RE: Newmar Ventana 3942 Bunk - Pros/cons/advice/regrets?
We modified our bath and a half to put bunks in the back. Love having that entirely separate room for the kids.
This is something we're considering as we have three kids. Is there more information on your mod anywhere? Do you have any pictures you could share?
Pm me your email I'll send you some pictures.
PM Sent, thanks!
RE: Newmar Ventana 3942 Bunk - Pros/cons/advice/regrets?
We modified our bath and a half to put bunks in the back. Love having that entirely separate room for the kids.
This is something we're considering as we have three kids. Is there more information on your mod anywhere? Do you have any pictures you could share?
RE: Class A or Class C and Why
You can get a good quality used class C for 30k or less, no problem. The Class A's will be harder to find at that price point. The problem you will likely encounter with a C is the tow rating. Most C's have very little cargo capacity and also have a more limited towing capacity than a Class A. You'll need to carefully check the curb weight of the truck you want to tow and see if the RV you want can safely tow it.
RE: Ready to Pull the Trigger on a Used Diesel Pusher
Five kids will be tough. I have three kids and am running into the same problem. They do make bunkhouse DP's now but of course that only accounts for two kids. Another option is to buy a toyhauler and convert the garage into sleeping area. Of course, there are precious few DP toy haulers out there.
So, get ready for a long search, a lot of research and expect to have to modify whatever you do buy.
RE: Seriously considering starting from scratch (floorplan)
I don't really see a perfect solution based on your criteria. You don't want to get rid of the master bedroom, nor the kid's mattresses, yet want a bigger bathroom, more counterspace and an entertainment center. Doing those latter three will require sacrificing space somewhere else and there's a fixed amount of square footage to deal with.
That said, you can be more efficient with space. IMO, adjusting the beds is the way to go. You could, for example, build a triple bunk in the slide and then a single, high bunk in the back with an entertainment center/storage below. Given where the outside door is, not sure how you get more counterspace, so I'd go with the mobile "island" mentioned earlier. You might be able to squeeze more room in the bathroom by moving the shower into the bedroom. Moving the sinks and toilet is not worth it and is asking for trouble. Consider getting the smallest shower you can be comfortable with and move it as far into the bedroom as you're comfortable with. For the bedroom, consider some kind of murphy-bed arrangement - that bedroom is 1/3 of your total space that's pretty much useless during the day. With a bed that's gets out of the way during the day, you could actually have a second living area to escape from the kids, or an office, or whatever.
I think gutting the trailer would be a mistake because of all the issues with tank, drain locations, roof and floor penetrations, etc. Better to work with what you have or buy a used trailer with a floorplan you can more easily modify.
RE: 2 sets of bunk beds?
I have done a ton of research on this topic since I have three kids and have long been looking for a Class A with 4 permanent berths suitable for full-timing with my family. Given the research I've done, I'm fairly certain that there are few if any Class A's with double bunks that came that way from the factory. And there aren't a whole lot with one set of bunks either. In general, class A's are mostly geared toward couples, though that's changing a bit.
If you really want a class A and need 5 permanent berths, I think you will have little choice but to find a modifiable floorplan that works for your family and provides room to add the sleeping space you need. I've seen various closets removed to add bunks and even a couple of cases where a couch in a slide was removed to add a set of bunks.
Others mentioned toyhaulers and that is a pretty good option if you are at all handy or can afford a few thousand dollars to hire a carpenter to fit out the space for your specific needs. Toyhauler garages are usually 8-10 feet in length and 8 feet wide, which is certainly big enough to put sleeping for 4 or more.
Someone also mentioned a bus conversion, specifically a design called an "entertainer." These are buses typically used by travelling music groups and feature 6-12 bunks plus lots of seating. Usually there isn't a master bed in the back, but one can be added. There are a lot of these for sale if you google around, but many of these have been ridden hard and put away wet. And these are commercial bus platforms, so be sure you know what you're getting into if you decide to go that route.
Another option, if you're willing to consider it, is a "Super C" class C. Many of these have one set of bunks, plus room for two over the cab, plus a regular bedroom. Most importantly, they have the GVWR to safely carry your family and stuff, unlike a regular class C. Nexus RV just came out with a Super C that includes a U Dinette. I haven't seen one yet, but here is the floorplan. There are not, unfortunately, a lot of Super C's still in production, but they seem to be making a comeback, or at least are starting too.
Sorry if any of this was stuff you already knew - I err on the side of too much info rather than not enough! Good luck and please post what you find!
RE: Super C Buy?
I'm in the same boat - Super C options today are limited. The market for them simply got killed by the recession and so used units are rarer today. We'll be in the market for a new rig in about 2-3 years and I'd love to have something like the Supernova 6400 available.
RE: Chevrolet Based Class C
I've had two issues with my Chevy (2007 RV, but 2006 chassis). First is a probable vacuum leak that keeps the dash air on the defrost vents. Haven't fixed that yet. Second is a code that pops up occasionally indicating a leak in fuel pressure system. The usual suspect is a gas cap that doesn't seal properly, but in my case it was the fuel hose to the tank.
