I'm a newbie. DW and I are preparing for our retirements in about 3 years. We'd like to travel this beautiful country. In the last few years we have travelled the West using rented Class C and Class A RVs. When we have retired, we will look for either Class A or Travel Trailer/5th wheel. The reasons for the choices are:
Class A:
- Love the convinience
- Large.. no make that huge windshield view
- Love the rooms, kitchen, bath
* Hate to drive big truck and can't go everywhere unless towing a toad - pain in the behind
* Expensive to pay registration, maintenance for two sets of wheels (RV + Toad)
Travel Trailer/Fifth Wheel (also considered)
- Easier to drive to places (??)
- One registration & maintenance
We are not going to be fulltimer when retired. DW loves gardening but will travel a few months out of the year. Which should we own? Anyone with experiences with both give us advices and reasonings for either? Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
ALL RV units have there strong and weak points. Class A units cost a lot more than your TT or fivers, and there are a lot of class A used units on the market. As well as other units.
All of us prefer one type of RV verses the others, but it all boils down to personal choice, and how you plan on using that RV. So make a list, pro and cons, and work from that.
We travel with our fiver, but the wife prefers that garden, grand children's birthdays, ETC So the 2 of us travel 4 to 8, sometimes 12 weeks a year, and come back to that 5 bedroom home, that also is hard to sell in todays market.
Good luck on your choice.
We chose TT (previous) and 5th Wheel (current) because we need to have a pickup truck for other reasons. So it made sense to use the truck to pull a trailer instead of buying a MH.
I used to think I would want to have a MH once we retired and no longer had a need for the pickup. That was because the MH seemed to be easier to setup. Basically pull in to a spot, hit a button and you're level. Hit another couple of buttons an the awning deploys along with the satellite dish. That was in the past, now 5th wheels and TT can be equipped with all of the automatic features that a MH has.
We use a crewcab dually to tow with. It is convenient for sight seeing and hauling around friends and family as well as towing the 5th wheel. The ride is a little rough when not towing but it's tolerable as long as you remember it's a truck and not a car.
In all honesty, I would say a MH with a toad and a 5th wheel or TT (equipped with automatic stuff like a MH) plus tow vehicle takes the same amount of effort and time to setup or tear down. Driving a large MH or towing a large 5th wheel requires the same amount of concentration and effort once you get used to driving one or the other. I've driven both and felt comfortable, no difference other than specific characteristics like the MH body roll or the 5th wheel turning radius.
There are TT and 5th wheel rentals so you might want to search for one and try out the towing RVs for comparison to your MH experiences.
I've heard of a few full-timers who garden....they find a nice place to stay a few months, and set up a bucket garden....some will even bring the plants along with them on the back of the RV, or if small enough, inside. I saw one "A" with seed tray in the front window.......pretty expensive "greenhouse"
It really comes down to what you like...and how comfortable you are with either.
Lots of folks don't want the hassles of connecting/unconnecting the TT/5er at the CGs...and there is more to it, than disconnecting a 4-down Toad. Yes, the toad would be a bit of a hassle....but you could also just drive to places in the "A", and then rent a car for a few days to visit the area.
Storage will probably be about the same, though depending on the "A", you will probably have more room than with the TT/5er. And storage is a key component when you go full-time.
The registration items may be a concern, but you would have to register the TV for the TT/5er, and while that would be just one vehicle, you will be paying taxes (depending on where you live) for both vehicles. And, I would guess that you would probably have a second vehicle at home anyway....so you would still have two. The nice thing about a MH & Toad....even if you break down, you've got a "emergency vehicle".
There is a reason that more retired folks move up to the "A" motorhome, and quite often, from the 5er....it's easier on them, physically.
Only you know your situation....but you are weighing all the options, and asking questions, so you should be able to make a very educated decision at some point.
Good Luck Happy Camping
Bill & Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris / GS MJ Dogs: Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie, Annie, Maggie, Tugger & Beau RIP: Cookie, Foxy & Gidget @ Rainbow Bridge.
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April 2008 FMCA# F407293 The Pets
There's no "one-size-fits-all". There are trade-offs with each class of RV and it's strictly a personal choice. Put aside your likes for a moment and visualize your specific needs. That Mercedes emblem looks great on the front of the go-cart with the Briggs and Stratton engine. But if it won't haul momma, three kids, fido and the groceries... you get the picture. Bear in mind, the smaller the footprint, the more options you'll have in site selection while traveling. The big rigs, albeit MOHO with toad or 5er and truck, offer much more living space, but require more planning outside of commercial parks.
Personally, I like a TD-Transformer5. Push a button on a Tear Drop and it transforms into a 45' fifth-wheel with 5 slides. Define your needs, then work within your budget. Good luck.
What a question to ask. It is not just money, but money plays into everything. We looked at big tag axle class A's and may do it one day. For now the 30 plus ft. travel tailer gives us all the room we want. Like having the large pickup, it comes in handy as we travel. I talk to both owners and when you really get them to be honest I have found many class A owners I have spoke to wished they had bought a fith wheel. Others love their Class A's. Unscientific for sure but many have talked for and against. Also if truck breaks down you can still use trailer/fiver, when motor home has mechanical problems you get a motel! But if I could afford a "Prevost" with all the extras, I would just have my pvt Helicopter pick me up, and drop me on my Yacht, when it broke down! Hey I can dream can't I? LOL
Class A's cost too much for the living area square footage. I also don't want to be living in the same space as my steering wheel, pedals and dashboard.
If you plan to do alot of traveling, the Class A will be more enjoyable. Having access to the bathroom and kitchen are a big plus. Its nice to pull over to rest or take a break due to bad weather and already be in your house. Its also nice to be able to control the climate if its hot or cold. If you are towing, you wont be able to keep the TT cool. When you make sight seeing stops along the way, It wont matter if you have a Class A or a TT behind you, it will still be a challenge sometimes to park. If you plan on picking CG's to park at, then take off to explore, then its a different story. Best of luck in your decision. I have 5 years to go and love the MH so far. It will be time for a slighly larger one by then. I have to make room for garden tools..
IMHO the big advantage for full timers of a Class A over a large TT/5er is that you can tow a small gas efficient easy to get around in toad. if you have a liveable TT/5er you need a huge pickup with duallys that you have to drive around town, small mountain roads, etc. Not fun IMHO.
bumpy
We RV'd for years with TT's taking our pets with us. Six years ago we purchased a DP MH and would never go back to any TT or Fiver. For us there are so many more advantages. Towing our Honda Pilot and sometimes my enclosed car trailer to take my 63 GP to car shows is one thing you cannot do if you have a TT.
Did I mention a 8K generator for when you want to stop overnight in a WalMart and still have all the electric you need? Everyone has to determine their needs or uses and what they want to spend. For us the MH is the best choice now.
Arnie
2003 Travel Supreme MH
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2004 Honda Pilot w/SMI Air Force One Brake Sys.
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