Forum Discussion
2gypsies1
Jan 05, 2018Explorer III
DallasSteve wrote:2gypsies wrote:DallasSteve wrote:
Is there much off-roading that I can do and does it cost much? I'm thinking that national/state parks have restrictions on where you can go off-road and private areas probably charge a fee.
There's no fee for off-roading with a Jeep. However, you just don't cut across lands and create your own trails. There are awesome established trails in the western states by using national forest and BLM lands. You can also boondock at beautiful spots on these lands - no charge.
We full-timed 8 years with a truck & 5th wheel. We always hated driving the truck. Our next 8 years were done with a motorhome and Jeep and we had so much fun. We've driven at 12,000' elevation in the gorgeous mountains on Jeeping trails. The scenery was unforgettable!
2gypsies
Thanks for your post on my thread. I looked up your Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome. That looks like it's close to the perfect set up for me to full-time with a Jeep. There are a few items that concern me and I wonder how you felt about them during your 8 years in that RV.
1 - It looks like it would be hard to turn corners in a motor home that long. Most of the travel would be straight, but sometimes you have to turn the corners. Was it much of a problem for you?
Never had problems turning corners. You just take your time; get prepared to swing wide. Use your signals and folks are very accommodating in giving you enough room.
2 - I've read that it can be hard to travel some roads because it is so wide. Is a Class A really wider that a Class C or a travel trailer and it is a problem on some roads?
We traveled secondary roads and forest service roads 95% of our time and didn't have issues.
3 - I've read it costs about $2,000 to replace the tires on a Class A and I see yours had at least 6 tires. Is that about the right price? I need to figure that in my budget. Is that once every 3 years or about how often?
Yes, have a budget for tires. The big ones are, indeed, expensive. It's recommended to change them by age not by looks. 7 yr. is the norm.
4 - Some people (like my brother who drives a Class C) say that a Class A is much more dangerous in an accident, especially a front-end impact. What do you think?
Never worried about it. In 16 years never had an accident. We've seen pictures of trucks getting hit head on and they aren't pretty either. One thing, you're sitting higher in a motorhome if that helps your thoughts.
5 - I don't want diesel for several reasons. Would a gasser with a front-end motor make a lot more noise in the cabin?
Yes.
6 - Some people comment that it is harder to find mechanics to service the Class A motorhomes. What was your experience?
We didn't need mechanics but they're out there for motorhomes. We found it easy to get regular servicing. We'd call a place in the direction we were heading in a few days; arrive as scheduled and in and out either that day or spend the night on their lot - mostly with electric - and left the next morning.
7 - If you were going to start full-time today in a Class A about what year model would you want to buy used?
Age isn't as important as upkeep. I'd try for 'by owner', if possible then you can see how he keeps his home/yard, too. Some owners have great pride in what they own. If the owner had all the maintenance records for you to see that would be an added plus. Also, for full-timing there are better quality RV manufacturers than for weekenders. We had a great experience with Newmar but there are others.
Regards, Steve
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