Travel Trailer vs. Motorhome (my situation)
I did a search in the Search box here for "travel trailer vs. motorhome" and it gets zero results. You can try it for yourself. I even tried "travel trailer motorhome". Nada. (that's Spanish for n...
Forum Discussion
Might want to check new "big truck" prices. My F150, super crew cab, max towing package, 5.4L gasser, blah blah, was $45K in 2010! Prices have jumped since then, and mine is limited to 11,100 lbs. Not a "big truck". The ones I've seen cost more than my used Class A.
My last setup was the truck mentioned, and a travel trailer. It was great, but had its pros/cons.
This is my second Class A. Bought this one 3 years old, paid $75K. Already had the Jeep. I retire in less than 1.5 years, and we plan on doing a lot of traveling.
Things I like about a Class A over a trailer.
* Built in generator. When we stop at rest stops, the rig is ALREADY cool, and everything works, just like being connected to utilities. Make a sammich, take a shower, take a nap, our choice.
* Backing a Class A is easier. There are no blind spots. It doesn't bend in the middle. I can always see down both sides, and the rear view camera can see the rest.
* When I back into the site, I put the motorhome in park, shut off the engine, and leave the generator running. A button is pushed, and the rig self levels. The wife drives out the slides. It doesn't matter if it's raining outside or not. If it is, I can wait until later to connect to shore utilities, then shut off the generator.
* Once we are at a campground, we have the nimble Jeep to go in town, or go off-roading. This can go many places a full sized truck either won't fit well, or not at all.
* If the engine dies in the tow vehicle (motorhome in my case), I always have a powered life-boat available.
* The motorhome has a big truck chassis (F550 on ours), V10 engine, and beefy transmission. Some people tow trailers with trucks struggling to handle the max rated load. My BIL was a good example! The only way I can tell the Jeep is still attached is to look at the rear view camera monitor. No perceptible difference towing it or not.
* Big comfy captain's chairs in the motorhome. Lots of room for everything, without having the cab packed with food, a cooler, and things we need quick access to. Plenty of room for 2 people, or 8, plus our dog.
* Sitting up as high as tractor trailers gives us a much better view of traffic ahead. Gawd forbid if we are in a head on accident with a car... but at least the worst of it will be well below us.
* The motorhome we have has an 80 gallon gas tank. More than double what my F150 has. Makes for a greater range before needing to look for fuel. Usually not a big deal, but was VERY handy in 2004 when we evacuated due to a hurricane with our then 1999 Class A. Gas stations were either empty or packed in FL.
* Our motorhome came with 4 house batteries, and an inverter. We can shut the engine and generator down, and still have 120 VAC power. Obviously this can be done with a trailer, but not a commonly included feature that I have seen.
* I don't have to tow anything. If we go to Disney's Fort Wilderness, all the transportation once there is provided. Last time we went, we took a small utility trailer, and our golf cart. That would be a challenge with a 5ver, unless a toy hauler!
If you have local friends with a Class A, and a 5ver, or big TT, I would encourage you to take both for a test drive. Take a look in the cab, consider how much stuff you'd typically want handy, and where it will all fit.
There is no ideal setup for everyone. But you can pretty much bet if it's going to be big enough to full time, and be comfortable, you're going to tow "something".
I've changed our setup many times over the years. Have yet to find the perfect one, but sure like what we have now.
Happy shopping!
My last setup was the truck mentioned, and a travel trailer. It was great, but had its pros/cons.
This is my second Class A. Bought this one 3 years old, paid $75K. Already had the Jeep. I retire in less than 1.5 years, and we plan on doing a lot of traveling.
Things I like about a Class A over a trailer.
* Built in generator. When we stop at rest stops, the rig is ALREADY cool, and everything works, just like being connected to utilities. Make a sammich, take a shower, take a nap, our choice.
* Backing a Class A is easier. There are no blind spots. It doesn't bend in the middle. I can always see down both sides, and the rear view camera can see the rest.
* When I back into the site, I put the motorhome in park, shut off the engine, and leave the generator running. A button is pushed, and the rig self levels. The wife drives out the slides. It doesn't matter if it's raining outside or not. If it is, I can wait until later to connect to shore utilities, then shut off the generator.
* Once we are at a campground, we have the nimble Jeep to go in town, or go off-roading. This can go many places a full sized truck either won't fit well, or not at all.
* If the engine dies in the tow vehicle (motorhome in my case), I always have a powered life-boat available.
* The motorhome has a big truck chassis (F550 on ours), V10 engine, and beefy transmission. Some people tow trailers with trucks struggling to handle the max rated load. My BIL was a good example! The only way I can tell the Jeep is still attached is to look at the rear view camera monitor. No perceptible difference towing it or not.
* Big comfy captain's chairs in the motorhome. Lots of room for everything, without having the cab packed with food, a cooler, and things we need quick access to. Plenty of room for 2 people, or 8, plus our dog.
* Sitting up as high as tractor trailers gives us a much better view of traffic ahead. Gawd forbid if we are in a head on accident with a car... but at least the worst of it will be well below us.
* The motorhome we have has an 80 gallon gas tank. More than double what my F150 has. Makes for a greater range before needing to look for fuel. Usually not a big deal, but was VERY handy in 2004 when we evacuated due to a hurricane with our then 1999 Class A. Gas stations were either empty or packed in FL.
* Our motorhome came with 4 house batteries, and an inverter. We can shut the engine and generator down, and still have 120 VAC power. Obviously this can be done with a trailer, but not a commonly included feature that I have seen.
* I don't have to tow anything. If we go to Disney's Fort Wilderness, all the transportation once there is provided. Last time we went, we took a small utility trailer, and our golf cart. That would be a challenge with a 5ver, unless a toy hauler!
If you have local friends with a Class A, and a 5ver, or big TT, I would encourage you to take both for a test drive. Take a look in the cab, consider how much stuff you'd typically want handy, and where it will all fit.
There is no ideal setup for everyone. But you can pretty much bet if it's going to be big enough to full time, and be comfortable, you're going to tow "something".
I've changed our setup many times over the years. Have yet to find the perfect one, but sure like what we have now.
Happy shopping!
