Travel Trailer vs. Motorhome (my situation)

DallasSteve wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:
To the OP: Why are you considering a bunk house? Are you thinking of using the bunk room as an office? The Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS is 37 feet. If you want to consider a fifth wheel, consider the GD Reflection 337RLS which is only 35 feet long.

Are you planning on boondocking, or only using sites where at least electric is available?

2012 Coleman

Good questions. I'll answer and I'd like to ask a question or two about Grand Design pricing for anyone to answer.

I don't expect to use the bunk house much for guests, but since we will be living in the rig full time I like to have more closet and storage space, plus it gives the outdoor kitchen which I want. To me a bigger space waster is the sofa at the end of the 337RLS fifth wheel you posted. We won't entertain much to need that either.

As for boondocking, I want to give it a try in some parks, but we will probably use full hookups mostly, unless we like boondocking a lot. So we might not even need a generator.

I just browsed the two Grand Design models on RV Trader and the fifth wheel is about $10,000 more. I like it, but probably not that much. My question is about the pricing. I've read that Grand Design dealers are prohibited from discounting new models. It looks like they can discount unsold new models from last year (2019).

How much will the Grand Design dealers usually discount the new year models?

Thanks, Steve

I can see your point on using the bunk room for extra storage for a full timer - was curious as the huge back window was a selling point for us - but again, we don't full time. As for pricing, I'm not sure where you read that, but my GD 303 RLS was a new model in May 2018 when I bought it, and I negotiated 30% off the MSRP which was a lower price than what they pushed across the table - I also got a second AC in the front bedroom installed at half the price as part of that deal. Dealer Was General RV in Orange Park Fl.

My input on the type of RV to get is this: I never owned a motorhome but have traveled and camped in one owned by my in-laws. A pro was the quiet on board generator we used to stop for the night where there was no available power. A con was not being able to back up with a towed vehicle hooked up - but people get over that. We had an issue in a gas station that caused us to have to disconnect it.

I have pulled and camped extensively in a travel trailer, and upgraded to the fifth wheel. The towing experience is much better with the fifth wheel, but since you stated that your trips will be short, that may be a non issue for you.

Regarding bed space - you should be aware of the payload capacity of the vehicle your towing with. I towed my previous TT with a 2003 Tundra, which was maxed out on payload. The drivers seat felt like a water bed even though there was no squatting when hooked up, and big rigs pushed me around a lot. All the stuff I used to haul in my bed including 42 gallon Thetford portable waste tank, and a big RTIC cooler for my beer, three bikes, grills, chairs, fan, patio mat, wagon, you name it, all fits in my basement storage.

I think the GD Reflection your looking at would be a good choice. Note that Grand Design is one of the few, if not the only manufacturer that won't void your warranty for living in it full time. I've also had an issue with my awning after the warranty was over that GD had fixed for me at no charge.

On edit - after reading 2manytoyz's post, I'd be tempted to go his route!