Newbie driving across Canada needs advice

[downs]

Hello there,

Thanks for your help right off the bat, I have learned a lot of things over the years from all sorts of different forums just like this one. Truly the internet is great. 🙂

My family and I are going to be driving from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. My wife will be doing a book tour so its going to take us about a month stopping and visiting along the way.

This is a one way trip and we are going to be carrying really only clothes and a few personal effects.

So my first decision is around what to buy to do this trip.

I have been back and forth on buying a C Class Motorhome and towing our nearly paid off Mazda 5 or buying a pickup and getting either a 5th wheel or TT and ditching the Mazda 5 before we go.

I do have a motorcycle and have looked into toy hauler/camper combos but that seems to have been ruled out by the 'boss.'

I have budgeted 20K for the purchase of this vehicle( vehicle combo).

So I ask you, those who have come before for your advice.

[shum02]

downs wrote:


hmm do you think i can travel all the way across canada
even northern ontario and the prairies in just a car and hotel?

Jeeze, how backs woods do you think the rest of the country is LOL! Although there are still areas where you'll be stretching your fuel tank you'd do just fine 😉

[downs]

I mean we have tent camped
so that is part of the experience
spending time experiencing all Canada has to offer
its not just about doing it as cheap as possible
but its also a 1 time 1 way trip

[downs]

mayo30 wrote:
Sell everything except your almost paid off car.Hotel all the way,you don't need reservations all the time.You can rent an apt. for $1500.00 for a month when you get there.It will cost you well over $10,000.00 expeneses plus $20,000.00 to buy an old Class c that will probably cost another $2000.00 just to get ready for the trip.What will you get for it when you sell it???A huge gamble.Spend $3000.00 on hotel rooms and &2000.00 on gas and misc.plus your &1500.00 month rent and you are done,no hassle.$6500.00 total instead of at least $30,000.00 with no idea how much you will possibly lose on the motor home,also no licence and insurance to pay for it.Replace bike when you get there if you still want one with savings,unless it is a gold wing.Easy stress less driving through mountains,parking,no sewer hoses etc. you get the picture.Not saying not get an Rv but this trip may not be the right time.

hmm do you think i can travel all the way across canada
even northern ontario and the prairies in just a car and hotel?

i had envisioned a camping trip along the way

not saying this cant work
just wasnt what i imagined

[free_radical]

mayo30 wrote:
Sell everything except your almost paid off car.Hotel all the way,you don't need reservations all the time.You can rent an apt. for $1500.00 for a month when you get there.It will cost you well over $10,000.00 expeneses plus $20,000.00 to buy an old Class c that will probably cost another $2000.00 just to get ready for the trip.What will you get for it when you sell it???A huge gamble.Spend $3000.00 on hotel rooms and &2000.00 on gas and misc.plus your &1500.00 month rent and you are done,no hassle.$6500.00 total instead of at least $30,000.00 with no idea how much you will possibly lose on the motor home,also no licence and insurance to pay for it.Replace bike when you get there if you still want one with savings,unless it is a gold wing.Easy stress less driving through mountains,parking,no sewer hoses etc. you get the picture.Not saying not get an Rv but this trip may not be the right time.

X2
Buying used RV is buying lots of trouble unless you know how to check everything inside and out...
And if it breaks down somewhere in the midle of your trip you'll be stuck finding an honest repairman..
I'd buy brand new and only if I planned to travel and live in it for a long time,,
or rent a motel,hotel ..

[John___Angela]

You should have no problem finding a 20K used class C around 25 feet that will be find for your crew. If you choose to sell it when you get to the west you will probably do alright, or use it to go camping in the west. ON edit. I don't know anything about the Mazda 5 but we had no problem pulling a Jeep Grand Cherokee with our 22 footer. Look for something like this or a bit bigger. At about 24 feet the sleeping arrangements get a little better for a family. Should be around 16000 Canadian. This is our 2002. Just passing 180,000 KM without a hickup.

