Downsizing?
Not sure if this should be in Class C or Vans, B+'s etc. Just curious how many of you have gone from a MH or 5th wheel in the 30 to 35 ft. range to 1 of the newer European style motor homes around 23...
Forum Discussion
I have friends in my RV club who went from a 34-foot 5th wheel (towed by an undersized Tundra with a slider hitch) to a Jayco Melbourne 24K. They travel extensively and wanted to get away from their daily setup and teardown routines, some hitch problems, and have something more maneuverable that she might drive too. They've sort of moved beyond trips with grandchildren and think they can live in a smaller space.
So far they like it, but do miss their living room recliners facing the big screen TV; they are big on sitting inside at night to watch DVD movies, as it is so hot here much of the year when the campgrounds are open.
Things they've discussed since taking it out a few times include the lack of lounge seating, how to do something to make that folding rear bed more comfortable, lack of wardrobe space, lack of external storage (carried a lot of junk in that fiver), no room to get around when in road configuration, and tiny bathroom. He also worries that the bottom of the RV is not fully enclosed like his fiver was, leaving chassis wiring and plumbing exposed, and about how much he can run his generator without using up all his propane.
Now they are asking about my car towing experience, because they've always had their truck to get around and now need to unhook to go do something outside the campground, as they no longer ride bicycles.
They are not new to RVing, this is their fourth new RV in the 12 years I've had mine. Most of their trades were because the living space wasn't working right for them, once was because of quality issues.
This living space issue is something you have to work out for yourself.
As for the cost, while the Sprinter and the diesel-optioned Transit chassis are somewhat more expensive than the E-350/450 was, most of what you are seeing is inflation. For buying vehicles, the dollar is worth a little more than half of what it was worth 15 years ago. Keep in mind that most of these "Euro" style motorhomes, except for a few on the Ram Promaster, are trimmed out premium level rather than basic or rental grade, so that you should compare pricing of something like a Melbourne to the price of a Greyhawk Prestige, rather than a Redhawk or a Thor Freedom Elite.
So far they like it, but do miss their living room recliners facing the big screen TV; they are big on sitting inside at night to watch DVD movies, as it is so hot here much of the year when the campgrounds are open.
Things they've discussed since taking it out a few times include the lack of lounge seating, how to do something to make that folding rear bed more comfortable, lack of wardrobe space, lack of external storage (carried a lot of junk in that fiver), no room to get around when in road configuration, and tiny bathroom. He also worries that the bottom of the RV is not fully enclosed like his fiver was, leaving chassis wiring and plumbing exposed, and about how much he can run his generator without using up all his propane.
Now they are asking about my car towing experience, because they've always had their truck to get around and now need to unhook to go do something outside the campground, as they no longer ride bicycles.
They are not new to RVing, this is their fourth new RV in the 12 years I've had mine. Most of their trades were because the living space wasn't working right for them, once was because of quality issues.
This living space issue is something you have to work out for yourself.
As for the cost, while the Sprinter and the diesel-optioned Transit chassis are somewhat more expensive than the E-350/450 was, most of what you are seeing is inflation. For buying vehicles, the dollar is worth a little more than half of what it was worth 15 years ago. Keep in mind that most of these "Euro" style motorhomes, except for a few on the Ram Promaster, are trimmed out premium level rather than basic or rental grade, so that you should compare pricing of something like a Melbourne to the price of a Greyhawk Prestige, rather than a Redhawk or a Thor Freedom Elite.
