shopping for first motorhome

[WeCampDisney]

I have sold my trailer and my Excursion. We need the best RV for a 40K budget. We need room for 4 to 5 adults, 2 small children and a couple of dogs. We will mostly use it for annual trips to the Fort. For that I think bigger is better. We will also take some long national touring trips ( if we can get away from the Fort). For those trips I think smaller is better. Thinking a compromise of 32 to 34 feet with a slide or 2. All the ones i see less than 32 feet have almost no counter top in the kitchen so thats not good (wife loves to cook and wants a bigger kitchen area. I don't want an older unit so diesel is out considering our 40K budget. I have noticed that the less expensive entry level models are lighter than the "nicer" more expensive models. That could = a little better gas mileage. I see these models that fit our requirements: all 2003 to 2005, Fleetwood Terra or Flair, Four Winds Hurricane, Tiffan Allegro, Winne Sightseer, R-Vision Condor, Georgie Boy Pursuit. I think from what I have read, the Tiffan and the Winnebago brands may be considered a little better quality than the others. I like these 2 brands a lot but its hard to find one for 40K thats less than 8 years old. I find the '04-'05 Terra very interesting because of its lighter weight and the angled windshield. Maybe it would get good gas mileage, 9 or 10 mpg? Right now on RVT.com I see a nice '03 32 ft Allegro with 2 slides advertised at $42K. Also there is a very nice '04 Pursuit, 2 slides, low milage for about $40K. I know the Ford V-10 is a great motor, very reliable. I don't know anything about the GM 8.1 Liter engine. But I do know that the GM has the Allison transmission which I think is a good thing. There has been some problems with the brakes on the GM, which I think is a bad thing. I am reading on RV.net forum a lot of stuff about class A RVs, trying to make an informed buying decision. I would appreciate any experienced RVers advise. We will buy the RV next spring, heading to the Fort in June.

 

[des1954]

Congrats on selling your units in this economy. That in itself is a major accomplishment!!

I don't know how much of or good of a class A you will get for $40K. If you are persistent, they are probably out there. Class A's only recently started to include floor plans with bunk beds - like in the past 3 years or so. Class C's are more family friendly units and would more easily accommodate the number of people you plan on traveling with.

The only advantage to a diesel engine in a Class A is the power it gives you on steep inclines. If your travels will be mostly non-mountain regions a gasser will do you fine.

Please don't think I'm being trite or a smarty pants, but if you are worried about how much gas mileage you can get with a MH, you might want to reconsider getting another TT & tow vehicle. There's an old expression that goes: "It's not how many miles to the gallon, but how many gallons to the mile."

We have a 2005 32' Itasca Meridian diesel with a 350HP motor. It gets about 8 - 9 MPG, and that's considered good. We've had a max of 3 adults in it, and it gets kind of tight.

Good luck with your search! Patience is its' own reward.

 

[ftwildernessrick]

I don't know how much of or good of a class A you will get for $40K. If you are persistent, they are probably out there. Class A's only recently started to include floor plans with bunk beds - like in the past 3 years or so. Class C's are more family friendly units and would more easily accommodate the number of people you plan on traveling with.
QUOTE]

I agree, short of a bunk house Class A, which I doubt you can find one used for that budget, the class C would be your best option. Preferably one with a fold out couch & a dinette booth that folds down to a bed. Even so, it will be tight living quarters when you have all the people there at one time.

Class C's
http://www.rvsearch.com/findrv/index.cfm/a-d/tc-36261/vid-590331/
http://www.rvsearch.com/findrv/index.cfm/a-d/tc-36261/vid-593269/
http://www.rvsearch.com/findrv/index.cfm/a-d/tc-36261/vid-581275/

Class A's (these have 2 couches & a dinette booth)
http://www.rvsearch.com/findrv/index.cfm/a-d/tc-36261/vid-566923/
http://www.rvsearch.com/findrv/index.cfm/a-d/tc-36261/vid-517424/

 

[tlh0726]

take it from experience, with kids BUNK MODEL and SLIDE OUTS are the only way to go.
Having to make up and tear down beds each morning and evening gets to be a real PITA! It also then eliminates your living and dining areas real quick.

