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blownstang01's avatar
blownstang01
Explorer
Oct 08, 2019

Help Switching to 40' Pusher

I'm going to be buying a Diesel Pusher within the next year and looking for advice on what to expect moving up from a Class C.
A little background, we have had TT's of various sizes and moved up to a 31' Class C - 4 years ago. While I have never driven a bus-sized vehicle, I'm not concerned much at all, I've towed everything from a small TT to my 42' 5th wheel race hauler. So, I'm not too concerned about learning to drive the bus. I'm looking at 40' pushers, 2008-2012 vintage, most with 330HP ISC's, 950 lbs ft, some with 400 HP ISL's, 1,200 lbs ft. Single rear axle, no tag's...mostly due to price and extra length, I have heard they drive better though.
Mostly what I'm looking for is what to expect being different than camping with a C. My wife and I are looking at retirement in 12 years or so and want to get our feet wet travelling for several weeks at a time. We don't expect to fulltime, but once retired 3-4 months during the winter we would chase the nice weather.So, besides the obvious height difference to watch out for, what else is majorly different I should be looking out for?
Thanks in Advance.
Class A

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  • blownstang01's avatar
    blownstang01
    Explorer
    Oct 08, 2019
    Thanks for all the replies. For clarification, we still have 2 of our kids that go with us, even if for only a few more years, our youngest is 15. Plus we look forward to taking and spoiling grand kids once we have them. Plus 3 weeks or so on the road with my beautiful wife .....let's just say a smaller than our current 31' isn't going to cut it. Also, our plan (LOL, I know how these change) is to have this one until closer to retirement and then buy a newer one.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Oct 08, 2019
    I won’t try and talk you out of such a small MH but I think you’ll find a lot of advantages in something bigger. Biggest item is more CCC with a tag and rock solid handling. I do not have problems navigating gas stations (love GasBuddy), parking lots,CG roads but the trees can be limiting.

    We just completed 50 nights in the West without reservations...40 nights mainly in USFS CG, 4 night dispersed camping and 5 nights in private CGs with FHUs. Only in Moab did we have a problem finding a site...95 degrees and CGs full. 2.5 hours later we were at 9800’ in a USFS CG in CO. Next morning there was frost on the car.
  • ferndaleflyer's avatar
    ferndaleflyer
    Explorer III
    Oct 08, 2019
    You will be ok. You towed that car hauler fifth wheel you can drive anything. I have had up to a 45ft DP with 450hp and towed from 28 to 32 ft tag from coast to coast and it was easier for me than the fifth wheel I had for awhile. No one here but me since wife and dog both died so I now have a 36ft DP and have downsized my trailer to a 20ft Featherlite. Oh, I am 78 years old!
  • Tom_Barb's avatar
    Tom_Barb
    Explorer
    Oct 08, 2019
    40 seems to be perfect, for our use.

    43' seems to be too big for most camp grounds.
  • Jayco-noslide's avatar
    Jayco-noslide
    Explorer
    Oct 08, 2019
    I won't try to talk you out of such a huge MH but I think you'll find a lot of disadvantages unless you only go to campgrounds that you know or research to see if there's even a spot for 1 that big. 10 ft. can make a lot of difference in parking and navigating gas station, parking lots, campground roads, trees, etc. Of course, when you're parked you'll have all that house like room. Not for me. We're thinking of downsizing from a 30 ft. C to a Class B and not towing.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Oct 08, 2019
    More expensive and if you keep it for 12 years even more expensive. More restricted CG sites than the C. More room inside and more storage w/o the drive shaft from the front, perhaps a FT consideration.

    For limited camping for 12 years before FT we waited for a DP, and "FT" 3-5 months.

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