Comparing Class A Cost To Travel Trailers
I'm looking at going full-time in an RV and I have believed from the beginning that a Class A plus toad is much more expensive than a travel trailer plus tow vehicle, but I'm having trouble comparing ...
Forum Discussion
As far as per mile cost, lots of variables there.
As far as smiles per mile, here is what we've found;
We have both a MH and a TT. We don't use the MH as much as we once did and started wondering if maybe it was time to sell it.
Last year my Mom was camping with a group of us so I took the TT over for her to use - it's a 1.5 hour drive to the campground. Then I drove home and hopped into the MH. I wasn't 3 miles down the road and said to myself "what the heck are you thinking".
Simply put, there is no way to compare the two. As wonderful as todays TTs are they are still limited by weight. The materials they need to use to keep the weight down just don't compare with a MH. Take a look at the nicest Sprinter TT built, then take a look at even an entry level MH. Thats not a knock on the TT, it's just the TT has a pair of 3,500# axles under it, a MH rides on a 16K to 50K lb chassis. It's simply a matter of mass and math. They can't do with a TT that they can do to a MH.
Also, my truck is a '13 Super Duty diesel Crew Cab Lariat 4X4, it's a great truck to drive. However, given my choice to drive the truck pulling the TT or the MH pulling a toad, the MH wins every time. Long trips are easy.
It has been said before, and I completely agree, with a TT the vacation starts once the TT is set up. With a MH the vacation starts as soon as you turn the key.
Which brings up another point; it takes me about an hour to get the TT set up, it takes me about 10 minutes to get the MH set up. Arrive in the rain with the TT and you'll be getting wet. Arrive in the rain with the MH just hit the level button, send out the slides, and wait for the rain to stop.
As far as room goes with the MH, with the drivers area you just spin the seats around and there's two more chairs for you.
At one gathering a few years back it started to rain. We ended up with 27 people in our MH. Sure there were a few standing, and a few were cozy, but we had room.
As far as smiles per mile, here is what we've found;
We have both a MH and a TT. We don't use the MH as much as we once did and started wondering if maybe it was time to sell it.
Last year my Mom was camping with a group of us so I took the TT over for her to use - it's a 1.5 hour drive to the campground. Then I drove home and hopped into the MH. I wasn't 3 miles down the road and said to myself "what the heck are you thinking".
Simply put, there is no way to compare the two. As wonderful as todays TTs are they are still limited by weight. The materials they need to use to keep the weight down just don't compare with a MH. Take a look at the nicest Sprinter TT built, then take a look at even an entry level MH. Thats not a knock on the TT, it's just the TT has a pair of 3,500# axles under it, a MH rides on a 16K to 50K lb chassis. It's simply a matter of mass and math. They can't do with a TT that they can do to a MH.
Also, my truck is a '13 Super Duty diesel Crew Cab Lariat 4X4, it's a great truck to drive. However, given my choice to drive the truck pulling the TT or the MH pulling a toad, the MH wins every time. Long trips are easy.
It has been said before, and I completely agree, with a TT the vacation starts once the TT is set up. With a MH the vacation starts as soon as you turn the key.
Which brings up another point; it takes me about an hour to get the TT set up, it takes me about 10 minutes to get the MH set up. Arrive in the rain with the TT and you'll be getting wet. Arrive in the rain with the MH just hit the level button, send out the slides, and wait for the rain to stop.
As far as room goes with the MH, with the drivers area you just spin the seats around and there's two more chairs for you.
At one gathering a few years back it started to rain. We ended up with 27 people in our MH. Sure there were a few standing, and a few were cozy, but we had room.
