Help picking my next RV
Hello, first post. Sorry it's extremly long.
I currently have a Sportmobile, class B camping van on a GMC 3500 van platform with a Duramax 6.6L Diesel.. It's also 4x4 but I haven't ever really needed to use it. I use it primarily for extended towing of a 18 foot flats boat (similar to a bass boat in profile) from Upstate SC to Florida. I will fish for a week staying in the van and drive back taking turns sleeping in the rear bunk and driving.
I usually fish the Keys or Everglades Park. The Keys has campgrounds with full hook ups. The Everglades Park (where I fish the most) only has power hook ups. The van doesn't have a shower or toilette, which is a real pain with the hoards of mosquitoes in the Park in the summer. The bathroom facilities at the campground are a nightmare of mosquitoes.
I chose the Sportsmobile because of it's towing capabilities and I actually used it as a daily driver for a while. It's not much different than handling my suburban but with the duramax it tows even better. But it's very cramped for a week with two people and 3 is impossible.
I have been searching for a while for a RV platform that will be an upgrade for my needs. I absolutely love the size and layout of the Winnebago View on the Sprinter chassis. The Cab over bed really appeals to me so each of my fishing buddies can have a separate bunk. I also like that it is narrower than my boat trailer (102") so I can see it well when backing and towing.
But I am very concerned about the towing ability of the View. The boat, motor, and trailer all loaded is around 3,000 pounds. I do not have brakes on the trailer. I do not want to go from an absolute towing machine to something that is marginal. I'm afraid the view will get pushed around on the highway by big rigs and the rear axel may be overloaded causing sway. Plus I have heard of transmission issues in the Sprinter RV's and towing near max weight rating cannot be good.
I have also looked a lot at some of the Super C RV's for their towing ability. I looked at one on the Chevy 5500 Kodiak platform and the vision didn't seem great. I like the looks of some of the Super C's on the International chassis. I haven't toured any of them but I read some on line reviews about poor workmanship in the living quarters on some models.
I have also looked at some of the shorter Class A Diesel Pushers like the Forrest River Legacy. Those seem like they would have better vision and ride. But I also read things about the shorter class A's not handling that great on the highway. Which handles better, a Super C or Short Diesel Pusher?
I launch and load my boat back on the trailer every single day and I worry about handling a Super C or shorter Class A around the boat ramps. I can back a trailer just fine if I can see it but I worry a little about maneuvering in some of the tight areas around boat ramps with a really long rig.
I have even gone crazy in my thinking and considered having an enclosed trailer built with living quarters in the front and a large garage that I could pull the boat and trailer into. I would have to get a special boat trailer made that would fit into the enclosed trailer but it would work. I would have to get a one ton dually to pull it but that would solve my vehicle to use for launching issues.
I have also considered storing a vehicle in Homestead just outside the entrance to the Park and the Keys and picking it up on my way through with a Diesel Pusher and boat. I just worry about what kind of condition it would be in after sitting in South Florida for 6 months with out being used.
Here are my basic needs: Ability to comfortably sleep 3 tall guys in separate beds, ability to tow a boat up to 5,000 pounds total, ability to launch the boat every day without it being a complete pain, generator (not LP) capable of running A/C's in case park service power hook ups aren't working (they consider cutting them off during the summer slow season), shower, toilette, microwave and decent size fridge. I have many of these things (not all) with my class B but it's just a little tight.
All advice is very welcome.
I currently have a Sportmobile, class B camping van on a GMC 3500 van platform with a Duramax 6.6L Diesel.. It's also 4x4 but I haven't ever really needed to use it. I use it primarily for extended towing of a 18 foot flats boat (similar to a bass boat in profile) from Upstate SC to Florida. I will fish for a week staying in the van and drive back taking turns sleeping in the rear bunk and driving.
I usually fish the Keys or Everglades Park. The Keys has campgrounds with full hook ups. The Everglades Park (where I fish the most) only has power hook ups. The van doesn't have a shower or toilette, which is a real pain with the hoards of mosquitoes in the Park in the summer. The bathroom facilities at the campground are a nightmare of mosquitoes.
I chose the Sportsmobile because of it's towing capabilities and I actually used it as a daily driver for a while. It's not much different than handling my suburban but with the duramax it tows even better. But it's very cramped for a week with two people and 3 is impossible.
I have been searching for a while for a RV platform that will be an upgrade for my needs. I absolutely love the size and layout of the Winnebago View on the Sprinter chassis. The Cab over bed really appeals to me so each of my fishing buddies can have a separate bunk. I also like that it is narrower than my boat trailer (102") so I can see it well when backing and towing.
But I am very concerned about the towing ability of the View. The boat, motor, and trailer all loaded is around 3,000 pounds. I do not have brakes on the trailer. I do not want to go from an absolute towing machine to something that is marginal. I'm afraid the view will get pushed around on the highway by big rigs and the rear axel may be overloaded causing sway. Plus I have heard of transmission issues in the Sprinter RV's and towing near max weight rating cannot be good.
I have also looked a lot at some of the Super C RV's for their towing ability. I looked at one on the Chevy 5500 Kodiak platform and the vision didn't seem great. I like the looks of some of the Super C's on the International chassis. I haven't toured any of them but I read some on line reviews about poor workmanship in the living quarters on some models.
I have also looked at some of the shorter Class A Diesel Pushers like the Forrest River Legacy. Those seem like they would have better vision and ride. But I also read things about the shorter class A's not handling that great on the highway. Which handles better, a Super C or Short Diesel Pusher?
I launch and load my boat back on the trailer every single day and I worry about handling a Super C or shorter Class A around the boat ramps. I can back a trailer just fine if I can see it but I worry a little about maneuvering in some of the tight areas around boat ramps with a really long rig.
I have even gone crazy in my thinking and considered having an enclosed trailer built with living quarters in the front and a large garage that I could pull the boat and trailer into. I would have to get a special boat trailer made that would fit into the enclosed trailer but it would work. I would have to get a one ton dually to pull it but that would solve my vehicle to use for launching issues.
I have also considered storing a vehicle in Homestead just outside the entrance to the Park and the Keys and picking it up on my way through with a Diesel Pusher and boat. I just worry about what kind of condition it would be in after sitting in South Florida for 6 months with out being used.
Here are my basic needs: Ability to comfortably sleep 3 tall guys in separate beds, ability to tow a boat up to 5,000 pounds total, ability to launch the boat every day without it being a complete pain, generator (not LP) capable of running A/C's in case park service power hook ups aren't working (they consider cutting them off during the summer slow season), shower, toilette, microwave and decent size fridge. I have many of these things (not all) with my class B but it's just a little tight.
All advice is very welcome.