[mayo30]

Sell everything except your almost paid off car.Hotel all the way,you don't need reservations all the time.You can rent an apt. for $1500.00 for a month when you get there.It will cost you well over $10,000.00 expeneses plus $20,000.00 to buy an old Class c that will probably cost another $2000.00 just to get ready for the trip.What will you get for it when you sell it???A huge gamble.Spend $3000.00 on hotel rooms and &2000.00 on gas and misc.plus your &1500.00 month rent and you are done,no hassle.$6500.00 total instead of at least $30,000.00 with no idea how much you will possibly lose on the motor home,also no licence and insurance to pay for it.Replace bike when you get there if you still want one with savings,unless it is a gold wing.Easy stress less driving through mountains,parking,no sewer hoses etc. you get the picture.Not saying not get an Rv but this trip may not be the right time.

[shum02]

downs wrote:
wow again very eye opening for me

in terms of having someone look at something
do you just take that to another dealer?
i dont imagine there are a lot of RV mechanics around ?

The drive-train(engine, transmission, running gear, brakes, etc) can be checked out by mechanics.

The RV section can be a little more challenging unless you know someone familiar with the different systems - stove, HVAC, fridge etc. It's not impossible to learn and there certainly is LOTS of PDI lists available to give you a hand.

Being an educated consumer is your fist and best weapon.

[msmith1199]

There are RV mechanics down here in the states that will look it over for you, but I don't know what you have up there. You also mention snow. Don't forget if you buy something up there it may have been stored in snow and freezing conditions. If not stored properly those climate conditions can do a lot of damage too.

[downs]

wow again very eye opening for me
I think I may have time on my side as I am looking now and most of us are still covered in tons of snow up here so ads arent necessarily out yet
but it sounds like a C class in my price range is the way to go

in terms of having someone look at something
do you just take that to another dealer?
i dont imagine there are a lot of RV mechanics around ?

[msmith1199]

RV's aren't cheap and the ones that are may also have a lot of things broken or a lot of things on the verge of breaking. And then repair bills can be high. Just to give you and idea, the sales tax alone on my RV was $13k! I have not looked at used Class C's and I especially don't know what's available up there in Canada. I think it's possible to get a used class C in the $20k range that is in decent condition, but you would really want to have somebody check it out to make sure.

[OpenRangePullen]

downs wrote:
Did think of the hotel thing, but are kinda doing this unscheduled

thanks very much for the education
glad I am not going into this with an unrealistic expectation

long term doesn't have to be scheduled, go in and get the weekly rate.

[downs]

Did think of the hotel thing, but are kinda doing this unscheduled

thanks very much for the education
glad I am not going into this with an unrealistic expectation

[OpenRangePullen]

downs wrote:
wow I'm kinda shocked by this
glad I came to the experts

mmm handy somewhat
if there are instructions available on the internet sure i made my own bar and built a keg fridge
am not a mechanic however

is a mini van another (cheaper) option then?

20K was really my budget on this
is a 20K C class realistic?

we may have to live in this in BC for awhile until we are settled
so the renting option is out

$20k for a C-class would be the best option then. Consider A Hotel option too.
Good Luck
Happy Hunting

[downs]

holy cow

150K I am so not anywhere near that scale

wow

[OpenRangePullen]

downs wrote:
Fair question mssmith

Since we are moving, everything is all sort of mixed together.

In that if we were to buy a truck and toy hauler, that truck would remain our primary vehicle.

I don;t think renting is an option. Worth thinking on though.

20K hey isn't a lot hey?
I figured that if buying brand new but when I look on kijiji (think craigslist) I see plenty of trucks under 10K and plenty of travel trailers under 10K - that's how I came up with that number

OK but how good condition are those, why buy if your only using it for a month, Im guessing your from CANADA, getting a TRUCK is not going to help on gas/diesel. Then for $20k is not allot in the RV and TRUCK world, for my truck and 5er ive payed off all $150k (Cash Buy) and still going so my family has the ultimate experience.