As you know from my previous posts we are looking to fulltime travel US from March this year, moving from sailing fulltime so we used to "camping".We still haven't decided on type of the RV, i have shortlisted three fivers and have asked for opinions in separate thread. But recent discussions with my better half brought up the issue of the size and access to the parks and flexibility to boondock etc., so i was tasked to investigate MH's in 25' - 35' range. I have shortlisted couple new ones, now we are looking at new one for now is the older ones i have found look dated, don't have all the cool gadgets (solar prep. for example) and layouts seems all the same (we want separate full bathroom and separate bedroom), but we are still open to get used one if we find what we want. so far i have identified these :1. Winnebago Vista LX 27N2. Newmar BayStar 31243. Thor Palazzo 33.2 (or 33.3 if the bunk can be converted to wardrobe)4. Coachmen Pursuit 32WC / Mirada 32SSMost of them are gassers and Thor is DPIf we chose one of these i am expecting to toad Wrangler so 5k# towing capacity minimum.I would appreciate any input, especially if you can think of any suggestions for us in this regard :) ?Personally i like the diesel better :-)

I'm assuming you're buying new? Initial quality wise, the Newmar would be the best choice, although we see almost all brands of new coaches in the shop. I would expect some time period - greater than 3 months and less than 2 years - for the dealer to work out any factory flubs. Don't expect to buy the bus, load up your stuff and hit the road in the same week.Try the DP first then try a front engine gasser. That should tell you if you want to change your list. I think nearly everyone here agrees that the Thor will have the greatest number of quality issues.

jplante4 wrote:I'm assuming you're buying new? Initial quality wise, the Newmar would be the best choice, although we see almost all brands of new coaches in the shop. I would expect some time period - greater than 3 months and less than 2 years - for the dealer to work out any factory flubs. Don't expect to buy the bus, load up your stuff and hit the road in the same week.Try the DP first then try a front engine gasser. That should tell you if you want to change your list. I think nearly everyone here agrees that the Thor will have the greatest number of quality issues.Thanks, thats feeling i ma getting from all the posts i am reading (about thor) but its also only new DP that is out price range.We would go to used one if we find the one with layout and equipment we like (and size)

I dont know what area you are entering the US. But another unit you may want to look at is Holiday Rambler. A dealer in South Carolina that I visited had a 38' diesel pusher for less than 200 new. www.rv007.com They are also an out the door dealer so they are a little easier to work with.jplante4 sees all brands and could likely give a better opinion on them vs Thor and the Gassers.

In looking at your 54 posts I do not have a feeling of how old you are and how long you plan on RVing. In that small a rig you do not need a diesel. I realize that 30+/- is bigger than what you are used to but staying in public CGs like NP and SP is not the reason to go that small...especially when you said This is exactly our plan, FHU with occasional boondocking. Out West we boondock 5 out of 7 days/week in our 42'. Do not compare the length of a MH and car to that of a 5er and truck as the car can be parked 90 degrees to the MH taking up 8', not 18' of a truck. Yes, some sites will let you park a truck 90 degrees.Tank size is VERY important for boondocking...$6/night in most USFS CGs with the old farts pass which now costs $80 one time. Here are some of my posts on going from 36 to 40 to 42'.Here is how we boondock in USFS CGs without reservations.

If you want to stay short and boondock, water and storage will be important. Of the 4 MH's you listed I would go with the Newmar Baystar because I think it will have full basement storage and hung side walls . Check the FW capacity you will need a minimum of 60 gals for two people for a weeks stay. I would also look at others like the Damon Daybreak,some models have full basement storage plus a large rear pass tru storage bay that goes under the rear bed and 80-100 gals of FW.

Class A of the choice | Good Sam Community

kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Jan 30, 2018
bacil wrote:

We have base in Newport Beach, CA. But we will probably fly in to JFK, ORD or LAX as we will be leaving our boat in UK. Plan was to fly in to where we get Toad or TV if we chose 5er. And then use that to get the RV so we are not really BASED anywhere and can choose nationwide.

I had look on HR Navigator but its 38' and we decided to keep it 35' and under. That limits the choice in the DP area as most of them are longer.