Other than that, I've had no issues.
RE: Newbie seeking diesel
Looking for 28'-32' - RV garage is 32'10" inside. Drove the Breeze and removed it from consideration. So far haven't found any of the 30'-33' units you reference. Thought a FRED chassis most likely to fit my need but it appears that all - or nearly all - have been discontinued by their manufacturers.
If you're looking for new (2013), then I think the Breeze is about it. You can still find some "new" 2011-2012 Avanti's around. I think pretty much everything else is on a sprinter at this point. However, if you have some bucks, you can get a Dynamax premium class C.
Why not consider used?
RE: How many out there in Class C's have families?
We are a family of 5, kids ages 8, 5 and almost 2. We are planning on getting some sort of rv/travel trailer for next camping season and have been doing lots of research on all the options. How smart is a Class C for families? I worry about the seat belts first and foremost. I really can't see just letting everyone roam the rv while driving? Because they are much more expensive than TT's, we would be looking at something in the early 2000's, maybe in the $25-30K price range. The shorter the better, bunks would be nice but they look to be rare for that vintage? Am I correct? And I'm thinking the seat belt situation for that vintage isn't great either? Anyways, if there are folks out there using a Class C with small kids, tell me about it!
We also have a Toyota Prius that we could potentially tow as well, if it's even possible with a smaller, or up to say 30' or so, Class C?
Or would we be better off staying with a travel trailer? The only issue with that is we are very undecisive about a tow vehicle. DH and I have been going back and forth about it for months now and it's become exhausting, lol. We currently own 2 vehicles, an '08 Caravan which we just acquired and my husband uses the Prius for commuting. I keep revisiting the Class C option, but I just wonder if it makes sense or is safe.
Any thoughts? Thanks!
Well, I certainly understand where you are! I have three kids as well, roughly the same ages (8, 7 and 2). We also have a mini-van and a small commuter car (a corolla). We used the van for many years to tow a popup, but when the baby came along it just wasn't practical anymore. Popups don't have much storage and we were over the weight safety limits on the van.
So we started looking at other options and focused on either a trailer or a class C. For us, the trailer and a tow vehicle just didn't make sense. First, we'd need a vehicle that could carry five comfortably and safely tow a trailer. There aren't all that many choices out there for tow vehicles and when we started pricing them, we found that even used ones cost almost as much as a used class C. Then there is the practicality of a third vehicle with regard to parking, etc. and did we really need two large family-hauler vehicle (the van and likely an SUV or crew cab truck). Wo realistically if we got a new tow vehicle then it made sense to just dump the van. But we didn't want to do that for a variety of reasons I won't belabor here. So we determined that a class C was the way to go for us and we paid just over $30k for the unit we bought and have been very happy with it.
We did worry about the seat belts though. It was initially an issue for us because the youngest was still in a rear-facing child seat. We couldn't put that on the couch, which was sideways, and we could never get it properly secured in the dinette. Our class C has a chevy chassis with a passenger airbag that can be turned off with the ignition key. So we ended up putting the rear-facing seat there which worked out well. I would recommend that you try to secure the child seats you have in any prospective class C to see if they will fit and can be properly secured.
Now that the little one is older, we have a forward-facing 5-point seat for him that fits in one of the dinette positions. The dinette can be pretty cramped and a lot of seats won't fit unless you lower the table (and if you lower the table, then no one else can sit at the dinette while driving), so try to get a seat that will fit when the dinette table is in the up position. Our son is very secure there and the other kids will either sit on the couch or next to the toddler in the dinette.
Overall, I think it's a safe way to travel and in some respects I think it can be safer than towing. I think it is safer than our overloaded van and popup. The key to a trailer is to ensure the tow vehicle can safely tow the trailer you want. I know a lot of people out there exceed the limits.
Travel is much more enjoyable for the family in the class C for us since everything is handy and can be accessed on the road. If a kid needs to go potty I can just pull off the highway onto an exit shoulder he/she will jump in the bathroom real quick, and then we'll get back on. Very occasionally we'll let a kid get up when we are on the highway. Personally, I would rather do that than try to pull over onto a narrow shoulder if no exit is available. These are judgment calls that you can make based on circumstances. Overall, I think Class C's are very safe and I think the statistics back that up.
What we do is either me or the DW will get out of our seat to grab food or drinks for the kids. The travel experience for us is just so much better. Our rig is 30 feet long, but it drives like a van and I hardly notice the length. Another benefit we've used: On a long trip if we get tired and need a break we can pull into a rest stop and catch some z's in an actual bed. I don't feel as pressured to push through to get to a destination - if I'm tired of driving we can stop for an hour or two and actually take a nap.
Once we get to the site, I like how easy it is to setup. It's night-and-day from a popop. It's probably easier than with a trailer, but IMO the difference probably isn't that big.
