Bunkhouses - 2008+ Winnie 32K, Georgetown 350TS... ??

[TriumphGuy]

Hi everyone,
Searched the forums a bit, I know the bunk question has been posed before in some forms but thought I'd ask anew.

Short version - anyone have experience with these or similar models?

Long version:
We currently travel with a 35' bunkhouse 5er. I bought this one specifically for the combo of kids bunks and a recliner in the back:



Now we're on the MH shopping kick. I guess it happens to all of us, needs / wants change and here we are.
Primary goal of looking for a MH is to get ready for future, longer trips. Such as to the western part of the US from here (SC) with our two kids (could be three someday).... I'd really like to have the MH conveniences for travel and DW needs to be comfortable driving it so we can share the "seat time." She will drive our current combo if she has to ... but would be stressed about it. So I do the driving.
We started looking at Class Cs, which she seems very comfortable with. For example the FR Sunseeker 3170DS we've been looking at:



However in the interest of "full research" I'm trying to cover the Class A scene. What I like about the A route is more storage, higher GVWR, and we get to keep the recliner, big corner shower, large holding tanks, 8 cu ft fridge, 15k A/C... In other words, almost like putting our current 5er on a MH chassis. Georgetown example:



Downside is DW might not be up for driving an A and the idea is sunk. My plan is to get her to drive both of similar condition and see what she thinks. Might start with the C first. Also the C cabover would be useful given a third.

Interested in your thoughts - if anyone has experience with Class A bunkhouses. One idea has been to go the C route and maybe after a few years of that the A wouldn't be so intimidating.

Of course I'm just assuming the E450 chassis is easier to drive than the F53 for example. I might have that all wrong...

[TugCamp]

Hey RedJeep,

Don't tow a toad but one of the main reasons for the change from the truck and trailer combo to the motorhome was the purchase of a boat. We tow the boat which weighs in about 3800 lbs with fuel and gear, tow the hills leaving Southern California with ease. I honestly have given up on keeping track of fuel mileage all I can say is the rig does GREAT on gas cuz it uses LOTS!

[RedJeep]

timmac wrote:
Kids grow up fast and before you know it they don't want to go camping with mom and dad anymore, mine thought it was lame once they hit 15 to 16 years of age, so you might want to buy one without bunks so you and the wife can enjoy by yourself once they get older, look at floor plans without the bunks and see if the couch makes into a bed.

That's unless your kids are very young {under 8} than go for bunks.

Two under eight. 😉

[timmac]

Kids grow up fast and before you know it they don't want to go camping with mom and dad anymore, mine thought it was lame once they hit 15 to 16 years of age, so you might want to buy one without bunks so you and the wife can enjoy by yourself once they get older, look at floor plans without the bunks and see if the couch makes into a bed.

That's unless your kids are very young {under 8} than go for bunks.

[RedJeep]

TugCamp wrote:
I went from a 30' bunkhouse 5er to my current Vista 32K. I do agree that the biggest compromise was the smaller kitchen but since we do a lot of outdoor cooking so it was an easy compromise. I love the easy set up makes everything so much more relaxing, I also like that the road trip is part of the overall trip. Even though I had a Dodge Mega Cab it was still cramped with DW the kids and the my late Doberman...this is sooooo much better. Also, I have a 2012 32k and my front seats rotate...

That's good to know that the front seats rotate. A 32k is still in the running for us if the Georgetown deal falls through.

Do you pull a toad?

[TugCamp]

I went from a 30' bunkhouse 5er to my current Vista 32K. I do agree that the biggest compromise was the smaller kitchen but since we do a lot of outdoor cooking so it was an easy compromise. I love the easy set up makes everything so much more relaxing, I also like that the road trip is part of the overall trip. Even though I had a Dodge Mega Cab it was still cramped with DW the kids and the my late Doberman...this is sooooo much better. Also, I have a 2012 32k and my front seats rotate...

[ymehp]

the ride of the class A is also better! The only advantage to the class C is the overhead bunk/storage.

