Hi From New Hampshire - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Travelin Duo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi From New Hampshire

ahoweth · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Larry and Arlene:

First of all Welcome to the forum.

There has been some discussion on the forum on motorhome vs 5er for full timing. It really just depends on what makes you happy and what you can afford. We have had 2 5th wheel trailers and are in our 3rd motor home. This one is a diesel pusher, 40 ft with Cummins 330 Hp and we have found it to be quite acceptable. We travel in Colorado and have climbed many passes with it. Just depends on how heavy a foot you have and how much power makes you comfortable. As for sitting in one place with a diesel, we have owned ours for 6 years now and been full-timers for just the last 2 years. Before we hit the road we used the coach only on weekends and vacations. Some times it would sit for up to 2 months next to our house without being started. Since going full-time, we have spent 4 months in Houston Tx when my father-in-law became ill and eventually died. No ill affects on the diesel. Last summer we spent a month at Raton NM, a month at Fun Valley CO and a month at Creede CO before heading for Albuquerque and the Balloon Fiesta in October. Still no ill affects on the diesel. In fact at just approaching 50K miles it is running better and stronger every time we start it. Just now getting broken in. I think someone has been feeding you a line.

We prefer a motor coach for a couple of reasons. First we tow a car behind. No need to be driving a truck every where you go after parking. Second it provides us with a safety valve vehicle should the coach drive train fail. Much easier to drive for help than walk or hitch hike and safer too. 5ers have their advantages too but sitting for extended periods has had no ill affects as yet on our coach. I even still have the original engine starting batteries after 6 years. Oh yes, I am replacing them this winter just because they are old and I don't want to have them fail when we are out some where difficult to get replacements.

I am sure you will get some good advice on 5ers too.

Dan and Gail · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the forum, Larry and Arlene,

I agree. I think someone is feeding you a line. We love our DP. We also debated back and forth between a 5th wheel and motorhome. My husband has years of experience with big trucks towing trailers with work equipment (Bobcats, bulldozer, etc.) and just didn't want to have to do that anymore. He did want a big deisel engine, but not a big truck. He was thinking more of the long life of the engine.

And, in our year of looking at all types of RVs we began to narrow down what things were most important to us. Especially important to us was being able to stop while traveling and not have to exit the vehicle for lunch or restroom breaks if the weather is rainy. Our Corgi also travels with us all the time and even though he sleeps most of the time he can get up and wander around at times.

Our motorhome has four slides, but we can walk from the front to the bedroom with all slides in and there is only one cabinet door that cannot be opened in the kitchen with the slides in. We cannot walk around the bed with the slides in, but we lay our jackets on the bed if the weather is cool so we don't have to climb over the bed to get to the closet. We have at times put the head of bed slide out so we can walk around the bed to access the closet.

Of course, we did tow a Honda CR-V, but have just traded for a GMC Sierra pickup truck which we will tow. So we have 2 vehicles to maintain, but that is figured into our budget.

We have also heard the argument that if the motorhome is in for repairs, then we'll need to stay in a hotel while it is being repaired. We have not found that to be true. We had warranty work done on our motorhome about 6 months after we purchased it, and we stayed in it in the dealer's lot for 4 nights while they diagnosed our problems. Since we had our car, we did quite a bit of sightseeing and visited with friends or went to movies during the day. Since some parts had to be ordered we went back to the dealer about 1 month later and stayed in it again at night for 3 days while they finished. Of course, we think we have the best service department in the world.

We have also seen some 5th wheels which we have really liked (especially Howard and Linda's), but we aren't planning on changing. There are a few campgrounds we've not been able to use, but it is usually because of the roads in the campground being very narrow. However, our MH has a very short turning radius so there aren't too many places we can't use.

Keep looking and comparing and asking questions. Make a comparison list of the things you like and dislike about each one. Also make a list of the things that you each find necessary. Then compare your lists and go from there. Also visit as many RV shows and dealers as you can.

We got some excellent ideas of things we liked from brands and models we knew we wouldn't purchase, but which we have been able to incooperate in our motorhome.

Happy shopping. Take your time and explore all your options.

Gail

-- Edited by Dan and Gail at 09:24, 2007-01-27

-- Edited by Dan and Gail at 09:25, 2007-01-27

wmalefyt · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the forum!

We have struggled with the decision to stick with a motorhome or go with a 5th wheel when we go full-time.

One thing I have learned about a DP motorhome is that there are many systems to maintain and that the cost is considerable with shop labor rates over $100/hour in many if not most places and the high price for most parts. Because of the inaccessibility of many parts on the engine, more hours are required to perform many maintenance tasks. I guess if you're real handy, I'm not, you can do a lot of the maintenance yourself and save money.

I believe you do need to "exercise" a motorhome at least once a month to keep everything lubricated and rust free by driving it at least 25 miles or more to make sure coolant and transmission temps reach their normal operating levels. Here in southwest Florida where it's very humid and damp in the summer we try to take it out every couple of weeks to prevent rust and corrosion problems. You need to do the same with the generator by running it under load for at least 2 hours every month.

Another thing I have learned is that a motorhome depreciates much faster than a trailer apparently due to the engine, transmission and other mechanical things not found on a trailer.

