Well I'm kinda thinking about looking at a Class A. I've currently driving a truck I bought new in 2002 with 231k miles on it, and pulling a 3 year old travel trailer. It is getting about time to replace the truck.I really like Jeeps, and have had a couple over the years and would really like to go back to one as my daily, but I need a truck for the camper. Looking at new truck prices, I'll be looking at $45-50k for a truck. Looking online it looks like a 10-15 year old class A can be found for $50-60k, and I could sell my camper for $20k and end up with a class A and a Jeep and be out of pocket about the same amount of money. I'm pretty handy with most thing and DIY just about all out home and auto repairs so an older coach/jeep doesn't overly concern me. We have always thought one day when we retired, or won the lotto we'd get a class A, but I'm thinking we might could do it now.

We went with a motorhome and absolutly love it. It is vastly easier to use.

Do your home work, there are some very nice M/H for sale now the 2002- thru-2008 with out EPA equipment.I'd be searching for a Beaver, Newmar -mountain Aire or higher or several other high end coaches.We love our 2000 Newmar, is has been bullet proof.

This is a tough question for someone else to answer. One man's crazy is an others genius :B. While the amounts of initial outlay may be similar. I think that's the only comparison. With a new truck, you end up with Well a new truck and keep an almost new trailer. The truck would be under warranty and you should know the condition/history of your trailer. With a 10+ year old class A, you will be buying someone else's problems and without warranty or fore knowledge of it's shall we say quirks. That's not to say there aren't any decent RVs in that age range, but I have been around RV's my entire life and my family and I have owned many and every one I've ever seen has its own quirks/issues. You indicate you are pretty handy and could handle most DIY projects, but is that how you want to spend your time? Some people enjoy working on them as much or more than camping in them.A couple of things to think about.Your current trailer is only a couple of years old. Did you buy it new? If so, you know how its been cared for. You know its good points and bad. Do you have any experience with older RVs? Do you know what to look for to cull the "good" from the "bad"? Many 10+ year old RVs have low mileage, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Vehicles that sit for 11 months out of the year with no or very intermittent use don't age well.Most 10+ year old RVs have been stored outside and uncovered most/all of their life and most have not received proper maintenance when it comes to roof and window sealants. Most have been exposed to some leak damage somewhere. If you don't like your trailer or want the class A experience, that could be a determining factor. There are pros and cons to travel trailer/fifth wheel vs motor home. You don't indicate any parameters other than cost, but at 60K you are in the territory of new class C or newer low end class A units.

happy2rv wrote:This is a tough question for someone else to answer. One man's crazy is an others genius :B. While the amounts of initial outlay may be similar. I think that's the only comparison. With a new truck, you end up with Well a new truck and keep an almost new trailer. The truck would be under warranty and you should know the condition/history of your trailer. With a 10+ year old class A, you will be buying someone else's problems and without warranty or fore knowledge of it's shall we say quirks. That's not to say there aren't any decent RVs in that age range, but I have been around RV's my entire life and my family and I have owned many and every one I've ever seen has its own quirks/issues. You indicate you are pretty handy and could handle most DIY projects, but is that how you want to spend your time? Some people enjoy working on them as much or more than camping in them.A couple of things to think about.Your current trailer is only a couple of years old. Did you buy it new? If so, you know how its been cared for. You know its good points and bad. Do you have any experience with older RVs? Do you know what to look for to cull the "good" from the "bad"? Many 10+ year old RVs have low mileage, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Vehicles that sit for 11 months out of the year with no or very intermittent use don't age well.Most 10+ year old RVs have been stored outside and uncovered most/all of their life and most have not received proper maintenance when it comes to roof and window sealants. Most have been exposed to some leak damage somewhere. If you don't like your trailer or want the class A experience, that could be a determining factor. There are pros and cons to travel trailer/fifth wheel vs motor home. You don't indicate any parameters other than cost, but at 60K you are in the territory of new class C or newer low end class A units.Yep.. and when it is raining like hell, wind raging, he can pull into the camp spot , push a few buttons. level up. and kick back.rather than getting out and setting up the trailer.Every device we camp in is a device that needs maintenance.

Tom/Barb wrote:happy2rv wrote:This is a tough question for someone else to answer. One man's crazy is an others genius :B. While the amounts of initial outlay may be similar. I think that's the only comparison. With a new truck, you end up with Well a new truck and keep an almost new trailer. The truck would be under warranty and you should know the condition/history of your trailer. With a 10+ year old class A, you will be buying someone else's problems and without warranty or fore knowledge of it's shall we say quirks. That's not to say there aren't any decent RVs in that age range, but I have been around RV's my entire life and my family and I have owned many and every one I've ever seen has its own quirks/issues. You indicate you are pretty handy and could handle most DIY projects, but is that how you want to spend your time? Some people enjoy working on them as much or more than camping in them.A couple of things to think about.Your current trailer is only a couple of years old. Did you buy it new? If so, you know how its been cared for. You know its good points and bad. Do you have any experience with older RVs? Do you know what to look for to cull the "good" from the "bad"? Many 10+ year old RVs have low mileage, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Vehicles that sit for 11 months out of the year with no or very intermittent use don't age well.Most 10+ year old RVs have been stored outside and uncovered most/all of their life and most have not received proper maintenance when it comes to roof and window sealants. Most have been exposed to some leak damage somewhere. If you don't like your trailer or want the class A experience, that could be a determining factor. There are pros and cons to travel trailer/fifth wheel vs motor home. You don't indicate any parameters other than cost, but at 60K you are in the territory of new class C or newer low end class A units.Yep.. and when it is raining like hell, wind raging, he can pull into the camp spot , push a few buttons. level up. and kick back.rather than getting out and setting up the trailer.Every device we camp in is a device that needs maintenance.No argument here. As I said, each has their own advantages and disadvantages. I wasn't trying to sway one way or the other. Just pointing out that comparing a brand new truck/trailer to a 10+ year old RV is about more than just $$. All require maintenance and if you know that it was done and done right, an older unit might not be a problem. Unfortunately its been my experience that its hard to find a 10+ year old RV that's been meticulously maintained. I've owned both and enjoyed both. There are a lot of things I miss about my motor home and a lot of things I don't miss. Right now, for me, the trailer is a better option for many reasons but that can and likely will change again over time. I can't/wouldn't speak for anyone else.

