Here I go to the dark side......... maybe

Well a lot of things have happened in the past little while that got me looking at upgrading/ switching to a new RV. My health has not deteriorated a lot over the past few months but enough that I thought it was a good time to look at a RV that I can walk from the cab to the camper without going outside and something with a bed on the lower level. Also, I took my truck in for a check up and my mechanic gave me a list of potential repairs that will be needed in the next few months (I ask him to do this so I can have an idea of what is coming up so I can budget for it). Well there are only a few things that he can see needing to be fixed but there is a few other things that he said may have to be looked after soon.

So that got me wondering if it is time to switch / upgrade my RV.

I looked at a number of RV's and have eliminated TT, 5ths and Class A's from the list as they do not fit my needs. That has left me with buying a new truck and camper, a Class B or a Class C.

I did a lot of research and today drove 300km's to look at some class c's that I liked the look of and the size. WOW was I disappointed!!!! I do not want to buy new for a couple of reason's so I looked at ones that are slightly used. The first one the company said it was in great shape and it was overall but there was a lot of little things that it needed, then when I took it on a test drive I could not hear my son talk as the wind noise was so bad from the side camper door. When I stopped I opened the door and there was a pile of weather stripping from a hardware store stuffed in and falling off the door so this is not something that was new.

So I went over to try the second unit and it was not in as good of shape overall but with the price and the fact they offered a warranty I was not to worried about it. Took it for a test drive and the rattles and the banging drove me NUTS in only a couple blocks. I stopped in a parking lot to check things out and the original workmanship was horrible. Hinges on crooked, blinds not installed correctly and a lot of upgrades that need to be done to the entire unit to make it liveable, so much for first impressions being that it was not so bad. So that puts me back at this time to either keeping my truck and camper combo or upgrading to a new unit.

I have heard a lot of complaints about truck campers but seeing these class C's I think we are doing pretty good!

12 Replies

travelnutz
Explorer II
Apr 26, 2016
We solved all these type of RV issues as to what kind/type to own by always having more than one type RV. NO one type RV is best for all uses and that's a given! We have always had 2-4 RV's at anytime for the last 50 of our 52 years of RV'ing. TC's, popup trailers, TT's, 5th wheels, Class B's/class C's/and Class A's. From an 8' TC to 3 huge Allegro MH's. Presently at nearing 75 years of age, we are totally happy with just our nimble to drive/use big Lance TC and our Carriage Carrilite 5th wheel for long stays in one location as both fill the bill with their attributes.

Best to use the right tool to do the job or task at hand!
2lazy4U
Explorer
Apr 26, 2016
I've had the same problem for years, always trying to get a rig that's comfortable yet will take me far into the backcountry. I've had various truck campers and trailers. My current rig is an FJ Cruiser with a Chalet hardside Aframe popup with extra high clearance. It's not the optimal rig, but works pretty good. I can drop it and use my FJ to do day trips. I'm saving up for another pickup camper, though, as I hate pulling a trailer, even though you hardly know this one is back there until you get yourself in a situation where you need to back up. A Tiger is about the only thing I can come up with that has what you want, and they're expensive, but it would be exactly the rig for getting around and yet having some level of comfort.
Photomike
Explorer III
Apr 26, 2016
bighatnohorse wrote:
It takes true effort to seek the "perfect" RV whether it's a TC or a class A - it's time consuming work.
You should not rule out the smaller class A's - you might be surprised.
At some point you may want to add a tow vehicle. A tow vehicle can handle additional load, like a trailer, and it allows for greater mobility than a pickup truck.
And it can serve as a daily driver if not on the road.

That is the problem, I don't want to tow a vehicle as a lot of the shooting that I do is when I am driving and it is really hard to drive down side roads and do U turns to get back to something when you are too long. If I drove to a spot and set-up for a few days then towing a vehicle would be great. I have thought of it but the problem is that many times I don't have the time to do this when traveling.
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Apr 26, 2016
It takes true effort to seek the "perfect" RV whether it's a TC or a class A - it's time consuming work.
You should not rule out the smaller class A's - you might be surprised.
At some point you may want to add a tow vehicle. A tow vehicle can handle additional load, like a trailer, and it allows for greater mobility than a pickup truck.
And it can serve as a daily driver if not on the road.
AidenJ
Explorer
Apr 26, 2016
We also have been looking. Looked at the C's on sprinter chassis. They are not too bad but only have a tiny 2 burner stove (hardly enough room for 1 pan),the refer is smaller than the one we have now,and the corner bed just wouldn't work. Soooo still looking.
deltabravo
Nomad
Apr 25, 2016
Kayteg1 wrote:
...I know everybody wants to drive Prevost and toad H3,

Renegade and a matching stacker trailer full of toys is what I want.
Vinsil
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
We looked at some class B's...Sprinters as well. I didn't see $120k worth of RV in them but love the size and concept (I'd prefer something more like a 4x4 for what we do, hence the TC makes sense).

It's hard to do unless you have lots of cash or time/ability to build you own...
Photomike
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2016
woodhog wrote:
If you want a nice practical Class B:

You could always built your own if you are a handy type, or hire a
someone to do it for you...
Fix it up the way you want it, then you know what you have.

or hire someone to do it, you don't need all that bling of the super
expensive Roadtreks etc.., junky Class C's etc...

The commercial B's all look like they are dragging on the ground ready to rip something off at the first bump...

Practical Class B's

VERY sensitive topic as I would love to and have looked at a couple empty shells. It is sad that with the prices that they are asking for some of the Sprinters that they would not build them better / more practical.
woodhog
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
If you want a nice practical Class B:

You could always built your own if you are a handy type, or hire a
someone to do it for you...
Fix it up the way you want it, then you know what you have.

or hire someone to do it, you don't need all that bling of the super
expensive Roadtreks etc.., junky Class C's etc...

The commercial B's all look like they are dragging on the ground ready to rip something off at the first bump...

Practical Class B's
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2016
I did own them all, but 5th wheel.
Each one was good for time and finance we had.
I know everybody wants to drive Prevost and toad H3, but we also have other financial priorities.
My first ClassC back from 1980's with Toyota engine was delivering honest 15 mpg, but I had to tail semitrailers to keep 65 mph.
I love Sprinter-based motorhomes, but not their price tag.