Looking for a class A

[JohnCab]

My family is looking for a new class A motor home however we know nothing about the lifestyle. I have two kids, 12 and 8, and we will be doing most of our traveling during the summer. Our price range is $50k. any suggestions on coaches or advice on what features to look for would be greatly appreciated.

[Bumpyroad]

bsinmich wrote:
Not all reubber roofs are equal. My Newmar has Brite-Tek and I still have 3 more years of warranty on my 10 year old MH. I tried to cut a smalal piece of it several years back and it is almmost impossible with a knife.

I thought that Brite-tek was NOT rubber EPDM but was TPO.
big difference.
bumpy

[bigred1cav]

JohnCab wrote:
My family is looking for a new class A motor home however we know nothing about the lifestyle. I have two kids, 12 and 8, and we will be doing most of our traveling during the summer. Our price range is $50k. any suggestions on coaches or advice on what features to look for would be greatly appreciated.

I have a Pace Arrow V 10, with toad, I'll sell you for $38,000. Has 3 of 6 new tires. A spare tire sat TV self locating, Scan Guage.

[bsinmich]

Not all reubber roofs are equal. My Newmar has Brite-Tek and I still have 3 more years of warranty on my 10 year old MH. I tried to cut a smalal piece of it several years back and it is almmost impossible with a knife.

[JimM68]

The roofs are not fragile at all.
Most lower cost units have rubber roofs. They are not intended to "party on" but will hold up near forever if cleaned twice a year.

Higher end units have 1 piece fiberglass roofs. These won't tear if you catch a low tree branch wrong, and are suitable for some partying (we do some nascar infield camping, on the roof is the best place to watch the race!)

[JohnCab]

Also, how fragile are the roofs if it will not be parked under a cover. are there different roof tops i should be aware of?

[G_Lewis]

The more you shop, the more confused you will be....then you will walk in a M/H and "click" you will love it. Many years ago we started out with a 20' Class C...overhead bunk, rear bed and dining table made a bed...we had 2, 4 and 6 year olds and it was a little close, but they loved the overhead....then a 23' C and now a 34'A. The kids are grown and gone but we had a ball in the smaller units. I would have liked a larger one then, but "it is hell being poor".....ha ha

Figure 45K for the MH and another 5K for fixup stuff....I just bought six 19.5 tires installed for $3,000 to give you an idea.

Unless you empty your kitchen, you will need silverware, pots and pans, toaster, coffee maker....ete...a duplicate of your kitchen cooking items...cups, plates...grill, ladder, tools....you get the idea....this is not the "buyers" season, but it will be in six months. Enjoy

[JohnCab]

ralbert3 wrote:
Hello, If you live in the north east and a C with bed above driver would work contact me. A friend is getting rid of a Real nice one on a Ford. He bought it three years ago and used it twice. Has new tires and runs great. I think he is asking 25. I am going to take some photos and put it on Craig's list. Do not know the age of it but stored inside and nice. Rob

I live about two hours north of Sacramento...I am partial to class A's as i like the extra space in the front when creating a living space however will consider anything that was taken care of. our primary use will be for taking the place of a hotel when our kids travel for sports, and of course vacations. I am shocked how much it is going to cost to pull my vehicle.

[Effy]

Fishinghat wrote:

John Wayne wrote:
If you have never done it before rent a few times and figure out what is important to you before you drop the big bucks.

X2

That is such good advice that I wish I was the first to mention it. You'll find it easier to rent a Class C, but the bunk over the front seats may be of more interest to you than you realize. Kids 12 & 8 probably want their own beds, so the huge bed over the front seats won't work for both of them at night, but they can ride up there while on the road. The dinning table makes into a bed for sleeping.

Class A coaches are really designed for couples only. You know, the "drinks for 6, dinner for 4, sleeps 2" thing. Class C's are "sleeps 6, dinner for 4, drinks for 2".

Hogwash. Well with all the models of class A's this is simply not true. There are plenty of Class A's that sleep 6, many 8 and some even 10 if you get a bunkhouse with an electric drop down.

[johnwalkerpa1]

Fishinghat wrote:

John Wayne wrote:
If you have never done it before rent a few times and figure out what is important to you before you drop the big bucks.

Kids 12 & 8 probably want their own beds, so the huge bed over the front seats won't work for both of them at night, but they can ride up there while on the road. ".

I am usually one of the last to join the 'safety police', but I'd really strongly recommend NOT suggesting that the kids ride in a cabover bunk....its hard to think of a more dangerous place to be in the case of an accident..other than outside on the roof :E

[johnwalkerpa1]

JohnCab wrote:
Thanks for all the advice...I don't think I've even seen one yet with bunks. Is it true, a set of tires is 12K????

No, not quite that bad (yet!). They vary widely by size and brand but the larger sizes (22.5, etc) can run you $3500-$4500 though.

[ralbert3]

Hello, If you live in the north east and a C with bed above driver would work contact me. A friend is getting rid of a Real nice one on a Ford. He bought it three years ago and used it twice. Has new tires and runs great. I think he is asking 25. I am going to take some photos and put it on Craig's list. Do not know the age of it but stored inside and nice. Rob

[JohnCab]

Thanks for all the advice...I don't think I've even seen one yet with bunks. Is it true, a set of tires is 12K????

[#14]

if you are in California, then Lemesa has all classes, styles , price ranges and huge inventory, they are in Davis on 80 . I was there yesterday, tues 25th, and the lot was stuffed with them. There were some nice A's and C's new and used in that $ range. It beats runnin all over the place. Chris Buchmiller was our sales guy. Good guy and he'll be straight up. They have good prices, but pound em anyway.
good luck.

[Glor-E-B]

We needed accommodations for our teenage son when we go full time next year. RV salespeople often said oh he can sleep on the couch. We don't think that is the right thing to do. We found a 2008 Winnebago Sightseer with low miles at a good price and we bought it. I thought bunks were rare and grabbed one when I found it. I have since learned by continued searching that there are many used class A motorhomes with the bunkbed option. With teen agers it is the best choice but be diligent, there is more than one out there for you. These rigs aren't built for dinner parties, they are built for families.