class c or tow trailer, which is better?

All things being equal, I'd rather have a motorhome than my trailer. But all things are not equal. :B The reality for me is that for the limited use that our RV gets, it just doesn't make sense for it to have a whole nother engine/driveline, registration, insurance etc. The TT is a rider on my truck policy (a truck I'll own whether I have a TT or a Motorhome) and cheap to register. For me, the $ play a big part in the decision.

Once you are at the campsite, it's pretty much a wash. I mean for me, they both are basically kitchens and beds. We spend 95% of our time outside anyway. But my family would prefer riding in a motorhome than the van. Oh well for now!

Biggest way to tell if one wants to go MH or TT: How often do you travel?

If you want to plop a rig in one spot for weeks to months, then go with a TT. Similar if one just wants to only use a RV for few weekends each year.

However, if one wants to use something fairly often, then a motorhome is easier to deal with in a number of ways.

rfryer wrote:
But my style is primarily camping where I set up a base camp somewhere and use the TV for my sightseeing. And I go well off pavement a lot and the C isn’t very good for that. So we’re at an impasse for the moment, I see no point in a C when my TT will go everywhere a C will and many other places it won’t. As said by previous posters, the key is how you intend to travel/camp.

I'm honestly very curious as to where a TT will go that a small C on the rugged ton and a half E450 chassis - with it's wheelbase at only 139 inches, or 158 inches at most - will not? Specific examples would be appreciated.

IMHO, towing a TT comfortable enough to live in when it's fairly cold, or fairly hot, or raining for several days ... will not go places where a small well-set-up self-contained C cannot. Also, the vehicle towing the trailer will never have the traction that having a C's weight on it's rear drive wheels provides - even considering that the way less heavy tow vehicle might be a 4X4. We take our 24 foot E450 Class C offroad whenever necessary ... when the DW is in the hunt trying to find rocks!

I look at it as TT vs C of similar size, find the C by itself works great for traveling but would rather have a 20-24 foot TT behind a full-size van or SUV when going somewhere to stay for a while, rather than pulling a car behind the C, what I do now.

Small TT with a small SUV depends a whole lot on what you mean by "small" because the smallest SUVs and crossovers (like Matrix, MPV, Soul) can't pull much of anything over 1500-2000 pounds, and even midsize like CRV, Journey, Escape, Santa Fe, Highlander and Equinox (and it's badge clones) will be at best in the 3000-4000 pound range. All will be limited on trailer frontal area as well as balancing payload vs what you are towing. At either size, it will not be just any SUV, you need the larger engine options, usually an engine shared with the next size car up.

If by "small SUV" you mean Sequoia, Armada, Yukon or Traverse, then you are getting to where the TT size approaching the smallest C's. V-8 or 4.0 V-6 Explorers might get you there, but the new Explorer is more of a cross-over, and I don't yet know what the changes mean for the car as a tow vehicle.

We just switched from a 22' TT to a 24' C and are very happy with the change. If you just pay attention you will never have to go back into town for milk, eggs, beer whatever. :S If you do need to go somewhere "Breaking camp" is a 30 second no brainer. Unhook the electric, if you even have it and drive away. Maybe it is tougher for the folks with big Class C's but we can take our 24 footer anywhere we want, down any road, into any site or parking lot without a problem(just watch out for the steep dipped driveways - don't ask me how I know). :B

If you are considering a TT will both of you be comfortable/capable hooking it up and driving it? My bride was not but now has a much greater comfort level driving our C. Mileage towing the 5,000# TT was 12.5 (which was a lot better than most), and the C is 10 or a little better but with the 55 gallon tank we have 500 miles of range with a 50 mile cushion. With the TT 250 miles was just about empty and we were forced to buy whatever was available at some pretty outrageous prices. Now if the price is high we just buy 10 gallons or skip it all together and get on down the road.

The built in generator on our C is so convenient. No more hauling out the Honda, chaining it up and hoping it's not raining. Just push the button and enjoy all the AC we will ever need. Lots of differences but the bottom line for us is the C is much easier and far more convenient, have yet to find a downside. As pointed out above the decision comes down to how you are going to use it but for us, extended travels, mostly in CG's the C just can't be beat.

As always.... Opinions and YMMV. :C

Myself I’d opt for the small TT, but then that’s what I have. The DW, though, wants a C just for traveling. My thought is the C would be good if I were traveling cross country and not “camping” very much. But the C would have to be small enough it wasn’t a hassle to maneuver if I’m sightseeing in tight quarters.

But my style is primarily camping where I set up a base camp somewhere and use the TV for my sightseeing. And I go well off pavement a lot and the C isn’t very good for that. So we’re at an impasse for the moment, I see no point in a C when my TT will go everywhere a C will and many other places it won’t. As said by previous posters, the key is how you intend to travel/camp.

Pop ups and tents have appeal to some, bears and mountain lions, etc., not withstanding. RV'ers that travel in social camping groups often like to drive around with others and feel the need to have their own car in tow. If you want to tour Boston, etc., you can rent a car, take a shuttle bus into the city and walk or take a tour bus. We try to have everything we'll need using a check list. We are so happy to get settled and relax in a nice camp spot, we seldom want to leave but can be away in five minutes in our C when needed,

I personally don't 'prefer' either option. My preference is a pop top slide in TC,,,, sans a bath. Porta pot for emergencies.

It goes places that the C won't even consider. Dry camp mostly.

That said wife prefers MH with all the goodies. CGs with full hook ups required!

Guess what we've got.

Like others have said, it is a personal decision based on your travel style and needs.

For us, we switched from a truck and TT to a class C this past spring and couldn't be happier. As far as a toad goes, we decided to give it some time without a toad to decide whether we wanted one or not. So far we've decided that a toad isn't worth it for us. You don't HAVE to break camp every time you want to go somewhere, depending on where you're at. We've done all of the following so far:

- Bike to local store, restaurant, or site to see (and yes, you can carry a single bundle of firewood in a backpack...you could do more with a bike trailer!)

- Rented from Enterprise using thier "pick you up" service

- Took a cab

- Took the Winnie

- and of course an option is making sure you have all you need packed and just stay put at the CG :)

All have worked for varying needs and scenarios and none of the non-toad solutions have made us wish for the expense or the hooking-unhooking routine of a toad.

kellybelly wrote:
hi, we are considering small class C with out car tow or small travel trailer pulled by
small SUV? Can anybody tell us if its a bad idea to have only class C and no extra car or is it better to toe small trailer and have the use of a car?

There's trailer people, and there's motorhome people. You have to decide which you are.

Me? I'm a motorhome person. A Class C motorhome with no car-in-tow. That's the way I like it, but you always have to either walk, bicycle, or take the motorhome everywhere you go. But, hey, them's the breaks.