What to look for in a MH when going full-time
My wife and I are considering going full-time while our health holds our and until it is no longer possible to stay full-time. We will be looking for a new or late model motorhome to replace our curre...
Forum Discussion
We have a 37ft Class A, 2000 Winnebago Adventurer. What you ask is impossible to cover in one message. I'll give my thoughts on what I think ... and keep them brief (or as brief as I can).
1. Gas or Diesel? We chose gas engine. We're more familiar with maintaining a gas engine. If we had gone any larger than 37ft, we'd have had no choice but to go with a diesel engine. We don't travel more than 500 miles every six months.
2. mid entry or front entry? I insist on having my front door behind the passenger seat. Carrying stuff in and out (groceries etc ) is a hassle and I like having my door come into the kitchen area. If you want to eat outside...it's hundreds of extra steps to cart food/plates/condiments/beverages if you have to walk ALL the way forward outside and then half way back to your kitchen.
3. Washer/dryer? Stackables are a must (combos and laundry mats are horrible) I DO NOT want my washer and dryer in the bedroom. Mid Coach next to the toilet (BUT NOT IN THE SAME ROOM AS THE TOILET) is better. (We winter in the NW and it's easier to keep the water from freezing if the water lines are close to the bathroom area instead of where we are sleeping. I will run a small heater in the bathroom area with doors and cabinet doors open, but I will NOT run a heater in our bedroom. Too noisy and I don't like it too warm when I sleep.)
4. Tub vs Shower? I insist on a tub. If you've ever had your gray tank back up into the coach because the valve is closed and the washing machine is going... a tub will save you lots of cleaning up.
5. Toilet area behind it's own door... vs between the shower and the sink? No brainer. Toilet behind it's own door.
6. Oven or no oven? OVEN!
7. Table or Bench dinette? I always liked a bench dinette (for storage) and that's what we have but if we ever bought a larger coach, I'd go with an expandable table and swivel chairs.
8. Mirrors around the kitchen area? I do not like to clean them, so big dislike here.
9. Roof A/C or Basement A/C ? Basement is my choice because it's like being in a house (air flow without the noise) but I've not listened to a "ducted roof" system. We gave up storage area to have a basement A/c / Furnace.
10. Slides? Two... both on driver's side. One for the living room and one for the bedroom. (We only have the L/R slide in this rig but sometimes wish we had more room in the bedroom.) (I don't like kitchen slide if it's on the passenger "patio" side of the coach. Cuts down on outside area to relax in. Makes it really hard to get at storage area, too.)
11. Filtration system. ALL the water coming into the coach should go through a sediment filter. If you have internal sprayers in your black tank...a little sand will plug them up and then they won't work. We have an under-the-sink filter for cooking/drinking water.
12. Vacuum. I've never had a central vac... but it's a real chore to store a regular vacuum.
13. Windows. Day/night shades go up and down. Windows slide back and forth. When you want to close the shades and still have the window open for air, it's a toss up how to do that and keep your privacy. I put curtains over the windows and that gives me lots of options... and helps cut the condensation down to almost nothing. The Bedroom windows - need ventilation and privacy... it's a challenge.
14. Windshield curtain. Electric or manual? You will have to close the front windshield curtain so make sure it's easy to do.
Trying to find a Mid-Entry front door, oven and tub/shower combo in a Class A these days, is like looking for a four leaf clover. They are VERY hard to find.
1. Gas or Diesel? We chose gas engine. We're more familiar with maintaining a gas engine. If we had gone any larger than 37ft, we'd have had no choice but to go with a diesel engine. We don't travel more than 500 miles every six months.
2. mid entry or front entry? I insist on having my front door behind the passenger seat. Carrying stuff in and out (groceries etc ) is a hassle and I like having my door come into the kitchen area. If you want to eat outside...it's hundreds of extra steps to cart food/plates/condiments/beverages if you have to walk ALL the way forward outside and then half way back to your kitchen.
3. Washer/dryer? Stackables are a must (combos and laundry mats are horrible) I DO NOT want my washer and dryer in the bedroom. Mid Coach next to the toilet (BUT NOT IN THE SAME ROOM AS THE TOILET) is better. (We winter in the NW and it's easier to keep the water from freezing if the water lines are close to the bathroom area instead of where we are sleeping. I will run a small heater in the bathroom area with doors and cabinet doors open, but I will NOT run a heater in our bedroom. Too noisy and I don't like it too warm when I sleep.)
4. Tub vs Shower? I insist on a tub. If you've ever had your gray tank back up into the coach because the valve is closed and the washing machine is going... a tub will save you lots of cleaning up.
5. Toilet area behind it's own door... vs between the shower and the sink? No brainer. Toilet behind it's own door.
6. Oven or no oven? OVEN!
7. Table or Bench dinette? I always liked a bench dinette (for storage) and that's what we have but if we ever bought a larger coach, I'd go with an expandable table and swivel chairs.
8. Mirrors around the kitchen area? I do not like to clean them, so big dislike here.
9. Roof A/C or Basement A/C ? Basement is my choice because it's like being in a house (air flow without the noise) but I've not listened to a "ducted roof" system. We gave up storage area to have a basement A/c / Furnace.
10. Slides? Two... both on driver's side. One for the living room and one for the bedroom. (We only have the L/R slide in this rig but sometimes wish we had more room in the bedroom.) (I don't like kitchen slide if it's on the passenger "patio" side of the coach. Cuts down on outside area to relax in. Makes it really hard to get at storage area, too.)
11. Filtration system. ALL the water coming into the coach should go through a sediment filter. If you have internal sprayers in your black tank...a little sand will plug them up and then they won't work. We have an under-the-sink filter for cooking/drinking water.
12. Vacuum. I've never had a central vac... but it's a real chore to store a regular vacuum.
13. Windows. Day/night shades go up and down. Windows slide back and forth. When you want to close the shades and still have the window open for air, it's a toss up how to do that and keep your privacy. I put curtains over the windows and that gives me lots of options... and helps cut the condensation down to almost nothing. The Bedroom windows - need ventilation and privacy... it's a challenge.
14. Windshield curtain. Electric or manual? You will have to close the front windshield curtain so make sure it's easy to do.
Trying to find a Mid-Entry front door, oven and tub/shower combo in a Class A these days, is like looking for a four leaf clover. They are VERY hard to find.
