Advice for older couple

I tend to agree with most of the OP's - don't buy just to satisfy the grandkids. Look for a size that you are comfortable with, both in living and driving and maneuvering around small roads, campgrounds, parking lots, etc. Most smaller class C's only have 2 seat belts for the dinette or sofa due to weight capacity of unit. Larger C;lass C's with V-10's have more capacity. If it just going to be you and wife 80% of the time, go with the smaller rig, if that is your preference. Bad weather can be dealt with inside, although after two days, I'd probably move somewhere else to find better weather. We travel in a 24' class C, wife and I, small dog and 2 cats. Getting ready to leave on a 4 - 5 week trip in a few days, so I suppose if this is doable, then grandkids would be too, for a fe days. Good luck,

Grangrey4 wrote:
Newbie here. Buying used. Recently retired. 40K to 45K budget leaves a used class c. How old is too old? Thought about 2011 and newer if possible. Lots of small 23 footers out there in price range. Would that be too small for us and three grandchildren or would we go nuts. Are slides a problem on the older units of 8 years or so? Also are small units any more prone to problems? Ideal would be 27 or 28 foot bumper to bumper, however not many out there. Any advice is welcome and helpful.
Thanks.

Based on my experience of having a 23' travel trailer for six years, two adults and three kids in a 23' class C is going to be very tight if the trips are more than a couple of days. Doable but not a very pleasant living experience. On a rainy day where you're stuck on the inside especially so.

The corner bed is a hassle as another poster said. If one of you is a light sleeper and/or has a hard time falling asleep after begin woken the getting in and out of bed once or twice a night for a bathroom run by the person sleeping on the inside is a problem. Getting a walk around bed was one of my wife's "must haves" when we decide to get a new trailer.

Love the grand kids but they can go from loving it to wanting no part of it in a period of months.

We downsized to a 24 foot 2012 Winnebago former rental with 14,000 miles on it for less than 35,000. It is the same as the Winnebago Access. 6 seat belts Queen plus size cab over which we use for storage when we don't have kids. 2 little kids on booth, 2 adults or kids above. With no slide is tight but when it rains kids play on the cab over. We went to the smaller rig so we don't have to tow and I am comfortable driving it. We can tow our SUV with the E350 and have but 24 is easy to park anywhere. Depends on what you want to do.

Grangrey4 wrote:
I really have gotten all good advice. I am so glad I joined this. These grandkids are all under 7. I do not think they will be with us that much. We want to take a couple of long trips, say 4,000 miles round trip. I think we do need to adjust up a couple feet. Since not many in the 26-28 may have to go older. Jury still out on slide. Would be nice, but not sure of the maintenance. We will use for weekend shorties and visiting grandkids in NC a 650 mile round trip. But we do have 2 bucket list trips we want to make. So I believe the forum is correct on going a bit bigger!

My personal opinion on your particular plan.

Do NOT buy the rig specifically for your grand children. You want to be able to buckle-up the kids with seat belts, but outside of that, I would buy the rig for the two of you. For example.....

You did not mention about this so with consideration to your age, I will assume sleeping together is not nearly as important as bed-access. In your age group two twin beds is very popular. Grand kids generally can sleep together on a queen size conversion bed (from a couch). Phoenix USA makes two models that fit the description. Used ones can be found in your price range, and are not that long either.

Model 2551 is 26'-10" over-all length.
Model 2552 is one foot longer.

These rigs are easier to drive and maneuver than most other motorhomes that are built on the exact same E450 chassis. They are more aero-dynamic which stabilizes them better when trucks are passing you and all the rest.

Regardless of the motor home brand you decide on, If built on a Ford E350 or E450 chassis, I personally would prefer no older than a 2009 chassis model year to get current-day chassis features. But the right rig on an older E350 or E450 chassis would not be ruled out given the chassis and house were in exceptional condition, for example... stored indoors when not being used.

I hesitate to jump in...if you have made up your mind then all my ink is wasted...on the other hand...I have nothing else to to do for ten minutes.

As was mentioned...don't buy for your grandkids. They'll want the biggest, baddest most equipped RV in town and will still leave you flat.

If you have deep pockets? Go get whatever it is that you see and want. If, however, you are like most folks, money is a concern. RV's are like boats..a hole into which you pour money. Rather than me preaching...do some research on the costs..a fridge, hot water tank, tires, furnace..rotten frames from water leaks. If you are handy? Then you are gold...if you have to pay for repairs, like many/most if us...that is a painful experience.

Please don't mis-understand....it's like a drug...you get a taste and can't get enough. There is nothing sweeter than having that feeling. However...there are many units for sale because the owner kinda didn't look before jumping.


Gary Haupt

As someone said, 40K will buy a lot of motels, etc. But that's never going to be the issue if you really want the RV lifestyle which is so different than motel trips. Other than a tent or used pop-up RVing is not going to be economical if you count ALL the costs.

richy2 wrote:

Dick_B wrote:
Will the grandchildren always be with you? That might affect your decision. Some RVers take tents and blowup mattresses...

I agree with Dick B. I would not make a significant purchased based on accommodating grand children. If they're like most kids,they will soon lose interest in camping with grandpa and grandma. Get what works best for you. There are tents that the kids will probably be happier with.

Which is why, I suspect, you see an inordinate number of bunkhouse models of both travel trailers and class C motorhomes for sale. Parents and grandparents expect the kids to always be with them, and after the first trip or two, children lose interest in many cases, and then the RV gets sold for downsizing or completely getting out of RVing altogether.

Charles

SidecarFlip wrote:
40 grand can rent a boatload of motels...

Sidecar,

While your equation may be correct, we have taken the grands to places where accommodations are impractical or are simply unavailable. We also don't know what the two bucket list excursions might be.

In times BC (before children = 40+years ago), we were twice caught without food or lodging and so had to hit a place to feed and sleep in the car. It was not a big car.

Matt

I really have gotten all good advice. I am so glad I joined this. These grandkids are all under 7. I do not think they will be with us that much. We want to take a couple of long trips, say 4,000 miles round trip. I think we do need to adjust up a couple feet. Since not many in the 26-28 may have to go older. Jury still out on slide. Would be nice, but not sure of the maintenance. We will use for weekend shorties and visiting grandkids in NC a 650 mile round trip. But we do have 2 bucket list trips we want to make. So I believe the forum is correct on going a bit bigger!