Need Help Picking An RV

[Flyer]

To each his own but for $90K, I'd be seriously looking at a diesel 3/4 ton pick-up and a fifth wheel toy hauler.

+Lots.
For $90K, Mama is going to want to have more than a porta-potty in the middle aisle in the back of a van with a dog watching her...
BTDT.
As you get older, these things become more important.

[Sport-Touring]

[Hardware]

To each is own but for a couple and 2 dogs I'd be putting $20K into a nice Westfalia setup and banking the remaining $70K.  

Westfalia-Werke filed for bankruptcy and aren't very common in North America to my knowledge.  In fact, I haven't seen a new one in Canada or during my limited travels in the US.

[Snowbird]

Trailers don't require anywhere near the maintenance a motorhome does and your tow vehicle will be a lot more useful for other uses.

And you can use the tow vehicle for local transportation without breaking camp.

You can update one, then the other... trailer, then truck, say.

If the trailer or truck needs work while out on the road, you can use one or the other while the one needing work is in the shop.

Someone tell me the advantage of a motor home. I'm certain there are advantages because they sell well.

[antvq]

And you can use the tow vehicle for local transportation without breaking camp.

You can update one, then the other... trailer, then truck, say.

If the trailer or truck needs work while out on the road, you can use one or the other while the one needing work is in the shop.

Someone tell me the advantage of a motor home. I'm certain there are advantages because they sell well.

You can walk back and take a shit, wash your hands, then make a sandwich without stopping.  That's all I got.

[Zixxerpilot]

I would definitely look at the diesel truck and 5th Wheel combo.  A little harder to back up,  but far more cost effective.  You can get a lot more comfort for your dollar,  and with the right truck,  fuel mileage will be similar.

Sent from my Motorola Atrix using Tapatalk.

[vulcanbill]

Look at a used Super C.  Guts to pull a real car.  

That said, I pull a 31 foot Holiday Rambler Aluma Lite that's 4700 dry with a 1/2 ton hemi ram.  If you go truck and trailer, shop smart and buy used.  There are little old lady trailers out there but you have to shop.  And buy more truck and hitch than you think you need.  

Did 4 months on the road last year covering almost 18 thousand miles.  If you'd like to chat, hit me up.    I have some thoughts and experiences.

BillO

[Meemuh]

.02

My aunt and uncle (that we camp frequently with) have done most (if not all) versions of portable living.
Class A, Class C, & fifth wheel that I can remember.
They ditched the uber luxo Class A for an uber luxo fifth wheel/truck combo (not that the truck is too special).

They spend 4-6 months a year in the 5th wheel - from Michigan to Texas.  I believe they used to tow a small truck behind the motorhome, but I'm thinking they opted for the pulling truck due to setting up on location for long stretches.

Anyway - the short version is that they like the 5th wheel vs motorhome.

Also - I found this link in my travels....maybe it's helpful, maybe not.

http://rv.org

[Giaka]

 

That said, I pull a 31 foot Holiday Rambler Aluma Lite that's 4700 dry with a 1/2 ton hemi ram.  

We inherited one, its a 2007 1/2 ton with a hemi but its a short bed.    I wonder how well it would tow a trailer similar to yours?

[KenH]

If you get a trailer make 100% sure your tow vehicle is optioned appropriately for towing. It is not wise to think you can tow a certain trailer with your truck because a buddy tows the same trailer with his truck of the same make and model. Having the correct option packages and aftermarket components is critical. For instance, Ford's current F150 is rated to tow 5500 to 11300 pounds, depending on options.

Note that for the past 15 years or so, tow ratings have climbed, often with not a single applicable mechanical change from one year to the next. This has really been a dangerous marketing ploy. The result is vehicles dangerously over-rated. I'd seek a tow rating at least 25-30% greater than my trailer's GVWR.

Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) are inter-related. Maxing out the towing weight usually means an empty tow vehicle. Loading the tow vehicle usually means a light weight trailer. When towing, it is necessary to watch the GVWRs and GAWRs of both the tow vehicle and trailer, as well as the GCVWR of the tow vehicle. More math homework. Sorry.

Invest in the best hitch system you can find. Equalizers and stabilizers make a world of difference on tongue-type trailers. The top line weight distributing hitches with dual sway controls can run $600 and are well worth the money. A 3-axis 5th wheel is a much better ride and safer highway handling than anything else. Goosenecks can have hitches below the bed, so the entire bed remains functional when not towing.

[Snowbird]

Note that for the past 15 years or so, tow ratings have climbed, often with not a single applicable mechanical change from one year to the next.

Most across the industry would call that statement into doubt.

=======

Regardless of what you decide to buy-- motor home or truck with trailer-- there are two things lacking in many designs:

Sufficient wardrobe closet space.

