new driver,4person family,help to choose RV,thx

vincentru wrote:
I saw in my community?park 2 Class A RVs in theirs driveway,the city allow to park in driveway,just can't deter pedestrian areas,

so need I to check with my left and right neighbour?

thanks
vincent

As said, you need to actually go down to city hall and ask about it. Just because the neighbors are doing it, doesn't mean it's legal, and you (and they) could be cited at any time.

I parked my MH on my driveway in front of my house behind a chain link fence for 14 years...and THEN the city decided to "step up" enforcement of an existing ordinance that banned the practice, and I was cited. In my case, I decided to fight city hall, and after alot of work, research, pounding the pavement, and 6 months of fighting, I won and changed the city's RV parking rules. But it wasn't easy and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone.

ol' grouch wrote:

vincentru wrote:
I saw in my community?park 2 Class A RVs in theirs driveway,the city allow to park in driveway,just can't deter pedestrian areas,

so need I to check with my left and right neighbour?

thanks
vincent

I don't know if I'd ask if I could get an RV, but I'd mention you want to travel with the famoly and do your neighbors have any suggestions. Then, when you do get something, you can mention you listened to their advice.

It doesn't matter what the neighbors say; they are free to tell you anything at all. What matters are the local zoning laws and any HOA restrictions. I have a friend who was cited by her HOA after her child left a bike in the front yard overnight--seriously?! I don't think her HOA allows RV parking in front of the house for more than a few hours.

vincentru wrote:
I saw in my community?park 2 Class A RVs in theirs driveway,the city allow to park in driveway,just can't deter pedestrian areas,

so need I to check with my left and right neighbour?

thanks
vincent

I don't know if I'd ask if I could get an RV, but I'd mention you want to travel with the famoly and do your neighbors have any suggestions. Then, when you do get something, you can mention you listened to their advice.

I saw in my community?park 2 Class A RVs in theirs driveway,the city allow to park in driveway,just can't deter pedestrian areas,

so need I to check with my left and right neighbour?

thanks
vincent

Good point. And even if the city allows it, if your neighborhood has CC&Rs, you may not be able to park it. Many neighborhoods limit RV/boat parking to 24-36 hours (enough time to load/unload only).

vincentru wrote:
my driveway can stop a big long car.
vincent

Whether a MH will "fit" in your driveway is irrelevant. Many cities will not allow them to be parked there at all, even if they do "fit". You need to check with City Hall to see if any RV parking restrictions apply in your city.

The VERY first thing to remember when and if you get a motorhome, look up! Overhead clearance is something you don't worry about with a Honda Pilot but a class B or C will be a lot taller. My B is 9'2 tall although I have 9'6 over the windshield in case a mechanic or someone else drives it. I don't want to get it back 6 inches shorter.

I love my B but it's just me. My new ladyfriend wants to travel a bit and we should be okay but it'll be cramped. Then again, I'm 6 foot and she's 5'11. If she likes it, I may end up getting a C or at least a B+. The advantage to the B is I can use it like an oversized conversion van. Another advantage of a B or C over a trailer is breaking camp. I watched a neighbor at the last RV part breaking camp. Raising jacks, hooking up and so on took about 30 minutes. The same when they came in. Once I backed in, it took me 5 muinutes to hook up my electric and about that when I got ready to leave.

Now, you have two little ones. Whatever you get, make certain it has at least two captains chairs that can hold child seats. Mom and dad can sit up front and the little ones can be safe in back.

If I might make a suggestion, why not invest on a Conversion Van? You can get one with a raised roof. Most are based on 3/4 ton vans but I've seen minivans such as Astro Vans converted. Then you can pull a small camping trailer or even a small enclosed cargo trailer with tents and camping supplies. If you like camping and the kids take to it too, then you can lay some money for a dedicated motorhome. If it's too much trouble, sell the trailer and you still have a nice spare car to hold the kids and their sports equipment as they get older and bigger. Another bonus is when you're on a trip and a diaper needs changing. Mom or dad can stand up and change the diaper out of the weather. One last advantage to a conversion van is if heavy rain rolls in, everybody cvan get under a hard roof in the van.

If you do a search on "seat belts" and "child seats", you'll find that many, if not all, older RVs lack proper restraints in the house area to provide proper safety for little kids. Even those that you find with seat belts, the belts are just screwed into a piece of plywood under the cushion.

I completely understand your wish for a class C, I love mine.

But, you don't have any mechanical skills, you have 2 kids under 5 years, you don't have a lot of money to spend on a newer RV, etc. In addition, your last question about which class C is the best option shows your lack of knowledge in the area. No one can answer that question without seeing and examining each RV in question. You have to look at the condition of the engines, appliances, etc. as well as potential leaks and body damage. I think getting an older class c at this point isn't worth the convenience of the class c.

Since you want to get out and go now, and you plan on selling and upgrading later on, I think the pop-up is a much better solution.

A pop-up does require a bit more work to get on the go, but the initial purchase cost will be lower and there will be fewer things to go wrong (the engine will be your trusty pilot's) and you don't have to worry about lack of child safety restraints. You can start buying bedding, kitchen wear, etc. for the pop-up and use it when you upgrade. In addition, you can figure out what layout would work better for you. For instance, do you want to have to take down the dinette each night and put it up each morning? If not, are you and your wife going to sleep in the cabover bunk? What about the baby? Using a pop-up or other small trailer will allow you to decide what will work best while enjoying the outdoors and without putting a lot of money into paying others to fix the problems in an older class c.

I browsed the craigslist,some dealer,rvtrader, 85-90 class c is about 3k-5k usd,90-99year is 5k-12k.low miles, private seller;Cruise America is 17K usd,170K mile,2008;El Monte RV is 250K usd,low miles,2008.

which one is better? I have no mechanical skills,those 2 years,just want travel in CA,when I have more experience,I will sell this first Class C?so I want to save money for my first RV,just want to have experience first.

If I rent a class C for some time,the money can buy a old class C?

thanks

my driveway can stop a big long car.
I love motorhome so much,it's a mini home that not need to pop up every time?I want to bring 2 small kids go to the compground site around south CA first,we can decorate this motorhome and keep the style everyday,store some book or toy?and cloth?ect..

thanks so much for the above suggestion.

have a new problem someone have mentioned:how to setup 2 safe seat in a old class C?

Thanks a lot!
vincent