So based on these findings we have decided to go with a 5th wheel even though I'm not a big fan of pickup trucks. Although after driving a new Chevy 3500 Duramax DRW recently I was pleasantly surprised how quiet and comfortable it was. Even my wife liked it!

Good luck with your decision, it's not easy. :)

Tmcblane · RV-Dreams Family Member

You're getting some good info here, and first of all NEVER listen to what a dealer says unless the other side of your ear is open so it can flow right thru.

We owned a motorhome and intended to start our fulltiming in it but due to multiple problems just weeks before we took off we decided to purchase a 5th wheel. As for sitting just a few days I do not believe it is any different than the tow vehilce sitting for a period of time. As said earlier it is good to drive it at least once a month to keep things lubricated and drive it long enough as stated to ensure the engine comes up to temp to evaporate any moisture that has collected.

Motorhomes are certainly the most convenient to travel in if moving frequently but I would not worry about sitting, if a motorhome is what you want. Having a toad is a plus for running around and cheaper and more comfortable. We opted for a 5th wheel for a couple of reasons, one is the space it provides, two we always plan on sitting in most places for a while to explore, to list more would be, having only 1 engine and transmission to maintain, our experience with owning a motorhome (2002 Monaco Knight) a lot of these are what you could call one off's in the reference to parts. Ours the radiator was bad and cracked. It was not readily available because it was made to fit that year, therefore another year could not be used. cost was $2300 and 10 weeks delivery. Now imagine the inconvenience that would create while fulltiming let alone the cost estimate of over $4000 for the repair. I like the idea if our tow vehicle breaks we can go to most any dealer for help. So for us motorhomes soured us with the many plagues of problems but many people have no issues with them and if that is what you like it is what you should get.

I believe that 5th wheels also depreciate almost as rapidly as motorhomes for at least the first 4-5 years. As for horsepower, a minumum of 300 would be my choice for a motorhome. That is plenty unless you need to be the first to the top of the hill. Usually horsepower = money to buy and to run.

Lets face it any Rv is going to lose value quickly but that is not why you buy one. Look at all of them and pick what you really like, otherwise you will end up feeling the pain of depreciation much soon than you would normally plan when you go back to buy somehting else. :) Good luck and remember salespeople are after commissions not your comfort.

Travelin Duo · RV-Dreams Family Member

We just read all the great replies and answers to our questions, and we are very appreciative to all of you.
You have helped clear up a lot of questions for us.
Thanks again.
We will have many more questions I'm sure before we buy our chosen RV.
Anyone have any comments on the Class A DP Winnebago's ?
Would like to know if the manufacturer is a good one to deal with ?

Going to look at them next weekend ...as well as Tiffin Phaetons
Heard Tiffin was a great company but Phaeton's were having a lot of problems. ???

As for the 5th wheel...they are gorgeous too, but a little concerned with the problem of how big a truck we need to pull it...or more important to stop it !!
We've looked at a Carriage Carri -Lite
and also a KZ Escalade
Is a 3500 GMC Duramax big enough to use with these?
Would rather be "over powered" on a truck than not enough.

Thanks again everyone.

We had a TravelTrailer when our kids were little, and a Ford F350 extended cab   with a big truck camper before that.
We always loved RVing and the  wonderful people we always met in the parks, but we have not done it for years ,but now we're so excited to sell everything and go back out there to do it full time.

At first I was a little leary of not having some of our "treasured" things and not being able to take any with us, but after thinking ...."sit here and   look at material things while you grow older...or get out there and LIVE.....??? "...I came to the decision...very quickly..."honey, let's do it" !!! Larry was thrilled, and I guess he knew I'd go for it anyhow....because I always loved RVing so much before, and although it is a big decision to go full timing...it is truly a dream we've always talked about.
Something we always wanted to do when retired.
Now it is almost here, and after a brief hesitation to think it over...(a normal reaction I think for such a drastic life change) we are both so excited we are now completey over the moon.
That's all we talk about.

I'm going on here ...sorry, but I feel free now...... hee hee

Thanks so much for hearing me out, and for all your kind suggestions...
Happy traveling and good health, safety...and fun to you all.
"I would rather have regrets for the things I have done than to have regrets for the things I didn't do".

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

The guy who gives the maintenance seminars for Spartan Chassis, Mike O'neil, recommends driving a motorhome about 25 feet forward and then backwards every month to move the wheel bearing grease around. The engine can sit for long periods. He also says many don't do anything and everything seems to be fine, but he has seen rusted wheel bearings from sitting since the grease pools on the bottom and half the bearings are dry. How long do many rigs sit on the dealers lot before being purchased and nothing has gone wrong? This is not a common failure, but I expect it would happen close to salt water.

Diesel generators can go six months without being exercised, while LP ones should be exercised about every three months, and gas ones monthly. The gas ones varnish the fastest and it is a very common failure with them. These are probably good guidelines for your main engine, though I admit I haven't seen an LP powered RV.

The bottom line is you probably will not have a problem leaving your DP sitting for a few months, but moving it 50 feet every month would make sure everything was fine. Inspect your engine to make sure no animals or birds have taken residence before you start it.

Travelin Duo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ok
Thanks again.
More good new about the DP Motor Homes
We really appreciate the info
Our minds are much more at ease, and we're anxious to go look further.