Some Noob questions

Good day, all.

DW pretty much shot down the idea of a truck camper so looking at other alternatives to our 40ft 5th wheel. Me, DW, and 10 and 12 year old girls.

Been looking at motorhomes. Got lots of experience with TT, Popups, and on our second season of our bath and a half fifth wheel. A fine unit...just too much trailer for what we need.

Started looking at 35' and under Class Cs. Really like the Winnie Via since it has an outdoor kitchen option which appeals to us. But would require us to tow something -- and we don't own anything that can be flat-towed at the moment. Not as interested in pulling a dolly with us.

Started looking a the Sprinter-based Class C units by various manufacturers and really like them. Can get a kid in the cab-over and one in the dinette and think it will have plenty of space for us as weekend warriors that don't spent much time inside anyway.

A few questions:

1) For those that drive a 25' Class C, is the idea there that it's small enough to run around on day-trips or into town with so you don't need to take a car along as well? Seems like finding parking for a small Class C wouldn't be all that terrible. It's only a few feet longer than my F-250

2) For those that do that, is it a PITA to put necessary things away prior to travel? DW brought this up and it's a good point. We leave out the coffee maker, foam soaps at each sink, any plant we take along, maybe the drying rack has some stuff in it, toiletries on the sink, etc. None of this is difficult to put away, of course, and maybe it means making some changes to facilitate this, but curious what folks do.

3) It isn't often that I come across this, but some cg sites are tilted both front to back AND right to left. I imagine leveling a camper out in two planes could be frustrating since you would potentially have to level 3 tires out at 3 different heights. And if we ran around town and came back, that would mean doing it multiple times. I know HWH makes nice kits for these Sprinter chassis to ease that burden...and maybe that's the way to go, but again, just curious.

4) Generators: I like the idea of dry-camping -- something we can't easily do now with my fiver. I have read that the typical 3,000ish watt Onan generators will consume about 3/10ths of a gallon of diesel per hour at 1/2 load or 6/10ths of a gallon of propane at half load. Has this been your experience? For a small Class C that holds roughly 14 gallons of propane (equivalent to 2 30lb tanks?), that could mean burning through a whole tank of propane in less than 24 hours if you need the A/C and you're pulling some watts. Diesel would seem like the way to go...but I've read that the diesel fumes can get tiresome after a while, but the propane doesn't have the same issue. And speaking of generators, why are some manufacturers installing them on the curb side of the coach...with the exhaust pipe sticking straight at the under awning area where one might have some chairs or a picnic table set up? Seems like you'd naturally want to install it on the street side.

I'm sorry this has gotten long. I have never owned a MH...so I'm doing some research. DW and I plan to attend the Hershey show next month to touch a bunch of stuff that interests us.

Thanks for your time.
DNC

Class C

Mike_Leslie
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014
I agree with your wife. We went from a 30 ft 5th wheel to a truck camper! I DID NOT LIKE IT! Too cramped. I see there are larger ones with slides but I don't know if they are too heavy for a Ford 250. Still would be cramped.

Anyway, we went to a 29 ft Class C Winnebago Minnie 29B. We often travel with our two grands, close to your children's ages. Sometimes I wish we had the cab-over single and/or double bed. Sometimes both kids sleep head to toe on the jackknife sofa, or one sleeps on the dinette bed. It is a pain having them in the living area, but we usually go outside for our morning coffee, anyway. (or if traveling, just start driving as they continue sleeping.)

The jackknife sofa bed is large enough for an adult and a child. The dinette could fit two kids or one adult.

We did buy a Honda CRV to tow. We have only towed the car twice. Other times, when on a travel trip we move most days so the car isn't necessary. When we stayed at a local campground for two weeks we drove our pickup separately to bring the bikes and such.

I would be tight in a less than 25 foot rig. Many smaller rigs don't have windows on both sides. I like to look out both sides to see the sights while traveling.
Enough of my ramblings. For you I would consider a gas C or A about 28-30 foot with side windows on left and right for site-seeing for passengers.

Mike Leslie
2003 Winnebago Minnie 29B
DazedNConfused
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014
newman fulltimer wrote:
just remember why did you by the unit you have to begin with.it will be no diff in size once you get more experianced and familiar with pulling that unit.

Got talked into it by DW. I wanted a 30'-32' unit. Wife really wanted that second 1/2 bath. Now that we've had the unit for 2 seasons, it's moved to the "nice to have" vs. "must have" category. We carry a lot of stuff...and yet we still have to pad the big pantry and cabinets with towels and stuff before we leave since we don't have enough junk to fill them up. There is TONS of storage!! It's a wonderful camper, it's got great options, and it does serve us very well when we camp -- I'd just like something a bit shorter, have one less black tank to clean each trip, etc. These are just personal choices...everyone has their opinions here. But we typically camp for 4 days at a time...and anything that can simplify the experience and take less pre-trip, during trip, and post-trip time will be very welcome.
wildtoad
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2014
Dazed,

Going from 40' FW to 25' MH will be a big shock when you try to find places to store your stuff. You mention you like to dry camp so you will want to consider holding tank capacity and from what I've read the Sprinter based class c's have Dixie cup sized holding tanks. I like the idea of a bunk house class A or C.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2014
just remember why did you by the unit you have to begin with.it will be no diff in size once you get more experianced and familiar with pulling that unit.
DazedNConfused
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014
newman fulltimer wrote:
sothe wife wont drive this setup u think she will a mh and toad?also consider keep up with a mh now another vengine tranny.if you want to down size you can there are smaller units i have a guy selling a 30' cardinal bunkhouse because he nolonger needs a bunkhouse.

