Advice on a motorhome please

[daugen]

finally got a go ahead from the wife on buying a motorhome, which has been on our bucket list for some time.
Due to her poor health, conventional travel is difficult but a motorhome is a little home on wheels and very accommodating.
We already know we like the life as we lived aboard a 46 Bertram in North Miami for three years. Sold the boat, and now five years
later, are ready for a land yacht.

We've been aboard the big class A pushers. My wife of course likes the room, she'd have a 45 footer if I agreed to drive it, which I sure don't.
Besides we have about a 125K max budget so it's come down to two styles. And I'm wondering if any of our members have any experience with the new
MB Sprinter chassis models. 14-16mpg, or almost double the big guys, and way easier to drive/park, etc. But until recently none of the variations I saw had
a real queen bed in it. Now they do. When you got into the trailer park and went aboard the next guy's Newell (just kidding) did your wife go green?

I've never camped out, am all about comfort, and run the a/c 24/7 due to allergies. Just wonder how loud that gen is in the MB variations

Or, a four to six year old pristine used Class A with 20,000 miles on. The frame is pure commercial so that's sure not much wear on it, the Cummins or Cat diesels will long outlast me, and
the onboard componentry is almost exactly like a larger boat so I'm familiar with all the systems, pumps, etc.

Do I go big or stay smaller? I can drive the big stuff, drove a semi during college one summer and all the station's fire trucks for two years. and a big boat, so let's say my positional awareness is pretty good. Or used to be...I'm in my sixties. Most importantly, I know how to use mirrors...

I know this is a non specific request, there are a million variations, but assuming I can outfit the smaller unit almost as well as the large, is it the smart move?
I'm only going to do this once. Really. No two footitis like in boats.

I've got my gps with the trucker info in it, my Woodall disc in the pc, and finally, finally.... an emotional ok from the wife. I think she wants to get out of the house too more now so this has her interest.

One of my silly problems with the big motorhomes is the loud graphics. I'm a very no bling person so I'm not trying to satisfy any ego needs here whatever I buy. I just want it to be a good decision, and since I've never bought one before and I've already owned a serious hole in the water, I know I need to do my homework.

Have been on rvtrader.com for years. Finally can go messing around in there with some real purpose.
If I went diesel pusher, my max is 36-38. Would pull a car and I don't want to drive what feels like an Australian road train...

Those of you who have owned these, and moved up or down, I'd sure like to hear your stories. Many thanks. Drew

 

[Turbys_1700]

Drew...
I've never owned a motor home personally...
However, I camped with my dad for over 25 years with my tags and fifth wheel...
He owned in his lifetime 6 motor homes so I do have some experience with them...
He started out with gas class A units and eventually finished up with 3 diesel pusher class A's...
The last one was a 2005 American Eagle 42' quad slide with a 500 Cummings...
With that said...
It comes down to what you feel comfortable driving...
IMHO, you are gonna get more coach with a 5 year old class A diesel pusher and air suspension...
American Coach uses Spartan Chassis and I am partial to them but Monaco uses their RoadMaster Chassis which others claim is better...
I drove my dad's 05 and 01 Eagles and I can tell you that those units drove like a dream...
The 42' had a tag axle and it was more stable than the 40' single rear axle...
If you go with the 36' to 38' make sure you drive it on the interstate at speed to see how it handles...
Good luck in you purchase...

 

[Pixguy]

As a Class A gasser owner I'm not able to help much in the field of diesel but I can tell you that if you like being on the road and having the comforts of home, then your gonna love it!
Do make sure that you get the same size bed that you're used to at home because a good sleep is a must.
Are you planning on towing a 4wheeler?

Good luck as well. :fishing:

Check out pplmotorhomes.com for lots of choices.

 

[daugen]

Turbys, great advice, thanks. In a single rear axle unit, is there really any perceivable difference between 350 to 450hp?
Seems they all have the same Cat or Cummins engines, not sure if the difference is dial a boost, but does hp matter here?
I've read a big block gas is about as fast accelerating as a normal diesel, but then loses it on the hills. I'm definitely into diesel here, particularly
considering high gen usage.
Used Fleetwood Discovery for sale in Hatfield PA | 2008 Fleetwood Discovery 40-X Diesel Pusher For Sale from Media Camping Center in Hatfield Pennsylvania - RV Inventory: Media Camping Center: Hatfield Pennsylvania RV Dealer
so far this one is local and within the realm

I showed my wife the pics of the Winny Itasca Reyo, the MB variant, and the rear bed is more like a boat bed, not a real queen mattress. She was not impressed.

I am likely to put ten to twenty thousand miles on this, do what I wanted to do, and then sell it, like most folk.
That also might include using it as a home base while I clear some vacant land and build a retirement home.
so that makes me think larger might be smarter.
Buying new is way too expensive for me, the depreciation is crazy. Need to get that clean loaded unit that someone else treated like their baby and
put all kinds of nice upgrades in.

