Hi,We are starting our research to purchase an RV to explore the USA and visit old sailing buddies across the country.We have about $25.000 - $35.000 to spend maybe more for the right vehicle with good resale for when we are done.We are looking for a compact smaller RV that can accomodate a family of four, my two boys can share a double bunk if need be.I do run an older Sprinter Van for work so I am comfortable with a diesel engine.AC would be a requirement but I think we could make do without washers and dryers etc.Basically economy, drivable compactness, and comfort are main requirements Being able to tow a compact car sounds like a good idea but not sure if it is necessary. I have been looking at a few class C rigs that fit the parameters.So does anyone have any suggestions of a specific RV and for what reasons.Would love to hear your take and why a particular vehicle worked for you.Thx Phill

“I have been looking at a few class C rigs that fit the parameters.”When you find the right floor plan and price have a professional inspection. Towing a compact car four down, dolly or on a trailer? Easiest is four down. Yes, you’ll need a toad/car to see the area after you park the C. Have the pro verify if the C is rated enough.

Show your wife some floor plans. That's where you start. I started by looking at 22'ers. I ended up with a 37' class A as my first RV. My mistake? Letting my wife go with me when I started searching.

Take the family truckster and stay in motels. That's what I'd do for a single trip with no plans for future RVing.

$25-35k will get you a class C around 25 feet. Probably around 2010-2015. Should be very reliable. The Sprinter based RV's are smaller and can be problematic, making them not very reliable on the road, and the last thing you want is problems. The E350-450 with the V-10 is reliable as can be. Finding a double bunk in a 25footer will be tough! But they will have a master bed, overcab bed and a couch or dinette that folds into a bed.At your price range and size, any manuf's RV will fill your needs. Just inspect it very well and check the tires for possibly needing to be replaced. MH tires have a life span of approx 7 years as opposed to trailer tires that max out around 5.Good luck.

At those prices, you're presumably looking at used units. For a used RV, the condition and previous maintenance is probably more important than the specific brand: a top-tier brand that has been neglected will be a worse buy than a more budget brand that has received good care. Leaks and the water damage that comes from them are big things to look out for.Plenty of class C motorhomes could fit the bill nicely. One option worth considering is getting an ex-rental unit from a large rental company such as CruiseAmerica. They do a pretty good job of reconditioning before selling their old units, and being in the rental fleet they receive at least basic maintenance and upkeep. There's a big thread in the Class C forum here about people's experience with them, generally pretty positive.I would note that RV length makes less of a difference in terms of driving than you might imagine. A 22' class C and a 32' class C will not handle much differntly at all on the highway. The longer unit will usually have a poorer minimum turning radius (due to the longer wheelbase) and take a little more care in maneuvering around parking lots and gas stations, but even there it's not as big a difference as you might imagine; and neither one realistically fits in a single parking space. The length also doesn't make a huge difference in fuel economy since the air resistance is pretty nearly the same (and that's the largest source of friction when driving). You'll likely get somewhere around 8-9 mpg on the highway in a gas class C, give or take a bit.I have a 1998 32' Coachmen class C that's served me well for the past few years, including a trip from Vermont to Alaska and back. There have been some repairs of varying difficulty and a lot of maintenance and general tinkering, as one would expect for something of that age. I've never towed a car behind it, and thus far there have been few if any times I really wished I did. Partly that's because of what sorts of travel I've liked to do, and partly I think that's because I knew when planning that I wouldn't have a car with me and worked things out based on that. If one isn't staying at any one place for many days at a time, it's not too hard in my experience to stop en route between campgrounds at a supermarket or other store and stock up as needed. If staying in one place for a longer time and needing a vehicle to tour around, having a car along is a bigger advantage as it gets old and irksome to break camp every day to go exploring. (One way around that, of course, is to go to places where a car isn't all that necessary--either because there's public transit available nearby, or because bicycling or walking or hiking suffices.)As far as specific models and features, look for a layout that works for you. I'd suggest when considering a specific RV to spend some time walking through some daily tasks. Go through what steps it would take to go from sleeping mode to living mode. Go through the motions of preparing a meal and sitting down to eat it. See how it would work to grab a drink from the fridge or run to the bathroom when configured for driving. Step into the shower and try out the room to scrub your back or wash your hair. Figure out where to put the trash can.

What compact RV for family of 4 | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

dodge_guy
Explorer II
May 11, 2020
theoldwizard1 wrote:
brasstacks wrote:
We have about $25.000 - $35.000 to spend maybe more for the right vehicle with good resale for when we are done.

It will be next to impossible to find a used Class C in GOOD condition for that price. Maybe a Class B, but those are very small for a family of 4.

What is your daily driver ? A four door half ton pickup with either a two year old pop up or a small TT will keep you well under that budget (not including the vehicle). Best accessory for both of those is a screen room. You can still be outside in a light rain and it keeps the bugs away.

I is always better to start small, and after a couple of years move up to a larger TT or possibly a Class C.

