Complete Newbie Seeking Guidance
Hello everyone. I'm delighted to have found this forum and look forward to chatting with all of you. In a nutshell, here's my story (with a few questions at the end). I'm 35, married, live in Nort...
Forum Discussion
1: If you want to tow, going with a minivan or van will severely limit your choices. A pickup truck will give you the ability to get a decent hard-sided trailer. I'd consider a used 3/4 or one ton with a crew cab or extended cab. If length is a concern, a half-ton might do the job, although you will be limited in choices for towables for a family of four, and towing up hills/mountains may be an issue.
2: A-liners are workable, but are generally not self-contained, and might be cramped. (They don't have the large beds that slide out like the tent campers... but they can be set up in just a few seconds, so there are good and bad about them.) With kids, you want as little work setting up at a campsite as possible.
3: Given a choice between a travel trailer or a motorhome (perhaps using the CR-V or the Civic as a toad, pulled behind the RV), I'd go with the motorhome. There is far less setup, and you can keep watch on the kids a lot easier. Plus, stopping to change a diaper or feed a kid is a lot easier -- just pull to the side of the road. It will be more expensive than a trailer, but if used fairly often, it might be worth it. Another advantage of a motorhome/toad combination is that you have the fuel economy of the littler Honda when not on the road and not needing a thirsty V8 or V6 for a daily driver.
I wouldn't say any choice is better than the other, as everyone has different needs and I'm putting some idea out, but I'd be presumptuous if I stated had the perfect solution for the OP. Money is a big factor. Motorhomes are more expensive than trailers, and they are another engine/drivetrain to register/inspect/maintain. However, they can make life a lot easier.
2: A-liners are workable, but are generally not self-contained, and might be cramped. (They don't have the large beds that slide out like the tent campers... but they can be set up in just a few seconds, so there are good and bad about them.) With kids, you want as little work setting up at a campsite as possible.
3: Given a choice between a travel trailer or a motorhome (perhaps using the CR-V or the Civic as a toad, pulled behind the RV), I'd go with the motorhome. There is far less setup, and you can keep watch on the kids a lot easier. Plus, stopping to change a diaper or feed a kid is a lot easier -- just pull to the side of the road. It will be more expensive than a trailer, but if used fairly often, it might be worth it. Another advantage of a motorhome/toad combination is that you have the fuel economy of the littler Honda when not on the road and not needing a thirsty V8 or V6 for a daily driver.
I wouldn't say any choice is better than the other, as everyone has different needs and I'm putting some idea out, but I'd be presumptuous if I stated had the perfect solution for the OP. Money is a big factor. Motorhomes are more expensive than trailers, and they are another engine/drivetrain to register/inspect/maintain. However, they can make life a lot easier.