We had a 34 foot gas model with no slides and upgraded to a 39 ft diesel with bunks with one slide in the bedroom on the passenger side and a full length slide on the on the driver side.

I agree with the previous posters, to sleep as many as you want a class C would be your best option. We looked at some super c's with bunks. They allowed you to sleep 6 without having to touch the couch or dinette.

Good luck in your search

 

[WeCampDisney]

Thanks you guys for taking the time to reply. Ya'll do make a lot of sense about bunks for the kids and the class C being family friendly because of the over cab bed. We have traveled in a class C a few times. My inlaws took us to the Fort in 2000 and 2001 for our first trips there. We think having a large living room area is a big priority for us, for hanging out when the weather is bad. These basic Class As with a large slide out have a little more room than any class c. We have had 2 travel trailers with no bunk beds and it was no big deal for us to prep the dinete and sofa beds. I know that could change as we get older or when we take longer trips. About the gas mileage, its not a big deal. I got 8 to 9 mpg when towing my campers. I understand that most rv rigs get from 6 to 10 mpg. I just think that if I get an rv thats a little lighter and more aero , one mpg better is 10 % less fuel cost. Thats just gravy. I like that class A's have a larger gas tank. I also like how the front seats turn around to become living room seating. I have go for now, will come back to this later.

 

[WeCampDisney]

There are several nice low mileage RVs on RVT.com that I think would be great for us: 2003-2006, 32 to 35 ft, 1 or 2 slides, couch with hide-a-bed, and a dinette-bed. The asking price is about $38000-$45000. Most of these units are Fleetwood Tera and Flair, Four Winds Hurricane, or the Coachmen Mirada. These entry level RVs are built on the same Ford or GM Workhorse chassis as the most expensive gas models. They have the same appliances, air conditioners, etc. These models sold new for about $75k-80k I think. I have even seen a few Tiffin Allegros advertised for under $45k. So, I am looking at buying one that's 4-7 years old with 20k-50k miles on it. My main question is this. In general, other than minor repairs, what is the life expectancy of the ac and the appliances? Also, does anyone have any first hand experience with one of these models I am looking at? I can handle any minor repairs but I don't want to buy a Four Winds, or a Fleetwood, and have the fiberglass come loose on the side, or the rubber roof pull away. Do you know of a particular model I should avoid? Oh, and about the class C, I will certainly drive at least one or two and compare it to the class A. Thanks again for any input, its all appreciated .

 

[des1954]

If you can...try to find a Winnebago. They have fiberglass roofs which have a longer life and are a little more durable than a rubber roof. The newer model Winnie's also offer basement air on some models, thus getting the units off the roof. The less on the roof, the better. If I had to recommend a particular Winnebago model, I'd say look for a 35' Adventurer. Good luck!

 

[WeCampDisney]

Debbie, I like the fiberglass roof on the Winne. I know that if need be fiberglass is easily repaired. I think that Winne is still considered a better quality brand than most. I have seen several '01 and '02 Winne Adventurers on RVT.com with asking prices of $38K to $45K. I would love to find a low mileage one owner 35 ft Adventurer. I am very excited about next years trip in a motorhome. I think the 1000 mile trip will be fun instead of a drag.

 

[DaveInTN]

A step below the Adventurer but still a very nice MH is the Winnie Sightseer, or Itasca Sunova. We had a Sunova until recently and it was pretty much trouble-free. Great build quality, top notch components for a gasser in that price range, still with the fiberglass roof too. You might find one in your price range in the 2003-2005 range.

 

[PrincessNana]

Since you're in Texas, Go to CamperClinic.com the Rockport store. They have some new 2007 that fit your budget and sleeping arrangements. They're all Winnebago products and one of them has two slides in the living area which gives you alot of room. They have pictures online, so you can preview what they have.

 

[PrincessNana]

O.K. I'm sorry, they no longer have the two motorhomes on their website, buy they are both still on their lot. They are both Itasca models and one is the equivalent to the Sightseer and the other is a Sunstar.

 

[WeCampDisney]

Karen, thanks for the tip on CamperClinic.com, I will check it out. Back in 1977 I spent a week camping on the beach in Aransas Pass. I was celebrating college graduation. Thats a really cool town you have there.