For $35k you can get a 8-10 year old class C around 23-26ft with 50k miles. Like I said budget for tires and various maint items and you should be good to go.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 11, 2020
theoldwizard1 wrote:
brasstacks wrote:
We have about $25.000 - $35.000 to spend maybe more for the right vehicle with good resale for when we are done.

It will be next to impossible to find a used Class C in GOOD condition for that price. Maybe a Class B, but those are very small for a family of 4.

What is your daily driver ? A four door half ton pickup with either a two year old pop up or a small TT will keep you well under that budget (not including the vehicle). Best accessory for both of those is a screen room. You can still be outside in a light rain and it keeps the bugs away.

I is always better to start small, and after a couple of years move up to a larger TT or possibly a Class C.

What are you talking about? Quick search on CL here showed MANY low mile V10 Ford C's, stored in shops, etc. $20k and up, there are a plethora of great condition, low mile Class Cs. Not hard to find one.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
May 11, 2020
MitchF150 wrote:
If resale is important, then what is your expected LOSS from using it for a year?

From "suggested retail price" (which no one ever pays) of a brand new RV, you can expect the resale of a 2 year old TT or Class C will be less than 50%. Maybe even less than 65%.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
May 11, 2020
brasstacks wrote:
We have about $25.000 - $35.000 to spend maybe more for the right vehicle with good resale for when we are done.

It will be next to impossible to find a used Class C in GOOD condition for that price. Maybe a Class B, but those are very small for a family of 4.

What is your daily driver ? A four door half ton pickup with either a two year old pop up or a small TT will keep you well under that budget (not including the vehicle). Best accessory for both of those is a screen room. You can still be outside in a light rain and it keeps the bugs away.

I is always better to start small, and after a couple of years move up to a larger TT or possibly a Class C.
ppine
Explorer II
May 11, 2020
Sailors have an old saying"
6 for drinks
4 for dinner
2 for overnight.

Now that you are moving from sailing to a land yacht, you may be able to fit 4 people in a compact trailer, most people can't.

One solution would be a hyrid trailer. Light and lots of room. I had one, but sold it because it was too hot, cold and loud.

Best of luck. It will be a compromise.
brasstacks
Explorer
May 11, 2020
bikendan wrote:
brasstacks wrote:
Thanks for all the input so far.

I just would not want to tour the USA staying in motels, We have cruised our sailing catamaran for over six years and like the idea of having our own place with our own stuff. We also plan to stay with some friends out on their farm property along the way.

Resale is also important, what sells and what sits. Does time of year or East West coast location affect ease of resale. Is there an RVing season of sorts.

Things are pretty uncertain with the corona situation however looking at a trip from July to November/December

Again appreciate the input.

Phill

Just to clarify, when you use the term "RV", it can mean a 5th wheel, a popup, a travel trailer, a truck camper OR a motorhome. They are all Recreational Vehicles.

So if are looking at just Motorhomes, that's the better term to use.

Ok Roger that, I was looking at class C motorhomes or something smaller that could suite our needs. This why I left it open as a smaller RV may be a good choice.
A sprinter van set up with enough fixed sleeping space for 4 would be great, dont want to have to set beds up every evening. However wanted to hear from others on set ups like this.
MitchF150
Explorer III
May 11, 2020
If resale is important, then what is your expected LOSS from using it for a year? How much maintenance do you plan on doing to it during that time? It's basically going to be considered a very used "rental" unit at that point IMO..

If you are thinking you can buy a nice rig, use it for a year and get back almost what you paid for it.... Well, you might get lucky on it.. Or not? Way too many variables in between, since it sounds like you've never owned an RV before, so regular "maintenance" might not happen?

Anyway, not trying to be a Debbie Downer on your plans, but you should know that the RV world is not that kind to old, used units in the rental world.. Even if you didn't rent it...

Good luck! Mitch
bikendan
Explorer
May 10, 2020
brasstacks wrote:
Thanks for all the input so far.

I just would not want to tour the USA staying in motels, We have cruised our sailing catamaran for over six years and like the idea of having our own place with our own stuff. We also plan to stay with some friends out on their farm property along the way.

Resale is also important, what sells and what sits. Does time of year or East West coast location affect ease of resale. Is there an RVing season of sorts.

Things are pretty uncertain with the corona situation however looking at a trip from July to November/December

Again appreciate the input.

Phill

Just to clarify, when you use the term "RV", it can mean a 5th wheel, a popup, a travel trailer, a truck camper OR a motorhome. They are all Recreational Vehicles.

So if are looking at just Motorhomes, that's the better term to use.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
May 10, 2020
I agree with not seeing the country from a motel. Personally I think a smaller class C will sell easier than TT when the time comes.
brasstacks
Explorer
May 10, 2020
Thanks for all the input so far.

I just would not want to tour the USA staying in motels, We have cruised our sailing catamaran for over six years and like the idea of having our own place with our own stuff. We also plan to stay with some friends out on their farm property along the way.

Resale is also important, what sells and what sits. Does time of year or East West coast location affect ease of resale. Is there an RVing season of sorts.

Things are pretty uncertain with the corona situation however looking at a trip from July to November/December

Again appreciate the input.

Phill

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What compact RV for family of 4

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