Class A or 5th Wheel

Just to give you an idea at what your approx. $25,000 will get you - take a look at PPL Consignments in Houston.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/used_rvs_for_sale.htm

For instance:
DIESEL: 1999 38' Holiday Rambler - $25,900
2001 37' Landau - $19,995

GAS: 2002 34' Windsong - $26,995
2003 34' Mirada - $26,455
2004 35' Georgetown - $25,695
2003 33' Bounder $25,495
2001 37' Newmar Dutch Star - $24,000 **** quality manufacturer
2000 32' Winnebago - $21.495

....and many others

Does "chucking it all in" mean selling or carrying away everything you own? If I combine that idea with traveling every day, then you will likely do best in an A motorhome large enough to have substantial storage and carrying capacity.

Budget of $25,000 takes you to something manufactured before 2000, most likely, and you get more capacity for your money in you aren't paying for and carrying the weight of slide out rooms. 36-40 foot Tiffin, Beaver or Safari with at least a C-7 Cat or C-series Cummins. In that era, similar size Country Coach (e.g Affinity) and Newmar (e.g. Dutch Star) will run about $10,000 higher, particularly since the Dutch Star already had at least one big slide out to raise its market value.

I was also thinking old Newell coaches or Bluebird Wanderlodge, but even the 38-40 foot sizes have become collectible, 20+ year old coaches selling for more than they cost new.

People talk about having to pull something, but I've done 10 years, 30,000 miles of motorhome travel with overnights, found no need to pull a car behind me for local transportation. When I go out to the lake for a week, yes I tow a car (and a trailer would probably serve me better) but not when the motorhome is moving every day.

When you get to your destination, and park long term, you will need transportation. What that costs depends on what you want to pay, what you want to drive. I have one son-in-law who won't pay much more than $1000 for a car, drives it until it quits (often several years) then gets another. My other SIL likes to drive a new truck, might spend $25,000 to $40,000 every few years. There are lots of options in between.

If neither of you have camped in an RV before, you're best off trying a weekend rental locally before going on the type of adventure you described.

My in-laws were long-time campers and tried full-time. They lasted less than a year, mostly because they were too destination driven. But there are a lot of other close-quarters and sleeping somewhere new nightly issues that would be best tested out before "the big trip."

Don't want to be cruel here, but a budget of $25,000 isn't much. If you find an older gas MH or smaller class C you are still going to need to pull something. Even getting a truck and TT is going to stretch that budget.

If you get something too old or too rough there could be expensive repair issues down the road.

I wouldn't rent. You said you were going to "chuck it all in for a while", and if that "while" is more than a few weeks, it will be way cheaper to buy a used class A or C, take the trip and sell it when you're done.

For under $25k, you should be looking at 20 year old diesels and 15 year old gas models. Figure on spending at least 10% on fixing stuff the first year. Get someone who knows what they're looking at to inspect a prospect coach.

And I agree Dave - just the 2 of you, moving a lot, take a hard look at class Cs. It will cost less to run than an A.

I second renting.
When you get back decide what you are going to do.
If it is travel, a motorhome has setup time advantage.
If it is to relocate for periods of time, any trailer wins.
We have been campers, we are now travelers and the two have only one thing in common when we are - We aren't at home.

Matt

Why not rent a class C MH take your trip to CA. When you get back to Fla you will be much wiser about what RV will suit your needs. Gas or diesel? Lots of status driving those disels into RV parks. I just never got caught up in all that status stuff. I get there when I get there. No schedules just wander on down the road.

Moving almost daily, I would go with a a MH. We have a 5er but we almost always stay in one place at least several days at a time and don't put but around 2,500 miles per year on the road.

That is not a lot of money for a class A. I would go with a truck and trailer. You can get a newer RV with less maintenance required.

With just two of you. Why not throw a Class C in the mix. With two a 27 foot or so would do fine and be a little easier as a daily driver. With a small C you may not have to have a toad. Just something to consider. Or even a truck camper combo. Sometimes people sell them together as is, at a decent price. Just keep you options open. A pickup and TT would work well also. I just think with some Class A's depending on age you may be in for some real expense if you have troubles. JMHO