Newbie purchase advice needed
I’ve been waiting and waiting to make the leap and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel now. My vehicle is old and in need of replacing in a few months and so when I do it I want to m...
Forum Discussion
Welcome to the board martinni. A lot of good suggestions so far.
Also, I think you have a few misconceptions in your original post. While I'm used to driving large vehicles, either straight vehicles (like a class C) or combos (trailers) I don't see an advantage to a trailer if you think a C would be too cumbersome to drive.
Also, maintenance on your typical class C is about the same as a heavy duty pickup truck. Nothing fancy there. Maint of the "camper" portion is also the same as say a travel trailer.
There are trade offs as mentioned. Get a decent size C and it's not practical for day to day driving or off the beaten path sight seeing. Thus the reccomendation for a toad. Now, most Cs will be pretty maxed out towing a toad and they're basically powered to move themselves without a heavy trailer in tow, but a compact car/SUV is doable.
Now you're the same length as a pickup and TT and you have a trailer (the toad) that can't be readily backed up.
Take a full size pickup, any flavor, and add a moderate size TT to it ( you said you need space, so I'm leaving out the teardrop type campers that you could pull with a mid size vehicle or lighter duty pickup) and now you're just as long as a C and toad, but you have a bigger "tail" or trailer.
Point is, these are the 2 most prominent options for your intended needs and both require some acquired or learned skills to get out on the road safely.
Perhaps you know some people who have a truck and trailer (any type) that you can gauge your skill or comfort level with, or someone who has a C that you could take for a spin?
Bottom line, both options are quite similar and one of the bigger differences I see is maintaining 2 "vehicles" vs one. More maint, but also more "security" if you have a toad and the C breaks down, you still have wheels, or vice versa.
Either way, good luck and go live your dream!
Also, I think you have a few misconceptions in your original post. While I'm used to driving large vehicles, either straight vehicles (like a class C) or combos (trailers) I don't see an advantage to a trailer if you think a C would be too cumbersome to drive.
Also, maintenance on your typical class C is about the same as a heavy duty pickup truck. Nothing fancy there. Maint of the "camper" portion is also the same as say a travel trailer.
There are trade offs as mentioned. Get a decent size C and it's not practical for day to day driving or off the beaten path sight seeing. Thus the reccomendation for a toad. Now, most Cs will be pretty maxed out towing a toad and they're basically powered to move themselves without a heavy trailer in tow, but a compact car/SUV is doable.
Now you're the same length as a pickup and TT and you have a trailer (the toad) that can't be readily backed up.
Take a full size pickup, any flavor, and add a moderate size TT to it ( you said you need space, so I'm leaving out the teardrop type campers that you could pull with a mid size vehicle or lighter duty pickup) and now you're just as long as a C and toad, but you have a bigger "tail" or trailer.
Point is, these are the 2 most prominent options for your intended needs and both require some acquired or learned skills to get out on the road safely.
Perhaps you know some people who have a truck and trailer (any type) that you can gauge your skill or comfort level with, or someone who has a C that you could take for a spin?
Bottom line, both options are quite similar and one of the bigger differences I see is maintaining 2 "vehicles" vs one. More maint, but also more "security" if you have a toad and the C breaks down, you still have wheels, or vice versa.
Either way, good luck and go live your dream!
