Does RV size matter?

[Big_Blue]

Reading through the postings and there is a smattering mention of RV size, albeit without any true definitive consensus.

I have a 2008 39 foot Class A Winnebago Destinttion and tow a 2015 Subaru Forester. By the time I retire, the RV will be 14 years old, and well maintained.

What should I be concerned about?

[2gypsies1]

RE: Your planned Alaska trip.....the trip is not what it was years ago and you shouldn't listen to horror stories repeated and embellished over the years.

Yes, you'll encounter some areas of construction - just as you do in the lower 48. You will encounter some sections of frost heaves which are usually well-marked. You soon learn how to spot these areas from a distance. Otherwise, it a good paved route all the way.

RVs of all sizes make the trip and you'll see many 40+ rigs on the road. We did it in ours and had absolutely no damage or problems. The key is to drive slower than you may normally. The trip shouldn't be hurried.

It's not always sunny and when it rains it could last for days. A bigger RV makes it a lot more comfortable.

The RV parks are pretty much basic gravel parking lots and any size RV will fit. We used public parks and boondocked in awesome areas with our 40' MH.

Don't worry about size. Maintain your RV. The most important thing is to have good tires on it. We replaced all of our 6-year old ones just before heading up. We did so in Oregon - no state tax. 🙂

Follow the Alaska/Canada forum on this site and it will give you lots of good information.

[96Bounder30E]

Moved from General RVing

[Big_Blue]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. My query was based on reading that some folks were downsizing their rigs specifically for Alaska, and for sound valid reasons. I hope to sustain with what I have and enjoy what we will be doing with it. There will be at least one full season in Alaska. Subsequent return trips have yet to be determined. Until that time gets here, there will still be regional road trips and extended weekends. We have done quite well over the past two full seasons with what we have.

[Cloud_Dancer]

IMO RV size and type and quality matters a lot! In my case, all 3 items are limited ONLY by my insufficient funds. I'm sure that a $1.5 million dollar luxury coach would serve me better than the one I have, and my wife and I would be happier. But then, it could be that I'm more materialistic than others.
In other words, it all depends in your mission and your pecuniary canons of taste.

[Veebyes]

Well by now you should be well aware of where you can go & where you cannot. If you are happy with those limtations & the rig is in good shape & you are otherwise happy with it, there is no reason to contribute to some salesmans kids college fund.

[thgoodman]

Depends on your personal needs. We started full timing in a '91 Beaver Contessa (37') with no slides and a 250hp Cat. Before we retired it served us well as a weekender and occasional vacation accommodation. But a funny thing happened to it when we started living in it full time: it started getting narrower and narrower and didn't want to go up the hills when we came out west. Going down long steep grades was just too much of a thrill for me.

Two years in, we bought the present coach: 2006 Beaver Patriot Thunder, 4 slides, 525 hp Cat, Jake brake. Oh yeah, washer and dryer on board (no sitting in laundromats for 1/2 a day once a week). The workmanship was not as nice as the '91 Beaver but it suites our needs quite nicely and we could afford it. YMMV

In any case, that was just an example of how your needs may change. If you buy a new MH now, how do you know it will fulfill your needs when you go full timing and your needs change.

In the mean time, jump into your MH and head down the road. "Boldly go where no man has gone before. Live long and prosper"

[colliehauler]

I will be taking a 16 year old truck and a 10 year old 26' TT to Alaska. As long as it's well maintained I don't worry about it.

[sue_t]

Trackrig wrote:
At the moment I'm shopping for a used 24' - 26' TT to use here while we're home for the summer so I can get into more spots.

Bill

Our 25' fifth wheel is just about right for Yukon and long journeys Outside. However, we also have a small truck camper for the times we want to get deep into the wilderness with the 4x4 :B

[Trackrig]

Are you thinking of moving to Alaska to live full time with what is basically a 40' MH or just taking a trip to Alaska?

We have a 40' DP and brought it to Alaska for the first summer and then took it back stateside. We took it back, as planned, because we mainly wanted it for use during the winter someplace in the southwest. At one time I owned a TC for several years also.

When we brought it north and for the summer we had it here, it was fine. But while we were traveling in it I'd see all these places to stop - nice fishing places, scenic spots, a place to spend the night or something that would have been good places to stop if I'd had the TC, but there was no way I was going to get into with a 40' DP pulling a Jeep.

So if you want to come up for the summer, you'll do just fine. If you're going to move here, I recommend something smaller. At the moment I'm shopping for a used 24' - 26' TT to use here while we're home for the summer so I can get into more spots.

Bill

[explorenorth]

For our travelling years, we love our 2007 Fleetwood Terra LX 31M, a 31-foot-long Class A. When we go full-time (another 5 years, I hope), my wife wants to go a bit bigger - a 36-foot probably.

If your question is about bringing a 14-year-old rig up here, there are plenty of locals using much older rigs than that. It's much more about maintenance than age.

[corvettekent]

You should be concerned about waiting another 6 years to retire. Retire as soon as your can and enjoy life.

[Community Alumni]

Big_Blue wrote:
Reading through the postings and there is a smattering mention of RV size, albeit without any true definitive consensus.

I have a 2008 39 foot Class A Winnebago Destinttion and tow a 2015 Subaru Forester. By the time I retire, the RV will be 14 years old, and well maintained.

What should I be concerned about?

Is this a general question or relative to traveling to Alaska?

Moderator

[lj2654]

Whatever works on each individuals case is the best way I think. We are planning on going full time and selling our home in two more years. We have a 40' 2001 Beaver coach in great condition. We have thought about selling it and buying a newer coach but after carefully thinking about it we have decided to wait until we are on the road and then in a few more years do it.

[Anmacc2]

Big_Blue wrote:
What should I be concerned about?

Your relationships, your health, your finances. Beyond that have fun, be safe, and take it as it comes. :). That's what DW and I are doing and it's working for us.