Most class C's can tow a 4-5000 pound vehicle. You'll have to get the vehicle modified and the equipment to do this which I think costs a few thousand dollars. I don't know much about that aspect, but there's a toad section here on the forum with expert advice.
Now for the downsides of the class C. First, although we're really happy with our floorplan right now, I think there are better family-friendly trailer floorplans. That's really subjective though.
The other thing is a toad. We don't yet use a toad, so if we need to actually drive somewhere we have to take the RV. But we plan our trips so we usually don't have to do that. Sometimes if we're going someplace close the DW will drive one of our cars so we have a vehicle. At some point we'll get a toad setup, but we just haven't done it yet.
Unless the class C has hydrolic leveling jacks (most don't), it's more difficult to level the rig. And, you'll feel some bouncing as people move around. We've become used to it, but it does bother some people. Adding jacks will run about $3-4k, so it's not cheap.
That's about all I can think of. Overall we're very happy with our class C.
RE: Newbie seeking diesel
Thanks everyone! I'm pretty sure were going to have a weight issue.... What about the fleetwood Tioga? I'm still stuck on the diesel. I'm very lucky to have a local truck service and independent mechanic that will both work on diesel RVs
If you have to have a diesel and you want to carry a lot of stuff, I would recommend getting a used super-c diesel class C. With dogs, kids and bikes, get a toy-hauler. Keeping an RV clean is hard enough before adding all that into the mix. You'll have plenty of room, plenty of towing capacity and plenty of weight capacity. Used units about 4 years old or so can be had for around the same price as a new Sprinter.
Alternatively, there are a few diesel van cutaway chassis models out there on the used market. Here's one on RV Trader to give you an example.
But, as others have said, I don't see any real advantage to diesel based on your intended use. Diesel is great for those who do a lot of miles every year and for those who have bigger rigs above about 14k GVWR. I think the MB sprinter-based rvs are pretty nice and I like the chassis, but I think you will find it too small in terms of storage and, more importantly, cargo carrying capacity.
Also, since this sounds like your first RV, I strongly recommend you go used first. Many people here will tell you, based on first-hand experience, that what you think you need in an RV and what you actually need will change once you actually own one and use it. I know that's what happened to us and for many of us it was an expensive learning experience. Buying new and financing will mean that you will be stuck with the unit since you'll be underwater the minute you drive off the lot. It's a buyers market for RV's right now. Nice gas class C's based on chevy/ford van chassis, 22-26 ft long, 5-7 years old can be had for $20-30k - probably less with some negotiating.
Just my 2 cents. Good luck!
-Andy
RE: Having to leave RVing - best way to sell RV?
We sold our previous RV on consignment at a dealer since we were moving out of state and couldn't easily bring it with us to sell at the new location. It was definitely "hassle free" but we did pay for the convenience. The way it worked is that we contracted with the dealer on the price they would pay us once it sold. The dealer then made their money by selling it for more than that agreed amount in our contract. So it is nice that you go in knowing how much you will get from the sale ahead of time, but the downside is that amount will probably be less than what you could sell it for privately with a little work on your part.
RE: Anybody built their own convertible sofa/bed?
I can't find the link at the moment, but a few months ago a ran across an expedition camper in another forum that used heavy-duty sliding mechanism to turn a bench seat into a double bed.
RE: Modifying a motorohome for family use
Thanks all!
For some reason I've had a forum glitch and could not post.
Anyway, what we're looking for is four permanent berths - one for each child and one for the DW and me. We've looked at several new "bunkhouse" models but almost all lack that 4th berth. There are some BH class C models that have the sleeping space (thanks to the cab-over), but they don't have enough capacities or CCC for fulltiming.
Michaelb,
I learned about the 4159 and always keep an eye out but haven't seen one for sale yet. I think you're right about the low production numbers A similar model trades the lower rear bedroom for storage, so there's always the possibility to reconfigure the space. I've heard really good things about the mid-engine chassis too.
There are, at least in theory, a lot of ways to reconfigure a ~40ft DP to provide the appropriate sleeping space. This is certainly a route we're looking at, but I'm not sure how much of a challenge this would be. Such a radical remodeling is not something many people do.
Modifying a motorohome for family use
Hello all!
In my continuing research for family-friendly motorhomes for full-timing with a family of five, I'm trying to find examples of modified rigs for that purpose. I'm pretty familiar with the existing options (such as the various class A/C bunkhouse models), but am wondering if anyone on the forum here modified a rig to provide more permanent bedspace. There seem to very few examples of this kind of modification - at least I haven't been able to find any. Any links or other info would be a great help - thanks!
-Andy
RE: nexus phantoms
Maybe there's one out there, but I haven't seen any 30+ foot class C with slides and the E450 chassis that isn't close to the weight limits. These units would be a lot better on a MDT chassis or and F-550. Of course, those chassis are more expensive.
