RV for Central America Trip

[RV_BAR]

Hi,
We are taking our kids (ages 5, 7, 11) on a one year trip in an RV from NY to Panama. We have looked at various different RVs out there and we want to make sure the RV is big enough to fit us and and the same time make sure it is not too big for the central american roads. We feel somewhere around 25"-26" is probably our best bet.
We have found these two that have the best floor plans that we liked.
What do you think of them?
Is one better from the other?
Will they survive this trip?

https://www.mikethompson.com/inv/2018-Winnebago-Minnie-Winnie-25B-Colton-P5876R/

https://www.mikethompson.com/inv/2019-Coachmen-Leprechaun-MH-230CB-Colton-P5885R/

Thanks,

[wolfe10]

noteven wrote:
Sounds like maybe a job for a school bus conversion? Rugged vehicles that have common commercial truck maintenance parts, cubbards that won’t fall apart cause you installed them, lots of tank capacity...etc

Check CAREFULLY with each country to verify that a school bus conversion would be allowed vs being considered a commercial vehicle.

I am not suggesting this will be a problem, but there ARE "got-ya's" with 1 ton dually's into Mexico being one.

[IAMICHABOD]

carringb wrote:
(snip)

I think I'd seriously consider a former Cruise America Majestic 28-footer. They are built-out super simple, have lots of payload, and can be bought for cheap. I'd have zero reservations with a high-milage chassis, and the normal RV problems (leaks, appliances that don't work etc) are just as likely with a new unit, maybe more so, because at least Cruise America takes the time to fix those problems before sending them on the road.

I would have to agree on this as a viable consideration. If you have not looked into this option This Link to the Former Rental owners may be of help. There are more than 100 members of this Forum that have them and as of yet I have not heard of any complaint or major failures.

Cruise America Majestic are purpose built,maintained well and Refurbished before sale.

[noteven]

Sounds like maybe a job for a school bus conversion? Rugged vehicles that have common commercial truck maintenance parts, cubbards that won’t fall apart cause you installed them, lots of tank capacity...etc

[carringb]

I think a medium-size C would be great, especially a 27-28' with a long wheelbase. This size can be tricky because they also come with very short wheelbases. Besides riding better, the longer wheelbase will reduce tail-swing, which might matter if you venture into town much.

I would avoid large slides. My mega-slide (14' x 42") has be problematic since day one. Mine's a Schwintek, so the worst of the worst, but more important is that if it gets stuck, it's too heavy to man-handle. A smaller slide, like only a couch or a dinette, could be fully disconnected and moved manually if need be.

I would not take a Class A very far south of the border. #1 reason being windshields. You're likely to get chips, and bad roads will twist up an A enough that any chip will likely become large cracks, and you probably won't be able to get replacements down there. E-series are still common enough in Mexico and Central America that you shouldn't have trouble getting glass, and a C isn't as likely to need it in the first place. Just like here, a cracked windshield is an easy excuse for an officer to pull you over, except down there, you'll need to present your ID with a wad of cash...

I think I'd seriously consider a former Cruise America Majestic 28-footer. They are built-out super simple, have lots of payload, and can be bought for cheap. I'd have zero reservations with a high-milage chassis, and the normal RV problems (leaks, appliances that don't work etc) are just as likely with a new unit, maybe more so, because at least Cruise America takes the time to fix those problems before sending them on the road.

[RV_BAR]

wolfe10 wrote:


For that trip a rugged, KISS theory RV is what I would recommend.
.

That is exactly my vision and that is the kind of RV I am looking for.
The question is does one of those choices I posted fits this theory.
Or would you go with something else?

[RV_BAR]

How reliable are the slide outs? I never owned one but that is something I tried to stay away because I am afraid of it breaking down south of the boarder. The other thing is that those slide outs take a lot of storage room which is a big problem.

No way traveling with a trailer with my family. My kids will not stand the driving buckled down to the seat.

The Class A is an option. Are those easy to fix if something is broken?
I tried to look for Ford chassis as I imagine those will be easy to fix anywhere we travel to.

[wolfe10]

Gjac wrote:
I understand what you want to do and the need to stay small. I would look at the same size C with a full wall slide like the Leprechaun 240FS just to give you some more room when camping for the night or days on end.

And, given some of the very rough roads you will be on and topes you will not see until too late, I would recommend exactly the opposite-- a no slide unit. Better structural integrity and more storage.

For that trip a rugged, KISS theory RV is what I would recommend.

Yes, if spending a week or more in a CG, slides are great. But on a trip like you are planning-- not so much.