I just did a quick check and found some 33' models around in the high 160 to 170's range. Use
www.rvtrader.com
or
www.rvt.com
Hopefully you can a few that interest you in the same region and fly there to save a lot of running.
Happy motorin
bacil
Explorer
Jan 30, 2018
Gjac wrote:
If you want to stay short and boondock, water and storage will be important. Of the 4 MH's you listed I would go with the Newmar Baystar because I think it will have full basement storage and hung side walls . Check the FW capacity you will need a minimum of 60 gals for two people for a weeks stay. I would also look at others like the Damon Daybreak,some models have full basement storage plus a large rear pass tru storage bay that goes under the rear bed and 80-100 gals of FW.

Yeah i looked at FW they are all doable smallest tank is in Pursuit 50gal and biggest in Palazzo 95gal and others are in between.

I have created coring system for each of the things that are important to us with scores 1-5 and then assign them based on the values the RV with most points wins (out of these its Mirada 32SS that has scored most points) :)
bacil
Explorer
Jan 30, 2018
kerrlakeRoo wrote:
I dont know what area you are entering the US. But another unit you may want to look at is Holiday Rambler.
A dealer in South Carolina that I visited had a 38' diesel pusher for less than 200 new.
www.rv007.com
They are also an out the door dealer so they are a little easier to work with.

jplante4 sees all brands and could likely give a better opinion on them vs Thor and the Gassers.

We have base in Newport Beach, CA. But we will probably fly in to JFK, ORD or LAX as we will be leaving our boat in UK. Plan was to fly in to where we get Toad or TV if we chose 5er. And then use that to get the RV so we are not really BASED anywhere and can choose nationwide.

I had look on HR Navigator but its 38' and we decided to keep it 35' and under. That limits the choice in the DP area as most of them are longer.
Gjac
Explorer III
Jan 30, 2018
If you want to stay short and boondock, water and storage will be important. Of the 4 MH's you listed I would go with the Newmar Baystar because I think it will have full basement storage and hung side walls . Check the FW capacity you will need a minimum of 60 gals for two people for a weeks stay. I would also look at others like the Damon Daybreak,some models have full basement storage plus a large rear pass tru storage bay that goes under the rear bed and 80-100 gals of FW.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jan 30, 2018
In looking at your 54 posts I do not have a feeling of how old you are and how long you plan on RVing. In that small a rig you do not need a diesel. I realize that 30+/- is bigger than what you are used to but staying in public CGs like NP and SP is not the reason to go that small...especially when you said This is exactly our plan, FHU with occasional boondocking. Out West we boondock 5 out of 7 days/week in our 42'. Do not compare the length of a MH and car to that of a 5er and truck as the car can be parked 90 degrees to the MH taking up 8', not 18' of a truck. Yes, some sites will let you park a truck 90 degrees.

Tank size is VERY important for boondocking...$6/night in most USFS CGs with the old farts pass which now costs $80 one time.

Here are some of my posts on going from 36 to 40 to 42'.

Here is how we boondock in USFS CGs without reservations.
kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Jan 30, 2018
I dont know what area you are entering the US. But another unit you may want to look at is Holiday Rambler.
A dealer in South Carolina that I visited had a 38' diesel pusher for less than 200 new.
www.rv007.com
They are also an out the door dealer so they are a little easier to work with.

jplante4 sees all brands and could likely give a better opinion on them vs Thor and the Gassers.
bacil
Explorer
Jan 30, 2018
jplante4 wrote:
I'm assuming you're buying new? Initial quality wise, the Newmar would be the best choice, although we see almost all brands of new coaches in the shop. I would expect some time period - greater than 3 months and less than 2 years - for the dealer to work out any factory flubs. Don't expect to buy the bus, load up your stuff and hit the road in the same week.

Try the DP first then try a front engine gasser. That should tell you if you want to change your list. I think nearly everyone here agrees that the Thor will have the greatest number of quality issues.

Thanks, thats feeling i ma getting from all the posts i am reading (about thor) but its also only new DP that is out price range.

We would go to used one if we find the one with layout and equipment we like (and size)
jplante4
Explorer II
Jan 30, 2018
I'm assuming you're buying new? Initial quality wise, the Newmar would be the best choice, although we see almost all brands of new coaches in the shop. I would expect some time period - greater than 3 months and less than 2 years - for the dealer to work out any factory flubs. Don't expect to buy the bus, load up your stuff and hit the road in the same week.

Try the DP first then try a front engine gasser. That should tell you if you want to change your list. I think nearly everyone here agrees that the Thor will have the greatest number of quality issues.

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