Would this be crazy?? | Good Sam Community

Mile_High
Explorer
Sep 15, 2019
winniman wrote:
Tom/Barb wrote:
You'll go a long ways to be more comfortable than this.

beaverhttps://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2005-Beaver-Motor-Coaches-Monteray-40--Laguna-Diesel-5008369527

A 60k budget isn't going to buy you a 170k rv.
It was only it the high 40s before it came down.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Sep 14, 2019
winniman wrote:
Tom/Barb wrote:
You'll go a long ways to be more comfortable than this.

beaverhttps://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2005-Beaver-Motor-Coaches-Monteray-40--Laguna-Diesel-5008369527

A 60k budget isn't going to buy you a 170k rv.

I didn't think that was a 170K coach. some one thought it was a good deal, because it is no longer on the page....
crawford
Explorer
Sep 14, 2019
I have a coach but no Jeep just a Saturn for years but as we get older seems to be getting lower to ground LOL
winniman
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2019
Tom/Barb wrote:
You'll go a long ways to be more comfortable than this.

beaverhttps://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2005-Beaver-Motor-Coaches-Monteray-40--Laguna-Diesel-5008369527

A 60k budget isn't going to buy you a 170k rv.
scbwr
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2019
Not a crazy idea....just do your homework. We went from downsizing to a smaller trailer and Tundra, and then decided we need more room in our garage and while traveling. Due to our budget, we stayed with a gas class A but spent a little more to get a Newmar (would have considered others). After purchase, we purchased new tires, replaced one AC (under extended warranty), had the front end aligned and installed a Roadmaster steering stabilizer for the front axle. It handles pretty well on the road and meets our needs. We love the convenience and size. As pointed out above, if you arrive in bad weather, you can put the stabilizers down, extend the slides and then wait for a break before taking care of power cord, water and/or sewer hose. When stopping overnight, you can simply just plug in the power cord, water hose if desired....or just stay "self-contained". We also enjoy having a smaller vehicle for sightseeing, running errands, etc.
Executive45
Explorer III
Sep 12, 2019
Tom/Barb wrote:
You'll go a long ways to be more comfortable than this.

beaverhttps://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2005-Beaver-Motor-Coaches-Monteray-40--Laguna-Diesel-5008369527

Seems like they could simply look at the BACK of the coach and get the correct spelling of Monterey. Yes???....Dennis
K_Charles
Explorer
Sep 11, 2019
Our Excursion had 19?,??? Miles and our 8600 lb trailer was about 5 or 6 years old. We needed something newer to pull the trailer with and found anything that could pull the trailer would coast a lot of money. We trailer the trailer and a small amount of cash for a 10 year old MH. That was 4 years ago and the little bit that we have done to the MH is far less the monthly payments on a truck.
valhalla360
Navigator
Sep 11, 2019
wowens79 wrote:

I know my logic is a little off. My reasoning on a new truck is I keep my trucks a long time. My current one I've been driving for 17 years, so I would get new to get what I want, as we should be retiring within the next 15 years, and the truck would last til retirement, then get a class A.
The thought behind going used class A/Jeep, is it would get us both to what we want now.

I'll probably get a truck in the next year or two, and consider the clas A when the kids are out of college and we recover from that in 8-10 years.

If you have the money and want the Jeep/MH combo, go for it.

But just one more question on the cost logic...if you keep trucks a long time, won't you also plan to keep the MH a long time and thus should be looking at new MH by your logic?

It doesn't have to be logical and you don't have to defend your choice but as an independent 3rd party observer (you asked for input), the cost logic is "crazy".
imgoin4it
Explorer
Sep 11, 2019
Sometimes I think owning a motor home is crazy, but I love it and will keep on “keeping on” with it. If that’s what you would like to do, just do it. One never knows for sure what the future holds. If you don’t do it you may one day regret not doing it. You only live once.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Sep 11, 2019
There are those who say all of us with RV's are crazy... I'm not among them.

And I'd never consider an upgrade from trailer to Class A crazy.. But I will warn.

class A's come in many different flavors but just two for this post
Gas and Diesel
Most Gassers. like mine, come with a 5000 pound rated hitch.. This is 5KPound only if the tow bar is straight (no drop or rise adapter) Drop or rise adapters seriously degrade it.

Also the Motor home may not be able to tow 5000 pounds. Mine for example can only tow 4000. (Hitch can do 5 but MH only 4) difference between Max Combined GVW and actual Motor HOme GVW a scaled.

Your JEEP may be too heavy for a gasser.

Big D's on the other hand cost about 2x what a gasser costs up front
But also pull 2x. Your jeep won't be a problem

Do not forget an aux brake system for the Jeep. There is one (I think M&G ) that is 100% "Transparant" to the driver of the jeep. You will not see or feel ANYTHING inside the jeep because there is nothing inside the jeep. it is 100% under the hood. Runs on air pressure which most Big D's use for brakes as well.

Forum Discussion

Would this be crazy??

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

Crazy Accident

Crazy driving

Daly BMS gone crazy..Update Opinions

Crazy Yellowstone

crazy accidnet