Pros and Cons of owning a class A RV

[scottyballs]

Owned a truck and 5th wheel for 5 years and loved it. Unfortunately circumstances caused me to sell both last fall. Thinking now about buying another when I saw a 1999 Class A with less than 100,000 miles and very clean inside. Price was very reasonable. To my surprise I have seen a few others that appeal to me also. (older, clean models with low mileage).

Any suggestions as to pros and cons of Class A vs 5ers. Anything special I should be looking for in a used one? Vehicle would be used for one trip annually from southern Ontario to Florida, plus a few summer camping excursions nearby.

[DallasSteve]

msturtz wrote:

The problem is that the listed 5th wheel towable unit is in no way equipped similarly to a Class A. There is a reason for the apparent price difference. For example the motorhomes come with an onboard generator and usually have a large battery bank and inverter. No one is disputing that an inexpensive 5th wheel plus the equivalent of a work truck can be purchased that costs much less than a motorhome however you are not comparing the same things either. Option for option feature for feature. Does the motorhome have an automatic leveling system? Then so should the 5th wheel trailer. I can tell you from personal experience that riding in a work truck and riding in any motorhome is not equivalent either. Nor is the fuel range equivalent either without aftermarket additional tanks which I added to my setup. The F350 gas may only have a 40 gallon fuel tank at most the motorhome has a 80 gallon fuel tank. I know about these limitations because I lived it. I used to have to carry many gas cans with me till I installed the auxiliary fuel tank. Again in any comparison it is important to consider all the facts. Since I have built a great towable setup before we got our motorhome I am acutely aware of the difference in features between both platforms. Bottom line is that it depends on the individual requirements of the person using the equipment. I have a CDL and work for a heavy truck manufacturer I look at an RV like any other tool. I try to determine what our requirements are first and then look for most logical solution that fits within the budget.

I did a cursory check for 5th wheels on RV trader equipped with generators and residential refrigerators and the discounted prices start at about $90k. I am assuming that they have automatic leveling systems.

I think you're "moving the goalposts". I don't see a residential fridge in the $90K class A units I searched so they are comparable to the fivers. Do they have generators? Probably. Does that close the $40K difference in my example? Hardly.

I agree with Lantley's post. If you trick out the fiver, and you trick out the class A, it's still much more expensive.

[colmbarry]

To the OP, if your main concern was the annual trip to Florida ( I will assume you are wintering there for this suggestion ) but why not just buy a 5th wheel or park model already on-site in some area of Florida you enjoy staying in and drive your newer smaller car there? There are many good deals to be found all around the state, just take you time and find one that works for you. Yes, the drive down will be a little onerous but it is just a few day's on the road both ways with a nice winter break in between.

As far as the few local summer excursions you mentioned, the field is wide open from small TT's or pop-ups, tent camping or even renting yurts.

Just another option.

[msturtz]

Lantley wrote:
You can get a brand new fully equipped 5'er with onboard genset and diesel dually combo for $150K. Can you get a brand new diesel motorhome with toad for 150K?
A high end fiver without truck is 100K a high end diesel class A 250-300K
Towables are cheaper and provide more bang for the buck.
Class A's are more convenient and provide a better driving experience but cost more.

