First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
This post is intended to be helpful to the first time buyer of a motor home. For those of you who don't fall into that category or believe this post is incomplete or off the mark, do us all a favor, a...
Forum Discussion
:B I just read all 31 pages... great information!
I have had the motorhome bug for quite sometime. I've been receiving Motorhome magazine since 1998 and read everything that I can get my hands on. Not sure yet when I'll pull the trigger but I will know what I want when the time comes with information posted here at TrailerLife and other sources.
I've rented 3 units over the last three years. I wanted to rent new units so I found a company that changes out their rentals every year and replaced them with new units. In 2004, I rented a 2004 class C Fleetwood Tioga, 31 ft, one slide, master bedroom in rear with an overhead bed above the cab. That was a great unit and opened my eyes for what I would want in a motorhome. I decided bigger is better. I rented this unit for 7 days.
The next year, I rented a 2005 class A Fleetwood Expedition, 38 ft., 3 slides, Diesel Pusher, 300HP. It was a great unit since my knowledge was rather limited. It's hard for me to compare the Freightliner Chassis to anything else since that's the first "A" class that I had driven. I thought it drove nice but had a little bit of road steer (on uneven roads). I'm not sure if that's typical or not. I enjoyed the unit the 9 days that rented it.
My last rental (May 2006), I rented a 2006 class A Fleetwood Expedition, 38ft., 4 slides, DP, 300HP. It was nice having the four slides. It really opens up the unit, especially, with two slides in the bedroom. This unit seemed to drive and behave just like the previous one that I rented but the dashboard was updated and was easier to use and reach buttons. I rented this unit for 14 days.
I have read about so many different motorhomes manufactures that it's very difficult to choose. It seems there are people who love and hate the brand that I want. I like Monaco and Holiday Rambler for upper medium priced units. It seems that Tiffin always jumps to the top of my list as they have the nicest looking and logical floor-plans and a much better MSRP for similarly equipped units (compared to Monaco and Holiday Rambler).
The Tiffin Allegro Bus 42 ft. would be my choice if a could spend $330,000.... the 40 ft. Phaeton at $225,000 is a close second with nice amenities.
One thing that I noticed is that some manufactures offer "electric refrigerators". I had the propane/electric in the rentals and they worked perfectly. I like the option of switching power sources if needed.
Not all parks have 50 amp service which happened to me. With a 30 amp connection, I could switch the hot water tank to propane to relieve the demand for electricity for other items in the coach. Seemed to work perfectly that way.
Looking forward to reading more posts,
Thanks, Mr.Mark :C
I have had the motorhome bug for quite sometime. I've been receiving Motorhome magazine since 1998 and read everything that I can get my hands on. Not sure yet when I'll pull the trigger but I will know what I want when the time comes with information posted here at TrailerLife and other sources.
I've rented 3 units over the last three years. I wanted to rent new units so I found a company that changes out their rentals every year and replaced them with new units. In 2004, I rented a 2004 class C Fleetwood Tioga, 31 ft, one slide, master bedroom in rear with an overhead bed above the cab. That was a great unit and opened my eyes for what I would want in a motorhome. I decided bigger is better. I rented this unit for 7 days.
The next year, I rented a 2005 class A Fleetwood Expedition, 38 ft., 3 slides, Diesel Pusher, 300HP. It was a great unit since my knowledge was rather limited. It's hard for me to compare the Freightliner Chassis to anything else since that's the first "A" class that I had driven. I thought it drove nice but had a little bit of road steer (on uneven roads). I'm not sure if that's typical or not. I enjoyed the unit the 9 days that rented it.
My last rental (May 2006), I rented a 2006 class A Fleetwood Expedition, 38ft., 4 slides, DP, 300HP. It was nice having the four slides. It really opens up the unit, especially, with two slides in the bedroom. This unit seemed to drive and behave just like the previous one that I rented but the dashboard was updated and was easier to use and reach buttons. I rented this unit for 14 days.
I have read about so many different motorhomes manufactures that it's very difficult to choose. It seems there are people who love and hate the brand that I want. I like Monaco and Holiday Rambler for upper medium priced units. It seems that Tiffin always jumps to the top of my list as they have the nicest looking and logical floor-plans and a much better MSRP for similarly equipped units (compared to Monaco and Holiday Rambler).
The Tiffin Allegro Bus 42 ft. would be my choice if a could spend $330,000.... the 40 ft. Phaeton at $225,000 is a close second with nice amenities.
One thing that I noticed is that some manufactures offer "electric refrigerators". I had the propane/electric in the rentals and they worked perfectly. I like the option of switching power sources if needed.
Not all parks have 50 amp service which happened to me. With a 30 amp connection, I could switch the hot water tank to propane to relieve the demand for electricity for other items in the coach. Seemed to work perfectly that way.
Looking forward to reading more posts,
Thanks, Mr.Mark :C