 

[daugen]

Are you planning on towing a 4wheeler?


yeah pixguy, have to tow something, these big units are not for exploring the back country.
so yes, a toad is likely, maybe a Honda Fit or something light to pull.

 

[Pixguy]

yeah pixguy, have to tow something, these big units are not for exploring the back country.
so yes, a toad is likely, maybe a Honda Fit or something light to pull.

Of course there are many choices in toads but if your driving a DP toad weight is not usually an issue. I personally tow a CRV but Jeeps, GM products, some Fords and of course Hondas. Check out Motorhome Magazine for their Dinghy guide.

 

[Pixguy]

Double post

 

[Turbys_1700]

The 01 Eagle had 350 HP and the 05 had the 500 HP...
Both ran like the wind on the interstate...
My father towed a Cadillac behind both and neither struggled...
Just as an aside, he utilized a tow dolly...
Worked pretty well and did not have to worry about disengaging the tranny on the towed vehicle...
He wanted to keep his current car and not purchase an additional small vehicle to tow behind the coach...
Fuel mileage on the 05 was 6.5 mpg whether he was in the wind or putting around...
I think that the GVWR on that unit was over 40K...
You should do around 8 to 10 MPG on a shorter unit with a 350 diesel...

 

[daugen]

The 01 Eagle had 350 HP and the 05 had the 500 HP...
Both ran like the wind on the interstate...
My father towed a Cadillac behind both and neither struggled...
Just as an aside, he utilized a tow dolly...
Worked pretty well and did not have to worry about disengaging the tranny on the towed vehicle...
He wanted to keep his current car and not purchase an additional small vehicle to tow behind the coach...
Fuel mileage on the 05 was 6.5 mpg whether he was in the wind or putting around...
I think that the GVWR on that unit was over 40K...
You should do around 8 to 10 MPG on a shorter unit with a 350 diesel...

thanks. I bet many are just shaking their heads at these numbers.
But then my 50K weight boat got .5 mpg, as in 2 gallons to the mile.
Wasn't bad when I bought the boat and diesel was seventy cents a gallon.
But now diesel is four bucks and I sure couldn't afford that.
But taking my big trip of my retirement out West, up and down and all over,
coming to visit many of you and making an utter pest of myself, well... maybe I shouldn't worry
about fuel costs. I bring this up because fuel costs drove me out of boating, a hundred fifty dollars an hour
just to run the engines was absurd. Well, for me anyway.

Now I've got a heavy foot at times, so I'm going to use the 8mpg number for planning.
1250 gallons to go ten thousand miles. $5K in fuel. Doesn't seem like a crazy number compared to a regular vacation.
Maybe the fuel really isn't the issue...replacing six
22.5 Michelins might be.

 

[ronjhall]

Couple of good places to gather information on motor homes.
RV.NET
iRV2
I own a 35' Super C. Good handling, diesel power, enough room to spend 4 to 5 months a year in it.
You will find me on both forums.

 

[daugen]

thanks Ron, I'll check those sites out. Drew

 

[Bird]

Drew, my experience with motorhomes is dated. We bought a new 1973 Winnebago 18' Brave and towed an Opel Cadet behind it (yep, that's not a mistake on the size; Winnebago made a Class A 18 footer on a Dodge chassis with a 318 industrial engine back then). Then in the Fall of 1991, we were full timers when we bought the 40' Bounder with the 460 Ford gas engine and towed a Ford Escort station wagon.

I've read a big block gas is about as fast accelerating as a normal diesel, but then loses it on the hills.

I know that was a fact 20 years ago, and assume it still is. I've driven I-40 many times across Tennessee and a number of hills would pull that 460 gasser down quite a bit. But then I drove a 32' diesel pusher on the same road and there was a very noticeable difference; it just held it's speed uphill and down. Of course our 40 footer was also loaded and heavy while that diesel was new with no contents except my and my wife (I was delivering a new one from Texas to the buyer in Virginia for my brother who was selling them at the time).

 

[rrrkkk]

Try PPL they always have a large consigment, they are in Texas. There is no subsuite for a diesel, you will have a hard time talking to each other with a gas motor between you in the front. You will have a vast amount of choices for that $$$ amount in used class A.

 

[ronjhall]

While a gas RV will save you money when purchasing. It will eat gas. My motor home was offered in both gas and diesel. Gas modesl got 7 to 8 mpg when towing a toad. The diesel version gets 10 to 12 mpg while towing. Speed has a big effect on mpg. Weight also has an affect. Most of the diesel pushers have chassis in 30,000 lbs area. Gas models have chassis that are in the 20,000 lbs area. They will have similar mpg. But weight being moved will be different.
Good used MH's can be found in your price range from Tiffin, Newmar, Monaco, Winnebago, Country Coach, and Fleetwood. Tiffin, Winnebago and Newmar did not go through bankruptcy. That puts them high on my list of good used MH's.
If you are looking for a Class C. Check out Nexus. Diesels in a Class C can be hard to find. Unless you are looking at Super C's.