The thread was more toward the 25' MH without a toad. That I think she'd drive with no problem. But if that wont' work, then it sounds like I'm relegated to full-time driver again. A 30' bunkhouse could work...and lopping 10-feet off the back would make a world of difference for things like getting into my driveway.

Looking forward to Hershey. Hoping we'll come away with a decision on whether we're gonna' swap some hardware around or keep what we have.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2014
sothe wife wont drive this setup u think she will a mh and toad?also consider keep up with a mh now another vengine tranny.if you want to down size you can there are smaller units i have a guy selling a 30' cardinal bunkhouse because he nolonger needs a bunkhouse.
DazedNConfused
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014
I'm starting to hear this everywhere I ask -- not just here. The girls are getting older, they will want to bring friends (we do this every now and again already), space will be important, etc. I'm tired of yanking around 40 feet of camper. I'm the one that maintains it, cleans it, deals with 6 fluid holding tanks, etc. -- so of course all the girls love what we have. It would also be nice to have DW drive a little on the long trips -- but she won't do it with 55' of truck, camper, and bikes.

Once we get set up it is very nice...but there are been a few sites where it was a near nightmare getting in our spot because of what was around us -- trees, other rigs, etc. A few weekends ago I pulled up and over a mountain that I'd normally enjoy on my motorcycle. Tractor trailers do this -- so figured I could as well. The shoulders were wide and I really had no issue, but it was very slow going with a very well placed truck to get around the curves without encroaching on the oncoming lane. A smaller rig would have been far simpler. Maybe the right setup would be to just downsize my rig to a near 30-foot TT or 5-er with one less bathroom, get that Airstream I've always wanted, or just suck it up and stick with what I got. Truck and 5-er are just about both paid for -- so there's something to be said for that.

I do really value everyone's opinions. All families and dynamics are different -- and if my kids were both in the 3-5 range, both of them up over the cab would be easy -- but we're not there anymore.

I'll keep reading. I won't discount this quite yet. We spend very little time inside the camper when we travel. We cook outside, eat outside, and mostly go in to just sleep. So I do think a small rig could work for us. It would only feel cramped on rainy wash-out weekend. But even then, we always find stuff to do in nearby cities. But some of our best camping trips have been laughing until we cry while playing games like Hedbanz while huddled in the camper in the pouring rain, munching on cheese and crackers and fresh popcorn, and mixing up margaritas. :)
tboss
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014
Its hard enough to live in a 2000 sq.ft. home with two girls that age ,,I had 3 girls and let assure you me there aint nothin big enough to accommodate them when they start dating and wanting their own space, better get you something bigger that than one you got.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2014
if you get a mh you need a toad there is really no getting around it with a family.with the trailer you can have the truck already.if you want for you and the wife by a cheap popup or small trailer and enjoy.note the popupmight be a good option for small fast trips to have some fun
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Aug 15, 2014
We have a nice 24' 6" C and it is perfect for the two of us (and of course da pooch), but I just do not see anything in the 25' range working for your family of 4. Having to make up the dinette which becomes a smallish bunk at best, every night will get old fast. Coming from a large fiver you will probably need to be closer to 30 to comfortably make it work and then you are back at the "Gotta have a Toad dilemma" .... but since you asked:

Using ours for sightseeing, shopping etc., is a piece of cake as it easy to drive and park. Leaving a site merely entails putting a couple of items away, disconnecting from power (if available), turning the key and driving off. Yes you do need to keep the clutter to a minimum but that has always been our routine anyway.

Leveling has never been an issue. I use the yellow Leggo style blocks and have never needed to go more than 2 blocks high. If leveling takes more than 3 minutes and two tries I am simply not paying enough attention. Leveling systems add weight, complexity and expense but some folks like the ability to just push a button (you frequently see them under their coach placing boards for the leveling jacks to sit on). :h

Our C, like most out there, came with a 4,000 watt built in gas generator and works great. Located forward on the street side it is very quiet and fumes have never been an issue. In the last year we have put 18,000+ miles on the coach and only 25 hours on the genny. It burns about .5 of a gallon when running under a heavy load (which is the best way to run it). A propane generator will use more propane in extended applications than most coaches carry (keep in mind that an LP tank rated at 14 gallons will only hold 80%=11 gal, of that figure), gas is cheaper and easier to refuel. If your coach is a diesel then a diesel genset makes a lot of sense but LP.... not so much.

The Hershey show would be the ultimate place to look as they reportedly have everything under the sun. Bring the entire family and see what will work for all of you but I would leave the checkbook home as they have some smooooth talking salesmen there. Good luck! :B