Went from a TT to a small Class C, easy setup, especially when you are at CG in bad weather, I tow a boat so I can now have my home (C) and toy at the same place. With a smaller C (24') I feel comfortable driving it around town, no need for a toad.
Just a viewpoint...we recently went from a TT to a Class C. The kids LOVE the overhead bunk. We considered trying to find a class C with bunks, but realized that my husband and I did not want to climb into our bed each night. THerefore, the boys share the cabover bed and we have our walk-a-round bed. Another aspect, traveling is SOOO much easier with the bathroom convenience, kitchen...although in a way, more work for the person getting up to gather the snacks, drinks,unbuckle a child for the restroom, get their books/games. But-regardless, the kids are happier and no whining which makes it nicer for us! One more advantage, I (wife) am willing to drive the Class C as opposed to the SUV w/ a TT and now we can drive longer if we chose to! Hope this helps!
Regarding storage there are C's w/ large pass thru storage bays in the rear, some even have 3 access doors (sides and back doors). Almost all C's have large under bed storage area's and a lot of over head cabinets as well as closets.
Storage is so important for young families as most of us enjoy the outside living space and that would require storage space for lots of chairs, tables, cooking equipment, toys and sports equipment. This is the stuff we bring w/ us (and leave in the RV) on our camping trips and it all fits in our rear pass thru storage. Unload/re-load of gear is half an hour sometimes longer trying to settle two small children at the same time.
Our TT and 5'ver neighbors start to break camp either the night before or early in the morning before 12 o'clock check out. W/ our C we play all morning until 11 or 11:30 and then we break camp and leave. And that's w/ towing our car and 3 bikes and tri-cycle.
I think the choice is clear for young families. C's make camping even more efficient and convenient allowing more time to relax and/or play and less time for setup and take down.
If it helps here is what we are thinking. 2 boys 4 and 2, weekend boondock trips with the "annual long trip". Our choices would be 29-31 Slide Class C (Itasca 329B being one we've rented and liked) or F350 and Jayco 31BHDS. We don't own anything yet - not even the truck. The truck would be the kid car daily driver.
Costs for the TT and PU are about the same as the C all by itself excluding maintenance. Add a TOAD into the picture makes the C more expensive by far.
TT arguments - Pro
So for us the TT has way more room inside (for our rainy not so nice days)
One less chassis to insure (TT insurance is ~$300 here vs. $1500 for a C)
$$ are cheaper overall as we only need 2 chassis to fuel and insure -work car, TV vs. Work car (TOAD), kid car and C
C argument – Pro
The C has an advantage of easier to drop in and stop at a side site for a few minutes.
Winter would be easier in a C but less room so we’d be stepping on each other more
We have a smaller kid car and daily driver (90% of the mileage on that vehicle)
TT cons
Slides in usually make the inside not very useable for side road stops
You have to hitch and unhitch vs. the flexible tow bars on a TOAD or none if no TOAD
C cons
$$$ for C and toad – we think we’d use a TOAD most trips but not all
One more thing for me to repair
Quite a tie score for us until the budget sets in. We think our cost will be cheaper with the TV and TT route. We are mostly willing to compromise with having to park a bigger truck, fuel it and save the $$ for another payment/insurance/repair. As well we are already paying for a kid truck so we’d just be trading one payment for another. As well the interior space is so much bigger with a 31’ TT vs a 31’ C – those rainy days again (we live in a Rain Forrest so that is a real concern for us).
Like I said we haven’t signed on the dotted line yet and may just switch again. If I count how many times I’ve flip flopped I think I’m up to about 8 or 10. At least it hasn’t cost me any money yet
Good luck on your search.
2008 Itasca Sunova 35J Class A
1997 TJ Sahara, hard and soft tops and AC
Held together via Roadmaster Falcon 2 tow bar and stopped by US Gear Unified Brake system.
If doing it just for economic reasons, a TT almost always comes out ahead if you have and need to have a TV capable of pulling it already. If you are buying a bigger, more expensive TV just because of the trailer, then a C can compare favorably.
For most of us, a motorhome is a luxury, not a cost savings.
2002 Gulfstream Conquest Class C
Rolling wired and wireless network
Driveby IMHO go with the TT. 2 kids at that age you'll need that pickup bed for bikes, kid toys and assorted kid stuff. Its a whole lot of work to pack every thing and get ready to go with kids. What your probably going to want to do is go one place and stay, so the more room the better. And remember kids have little kid friends that want to go. If it were me I'd go with newer truck
and used TT, they seem to drop like a rock in price. And the kids esp boys are going to pound whatever you get as they get older. anyway thats my 2cents
jdrver-
I'll throw in my .02. We have owned PU, TT, Class "A", and Class "C". All the points about TT vs. "C" are well taken. However, one point that I don't think I saw mentioned was break down for a "C" if you don't have a Toad. I found this to be a real PITA. Every time you want to go someplace you have to break camp with a "C" to drive. It is the only negative I found with the "C". Traveling with a MH "A" or "C" is so much better with kids. Good luck on your decision.
Dan
Dan Curran, Jr.
Springfield, PA
'95 Ford/Tioga 23.5 Feet
Retired & Ready
Just Me & Mares drcurran@bellatlantic.net
We've had a class C for 5 years now, the entire time with young kids. Some random thoughts on using a class C with kids...
As far as extra storage for a motorhome, consider a hitch-mounted box. www.letsgoaero.com has some very large ones, which are great for carrying bulky items like kids trikes and large toys.
Keep in mind that young kids usually could care less about scenery, and are more likely to want to watch the same videos that they have at home, read same books, etc. Just one of those frustrating things...
The family has access to the TV, fridge, toilet and all their stuff while driving. For your sanity, consider headphones or a remote speaker you can put next to the kids (particularly if you've reached the point where you can lip-synch an entire Barney video...)
With a class C, you can set-up as little as you like at a campsite. If you're only going to be there for an hour or two before taking off for some local attraction, there's probably no need to hook anything up to shore connections.
With a class C, you have all the conveniences of home and your stuff along with you when you take off for excursions to local attractions. No "Oops, we left the swimsuit back in the trailer/hotel."
Particularly on really long hauls, you have the option of starting down the road before the kids wake up (probably an adult should be in or near the bed with them, or put them in the cabover) and get several hours down the road before they wake up.
Depending on the size of the class C, you can park them in some pretty small spaces. For example, I have a 23 footer, and as long as I can place the rear overhang over the grass at a parking lot, I can fit in a single parking space.
I guess the major consideration of motorhome versus TT depends on the kind of camping you intend to do--are you more "homesteaders" or "nomads"? If you think you're more likely to spend an extended time at the same location, then a travel trailer becomes more attractive. However, if you think you'll be on the move a lot and moving from one campground to another every day or two, then the motorhome option makes more sense.
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