RV Info and Advice

[SatinSilver]

Posting this for a buddy on another forum I'm on:

Originally Posted By: Dreamacre;1858834
Do any of you have any experience with owning a RV?
In particular, a "Class A".

If so, would you buy a Diesel or Gas model?

From what I have learned, a Diesel will handle any steep roads, will give you plenty of power, no problems towing a car and will last 3 times as long as a gas motor. The only problem is the cost is higher.

We were first interested in a Winnebago Vista 26HE (26 foot), which starts at $69K (new). When we looked at it in person, it was very small and cheaply made.
The sink and toilet are made of plastic :thumbsdow and the short wheelbase makes it unsteady in any wind situation (from what I have read).

Then we found the 37 foot Itasca Suncruiser and its sister Winnebago Adventurer. Very nicely equipped...Bath and a half, Washer/Dryer and many other nice features. Problem there is the $180K price tag.

So now we are looking at used Diesel "pushers" with Freightliner chassis and Cummins or Cat engines. Everything I have read states that the diesel chassis will last way longer than the gas models as they are designed for trucks and major hauling.

Many of the RV sites have year 2000 models starting at @ $45K with under 60K miles on them.
We would use it to travel the country at different times of the year, especially now the National Parks will be opening up again. :lmao:
Anyone have any experience?

Thanks

 

[hattaresguy]

If you want a good over the road RV you have to do what my uncle did when he took a year off to see North America. Buy a diesel pusher built on a coach bus chassis.

RV's built on light truck chassis like say an F350 are dogs and the ones you always see clogging up the slow lane. Most of the time when you add up the weight they are overweight as well with all the [censored] people carry around brought on board.

So if you plan to really travel and can afford it buy one that is built on a coach bus chassis with air brakes, and a real diesel with at least 400hp if not more. This way you can tow a car and run down the highway at 70 without trouble.

 

[eljefino]

Buy used for sure... lots of blue hairs get them then have health problems and can't travel or just don't like they thought they would.

My uncle has a E450 cutaway with gas V10... I like the size, half the length of a bus-based one. Build quality is decent, wish I remember the brand.

What obstructing it does by going up hills slowly it makes up for by not taking 100 feet to turn right or hogging a huge campsite.

 

[stockrex]

pick the chassis and powertrain carefully, that will lead to happiness.
you have to ask yourself how much you will use it.
in the books diesel sounds fantastic, but consider the true cost of ownership.
in my books, finding easily accessible and able repair shops is the most important factor when buying something that big.
also remember, that there are 2 types of RV/Camper, one that leak and one that will leak later.

campsite spots size is an important consideration

 

[stockrex]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
If you want a good over the road RV you have to do what my uncle did when he took a year off to see North America. Buy a diesel pusher built on a coach bus chassis.

RV's built on light truck chassis like say an F350 are dogs and the ones you always see clogging up the slow lane. Most of the time when you add up the weight they are overweight as well with all the [censored] people carry around brought on board.

So if you plan to really travel and can afford it buy one that is built on a coach bus chassis with air brakes, and a real diesel with at least 400hp if not more. This way you can tow a car and run down the highway at 70 without trouble.


you nailed it, I put safety higher than power, so a coach built on a bus chassis with welded frame is the way to go.

 

[SatinSilver]

Thanks guys! Good stuff. I'm sort of surprised there's no RV section on here. There's one for planes, bikes etc...

 

[IndyIan]

I think a trailer makes the most sense really. Driving your house around while on vacation is a pain. Moving your house only when necessary and driving a pickup the rest of them time is better.
We rented RV's for vacations when I was a kid and it was great fun, but my parent never considered one when they retired. They got a pickup and trailer which seems to be better in every way if you can handle towing. I rarely see a small RV anymore and less of the bus ones as well.

 

[SatinSilver]

I think those Airstream trailers are really nice! But my friend has two Accords for their family. Of course he was talking about getting a suv for the wife and trading in the older 05 Accord. Like an Explorer size suv.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: satinsilver
I think those Airstream trailers are really nice! But my friend has two Accords for their family. Of course he was talking about getting a suv for the wife and trading in the older 05 Accord. Like an Explorer size suv.

These guys will set up an Accord with a RV trailer.
http://www.canamrv.ca/towing/car-videos/intrepid-towing-airstream/
Kind of shows that the factory tow ratings are a bit conservative IMO.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Those idiots should be arrested!

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Those idiots should be arrested!

It is amazing how well they pull the trailers through a slalom though. I think it shows how the same mid size cars we have here, have the 3500+lb braked trailer ratings in Europe and Australia.

 

[pkunk]

Gas is less expensive down the road. Gas or diesel expect 8 mpg. Diesel pushers ride better, have more power, but will cost you more from fuel to yearly maintenance. My 34 ft V-10 will run with the big boys and pleases my wife & I for alot less $$, no payments, and is easier to park than a big rig.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Those idiots should be arrested!

It is amazing how well they pull the trailers through a slalom though. I think it shows how the same mid size cars we have here, have the 3500+lb braked trailer ratings in Europe and Australia.

Wouldn't the extra weight and aerodynamic drag burden the transmission too much? It would be interesting to see how many repairs such cars would need after towing such a trailer for 10,000 miles or more.

 

[Jarlaxle]

It would be even more interesting seeing one of them going up (or DOWN!) the Continental Divide!

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Those idiots should be arrested!

It is amazing how well they pull the trailers through a slalom though. I think it shows how the same mid size cars we have here, have the 3500+lb braked trailer ratings in Europe and Australia.

Wouldn't the extra weight and aerodynamic drag burden the transmission too much? It would be interesting to see how many repairs such cars would need after towing such a trailer for 10,000 miles or more.

I guess it depends on the gearing and TC lockup strategy. I'm sure some cars couldn't handle much extra aero drag at all before they run into trouble, but I think most automatics have some sort of trans cooler now.
I towed a far too heavy U-haul about 3000 miles with the Tracker when it was a year old and it didn't have any issues. There were some hills and headwind combonations that I needed to run 3rd gear at 4500rpm to maintain 55mph for a couple minutes but it was only at half throttle, so no big deal, but I was also doing it in the fall with cooler temperatures.
In theory the new many speed automatics in cars should be quite good for towing and I'm sure that RV dealer sets people up with very good trailer brake controllers so that should help. But I'm sure half the battle is get people to understand how they should drive their car and trailer setup, and what they can and can't do with them.