wbwood wrote:
We had a 31' model TT and an F250 (required due to weight of TT). WE now have a 31' model Class C. We purchased a tow dolly brand new for $1300 and it has surge breaks. We pull my every day driver, a Ford Focus. Before we pulled my old daily driver, a Toyota Yaris. In 2010, when we bought the TT, we didn't have a truck to pull it with. We traded in my wife's minivan in for the truck. After 3 years, we decided to move the TT to beach and get a pop up to keep at home to go to the mountains (more local for us). The truck was just a waste sitting there. We didn't want to use it much when we weren't camping. I worked nights then and if my wife had to drive in to the office, we would meet along the way to switch out. My little Yaris got 37mpg compared to the truck getting 11-12mpg (not towing). So we took the TT to the beach and stored it with a big campground there. Took the truck and traded it in on a smaller SUV that got twice the gas mileage of the truck. We have been talking about a motorhome. Class C speciifically. A couple months later, I was looking at an RV dealers website and saw one near the price range we were looking at. So I drove down and looked at it. There was another one next to it that looked better, was a little bigger and I knew my wife would like it. So I went and got her and sowed them to her. Of course she liked the bigger one. But it also had a bigger price tag. I talked to the sales manager and he gave me a great price on the smaller one. I asked about the other one. He didn't realize he had it on the lot. He pulled it up on the computer and I could see the wheels turning. He said he could sell it for the same price! We jumped on it. We traded in the TT and a used pop up we had bought on it.
With that said, in our experience, the motorhome route is better for US.
1) We can park it on our slopey driveway because it has brakes. We couldn't do that with the TT. Requiring us to pay to store it elsewhere.Not a big deal just make sure to block the wheels.
2) Hooking up a truck/TT and MH/car is a trade off.
3) Many people keep trying to use the argument of "not taking care of 2 motors". I used to be that way also when we had our truck/TT. If maintenance is based on mileage, then there's really no difference between the mileage you put on a truck towing a TT, than what I will put on MH pullign a car. Both the mileage put on the motors of the MH and car will equal to what you will put on the truck pullign the trailer. The only difference will be tires. And that would entirely depend on the amount of towing you would be doing. To us, this is a null argument that we have realized. We have had the Class C for 2 years now and it is not costing us any more in maintenance cost than the truck/TT combo. Incorrect. Let a drivetrain just sit and it rots and rusts without a single mile added.
4) Driving our toad (ford focus) around when camping saves us money. The focus gets 31mpg. The yaris got 37mpg. We are easily getting triple the gas mileage of what some of the trucks are getting, not towing anything. Plus it's easier for us to park and get into some places. Unless you are doing an incredible amount of driving, there isn't much savings. In fact when I hear the MPG people state for MH's compared to trailers, anything you save it likely eaten up driving the MH to the campsite.
5) Although, I got really good with backign up the TT, the Class C is way much easier. Plus it has a camera on the back to help out.It's not a big deal to backup a trailer and you can get cameras for them if it makes you feel better, though a good spotter is better in my opinion for either type.
6) Leveling is the same since we don't have levelers. We use Lynx blocks and/or wood. It does seem easier though.
7) When we arrive at park. We can back or pull in and not have to setup or get out to get in the MH. This is great when arriving during inclimate weather or just doing a quick overnighter. Except for the 10 sec it takes to walk back to the trailer, you can do the same. How many times per year do you really use this feature? I can only think of a couple times where we ran into this problem.
8) My wife can grab stuff to eat/drink while going down the road. She can also go to the bathroom if she needs to. The only time we need to stop is if I have to go or we need gas. We like to enjoy the trip. We usually travel only a couple hours and stop for lunch. Never liked the idea of handling sharp knives while doing 65mph.
9) MH has a 55 gallon gas tank vs the truck had a 26 gallon tank (I believe). Both the truck and MH get about the same gas mileage, but we can go twice as far with the MH before stopping. You can get truckls with bigger tanks (but that means an even bigger truck) and you can also get auxiallary tanks to go in the bed of the truck (additional cost). We get 3.5 to 4.0 hrs out of a tank. We rarely go that far in a day and we certainly are ready to get out and stretch by the time we hit 3hrs.
10) The motorhome has a built in generator. Comes with it and is tied in with the gas line of the motorhome. With a TT, you will need to buy a generator extra (if you need or want one). You will also need to get one based on what you want to run. Running an AC will require a bigger generator than one that will just charge your batteries and other smaller appliances. Plus you will need to figure out where to transport it at, where to keep it while camping. Security of it. Plus you will need to carry a gas can or cans in order to keep gas in it. Plust youwill have to refill it based on your useage. Not a deal breaker, but something to think about. That generator was an add on just like you can get a generator in a trailer. In both cases, you have to get one appropriate to the loads you are powering.
Just some food for thought. It's all about preference. Cost can play a part. Also, if one already owns a sufficient truck to tow with. Many variables... but it's all personal preference.
