Hey!
This is my very first post on this forum, and I have what may be a very ignorant question. My husband and I really want to partake in this lifestyle in the next 5 years or so with our 4 children. It will be hard. I understand the difficulties involved in raising children in this enviornment, and I will be doing "trial runs first". ANYWAY.
My question is...What is the best vehicle option? My husband and I are discussing it, and we are stuck at this. I think that driving a truck with a fifth wheel attached will be a really tight squeeze in the cab with 6 people. He thinks that it would be a good one. I think a driveable RV (whats the lingo?) would be good but I know we would lose mpg pulling a vehicle.
Does anyone have any other pros and cons on each?
We are very new to this lifestyle, so we hope to find people who are willing to give their opinions and reasonings
Most fulltimers on these forums are older and don't have small children so you might not get a lot of help. If you haven't found it already check here - http://www.familiesontheroad.com/
Very cute kids! I don't have the experienced needed to answer your question either but have you considered a van and trailer? I know some families RV with that combination for the safety factor - seat belts or car seats for everyone.
tonyandkaren wrote: Most fulltimers on these forums are older and don't have small children so you might not get a lot of help. If you haven't found it already check here - http://www.familiesontheroad.com/
Very cute kids! I don't have the experienced needed to answer your question either but have you considered a van and trailer? I know some families RV with that combination for the safety factor - seat belts or car seats for everyone.
We have a van I thought about a van and a trailer, I am not sure how well that would work out gas wise, but I suppose if we upgraded the van to a more economical one, it could work. Or we could probably haul one of the kids in the RV with dad, and mom and the other three could ride in a more compact car with enough gumption to pull a trailer. Haha. So many options! Thanks for the link
RV's break down into two basic types, self propelled, and trailers that would use a truck, van or SUV or large car to pull them.
While a fifth wheel can be a little larger, a E-350 van with the V10 engine can pull a 30' travel trailer just like the trucks can, and it will have a lot less hitch weight than a fifth wheel, the kids will have more seating options with 3 or 4 rows of seats, and storage inside the van too.
On the self propelled side, there is class C with either a van front end (the most common) or a pickup or large delivery truck front end.
Class A is considered the "Bus type" and has a flat front most times, the RV manufacture makes the whole shell of the vehicle, normally they buy a gas engine chassis from GMC or Ford, with a few other chassis choices when you select a diesel engine motorhome.
The class C, such as the post above this one has a cabover bed that can sleep two adults, normally will have a couch or dinette, or sometimes both, each can sleep two adults that are less than 5'8" tall, and really good friends. Sometimes the layout is a rear full size bed and bathroom on the other side of the RV, sometimes there is a rear bedroom, with the bathroom further forward.
I did see a class C at a RV dealership with this painted on the window "Sleeps 10". I have no idea that a class C can safely carry 1,540 pounds of weight in it (they don't). Now days there is a thing called Cargo Carrying Capacity. So the manufactures can no longer sell a vehicle that has a 14,050 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and comes out of the factory having a empty weight without fuel around 13,450 pounds, leaving just shy of 1,000 pounds to add fuel, water, propane, some food, and maybe one passenger before exceeding the GVWR of the vehicle.
So the Federal Government stepped in and said that each vehicle must have it's weight posted, full of fuel, with the water tank spelled out, how much weight that will add, and 154 pounds X the number of seatbelt positions.
You will get a list like this
Empty weight . . . 11,500
Propane 10 gallons . . 45
Gas tank ?? gallons . . 350
32 gallons fresh water . 264
6 seatbelts @154 each 924
Total . . . . . . 13,483
Gross Vehicle weight rating 14,050 pounds
minus vehicle weight 13,483
Net Cargo Capacity . . . . 567
You can see how cargo capacity goes away pretty fast.
A class A motorhome will start with a much higher GVWR, so it will have much more cargo capacity. Your husband is also smart in considering a fifth wheel, because typically they come with the largest fresh water tank, and a higher GVWR, so they can carry more stuff. However they would require a larger truck, perhaps a F-350 with it's 4,000 pound cargo rating is enough, but sometimes it takes a dually truck, and they don't get such great fuel mileage, and those fender extensions tend to mess with people when parking at the local supermarket.
RV's break down into two basic types, self propelled, and trailers that would use a truck, van or SUV or large car to pull them.
While a fifth wheel can be a little larger, a E-350 van with the V10 engine can pull a 30' travel trailer just like the trucks can, and it will have a lot less hitch weight than a fifth wheel, the kids will have more seating options with 3 or 4 rows of seats, and storage inside the van too.
On the self propelled side, there is class C with either a van front end (the most common) or a pickup or large delivery truck front end.
Class A is considered the "Bus type" and has a flat front most times, the RV manufacture makes the whole shell of the vehicle, normally they buy a gas engine chassis from GMC or Ford, with a few other chassis choices when you select a diesel engine motorhome.
The class C, such as the post above this one has a cabover bed that can sleep two adults, normally will have a couch or dinette, or sometimes both, each can sleep two adults that are less than 5'8" tall, and really good friends. Sometimes the layout is a rear full size bed and bathroom on the other side of the RV, sometimes there is a rear bedroom, with the bathroom further forward.
I did see a class C at a RV dealership with this painted on the window "Sleeps 10". I have no idea that a class C can safely carry 1,540 pounds of weight in it (they don't). Now days there is a thing called Cargo Carrying Capacity. So the manufactures can no longer sell a vehicle that has a 14,050 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and comes out of the factory having a empty weight without fuel around 13,450 pounds, leaving just shy of 1,000 pounds to add fuel, water, propane, some food, and maybe one passenger before exceeding the GVWR of the vehicle.
