Help with the length of a motorhome

Wow vacuflush, is it contagious? Something you can get a shot for? Heard of many things but never that!

Mondooker wrote:
You guys have already talked me out of any thought of going without a toad. I'll go with a toad for sure! The 40' sounds good. I thought most 40's have a tag axle? Tag axle a bad idea or just that it costs more to buy?

Moondocker
Sounds like you need to get out and start looking at coaches. I upgraded from 37' to a 40' diesel. Did not have to "haul an extra bathroom around" we only have one thanks.
35 to 40 is a nice size, great ride, NO TAG AXLE!!!!!! the shorter diesel coaches ride rough! Shorter wheelbase = rough ride.

Another question you will be asking is 4 down or a dolly when towing....4 down is the way we go! Takes about 2 minutes to hook the jeep up! just as quick to disconnect.

Typically, coaches over 40 feet will have a tag axle. Will cost ya more when going thru tolls, two extra tires to deal with. You will see the 1-1/2 baths in some of the bigger rigs. One issue with the extra bathrooms...VACUFLUSH!!! LOL. Start reading the vacuflush threads...not pretty.

Great forum with LOTS of great people!

Mondooker wrote:
I'm still working on a 45 footer is as easy to navigate as a 40, is that for real? One thing that has surprised me greatly is the little difference in price between a used 40 to 45 footer.

• Would it also be true that a 45' would cost no more in maintenance than a 40?

• From what I've seen the 45' seems to use about the same amount of fuel as a 40?

If the above is true is there any reason to rule out a 44' or 45'er if everything else is even?

NO! There is a big difference on how much fuel they use. The heavier the coach, the more fuel it is going to use. My friend has a 40'Wanderlodge BB with a tag and he only gets 5-6 mpg. He has a detroit diesel. But his coach weighs around 40K lbs.

I have a 38'coach with the Cat engine which weigh's 30K and I get 8-9 mpg. So those heavy coaches with tag axles do use more diesel.

barmcd wrote:

2gypsies wrote:

RayChez wrote:
The only way I would buy a 45' coach would be if I was a full timer. But if you own a 2-3K sq ft house already it would be dumb to buy such a big coach for frequent camping trips. Most of these 45' coaches are full timers living on 450 sq ft to replace their 3K or more sq ft house. And even at that it would be a shock to go from such a big beautiful house to 450 sq ft coach to me anyways.

Most full-timers definitely do not drive 45' MHs. :) They very comfortably use Class Bs, Class Cs, and any kind of small RVs.

That doesn't reflect my experience. Most full timers I run into drive a long class A's or pull large 5th wheels.

I think we should separate snowbirds from real fulltimers.
Don't think people who put 20,000 miles a year drive 45-footers.
I plan to go fulltime this year with 11 foot camper.
I mean I plan to travel for +- 6 months as my wife is not thrilled with 12 months, but who knows...
40' conversion will make our base in California or Nevada.

I'm still working on a 45 footer is as easy to navigate as a 40, is that for real? One thing that has surprised me greatly is the little difference in price between a used 40 to 45 footer.

• Would it also be true that a 45' would cost no more in maintenance than a 40?

• From what I've seen the 45' seems to use about the same amount of fuel as a 40?

If the above is true is there any reason to rule out a 44' or 45'er if everything else is even?

2gypsies wrote:

RayChez wrote:
The only way I would buy a 45' coach would be if I was a full timer. But if you own a 2-3K sq ft house already it would be dumb to buy such a big coach for frequent camping trips. Most of these 45' coaches are full timers living on 450 sq ft to replace their 3K or more sq ft house. And even at that it would be a shock to go from such a big beautiful house to 450 sq ft coach to me anyways.

Most full-timers definitely do not drive 45' MHs. :) They very comfortably use Class Bs, Class Cs, and any kind of small RVs.

I think RayChez was saying that most 45ft rigs are driven by fulltimers, not that most fulltimers drive 45ft rigs.

2gypsies wrote:

RayChez wrote:
The only way I would buy a 45' coach would be if I was a full timer. But if you own a 2-3K sq ft house already it would be dumb to buy such a big coach for frequent camping trips. Most of these 45' coaches are full timers living on 450 sq ft to replace their 3K or more sq ft house. And even at that it would be a shock to go from such a big beautiful house to 450 sq ft coach to me anyways.

Most full-timers definitely do not drive 45' MHs. :) They very comfortably use Class Bs, Class Cs, and any kind of small RVs.

That doesn't reflect my experience. Most full timers I run into drive a long class A's or pull large 5th wheels.

RayChez wrote:
The only way I would buy a 45' coach would be if I was a full timer. But if you own a 2-3K sq ft house already it would be dumb to buy such a big coach for frequent camping trips. Most of these 45' coaches are full timers living on 450 sq ft to replace their 3K or more sq ft house. And even at that it would be a shock to go from such a big beautiful house to 450 sq ft coach to me anyways.

Most full-timers definitely do not drive 45' MHs. :) They very comfortably use Class Bs, Class Cs, and any kind of small RVs.

The only way I would buy a 45' coach would be if I was a full timer. But if you own a 2-3K sq ft house already it would be dumb to buy such a big coach for frequent camping trips. Most of these 45' coaches are full timers living on 450 sq ft to replace their 3K or more sq ft house. And even at that it would be a shock to go from such a big beautiful house to 450 sq ft coach to me anyways.

I believe on retaining at least one stick house in case you kick the bucket and your wife does not like traveling around from camp ground to campground by herself. That way she can sell the coach and go back to a stick house.

Very seldom do you see 45' coaches in remote camping wilderness camp grounds. Most of the time they just jump from one luxury camp ground to the next.

I know some will say, WELL! I have never had any problems getting into state parks with my 45' coach.

My friends, I only have a 38' and I almost had to cut down trees to get out of a camp ground near the Redwoods off 101.

NADA is decent for MH's 10 or so years old or less. As they get older, the values get way off.