Thinking of buying a Class A and seeking advice

[MackinawMan]

A little background, I am a veteran camper having purchased our first camper in 2001 and camping for 23 years now. We went from a pop-up to a 25' Dutchmen TT, to a 30' Cherokee to a 33' Jayco Eagle to our present 35' Sabre 5er.

Our tow vehicles went from a Ford Expedition, to a Ford Excursion V-10, to a Ford Excursion 7.3L Diesel, to our current 2000 F350 PSD, etc.

I only mention all of that for context, we've obviously camped a long time, with lots of different set ups, etc.

However, thinking now of going the motorhome route and leaning towards a Class A. I'm a teacher and with the kids long since grown and moved out, looking to travel during a week long Thanksgiving break, 2 week long Christmas Break, week long Spring Break, plus a week or so of personal days I can take. During Summer Break the plan is to spend 2 months at Mackinaw Mill Creek (hence the username).

When I say "travel" I simply mean leaving NW Ohio to venture south to get away from winter and set up camp at a local campground to hang out and be warm(er), as I've grown increasingly worse with seasonal depression issues, etc. I have a Ford Fusion Hybrid I plan on using as a toad.

This board has been a HUGE supplier of information for me since I joined way back in the day. I'm simply seeking any and all advice, the things I haven't thought of, or wouldn't...having never camped in a motor home.

Anything is appreciated....

(edit: Just noticed the signature is WAY out of date, lol)

[Lantley]

Bruce Brown wrote:
As far as making the move from a towable to a MH, the best way I've ever heard it said was...

"With a towable the vacation begins after you're set up. With a MH the vacation begins as soon as you turn the key".

A few years back we owned both - I would 100% agree with the above.

I don't disagree with that sentiment. However I just had a discussion with a camping neighbor who had a very new class A gasser.
His comments were everyone enjoyed the traveling portion except the driver.
He felt he was worn out from driving his class A gasser. The passengers enjoyed the trip but he was tired out.
However his dad had a big tandem axle DP that he felt was much more enjoyable/easy to drive.
Driving his dad's RV was a much more relaxing experience vs. his demanding gasser. He felt the DP was much less taxing/stessful to drive.
My point is the vacation always starts on departure for the passengers, however depending on how well the rig performs the driver may have to wait until they are set up at the CG to start their vacation!
All Class A's are not created equal. Driving a rig that does not handle well is not a vacation.
Granted we are comparing a $175K gasser to a $600K DP. Nevertheless they are both class A's. I'm sure the driving experience between the 2 is very different.

[MackinawMan]

Bruce Brown wrote:
As far as making the move from a towable to a MH, the best way I've ever heard it said was...

"With a towable the vacation begins after you're set up. With a MH the vacation begins as soon as you turn the key".

A few years back we owned both - I would 100% agree with the above.

Thank You Bruce, that actually helps a lot. It's kind of what I'm looking to happen.

[ferndaleflyer]

Mine has a couch/kitchen area slide. When I am alone I never put it out and have access to everything.

[Bruce_Brown]

As far as making the move from a towable to a MH, the best way I've ever heard it said was...

"With a towable the vacation begins after you're set up. With a MH the vacation begins as soon as you turn the key".

A few years back we owned both - I would 100% agree with the above.

[MackinawMan]

Chum lee wrote:
If you are considering a Class A with slides, make sure you are aware of what the floor plan looks like "inside" with the slides "retracted." Some floor plans are usable, some are not. When you are in travel mode, many popular rest areas are too tight to safely fully extend your slides. (without the danger of another oversize vehicle damaging them) IMO, it's good to KNOW that, now, before you sign on the dotted line.


Chum lee

This is something I have definitely started to notice as I've been looking at them online. Most of them have the standard dinette/couch slide that obviously is going to be off-limits when retracted. Thank you...

[MackinawMan]

Horsedoc wrote:
I have no idea what Lou was trying to say, but will tell you to come on down and enjoy. Several hundred smaller, family oriented CGs here in N Georgia, NC, SC area from the Blue Ridge Mtns to Macon and the Fall line.
Our tastes run to diesels because sometime we might get a wild hare idea and head west for a few weeks. Diesels are more dependable in my mind as we have had 3 and loved them all.

Yep, exactly what I'm going for. I have NO problem with just going to a nice family campground and chilling for the week. I don't need a lot of activities to do...maybe just some local sites to take in, food to sample, etc. If not, just hanging at the campground is fine with me.

[MackinawMan]

RetiredRealtorRick wrote:
Just wondering, since you mentioned "I've grown increasingly worse with seasonal depression issues", what exactly is it in NW Ohio that forces you to remain there? Maybe it's time for a permanent change? I know, not really helping to answer your initial question, but just a thought. I made that decision decades ago, leaving SE Michigan behind, and have never regretted it for a minute.

My four kids and 5 grandchildren are here, so a permanent move just isn't in the cards anytime soon. I'd be trading one type of depression for another.