The answer to the first question is yes you can get a DP (not high end)
but a fully capable DP with fully integrated systems including automatic jacks, automatic generator start, in motion satellite system, air ride, full wall sides, and so on. I would like to point out that most people already have a vehicle that could be towed behind a motorhome so the red herring about the cost of a toad is a bit irrelevant. Not all vehicles can be flat towed but many can be on a dolly and all can be hauled on an inexpensive car hauler. It is impossible for someone who does not have a heavy duty truck to haul a 5th wheel. It is quite possible for a person to use a motorhome without a toad. We have done it many times. It is slightly less convenient yes, but quite doable. With all of this said you still would need to upfit the truck with an auxiliary fuel tank to provide the same fuel range as a DP or even a gas A unit.
If a friend of mine had a 1 ton dually truck and wanted to get into RVing I would most certainly recommend they look at towable units because the truck is a sunk cost already. On the other hand if a friend had only cars and or light duty SUVs I would recommend they consider motorized. Of course all of this is dependent on how they intend on using the rig. Keep in mind that a basic 31' Class C can be had new at around $50K, a really nice Class C at about $70K or so. I have seen gas A units for slightly more. The options are endless however the basic equipment on a motorized unit is more than what you get on a towable. To get the basic equipment that comes with any motorized unit means you have to get into some very expensive towable units. To get the range requires aftermarket add ons. My ex-in laws started with towables and eventually moved to a motorhome. Having to drive around a 1 ton truck as your touring vehicle is not exactly easy either. However, they moved due to the hassle of managing the setup.

[Lantley]

way2roll wrote:

Lantley wrote:
You can get a brand new fully equipped 5'er with onboard genset and diesel dually combo for $150K. Can you get a brand new diesel motorhome with toad for 150K?
A high end fiver without truck is 100K a high end diesel class A 250-300K
Towables are cheaper and provide more bang for the buck.
Class A's are more convenient and provide a better driving experience but cost more.

To answer your question, yes, you can get a brand new DP for near $150k. I wouldn't consider a high end DP in the $250-350k range. A high end DP is in the $500-2.5MM range.

150K with a toad? But it does kind of further my point 5'ers pretty much top out at 150-200K. Diesel Class A's are just starting out at 150-200K.

We all have are budget and pick our price point. Be it new or used.
I think you will always get more banmg for your buck with a towable vs. motorized.
I also think you will always have more work to do with a towable vs. a motorized RV.
The end result is the same it's the cost factor and convenience that are different

[way2roll]

Lantley wrote:
You can get a brand new fully equipped 5'er with onboard genset and diesel dually combo for $150K. Can you get a brand new diesel motorhome with toad for 150K?
A high end fiver without truck is 100K a high end diesel class A 250-300K
Towables are cheaper and provide more bang for the buck.
Class A's are more convenient and provide a better driving experience but cost more.

To answer your question, yes, you can get a brand new DP for near $150k. I wouldn't consider a high end DP in the $250-350k range. A high end DP is in the $500-2.5MM range.

[Lantley]

You can get a brand new fully equipped 5'er with onboard genset and diesel dually combo for $150K. Can you get a brand new diesel motorhome with toad for 150K?
A high end fiver without truck is 100K a high end diesel class A 250-300K
Towables are cheaper and provide more bang for the buck.
Class A's are more convenient and provide a better driving experience but cost more.

[msturtz]

DallasSteve wrote:
way2roll

I did a comparable search on RV Trader. I looked at new Forest River products to keep them comparable. I looked at about 35 feet long. I'm looking at gas, not diesel on both a motorhome and a tow vehicle. I see Class A motorhomes starting about $90,000. I see new 5th wheels starting about $35,000. As Don Henley says "Are you with me so far?"

I looked at new gas Ford F350 DRW. That should be plenty of truck. NADA says they run about $40,000. True or false? I don't know. I suppose you can spend $75,000 on a King Ranch F350, but all of this is targeting economical and comparable. I'll figure a new economical toad, not a Jeep; say about $25,000. Here's how my numbers look.

$90,000 Class A
$25,000 Toad
$115,000 Total

$35,000 Fifth wheel
$40,000 Ford F350
$75,000 Total

I doubt there is $40,000 of "fudge" in my quick and dirty numbers.