[RedJeep]

Triumphguy, Keep in mind that my experience in driving a class A is limited to about 30 minutes. Given that, the Class A gas (2008 v10) had great acceleration... better than I expected, was easier to maneuver around a tight twisty neighborhood than my truck/5ft, has incredible visibility with its giant windshield, and was not anywhere near as noisy as I thought the v10 would be on climbing several good sized hills. I did one tight turn into a driveway and the turning radius felt better than my '01 dually crewcab f350. Overall, the 36' class A did not feel as big and awkward as I had anticipated.

One thing that steered my away from the shorter class A (like a 32k Vista) is that I wanted to have the ability to rotate the driver and passenger seats.

Good luck with your search and purchase!

[phnguyk]

My 2cents, the class A handles/drives much better than a C. Wheel cut and view out the windows and mirrors makes it much easier to navigate through tight areas.

[TriumphGuy]

RedJeep wrote:
My friend, we're basically in the same boat as you. "Down sizing" from a big fifth wheel to a class A bunkhouse. We are now in process of buying a 2008 Georgetown 350ds. We had been looking at the shorter ones, but decided the kitchen was too cramped. I drove the 36' Georgetown this week and it felt much smaller than my current setup for maneuverability. Will my wife drive it? Well, I guess we'll see.

...

the PPL Georgetown has a futon in place of the sofa. I would guess that the seatbelts are non-functional. That would be a deal killer for me. Although you could always chunk the futon and put a regular RV sofa back in.

Question: Are you planning on having a toad? I found that driving the class A without a toad (we used to have a class C with a toad) is very easy. We are going to resist dragging a car behind us for as long as possible. We do two types of trips; several very long 3k mile trips per year and frequent very short trips to the Oregon coast.

Hi RedJeep - I think I've read some of your posts too. Funny that we're on the same path! What did you think of driving the A vs the C? Any comments about turning radius, visibility, etc?

Good catch on the futon. I didn't look close enough. I agree it would have to have a regular RV sofa.

Looks like our trip types are similar. We go short trips to the coast of SC and other areas only 3-4 hours away pretty often. In those cases we might want to bring a toad 1/2 the time, as we've gotten to know the areas and currently use the truck to get to around away from the CG (going to off the wall restaurants for example). On the other hand we also have very long trips planned (like you, 3k miles or more) which we'd not be staying in one place long but exploring - thinking that would be without any toad as we'd be moving so much.

I'd like to hear your impressions of the Georgetown, especially differences between it and your truck+5er.

Seems to me the Georgetown has pretty big bunks (lengthwise) too?

Colo Native wrote:
I am doing just the opposite of you guys I am looking to go to a 5th wheel from my current 34' bunkhouse that I am trying to sell. See signature for class A model. PM me for more info.

Curious why you're going the other way?

[RedJeep]

The Georgetown at PPL looks exactly like the one that I'm buying. Good price too. However, the PPL Georgetown has a futon in place of the sofa. I would guess that the seatbelts are non-functional. That would be a deal killer for me. Although you could always chunk the futon and put a regular RV sofa back in.

Question: Are you planning on having a toad? I found that driving the class A without a toad (we used to have a class C with a toad) is very easy. We are going to resist dragging a car behind us for as long as possible. We do two types of trips; several very long 3k mile trips per year and frequent very short trips to the Oregon coast.

[RedJeep]

Colo Native wrote:
I am doing just the opposite of you guys I am looking to go to a 5th wheel from my current 34' bunkhouse that I am trying to sell. See signature for class A model. PM me for more info.

I like the Fleetwood 34B. Nice RV. If I hadn't already committed to the Georgetown and if you were a thousand miles closer... Anyway, good luck on selling it.

[Colo_Native]

I am doing just the opposite of you guys I am looking to go to a 5th wheel from my current 34' bunkhouse that I am trying to sell. See signature for class A model. PM me for more info.

[RedJeep]

My friend, we're basically in the same boat as you. "Down sizing" from a big fifth wheel to a class A bunkhouse. We are now in process of buying a 2008 Georgetown 350ds. We had been looking at the shorter ones, but decided the kitchen was too cramped. I drove the 36' Georgetown this week and it felt much smaller than my current setup for maneuverability. Will my wife drive it? Well, I guess we'll see.

Good luck!