45 footer as first RV

One item that people miss is the state by state licensing restrictions. In California the driver needs a Non-Commercial Class A license for a Class A RV over 40 ft.

I bought a 40 footer as my first RV, then traded up to a 45. Wish I had started with the 45 as my 45 with tag axle drives, rides, turns and handles better than the 40 did. As for learning to drive it, you have that transition on any large vehicle so wheter it is 32 or 45 means little. The only advantage I see to a smaller coach is that you can fit into more campgrounds, but there are plenty of places to stay in a 45 so this has been a non-issue for us.

I drive a 39 ft and sometimes pull a 24 ft trailer. It don't seem to be a problem as I was used to driving large and wide farm equipment. You just have to use your head before you get into a pickle. I generally fuel up at truck stops and with the mirrors usually you can back out of a pickle. If I bought another coach I wouldn't think twice about a 45 ft:)

rgatijnet1 wrote:
On one Monaco forum that I belong to, there was a coach for sale years ago that ONLY had the mileage from the factory down to Florida. That single trip scared the new owners enough, while driving it, that they put the coach up for sale.
Hopefully the new owners of this 45' coach is experienced in driving large vehicles.
I also hope that he got one without the usual mechanical problems that can discourage a new owner from the RV lifestyle and can also destroy one's finances if they maxed out the budget when they bought the coach.

I had two friends that made a good living off people like this. they would fly to Florida and AZ to pick up class A's all the time and drive them up here and clean them up and sell them. they would go through 6 or 7 a year

Count me as one of them. The coach in our signature is the first RV we have ever owned. Actually the first night we ever slept in an RV was in this one.

Followed the advice of many "buy your last RV first". We have no regrets and have been loving it.

Shortly after I took the coach home I enrolled in a CDL class.

The guy buying the 45 footer is early 70's, owns an airplane, rides a Harley, and has plenty of the green stuff but has no experience with large vehicles. My guess is he'll do fine.

I maneuvered a Tiffin 45 footer around our rv sales lot today and I'm still impressed how well these things handle tight confines. Coming within a foot of another coach is common place.

Ivylog wrote:


In 12+ years I never hit a curb with my 42’ but I’m still hitting a few with the 45’ after 6 months… The learning curve. Unless you have been around large vehicles starting at 45 feet will be a challenge for a while unless you take a drinking coarse.

Ok, those last two words may or may not have been an "auto-correct gremlin", but either way, it made me laugh :)

Ivylog said:
" Unless you have been around large vehicles starting at 45 feet will be a challenge for a while unless you take a drinking coarse."

Where do they have those drinking courses? I think I attended a long one in the Navy years ago.

I don't have much to say about it, except that I'm envious.

I bought my first motorhome 14 years ago, special order, the biggest I could afford. Still serves me well. I driven friends 45 footers and I don’t notice anything different than driving my 40 footer.