Green Horn From CA.!

[Bearhm]

Hello, My friends call me Big Mike, and I am getting ready to take the biggest adventure in my Life! Now I know everyone says that you should rent before your Buy, but that is not going to work for me. I have sold the farm! So I am going for it all of the way, and if I find out that I don't like it, I will never let my friends Know! I am going to Fake It Tell I Make It! Yes, I am talking about full time, no light weight stuff for me, I want the full nelson experience. I have been looking and researching for about 4 months, to the point most of my friends are walking the other way when I show up. I like Winnebago, and I understand that a gas Class A would be best fit for a green horn like me. But I am not sure what is the right size that I should buy that will be the best for full time living, and I want to buy used, and how old of an RV, and the most mileage I want stay under. Also, I am open to suggestions on other Models that will be best for someone like Me! Thanks in advance for all of your inputs.

Big Mike in Calif!

[Jim_Shoe]

Bear,
I'm also a single RVer. I started with a Class B, but quickly tired of turning the dinette into a bed and back, a toilet that was also a closet, and a shower in the kitchen. Add having to unhook everything to see something in the area and then return to the CG, often in a different spot.
So when I traded for my 'C', I looked for a full time bed, shower, bathroom and dinette as a minimum. That was more important than the length. You're going to spend a lot of time inside it, so you might as well be comfortable. I added a Jeep Wrangler toad, and have been a happy camper since 2004.
I stress that there was nothing wrong with the 'B'. Lots of folks have them, it just wasn't for me.
The reason I didn't consider a TT: If I backed into a site, as soon as I was no longer backing straight in, I would lose sight of one of the rear corners, and I'm not a fan of parking by sound instead of sight. If I have to take a back in, I can unhook the toad and move it out of the way and then back the MH in the site. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[aerbus32]

Where would you like to spend your time once you hit the road? If you're thinking Ca State Parks, most will only accommodate rigs that would be pretty small to full-time in. Are you planning to pull a dinghy? As a ft'er you going to want to. (Most Class C's will limit you to 3500 lbs.) Pulling a dinghy makes it that much tougher to find an appropriate site in public campgrounds in California. The good news is that there are great private campgrounds usually located within a reasonable 'dinghy' drive to the State/National parks that are often more cost effective than the public ones. The size of the rig isn't going to be near the issue in them. Floor plan is more important than size though. Watch a lot of TV? Is there a comfortable place to do so from? I'd suggest you look for a nice pre-owned unit built by a well known manufacturer. By an extended warranty. If at all possible, get every potential unit checked out by someone knowledgeable about RV's.

[Harvey51]

Even if you don't want to rent, at least take the time to go to campgrounds in your area and talk to people with Class A/B/C motorhomes and 5th wheel and conventional trailers. You will learn a lot. Right now you don't know what you don't know.

Excellent idea! Also look for a friend or neighbour with RV experience and know how who would be willing to have a look at units you are interested in.

[Redsky]

With a large Class A motorhome or almost any motorhome you will also want to tow a small vehicle as well. You will need the small vehicle to get to many places where your motorhome will not fit or be a pain to navigate or park. The motorhome, like a travel trailer, becomes your base camp.

In terms of living space, load capacity, holding tank capacity. and bang for the buck nothing beats a trailer. If you plan to stay in one location for a week or more and will be either parking a motorhome or a trailer it makes little difference but the trailer will provide a lot more living space and room for clothes and toys.

With a conventional trailer towed behind a pickup the truck can be the toy carrier for a small dingy or kayak/canoe or bicycle, ATV, etc. and provide for a lot more ways to explore when you get to an area.

Even if you don't want to rent, at least take the time to go to campgrounds in your area and talk to people with Class A/B/C motorhomes and 5th wheel and conventional trailers. You will learn a lot. Right now you don't know what you don't know.

[Veebyes]

I hope that you do not buy a mistake. It will be very costly.

We bought somebodys mistake. They had never rented, never gone camping with anyone else to get a taste of the lifestyle.

Between truck & trailer they put Something like $120,000 into brand new that they planned to full time in. Six months later they figured the the RV lifestyle was not for them & they wanted out, bad. The end of summer is a bad time to be selling a summer toy, especially in a depressed market.

Without haggling over price we bought their 6 month old $120k mistake for $80k. 16,000 miles on the truck.

7 years, over 120,000 miles later, we are still going strong. The difference is that we came from a weekending boating world, a 2 week RV rental & years of research before buying.

[2012Coleman]

Hey Big Mike in Calif - welcome to the forum and happy camping!

[timmac]

Bearhm wrote:
Thanks everyone for your inputs. I am a single guy, looking forward to this new adventure I'm about to take. Have some more new Ideas on what to look for. Again Thanks!

Big Mike

Well than if your single than a 32-33 foot with 2 slides will work just fine, lots of motorhomes in that size for sale, good luck.

[Bearhm]

Thanks everyone for your inputs. I am a single guy, looking forward to this new adventure I'm about to take. Have some more new Ideas on what to look for. Again Thanks!

Big Mike

[bikendan]

if i would be full-timing, i would choose a 5th wheel combo instead of a motorhome and having to pull a toad.

[Jim-Linda]

I like Winnebago, and I understand that a gas Class A would be best fit for a green horn like me.

I really believe you should do more research due to your above statement. You seem to be confusing Winnebago and Class A's. Winnie makes Class A's, so do many others. Take in some RV shows or visit as many dealers as you can. DO NOT jump at the first thing that rings your bell. Lots of money involved here.

Jim

[mlts22]

For full-timing, I'd rather go for a used high-end DP that is well made, is in good mechanical shape, and isn't leaking (run away from any MH that you even think might have a leak due to rot.)

Gassers tend to be entry-level units, and might not be something that can stand up to full time use.

As for length, assuming you have a toad, I'd highly recommend a longer floorplan. Some people can tolerate less space, but for full-timing, I'd probably recommend at least 40 feet, but everyone has different space needs, and an "A" that is too big for one person might be cramped for another. When in doubt, go too big than too small.

My recommendation: Hit the shows and dealers and look at "A"s, and find a size and floorplan you like, then start looking for individual models.

[timmac]

Yes full timing you will want at least 36ft with 2 slides, don't go above 38ft with slides and a gas motor, you won't like the performance in the mountains, you also never said if you have a wife and a dog, if its just you than a 33ft with 2 slides will do.

I prefer Fleetwood myself, I am on my 3rd Fleetwood product, all 3 before Fleetwood BK and all 3 have been good and no issues.

[pompano]

I know from experience that a full-time motorhome ..FOR ME...would be at least 36ft. Trust me, it becomes small after a few weeks.

[1492]

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