Forum Discussion

John___Christin's avatar
Oct 26, 2021

Looking for new motorhome…

I’m just looking for some guidance here and appreciate some suggestions. Be patient with me here… I’m going to go into a bit of detail because I think it may help you all help us.

Were a family of 4… Mom & Dad and 2 teen sons ages 15 & 17. We’re an adventurous family that does a lot of hiking, fishing, mountain climbing, boondocking and stuff like that. We tend to put a lot of miles on our trips going to a lot of National Parks and areas that have roads that are not well maintained. Also, my 2 sons are wrestlers and we go to a lot of events around the country.

Here’s what we’re looking for… Probably a Class C but open to B+ or A. Would like at least a queen bed for us and 2 other comfortable sleeping areas for the kids. A comfortable jackknife couch and a over the cab bunk would be good. As would a queen with 2 bunks. Would like a slide to add some room. A coach that could not necessarily go off road but one that is ok going down long gravel or unimproved roads. We would like a decent quality rig but our budget is around $100,000-$120,000. We need to be able to sleep turtled up but the kicker is… we need to be under 28’. Would prefer a new unit but not opposed to a used coach a few years old.

So, one that fits our needs is the Jayco 25R Class C. We’ve had Jaycos in the past and we’re happy with them.

So if your still here thank you. I just wanted to reach out and see if there is another brand and model we should look at?
  • I agree that many of the bunks are cramped, especially for a pair of athletic teen boys. I would look at a 24-26ft C with an overhead bunk and dedicated queen on the floor. The sofa and/or dinette could be used in a pinch, but they are rarely comfortable longterm.

    The 24-26ft size will give you more leeway in regards to campgrounds and campsites. It is also short enough to go without a toad for the most part.

    As they boys are older, this size and layout can move with you into the future as a couple.

    I do suggest a tent or two (I always like the idea of giving camping gear to teens for gifts). If the boys want to bring a couple friends along, the tents offer extra room. And as they get older and maybe don't want to travel with you as much, they can load their camping gear in their car(s) and meet up with you at times - without you having to plan ahead and stock the motorhome with "what if the kids join us" equipment.
  • We've had our Winnebago bunkhouse Class A since 2007 and it's served us very well. That said once our kids hit the teens the bunks were not their fav, so one usually slept on the couch. So I'd be cautious about buying one based on their ages and if one is going to be off to college or out on their own soon that could change things too. Good luck shopping and have fun!
  • I think they'll be cramped in the bunks- we used to sleep 3 over the can. As they grew, 1 moved to the couch and now everyone has space. Your boys could do the same- sleeping bags in an over the cab queen. It also sounds like they can "rough it" if you bring a tent or 2 along for some character building out there in the boondocks.
    We're at 31' and if the armoire came out and with a couch/dinette combo, it could probably be 25'or maybe even less with a slide.
    If you're handy, you could have some family time and take some minor repairs by remodeling an older one in good structural shape. That's what we've been doing with our 2001 that came with 50k miles.
  • I think that you need to look at as short of an overhang behind the rear axles.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Well one thing I tell people is this:
    As you move from place to place there are differences in the drinking water
    Different bacteria, different mineral content.. This can have what I call "After Effects"

    The length of 'Just a minute' depends entirely on which side of the door you are on.

    Bath and a half models.. 2 doors. less waiting.