Long Driving Days: Class A vs. Trailer
We've recently changed from a truck and bumper pull to a Class A motorhome. We've done nearly 40k miles with the trailer. On long trips, we would average about 500 miles per day when trying to "make...
Forum Discussion
For me it is night and day.
We’ve traveled from Texas to Florida, California and Canada. I have a job and limited time off. I’ve loved every trip we’ve ever taken in the trailer and RV and love the places we’ve run into unexpectantly and spent time exploring (Little Big Horn, Pertrified Forest National Park, etc), but sometimes we just need to get “there” and make a note of those unique places for next time.
We started out with a 26’ travel trailer (4500#) and an Expedition. We never really took it further than 300 mi and I was done when we got there. Trailer was well under the tow rating of the expedition, but driving a safe speed (60ish) and fighting the wind wore me out. Not to mention traveling with 3 young kids (and the dog most times) in the back, stoping for bathroom and gas entirely to often (6 mpg).
It would have been better with a diesel 3/4 ton and I might feel different, but I doubt it.
We moved up to a DP. Now when we have long travel days we only stop when I need to. Usually every 3 hrs, but I’ve driven 6 hrs with out getting up. We Walmart camp, so I don’t see the need to stop early and will drive until 10-12 PM. On these long travel days we’ll often travel 600-800 mi.
For us, everyone is more comfortable and relaxed. I can’t tell you how nice it is to not start a trip hearing the kids squawk about who did what to who because they’re crammed in the back seat together. I don’t have to stop because someone needs to use the restroom. We take our own food so we eat better. When the kids were younger we would find a park for lunch so they could run around for a few min and we could stretch our legs.
It’s infinitely better for me. Part of it is the switch from a truck/trailer to an RV and part from gas to diesel. Hope this helps.
We’ve traveled from Texas to Florida, California and Canada. I have a job and limited time off. I’ve loved every trip we’ve ever taken in the trailer and RV and love the places we’ve run into unexpectantly and spent time exploring (Little Big Horn, Pertrified Forest National Park, etc), but sometimes we just need to get “there” and make a note of those unique places for next time.
We started out with a 26’ travel trailer (4500#) and an Expedition. We never really took it further than 300 mi and I was done when we got there. Trailer was well under the tow rating of the expedition, but driving a safe speed (60ish) and fighting the wind wore me out. Not to mention traveling with 3 young kids (and the dog most times) in the back, stoping for bathroom and gas entirely to often (6 mpg).
It would have been better with a diesel 3/4 ton and I might feel different, but I doubt it.
We moved up to a DP. Now when we have long travel days we only stop when I need to. Usually every 3 hrs, but I’ve driven 6 hrs with out getting up. We Walmart camp, so I don’t see the need to stop early and will drive until 10-12 PM. On these long travel days we’ll often travel 600-800 mi.
For us, everyone is more comfortable and relaxed. I can’t tell you how nice it is to not start a trip hearing the kids squawk about who did what to who because they’re crammed in the back seat together. I don’t have to stop because someone needs to use the restroom. We take our own food so we eat better. When the kids were younger we would find a park for lunch so they could run around for a few min and we could stretch our legs.
It’s infinitely better for me. Part of it is the switch from a truck/trailer to an RV and part from gas to diesel. Hope this helps.
