Another gasser question

Mondooker wrote:
I have a question for you, not so much between a gas and diesel, more about the RV experience.

A friend of mine recently bought a 27' Class C and just got back from a 1800 mile round trip, mostly through the mountains, to Seattle, WA. He knows I've been looking at motorhomes and felt I've been looking for a lot more than I need. He told me the following.

1. He liked the size because he could go wherever he wanted to go without a Toad.
2. He looked at diesels in that same length and couldn't rationalize the extra $50,000.00 bucks.
3. It has everything they wanted other than a washer & dryer but that meant a larger and more expensive coach.
4. He wanted to buy new because they retire next year and intend the keep the coach. They wanted the warrantee and will know the coach is taken care of the way they take care of things.
5. When something goes wrong they don't want diesel repair cost eating into their retirement.
6. They can go to a Ford dealer and not a diesel shop.

There was more but those were the main points. His main point to me was "consider a gas under 30' it will be less grief and you'll have less invested"! I should also say that he and his wife have been RV-ing for years from a pop-up trailer to what they have today. Never a diesel.

I'll not go to a Class C because I like the motorhome style but everyone has a point of view don't they? I'm going to Lazy Days this weekend, not to buy but look around and kick some tires. I'm curious if I'll know from the experience or be even more confused?

It's almost like everyone's not rooting for the Bronco's!

1- Size has very little to do with coming and going. It's the PITA of disconnecting and putting things away, when you want to go running around.
2- Diesels are a good investment, for those who really put the miles on, otherwise they're for people who could care less about their cost per mile and/or want over 38ft.
3- Many washer and dryers have been taken back out and many that stay, are mostly used for socks and underwear and reserving the rest for launder-mat.
4- I hate new and would just as well, have the original owner take the depreciation and arguing with the dealership about the warranty, while they're waiting for weeks at a time for their coach. The depreciation factor alone, pays for a much better warranty, as in having your own in your own personal bank account.
5- I get it with the Diesel expense and my main reason for not having one. This is with me doing most of my own work, too. Again, if you're running 25K miles a year and want it for long term, then it's going to pay off.
6- One stop shop, can be a good thing as well, in a pinch and when you don't know the local shops for individual areas of expertise, that may come with a savings.
7- IMO, Class C's look like an after thought and would much rather have the bus look. Not to mention the big windshield for viewing America, at it finest.

The choice of a coach that works for you is an individual question. However there are some broad things you need to think about. First thing is Class C or Class A gas coaches CAN NOT be worked on by any Ford dealership as I discovered after I purchased our first motorhome. We have several Ford dealerships very close to our house but none of them would work on our motorhome. It seems that Ford has a separate network of medium duty "truck" dealerships that will work on F450 - F750, E350 - E450, vans trucks and motorhomes. You may be lucky and the local dealership is also a full Ford truck center but usually not. Now diesel motorhomes aren't a peach either however I have found that usually the shops are open very late and some are open 24x7. Cost is another complex topic. Diesel engines are simpler than gas engines but typically cost more to work on however, that isn't the complete story because the diesel engines have longer service intervals than gas engines so it may balance out depending on your situation. Also, keep in mind that Ford truck shops charge very similarly to the Freightliner diesel shops do so there isn't as much of savings. A common mistake is to assume that the price will be the same for a motorhome vs a Ford van it isn't. I have found it useful to start with requirements. What is important to you and whoever will be traveling with you. Gas motorhomes tend to be noisy especially on grades squeaks and rattles are very common, they also tend to have less integrated coach systems e.g. no AGS (Automatic generator start) no residential refrigerator, tiny inverters that only run the TV and are not consolidated into a inverter / converter system. Another thing to consider is the diesel coaches come with diesel generators that typically run at 1800 rpm and are dramatically quieter vs the gas generators that run at 3600 rpm. Gas coaches can work well for certain people as long as you understand the limitations and don't exceed their limits including GCWR and GVWR. I strongly recommend taking a gas rig that has the layout you like on a long test drive that includes a long uphill grade. Make sure you include some rough roads in your test drive. Next take a diesel coach on the same trip if possible. You will hear and feel the immediate difference. There are low end diesel coaches that have vinyl flooring and lower end finishes that have costs similar to gas coaches.

Thank you for excellent advice!

Like "rgatijnet1" said, there is no wrong RV, unless it doesn't work for you. There are people traveling in 45' DP's that need more room and there are people in 27' Class C's with four dogs and are happy.

Keep in mind, it's human nature to tell people that what you bought is exactly what you wanted/needed, so take each person's recommendation as to what is best with a grain of salt.

"infogeek" and I posted at the same time. Kudos to him for being honest about what he bought. It's refreshing to see someone say they bought what they could afford and maintain. I have a nice coach, but if I could afford it, I would love to have a Newell, but I couldn't afford the upkeep and it would be a smidge to big (about 5' too long) for where we like to camp. But if I could afford a Newell, maybe they would make me a shorter one.:B

I have my older gasser primarily because it's what I can afford. Is the ride noisy? Yes. Does it make a lot of noise when I go over bumps? Yes. On bumpy roads do my teeth feel like falling out? Yes. Do I get a workout driving it on windy days? Yes.

But at the end of the day, it gets me where I want to go, it's been reliable. Some maintenance has been more expensive than others (exhaust system!).

Would I love a Prevost? Heck, yeah! But even if someone gave me one for free, could I afford the maintenance and upkeep of it? Not so sure.

So, at the end of the day, buy what you like, spend as much or as little as you like. At the end of the day we'll be parked side by side enjoying the same sights.

Happy travels!

Everyone has different needs and different expectations. The best choice is the one that suits YOUR needs and not someone else's. There is no right or wrong way to get up from your couch and see this great country. There is nothing at all wrong with a tent, Class C, or Class A. The main thing is to go and enjoy yourself with your loved ones.