A seating position directly across from the tv, where you can watch without twisting your neck or looking upward.

[phaze5]

yea i would get a 4x6 kodiak p/u conversion with a dmax all chipped out and then an equally big camper with black soot streaks down the side,, then a train horn ,, yeehaw

[Snowbird]

yea i would get a 4x6 kodiak p/u conversion with a dmax all chipped out and then an equally big camper with black soot streaks down the side,, then a train horn ,, yeehaw

That's what I was thinking.  

[Justin]

You can walk back and take a shit, wash your hands, then make a sandwich without stopping.  That's all I got.

Unless your driving.

+1 on the truck trailer combo.

[Tar Snake]

Unless your driving.

+1 on the truck trailer combo.

I thought that's what cruise control was for? I mean what if I want a sammich or a beer?

[vulcanbill]

We inherited one, its a 2007 1/2 ton with a hemi but its a short bed.    I wonder how well it would tow a trailer similar to yours?

Probably "pull" it fine.  But depending on much of what Ken said about options, it could be less pleasant potentially.  

My truck has a trans cooler, 3.92 rear end, integrated brake controller, hemi and is a 4wd quad cab.  After the research, this was my criteria for buying a truck...along w/ a 30k price point.  It still doesn't have enough brakes or payload for taking much else or throwing anything in the back of the truck.  Well, unless you believe the sales guys who will tell you your truck is rated to pull 11,500 and this trailer is only 10,200.  You'll be fine.  HA.  Totally loaded, I doubt my trailer ever saw 7000 lbs even with three full tanks, which never happens, and full propane.  I like staying in the 60% range thanks.  Plus, we knew we were going out west to the big boy hills so that motivated us to stay light.  Didn't want to kill the new truck right out of the gate either.

[vulcanbill]

yea i would get a 4x6 kodiak p/u conversion with a dmax all chipped out and then an equally big camper with black soot streaks down the side,, then a train horn ,, yeehaw

That's the base of the Super C I mentioned.  

http://www.conquestmotorhomes.com/products/endura/endura-home.htm

[KenH]

Most across the industry would call that statement into doubt.

Hater's gonna hate.

From: http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2010/06/14/trailer-tow-rating-standards/

Consider that the 2010 Dodge Ram 1500, which is rated to pull 10,450 lbs, is identical to the 2009 model that was only rated to pull 9,100 lbs. Somehow, Dodge managed to increase towing capacity 15% between 2009 and 2010 after nothing more than a “revision” in their calculations.

Until SAE J2807, each truck manufacturer set its own method and standard for establishing tow ratings. This practice was often criticized, especially when automakers increased tow ratings for marketing purposes with no obvious mechanical or power changes ]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/07/pickup-makers-agree-to-standardize-towing-ratings/1

 

Anywho, for those with brains, here's a pretty good tow vehicle selection guide: http://www.trailerlife.com/Towing-Guide/Choosing-the-Right-Tow-Vehicle/

[Snowbird]

Anywho, for those with brains, here's a pretty good tow vehicle selection guide: http://www.trailerlife.com/Towing-Guide/Choosing-the-Right-Tow-Vehicle/

  And so how did you find it?  

[Snowbird]

We inherited one, its a 2007 1/2 ton with a hemi but its a short bed.

Trucks now come in two three lengths of short beds.

Quad cab usually 5 1/2 feet.

Extended cab usually 6 1/2 feet.

Dodge has a bed that is 6 feet 2 inches in a 4-door cab with smaller rear doors.

All short beds need the tailgate removed to carry most sport-touring bikes. All can be extended enough to work with a plywood floor and some reinforcing of the plywood where it extends past the truck bed. A travel trailer will usually allow this, but watch turning clearances. Getting a full-size mc up into that bed can be a challenge with today's high beds.

[vulcanbill]

Trucks now come in two three lengths of short beds.

Quad cab usually 5 1/2 feet.

Extended cab usually 6 1/2 feet.

Dodge has a bed that is 6 feet 2 inches in a 4-door cab with smaller rear doors.

All short beds need the tailgate removed to carry most sport-touring bikes. All can be extended enough to work with a plywood floor and some reinforcing of the plywood where it extends past the truck bed. A travel trailer will usually allow this, but watch turning clearances. Getting a full-size mc up into that bed can be a challenge with today's high beds.

Be careful of your terminoligy.  Dodge calls its smaller one (extended cab by most manufacturers) a quad cab and the larger one is a crew cab.  The new dodge is kinda cool in that their quad cab has 4 forward opening doors where most have the rear swing doors on their in between size (super cab, extended cab, whatever).  I have the quad and was able to get the bandit in corner to corner on it's sidestand with the bars locked left and front wheel tucked into the corner and with the tailgate up.

Nitpicky...I know.