.

Also, we always pull a boat behind our rig. I'm not fond of the idea of putting the boat behind a trailer so a motorhome or truck camper is the only way to go.

[DamonCamper]

Just went thru your thought process. Didn't consider a bumper pull. Just not something I wanted. Class C or A, 5er, that was the question. For me., not being full time, I would have to use the truck to ride around town, shop, etc with the truck. The 5ers are very nice, roomy but 0ne of any size requires a decent size truck to pull it with. So while not camping, you have the large truck to try and park, gas up, etc. Friend had a Class A, got a 5er and is now going to Class A.
Anther thing that turned me to a Class C is they are easier to handle. I had a 40' Class A and while not difficult to drive, manuver, a Class C is by far much easer to handle.
The other deciding factor was maintenance when required. Any Ford or Chevy dealer can work on the truck part of a Class C. Oil changes can be done at a Kwik Lube and it is for sure cheaper. Last oil change on my Class A was over $500. The Class C was under $200.
No brainer. Another determining factor for me was insurance. Just something to consider.
I will say that a Class C, at least my 2018 Conquest 6320 is no where near as quiet on the road at 70. Has a lot of wind noise. Not annoying but it is there.
What ever you do, consider GVWR and GCWR. Large Class C with slides and auto leveling can be heavy and limit your weight you can carry.
Just my $0.02 worth.........

[HopsBrewster]

I'm getting older, too. And older is relative. hitching and unhitching really ain't no big deal. It only takes a few minutes. I just count it as part of the exercise I have to get in every day. I don't need any more excuses to sit on my fat old duff. Auto-this and auto-that, meh.

[DutchmenSport]

Only you can made that decision. It's like asking if a two story house or a single story house is best to live in. The answer lays with you and what your needs are.

Make a list of all the pro's and con's for each RV type, and then look at the lists and see which one has more pro's.

One thing you need to consider, if you have not done so already: If you tow a trailer, you can always leave the trailer parked at the camp site and you are free to roam around in the tow vehicle.

If you have a motor home and you want to roam around, you have to break camp, which may ultimate be more work than simply unhitching a trailer, especially if you have to do it several times.

On the other hand, if you get a motor home and get a toad, you'll still be unhitching something, backing up is more challenging (not impossible, just more challenging), and you have two insurances to maintain, and two engines to maintain.

In the end, neither is better than the other. The end result depends upon your own needs and wants, and what you think will work best for you.

We had opportunity to get a CLASS A several years ago. We decided to stick with towable trailer so we could separate tow vehicle from trailer easily, and the over all cost for truck and trailer was far less than a motor home and toad combination.

It's really your call, your needs, your world, what will work best for you, and what and how much you can afford.

[glwinger]

For someone just starting out, a TT or Fifth wheel. You have a vehicle to drive when unhooked. With a A or C, you will either need to pull a toad, or rent a car when you get to your destination.
As far as backing up, I've seen people with Class A's that have a hard time. You see more class A and C in pull through sites.

Practice backing a TT is the best way to learn.

I have a 32 foot toy hauler and can get it in my 10 foot driveway with little trouble.

Cost is another factor. A TT is a lot less money than A, C, or Fifth wheel.
As far as hooking and unhooking, it takes all of 10 minutes depending on the hitch. With my Equalizer hitch, less 10 minutes by myself.

[atreis]

I've had both and find that I prefer having the Class C to the trailer. That said, the differences are not huge and there are definitely pluses and minuses either way.

IMO: If you already own an appropriate tow vehicle for a trailer (or plan to buy one for reasons unrelated to the trailer), then a trailer makes the most sense. If not, and your current daily driver can be towed on a dolly or 4 down, then a Class C (or A) likely makes the most sense. If you have to get a new vehicle either way, then go with whichever appeals to you more.

[tpaul]

I'll throw in one other consideration - maintenance. Having had a class A (and toad) getting simple things like an oil change or other maintenance meant I had to go to a Ford truck garage. 20 miles away. Same if you have a diesel drive. Not just any garage can handle that. And if you have a mechanical breakdown and far from a big city, same problem. With my GM if I need service, even in the most remote areas I can find someone that will work on my GM. Just a thought.

Also, besides TV and trailer being much less expensive initially, if I want to upgrade either unit at any time it's also much less of an investment.

But as others have said, most of it depends on the style of travel you are most comfortable with.