Like everyone else, I get to thinking about a new RV from time to time. We've had two 5th wheels and 4 truck campers through the years. I will admit to thinking about a new Class A motor home. However I just had an experience with driving one and believe me there is no way I would trade now!! Some relatives recently came in to put up in our yard until their campsite at the local state park became available. This park is 15 miles from our home and the access roads are very narrow, curvey and somewhat bumpy. This had never been an issue with our 5th wheel and Ram Cummins tow vehicle. They were new to RVing and my wife thought we should volunteer to drive them to the park and help with set up. I agreed to drive. However it was an unpleasant experience. This 34 foot Class A was a rough ridding, top heavy feeling monster that seemed 12 feet wide!! It rolled around on it's suspension like some of the truck campers we had, a feeling of a top heavy load!! Now I have new respect and love for my 5th wheel. Our truck feels so solid and all the weaving and wallowing of the load is not transmitted to the truck. We get to where we are going, unhook and now can run around without renting a car. How good can it get.

I agree 100% . We love our fifth Wheel.

We looked at motorhomes first when thinking of the RVing lifestyle, but I didn't like the location of the TV between the driver and passenger seat with no comfortable way to watch it. When at home in a sticks and bricks, how do you watch TV? We are in our recliners and the TV was in front of us across the room. Wasn't able to find a MH like that so started looking at 5th wheel trailers.

We just purchased a 2014 Winnebago Sightseer 33C. Pick it up tomorrow. Very excited. We sold our 5th wheel and truck. When we are at home it's recliners and the TV is in front of us. We also wanted a king bed. The Sightseer has a queen sofa sleeper couch with auto recliners. It also comes with a regular recliner and the passenger seat turns around with a recliner. The TV is on the opposite side of the recliners. So no turning your head in an awkward position to see it. We found the older MHs all had the TV in the middle overhead in front. Such a awkward position to watch TV.

I prefer our 34ft TT also. Our pickup also serves us well. Altho only an F150 CC EcoBoost, roomy comfortable and plenty of power for a V-6. JMHO

I agree with original Post. Had 38 ft. Allegro Bay. Very nice unit but miserable to drive. Had a Work Horse engine and frame. Engine very powerful but very hungry. Biggest complaint was the ride. It wanted to act as very top heavy. I really believe the Workhorse frame needed some major work. Didn't take DW and myself long to go back to 5th.

New found appreciation for 5th wheels | Good Sam Community

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 08, 2014
ol Bombero-JC wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
We traveled from Palm Springs to Phoenix on HWY 10 we were traveling with the winds hitting us from the passenger side and a bit from the rear. Our TV and RV were rock solid thru this 45 mph storm. When we stopped at Phoenis the guy driving the 40' Motorhome traveling with us was frazzled he said he was constantly working to keep it in his lane. I told him how impressed I was with how ours handled the wind and he started talking about trading for a 5er.

Another kind of frazzled:

Have him check the hourly rate to work on his DP -vs- your CTD, and the number of hours to get it (anything) done!..;)

Ka-ching!!..:B

Even HDTs are less (dollars, time & service availability) than DP MHs.

If you want to play - you *GOT* to pay!

.

I have 100K invested in TV and RV. Similar quality MH and toad would be well over twice that coast.
Vulcaneer
Explorer
Jul 07, 2014
I think it depends very much on the brand of MH. Reason I say that is my brother has a Monaco, and our friend has a Mandalay Bay. Both DP's about 38 feet.

I have followed both over secondary roads through Maine. The 3003 Monaco Diplomat tracks very well and seems to handle very nicely. The Mandalay seems very top heavy and experiences great amounts of over steer. The road crown really throws the top over. And it waggles all over the road. And an off camber curve....or a switchback...oh just horrible. I couldn't stand to fight that thing. I have discussed with the owner of the Mandalay. He has no idea how bad it handles. He thinks it is fine. Although he has had this MH for 6 years, it is his first class A DP. And he does maintain it meticulously. I gotta believe their is something wrong with that MH. It should not be on the road. Just horrible.

And us in our pickup and fifth wheel don't worry about the roads at all. I hate to follow that Mandalay. But the Monaco handles like it should.
lanerd
Explorer II
Jul 07, 2014
Sorry if I ruffled a few 5th wheel feather...was definitely not my intention. :E

I only wanted to point out that the OP's post was based upon only a single occasion and single vehicle to judge the riding capabilities of Class A's. Nothing more.

Have a great day.

Ron
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Jul 07, 2014
Cummins12V98 wrote:
We traveled from Palm Springs to Phoenix on HWY 10 we were traveling with the winds hitting us from the passenger side and a bit from the rear. Our TV and RV were rock solid thru this 45 mph storm. When we stopped at Phoenis the guy driving the 40' Motorhome traveling with us was frazzled he said he was constantly working to keep it in his lane. I told him how impressed I was with how ours handled the wind and he started talking about trading for a 5er.

