full time options

[rmalik1]

Hi I'm from the 5th wheel & full time forums here and in the 5'ver group we talk about what makes a 5'ver good for full time etc
I've two questions;

1)Been thinking about looking into a class A (gas) in the $100,000.00 range Max (MSRP), don't think I could afford anything decent in a diesel pusher. Would trade in truck and 5'ver. What makes a good full time class A - what: frame, length,motor,construction etc. I'm knowledgeable on trailer construction, not class A's
2) Is there a rule as to how much or % to ask for off the price? In trailers max is about 33% of the going rate (not true at wholesalers).

Brand specific if u like and why, but general info is needed also.

TIA

[Executive45]

Part of your decision should be defining full timing. There are many definitions of FT RVr. There are those that consider full timing as staying in the north for 6 months and then traveling south for the other six months. There are those that travel the member circuit, Thousand Trails, C2C etc. staying 3 weeks at a campground and then moving to the next and possibly back to the original CG. There are also those that feel FT is simply getting an annual site in a CG and living there. Finally, there are those like us who travel extensively, staying a week here or at the most two weeks in a CG. I put about 15,000 miles on my coach each year. If you're going to be a traveling FTmer then a Class A coach is for you. If you're going to be stationary most of the time then a Fiver makes more sense.

That said, you asked a question. Below are my suggestions...in no particular order. Look for hardwood cabinets, held together with screws not staples, look for steel frame construction, at least three slides and a tag if possible. Smallest coach for full timing, IMO would be 40' although 42' or more is preferable. The tag will give you more CCC as will the extra length. This is extremely important for full timing. Many do FT with smaller coaches and I understand that but for comfort the larger coaches can't be beat. Also, we found the larger coaches have better build quality and more features to make your journey more enjoyable. I would only consider a diesel, used from any of the list below.

Go to PPL Motorhome's website and search for coaches and floorplans. Narrow down your search to two or three brands then go from there. Be sure to look at the SOLD listings on PPL as well. Good luck with your search....Dennis

Remember, each mfg has top of the line luxury coaches all the way to entry level. The higher up the food chain you can go the more features and comfort items you'll find. The build quality increases as you go up as well.

I would start looking at these first:

Monaco
Country Coach
American Coach
Newmar

Then:

Winnebago
Tiffin
Fleetwood

More pricey:
Newell
Prevost
Bluebird