However, I'm hoping getting out a week in November, two weeks in December, and then potentially another week in February (when I can use my personal days) can help. Early-April in NW Ohio can also be touch and go, as it seems like we've had cooler than normal springs for the last 5 years or so, which is why traveling over our spring break is also in the plans, even if it's just going somewhere in Kentucky. NW Ohio to Kentucky can be very different believe it or not.

[MackinawMan]

1995brave wrote:
Remember if you get a Class A or C you will probably have to rent a car at your destination or get a toad to get around.

I have a 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid that I plan on using as a toad. I've had the car for 7 years now, and it only has around 85,000 miles on it currently so lots of life left in her. Great car honestly....

[MackinawMan]

craig7h wrote:
A couple years back DW and I decided we needed to down size from our 35' fifth wheel. We decided to go the class A MH route, as it made more sence for us.

We looked at many sizes and models we ended up with a 29ft gas. After a few short and a couple long trips we found out that we screwed up. Not moving to an "A" but a two short A. We lost so much storage that it made semi long trips harder to plan for. We ended up going to a 37' A with tons of both inside and outside storage. Now being gone for months at a time is really enjoyable.

So my answer to your question moving to a class A was the best move ever. From storage to set up. Start looking for larger unit and work down. Think where you might be a few years down the road.

Good Luck

Thank you for the advice...I've been looking at ones around 35' which is the same length as our current 5er. I don't see going much shorter than that at all for the reasons you mentioned, and maybe longer.

[Grit_dog]

OP, best of luck in your search.
And leave it to the folks here to turn your very well worded, complete, with context even, questions into something about how far they think you should drive per day, or the plethora of other off the wall and off topic responses.
As to your question, you appear to have all the tools and experience to competently pick out your next RV. Moreso than the majority of folks here do, or at least can articulate anyway.
Your plan appears well thought out.
Only thing I can add is my very limited experience w gas class A’s in that our friends just upgraded from their old crusty but trusty 2000ish gas A that they’d had for several years now to a low mile like new 2014 34’ ? gas A with a full wall drivers side slide and a bedroom slide opposite side.
For what they paid, $45k, to me it seems like a great value or bang for the buck. Inside is HUGE and VERY well appointed and the underside storage goes on for days. Easily more storage than one “should” use. There’s so much storage it would be real easy for someone who wasn’t conscientious to overload it. Not a bad thing just speaks to the amount of room.

I do t remember the brand, doesn’t matter, really. Starts with a M. But that age/size/cost/amenities seems like the sweet spot to me.
All that said, no one knows your budget, so recommendations are tough since that is one of, if not THE primary factor.
In general though, you appear to see the great value in used and sometimes older and used, unlike many people, so you’re totally prepared and qualified to make this decision without much or any help from the rvnet peanut gallery.

[Grit_dog]

pianotuna wrote:
I'm old school. No slides for me.

What will we do when fuel reaches $6 per gallon?

I'd really love to move to an electric RV.

What?? Where do you come up with this stuff? Only if it’s powered by a truck load of used “telecom jars” or SiO2 batteries though I presume? Lol
Good entertainment for the rest of us if nothing else, I suppose…

[CA_Traveler]

Chum lee wrote:
If you are considering a Class A with slides, make sure you are aware of what the floor plan looks like "inside" with the slides "retracted." Some floor plans are usable, some are not. When you are in travel mode, many popular rest areas are too tight to safely fully extend your slides. (without the danger of another oversize vehicle damaging them) IMO, it's good to KNOW that, now, before you sign on the dotted line.

And access when parked on the street and can't open the street side slides. Some areas don't allow you to park in the wrong direction.

Just another of the many items on a PDI.

[ferndaleflyer]

I started around 1970 with a 18ft trailer and moved up over the years to a 36ft trailer. Then had one of those "B" things a short time then 2 class Cs. Class A, I have never had a gas one but went big and got a 45ft 4 slide Monaco right off the bat. Huge costly mistake, worst was how useless the interior was if slides were not out. Awful. Then got a 40 ft Winnebago Luxor and there was lots we liked about it but it had no slides. I really liked the basement AC. Our current A is a 36ft Monaco with 1 long slide and we really like it. It drives with the agility of a Honda Civic with the power of a Corvette (Big Cummins Motor). My advice would be to avoid the entry level models where everything about them is built cheap from small motors to partical board cabinets for example. I could have bought one of those for 1/2 what the Monaco and Winnebago Luxor cost. Do lots of research, LOTS!

[pianotuna]

I'm old school. No slides for me.

What will we do when fuel reaches $6 per gallon?

I'd really love to move to an electric RV.

[Chum_lee]

If you are considering a Class A with slides, make sure you are aware of what the floor plan looks like "inside" with the slides "retracted." Some floor plans are usable, some are not. When you are in travel mode, many popular rest areas are too tight to safely fully extend your slides. (without the danger of another oversize vehicle damaging them) IMO, it's good to KNOW that, now, before you sign on the dotted line.


Chum lee