[PartyOf_Five]

What an educational, and experience-filled trip that could be- and at the right ages too. We try to take a few months or at least a few weeks each Summer, and now can travel very lightly- but appreciate having the extra space for unforseen and for extra space on rainy days. C class lets you drive while they sleep, which is very helpful. I also wouldn't want to disconnect a trailer daily if my goal is to tour rather than to spend many days in one place. We spent a few days with a French family matching yours that did just fine in a 22' - they started in Boston, went to Vancouver, and ended in Cancun. I'd love to read your adventures, please DM your blog, and also if we can share any tips. Traveling in a unit for which parts are easily available South of the border would be my primary driver, but I've not researched what's common.

[Gjac]

I understand what you want to do and the need to stay small. I would look at the same size C with a full wall slide like the Leprechaun 240FS just to give you some more room when camping for the night or days on end. Also I would look at a short Class A like the Vegas 25.6. You will have limited storage and FW in these short units. A TT in the same size will give you much more storage and FW when you consider the bed of the truck.

[RV_BAR]

And by the way, we are looking at buying very soon so we have about 6 months before we go on the trip to work everything out. To learn the mechanics, work on the storage, modify whatever needs to be modified, etc.

[RV_BAR]

jjrbus wrote:
I would not buy a new RV and pack it up for trip. If you must buy new get it at least 6 months ahead of time and put some miles on it to work out the kinks. My preference would be 1 or 2 years old with 20,000 miles on it. These things are a rolling conglomeration of parts and systems, supplied by the lowest bidder. All waiting for the most inopportune time to fail.

Renting is a super idea. I do not see an issue, large family's crossed the US in conestoga wagons and most of them survived.

We are definitely not looking at buying something new. I posted those links only to show the kind of RV we are thinking of. We are currently looking at a 2015 with 20,000 miles. Do you think that is too old? Should we go with something newer? older?

[RV_BAR]

DrewE wrote:
It sounds like a neat trip.

Have you ever taken an RV trip before? If not, I strongly suggest renting one for a few days before buying. You will get a much better feel for things that are important to you in one, and some features to look for or avoid, and frankly how it suits your family dynamics. A year is a long time to spend together in a pretty tiny box. Then spend some time in the units you're thinking about and go through the motions of daily life: can you sit down to eat? cook and do dishes? switch the dinette or couch to a bed and back again? have room for schoolwork? Is there a place for the trash can, clean clothes, dirty laundry, and the other things you'll have to carry? Also look at the weight sticker to see how much you can carry without overloading the chassis; with five on a long trip, it will be a good bit to carry, even though some of the five are small people.

Those are all very good things to think about. We do have some experience with RV. We had a 1985 Econoline campervan that just died on us a few months ago, that we used almost every weekend for the last few years. We even had a 2 weeks trip with it which was a bit tight on us but we managed. Last year we rented a 30' class C camper for 2 weeks to see how that compares and we understood that it was too big for our needs and we can definitely manage with something smaller.

[wolfe10]

jjrbus wrote:
I would not buy a new RV and pack it up for trip. If you must buy new get it at least 6 months ahead of time and put some miles on it to work out the kinks. My preference would be 1 or 2 years old with 20,000 miles on it. These things are a rolling conglomeration of parts and systems, supplied by the lowest bidder. All waiting for the most inopportune time to fail.

I do not see an issue, large family's crossed the US in conestoga wagons and most of them survived.

Good advice.

The other (minor) issue is that in those areas (and we have spent many winters in our motorhome in Mexico) a brand new vehicle will stick out more than a used one.

[jjrbus]

I would not buy a new RV and pack it up for trip. If you must buy new get it at least 6 months ahead of time and put some miles on it to work out the kinks. My preference would be 1 or 2 years old with 20,000 miles on it. These things are a rolling conglomeration of parts and systems, supplied by the lowest bidder. All waiting for the most inopportune time to fail.

Renting is a super idea. I do not see an issue, large family's crossed the US in conestoga wagons and most of them survived.

[DrewE]

It sounds like a neat trip.

Have you ever taken an RV trip before? If not, I strongly suggest renting one for a few days before buying. You will get a much better feel for things that are important to you in one, and some features to look for or avoid, and frankly how it suits your family dynamics. A year is a long time to spend together in a pretty tiny box. Then spend some time in the units you're thinking about and go through the motions of daily life: can you sit down to eat? cook and do dishes? switch the dinette or couch to a bed and back again? have room for schoolwork? Is there a place for the trash can, clean clothes, dirty laundry, and the other things you'll have to carry? Also look at the weight sticker to see how much you can carry without overloading the chassis; with five on a long trip, it will be a good bit to carry, even though some of the five are small people.