So the Federal Government stepped in and said that each vehicle must have it's weight posted, full of fuel, with the water tank spelled out, how much weight that will add, and 154 pounds X the number of seatbelt positions.
You will get a list like this
Empty weight . . . 11,500
Propane 10 gallons . . 45
Gas tank ?? gallons . . 350
32 gallons fresh water . 264
6 seatbelts @154 each 924
Total . . . . . . 13,483
Gross Vehicle weight rating 14,050 pounds
minus vehicle weight 13,483
Net Cargo Capacity . . . . 567
You can see how cargo capacity goes away pretty fast.
A class A motorhome will start with a much higher GVWR, so it will have much more cargo capacity. Your husband is also smart in considering a fifth wheel, because typically they come with the largest fresh water tank, and a higher GVWR, so they can carry more stuff. However they would require a larger truck, perhaps a F-350 with it's 4,000 pound cargo rating is enough, but sometimes it takes a dually truck, and they don't get such great fuel mileage, and those fender extensions tend to mess with people when parking at the local supermarket.
Fred.
I dont understand all of this, but I know my husband will and he will be more informed so thank you very much! I appreciate the time and detail you put into this!
Sorry, but you need to grow up. Your blog shows how naive you are. One of your first statements is you are trying to define yourself as a person. You have immeasurable responsibilities as a mother of 4; THAT IS WHO YOU ARE UNTIL THOSE KIDS ARE INDEPENDENT. Next you talk about just traveling about in a RV. How are you going to support those kids, let alone yourself? How will you pay for health care? RV travel is very expensive; plan on $450 to $1,000 per month just for a place to park. That much again for fuel. Then you have food, clothes, insurance, medicines, doctors, entertainment, etc.
Also realize right off the bat that ANY vehicle or combination of vehicles used in this regard WILL NOT get good MPG. Too much weight and frontal area. Also realize that in a MH with 4 children, its going to be tough to keep them seated and belted in. Do not fall for the, "I can prepare lunch while moving". Picture.. you or one of the kids is up and about, DH has to make a sudden stop, where do you think a person unsecured will end up? Not trying to discourage you, but consider all angles.
There are many different configurations for fulltiming. It really depends on your budget.
6-7 passenger Van & travel trailer (aka-bumper pull, TT)
6-seater Truck and TT, 5th wheel or Toy Hauler (TH)
Motorhome and 6-seater vehicle towed behind
We had 6 kids, but fulltimed in a 14' TT in our backyard with just the first 3 many years ago. While we tore down the old farmhouse and built a new one. It was a great adventure for nearly a year, but we didn't move or have to worry about finding a nice RV Park at each stop.
So once the kids were all grown and had families of their own, that's when I went on the road with DH (hubby).
If you're like most fulltimers, you won't be traveling daily. Moving to a new location, yes you might. But once you've arrived, stay a week to a month. Weekly and monthly rates will help manage your budget better.
2009 DRV Mobile Suite 38TKSB3 (38RSSB3)....our custom home w/2011 upgrades
2010 Ford F450 KR CC 4x4......his office
Working Fulltimers since 3/2005
"Shoot for the Moon! Even if you miss it, you will land among the Stars."
A trailer gives you a much larger living space and is by itself less expensive to buy and maintain. The tow vehicle can be used independently of the trailer both at home and when camping. Go inside a 5th wheel with your husband and your four kids and see how much room there is for all of you to stay inside and move around. Do the same with a motorhome and compare the difference. It is even more of a difference with the trailers that have large slideouts which greatly increase the living and sleeping space.
A friend with her husband and two young children did a one year tour of the USA in a new motorhome. Whenever it rained and they were all four stuck inside for days at a time they were miserable in the confining space.
The downside of the trailer is having a much larger RV with the length of the tow vehicle along with that of the trailer and this restricts where you can do, where you can turn around, and where you can park (and later exit). This applies to campgrounds as well where the length of the available spaces is usually limited and often few are "pull through" to make it easy for people pulling a trailer.
Go visit a dealer lot with your entire family and get into a 3/4 or 1 ton crew cab pickup and see how much room you all have inside. I would see 4 adult sized passengers as being the maximum that would fit comfortably for hours of driving. With four small children and two adults inside the crew cab everyone may fit without a problem, at least for a few more years.
There are lots of places where you can rent a motorhome for a week and this is a great way to see if it will work for you and your family and even help make you smarter buyers if you do decide to later buy a motorhome in knowing what to look for in the one you do get.
Jim-Linda wrote: Also realize right off the bat that ANY vehicle or combination of vehicles used in this regard WILL NOT get good MPG. Too much weight and frontal area. Also realize that in a MH with 4 children, its going to be tough to keep them seated and belted in. Do not fall for the, "I can prepare lunch while moving". Picture.. you or one of the kids is up and about, DH has to make a sudden stop, where do you think a person unsecured will end up? Not trying to discourage you, but consider all angles.
Jim
Thank you! This is something I am not just thinking it will be sunshine and roses. I am sure many aspects will suck, just like regular house living. I think its a matter of different pros and cons. I do not expect to be cooking as we are moving, I dont see the MH as any more positive aspects than a van/svu. I have 4 children in carseats right now. That alone tells me an E-350 is a really really good choice for securing everyone safely. I think having a MH my kids would be more encouraged to walk about so I think its probably not a good choice.
I am trying to convince the big man to go look at trailers and RVs this week so I can figure out what things I want and what things I dont need, how we will fit, and all the fun aspects
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