 

[bucktaker]

Have you thought about a 5 ft wheel instead of the MH I owned a class C MH which was great for driving but its ability to be self contained was limited, small tanks only had a 18 gal gas tank that sucked getting gas every 150 miles. My in laws have a 35 ft class A Winnebago Adventurer with the ford v10 does pretty good even towing a 6600 lb boat 6 mpg. I gave up the MH home and now prefer my 5 th wheel trailer and my GMC Diesel truck. Plenty of room and decent ability to travel 10 mpg towing 16 mpg empty.

 

[Jimbrown]

There is no comparison between a diesel and a gasser. Because we no longer have a desire to travel very far and now use our RV more as a condo that can be moved from time to time I traded my 40 Endevor for a 40ft 5th wheel.

The middle size diesels 35 to 40 ft actually drive better and easier than the smaller gassers they are much more stable and don't suffer from road wander. My last one had a 325 CAT engine with a 3020 Allison transmission. It would climb hills and 10 miles grades at over the speed limit towing a jeep. My previous gasser a 454 chevy would be in second gear at 4000 rpm trying to do that.

My opinion and experience is that the diesels are just plain better made than most of the gassers. They come with good quiet generators, inverters, much larger battery packs and usually with lots of niceties like heat pumps and interior upgrades.
Thee are lots of tow or three year old diesel to be had and that is the way I would go.

I have looked at the new Mercedes things they are just to small and I don't think they have much power left for towing.

 

[Bird]

My previous gasser a 454 chevy would be in second gear at 4000 rpm trying to do that.

I didn't like that either. My 454 was a 1989 model, 3-speed transmission, so I had a Gear Vendors overdrive installed. It really helped the gas mileage when not towing; didn't seem to help the mileage towing, but sure made it more pleasant to drive.

 

[dmccarty]

Are these diesels turbo charged? Is that why the perform better in the mountains vs a gasser?

I have been up in the NC mountains in both a car and SUV that were gas powered. The car did not have much HP but the SUV does however neither had the power to handle the grade. Both are non turbo. The two turbo diesel trucks I have driven in the NC mountains had no problem climbing the grades. It was like they were on flat land.

Regarding transmissions. My first diesel truck had a five speed that was really a four speed because the first gear was so low. That gear was great for moving the truck with a load but the lock of a gear at the top end cost me some MPG and the 4.10 rear axle did not help. The Ford I have has six gears but it really is a five speed for the same reason. It has a 3.73 rear and I can get up to 22 MPG driving 55 mph. 22 MPG does not happen often but I am usually at 21.7 maybe dipping to the low 21.x's or high 20.x's depending on how cold it is in the winter. The point being I would pay attention to the number of transmission gears and rear gear.

Later,
Dan

 

[ronjhall]

Most all diesels in RV's today have turbos. Makes a big difference when climbing mountains.

 

[daugen]

the first one was already gone, annoying when they don't keep their site up to date.


thanks guys. Going to look at this one tomorrow morning but not sure I can handle the outside paint job.
Inside is standard generic beige and cherry, which is fine. An older unit, though forty thousand miles is about a tenth of
its life I suppose. One thing the dealer said was that it was actually good to see the coach driven a good bit each year, because otherwise
it sat some place, maybe baking in the sun in Florida, and these rigs, like boats, don't like to sit and have liquids in them get nasty.
So far, no provenance, my guy did not take the RV on trade. So that reduces value to me. He said he will try to find out.
Desirable larger Cat, though any of those Cummins are great engines, it really makes no diff to me, though I don't know the full spec on the Cat and how its torque
compares.

I'm going to check out the rigs first. Then take Nadene to one she has seen pics of and seems positive towards.
I much prefer dealing with the local large RV dealer who has mechanics with training on large trucks. Basically, if I buy it from you, even used, you have
to commit to fixing the thing or I'm up the creek. Of course there a number of large truck repair shops in the lower end of the county, and I bet the drivetrain machinery at least is very familiar to them.

I don't know the hours on the engine but I guess we could guess it backwards, but should I ask for/pay for a compression test first? Used to be on a boat, somewhere in the 500-1000 hour range you got the engine survey, and often over a thousand hours a compression test was a standard request. Is there any relevancy here for an RV drivetrain?
My gut tells me most of the engines I'll see for the low mileage rigs I'm considering are probably just getting broken in. It's all the other stuff, the hoses, belts, whatever that simply wear and break. And many people just wait for that to happen. Not me, I like new belts and tires and good worn spares. And change the brake pads and just set a base line from there on. But things like suspension air bags? I could see some dealerships licking their chops seeing me come in.
So I have a lot to learn, though I've been working on this for several years, doing my research. But now the time has come.


Blue. Hmm. Maybe we could paint little boats on it...

Used Winnebago Journey for sale in Hatfield PA | 2006 Winnebago Journey WKP36G Diesel Pusher For Sale from Media Camping Center in Hatfield Pennsylvania - RV Inventory: Media Camping Center: Hatfield Pennsylvania RV Dealer