Steve

The problem is that the listed 5th wheel towable unit is in no way equipped similarly to a Class A. There is a reason for the apparent price difference. For example the motorhomes come with an onboard generator and usually have a large battery bank and inverter. No one is disputing that an inexpensive 5th wheel plus the equivalent of a work truck can be purchased that costs much less than a motorhome however you are not comparing the same things either. Option for option feature for feature. Does the motorhome have an automatic leveling system? Then so should the 5th wheel trailer. I can tell you from personal experience that riding in a work truck and riding in any motorhome is not equivalent either. Nor is the fuel range equivalent either without aftermarket additional tanks which I added to my setup. The F350 gas may only have a 40 gallon fuel tank at most the motorhome has a 80 gallon fuel tank. I know about these limitations because I lived it. I used to have to carry many gas cans with me till I installed the auxiliary fuel tank. Again in any comparison it is important to consider all the facts. Since I have built a great towable setup before we got our motorhome I am acutely aware of the difference in features between both platforms. Bottom line is that it depends on the individual requirements of the person using the equipment. I have a CDL and work for a heavy truck manufacturer I look at an RV like any other tool. I try to determine what our requirements are first and then look for most logical solution that fits within the budget.

I did a cursory check for 5th wheels on RV trader equipped with generators and residential refrigerators and the discounted prices start at about $90k. I am assuming that they have automatic leveling systems.

[DallasSteve]

way2roll

I did a comparable search on RV Trader. I looked at new Forest River products to keep them comparable. I looked at about 35 feet long. I'm looking at gas, not diesel on both a motorhome and a tow vehicle. I see Class A motorhomes starting about $90,000. I see new 5th wheels starting about $35,000. As Don Henley says "Are you with me so far?"

I looked at new gas Ford F350 DRW. That should be plenty of truck. NADA says they run about $40,000. True or false? I don't know. I suppose you can spend $75,000 on a King Ranch F350, but all of this is targeting economical and comparable. I'll figure a new economical toad, not a Jeep; say about $25,000. Here's how my numbers look.

$90,000 Class A
$25,000 Toad
$115,000 Total

$35,000 Fifth wheel
$40,000 Ford F350
$75,000 Total

I doubt there is $40,000 of "fudge" in my quick and dirty numbers.

Steve

[msturtz]

I would like to point out that we have a Class A DP. Motorhome Specialist in Texas was selling my rig for about $139,000 when I purchased mine new. If I would have gone the equivalent 5th wheel plus medium duty truck capable of hauling 6 people and the 5th wheel the costs would be much higher. A 5th wheel with a 2KW inverter, generator, AGS system, residential refrigerator, satellite system, solar panels, 110 gallons of freshwater, 50 grey and 50 black, macerating toilet, and so on tends to cost well north of $100,000 to start. Now, these units typically are three axle setups that weigh in at about 20,000# which if you want to be safe means true medium duty not the fake one ton dually setups, plus if I need to haul 6 people now I really have to have a medium duty custom rig that has the additional seats for everyone. These rigs start at over $100,000 before options. Basically for me I couldn't get there. If my needs were different i.e. I had fewer people to carry or didn't need an equivalent setup then all bets are off.

[DallasSteve]

way2roll wrote:
I agree to disagree.

I agree; we disagree.

It appears to me that you want to compare a fiver + truck to a Class A with no toad. A big Class A with no toad is not much more practical for vacations or fulltiming than a fiver with no truck. Add a toad that is comparable in comfort, quality, and age to your large truck and the Class A (all things being equal) costs more. When I say "all things being equal" I mean comparable age, size, quality, and features of the 2 RVs.

If you're going to high end fivers, they start at maybe $100,000. If you're going to high end Class A it's maybe 2 or 3 times that much, to start. Sure, you can buy a cheap, smallish Thor or Forest River, but I say that's not comparable to a big, studly fiver.

Steve

[magicbus]

Big Katuna wrote:
Stick or 4WD. I had a friend that tows a Beemer convertible.

i hope it’s been approved by the Dinghy Forum :B

Dave

[Big_Katuna]

Stick or 4WD. I had a friend that tows a Beemer convertible.

[Executive45]

way2roll wrote:

DallasSteve wrote:

way2roll wrote:

DallasSteve wrote:
Class A is maybe the most comfortable for traveling and surely the most expensive to buy..