Another kind of frazzled:

Have him check the hourly rate to work on his DP -vs- your CTD, and the number of hours to get it (anything) done!..;)

Ka-ching!!..:B

Even HDTs are less (dollars, time & service availability) than DP MHs.

If you want to play - you *GOT* to pay!

.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 07, 2014
We traveled from Palm Springs to Phoenix on HWY 10 we were traveling with the winds hitting us from the passenger side and a bit from the rear. Our TV and RV were rock solid thru this 45 mph storm. When we stopped at Phoenis the guy driving the 40' Motorhome traveling with us was frazzled he said he was constantly working to keep it in his lane. I told him how impressed I was with how ours handled the wind and he started talking about trading for a 5er.
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Jul 07, 2014
lanerd wrote:
The driving difference between a gas powered Class A and a diesel powered (rear) is like night and day. I sure wouldn't make such a opinionated statement that the OP did when only having a single gas powered class A to compare. He makes no mention of the make, model, year of the 34' coach nor does he indicate if the coach is gas or diesel (odds are it's gas).

He also mentions having to rent a car when having a Class A. Again, he is basing his opinion on only one experience. Obviously, the overwhelming Class A owners have a toad to drive around and I would much rather drive a toad around city streets than a large pickup.

As for the person referring to TV locations. Obviously this person hasn't seen many Class A's.

Ron

Righteous Ron: You are mostly correct!.
No comparison between a DP and a gas MH.

However, besides your other observations - you omitted the depth of the DP owner's wallets!..:S

I store my 5th wheel at the closed MCAS El Toro (in So. CA).
Something like 2500 RVs in storage there.
I'm amazed at the number of mega-buck DP motor homes just sitting around, never moving!

Yep - there's lots of TTs, 5ths, Class C's and assorted other RVs (and boats) sitting....BUT - they leave! (Empty spaces).
The majority of the DP MHs just sit, and sit, and....

Not enough time? Status symbols - owner's with lots of spendable income??.....Or just the opposite - not enough $$ remaining for trips??..:@
And this is in a location with "good weather 350 days a year"!

Maybe just waiting for the next FMC rally?..:?
(To commiserate with other "overwhelming Class A owners", ROTFL)

~

BTW - I'm amazed TV location would be a deciding factor in the purchase of *any* RV..:R
(Be creative - re-locate the TV - or the viewing locations..:S..)

Oh yeah - see DP MHs towing pickups - including full size pickups.
Guess at least *some* aren't worried about getting around in a pickup/toad!..:S

YMMV - in any RV.

~
Allworth
Explorer II
Jul 07, 2014
Gee, Ron, it is too bad that nobody is allowed to have any opinion that is not EXACTLY like yours!

Oh well, happy camping anyway.
Traveler_II
Explorer
Jul 07, 2014
We’ve had both Class A’s and we are on our 2nd fiver. I like the extra room in the fiver, but the ride in a pusher is better than our pick-up. It’s easier to learn to drive a Class A compared to backing up a fiver. The big difference is price nice A’s cost more.
JTrac
Explorer
Jul 07, 2014
Having owned several fifth wheels, a 35' gas class A and a 39' diesel pusher I will say our current rig is the easiest to drive and handle of anything we have ever owned. Our dp wasn't bad handling but there would still be some pushing in stiff winds. The gas was a nightmare we only kept for 2 years. I will say if your friend had a 42 foot tag axle dp you are talking a whole different animal and you would have posted a different story. They do drive nice. Our friends have 40 foot Entegra, not a tag, and it drives like a dream. It has a tv mid coach, up front above the dash, bedroom and outside so choose your viewing angle. The principle reason we went back to a fifth wheel instead another dp was cost. A very nice truck and a very nice fifth wheel, new, will be somewhat less than a nice, mid tier dp. Leaves us with more funds for traveling.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jul 07, 2014
lanerd wrote:
The driving difference between a gas powered Class A and a diesel powered (rear) is like night and day. I sure wouldn't make such a opinionated statement that the OP did when only having a single gas powered class A to compare. He makes no mention of the make, model, year of the 34' coach nor does he indicate if the coach is gas or diesel (odds are it's gas).

He also mentions having to rent a car when having a Class A. Again, he is basing his opinion on only one experience. Obviously, the overwhelming Class A owners have a toad to drive around and I would much rather drive a toad around city streets than a large pickup.

As for the person referring to TV locations. Obviously this person hasn't seen many Class A's.

Ron

Some folks like them, some folks don't.
I don't. But that is whats great about RVng.......so many choices.
All are good for somebody...just not everybody

Personally I like my big truck vs a small car. I don't fold right :B