I have to disagree. Lots of Mh's on the market much cheaper than a comparable Fiver and the truck to pull it. I've seen just the trucks big enough to pull a fiver with a higher sticker price than some brand new entry level Class A's. That's not counting the price of the trailer. Trucks have become insanely expensive.

Comparing apples to apples a Class A is more expensive than a fiver. If you compare an old gas Class A with no toad or an old beat up old toad to a new fiver with a new diesel truck, then it will be cheaper, but that's not apples to apples. A Class A needs a toad to get around. Or you can compare a small Class A to a huge fiver and you win, but again that's not apples to apples.

I knew somebody would argue the point, but I stand by my observation.

SMH, Of course a straight comparison of Fiver to a Class A the A will be more expensive. But a Fiver with no way to move it is rather pointless as a travelling RV. So you have to consider that a Class A by itself is comparable to a Fiver and a Truck Combo. I could cite a hundred different combos where a Fiver and a truck are very comparable if not more expensive than a Class A with a Car. But it has to be a straight comparison. You can't compare a prevost with a Mercedes toad to a mid level Fiver and a dually. Case in point, our first 2 Rv's (2012 and 2013) were brand new 30' gassers and we towed our year old CRV. Total Cost was about $75k for each setup. You'd be hard pressed to find a comparable Fiver and a reliable truck capable of pulling it and grocery getting and your total expenses - including cost of ownership was significantly less, if less at all. But we could argue this all day as there are endless levels of combos you could arrive at to prove either point. I agree to disagree.

You can TOW a MERCEDES ????? ....:W....Dennis

[way2roll]

DallasSteve wrote:

way2roll wrote:

DallasSteve wrote:
Class A is maybe the most comfortable for traveling and surely the most expensive to buy..

I have to disagree. Lots of Mh's on the market much cheaper than a comparable Fiver and the truck to pull it. I've seen just the trucks big enough to pull a fiver with a higher sticker price than some brand new entry level Class A's. That's not counting the price of the trailer. Trucks have become insanely expensive.

Comparing apples to apples a Class A is more expensive than a fiver. If you compare an old gas Class A with no toad or an old beat up old toad to a new fiver with a new diesel truck, then it will be cheaper, but that's not apples to apples. A Class A needs a toad to get around. Or you can compare a small Class A to a huge fiver and you win, but again that's not apples to apples.

I knew somebody would argue the point, but I stand by my observation.

SMH, Of course a straight comparison of Fiver to a Class A the A will be more expensive. But a Fiver with no way to move it is rather pointless as a travelling RV. So you have to consider that a Class A by itself is comparable to a Fiver and a Truck Combo. I could cite a hundred different combos where a Fiver and a truck are very comparable if not more expensive than a Class A with a Car. But it has to be a straight comparison. You can't compare a prevost with a Mercedes toad to a mid level Fiver and a dually. Case in point, our first 2 Rv's (2012 and 2013) were brand new 30' gassers and we towed our year old CRV. Total Cost was about $75k for each setup. You'd be hard pressed to find a comparable Fiver and a reliable truck capable of pulling it and grocery getting and your total expenses - including cost of ownership was significantly less, if less at all. But we could argue this all day as there are endless levels of combos you could arrive at to prove either point. I agree to disagree.

[DallasSteve]

way2roll wrote:

DallasSteve wrote:
Class A is maybe the most comfortable for traveling and surely the most expensive to buy..

I have to disagree. Lots of Mh's on the market much cheaper than a comparable Fiver and the truck to pull it. I've seen just the trucks big enough to pull a fiver with a higher sticker price than some brand new entry level Class A's. That's not counting the price of the trailer. Trucks have become insanely expensive.

Comparing apples to apples a Class A is more expensive than a fiver. If you compare an old gas Class A with no toad or an old beat up old toad to a new fiver with a new diesel truck, then it will be cheaper, but that's not apples to apples. A Class A needs a toad to get around. Or you can compare a small Class A to a huge fiver and you win, but again that's not apples to apples.

I knew somebody would argue the point, but I stand by my observation.