Best Motorhomes for full timing - RV-Dreams Community Forum

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Best Motorhomes for full timing

bigredoes · RV-Dreams Family Member

Howdy,

This will seem like a trite answer - but the best motorhome for fulltiming is the one you will eventually own.

I have seen people in 45' motorhomes to Class B's to Casitas to truckbed campers used as their fulltime home. You will know it when you see it - just keep that 'cold regions' in mind while shopping.

As an aside on the cold regions - you may find it difficult to find open campgrounds during the winter months - so look for a boondocking set up for your home.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Although we ended up with a truck and fifth wheel, motorhomes were initially in the research and planning for our plans to go full time at some point. Of the motorhomes we looked at, the Tiffin Phaetons are what stood out to us.

I had things in a toss-up between the Phaetons and the Allegro Busses because the Allegro's diesel fuel filters were more accessible than the Phaetons. If I remember right about the conditions at the time (2008-2009), the Allegro's were more expensive than the Phaetons.

We did look at the 40' and 42' Phaetons. Of all the motorhomes that we looked at, the Tiffin products were less expensive than some of the others we considered. At a recent RV show here in Oklahoma City, I remember seeing a poster that showed that the Tiffins, and in particular the Phaeton, were the top selling motorhome in the US.

While I am not a "style" critic, I kind of liked the Phaetons better than a lot of the others because their style was more simplistic. While Jo and I like nice looking RV's, some of the "fluff" in some brands and models were just a bit much for us. (Fluff for us is stuff that gives the appearance of luxury but doesn't really add to the quality of life. For some reason, I remember a motorhome with somewhat mirrored ceilings.)

Terry

heyduke · RV-Dreams Family Member

we have been fulltiming in a Tiffin Allegro Bay 37footer and we really wouldn't change a thing... now when I did our research I had narrowed it down to three companies that I would buy from: Tiffin, Newmar, and Winnebago...

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks everyone for your input. We're just starting the research for motorhomes, hoping to be full time by next summer.

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with heyduke. All 3 of those companies have been in business for a long time and all make quality coaches.

Do remember though, these companies may also make lower priced entry level models that may not be suitable for full-timing.

Jim

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you are willing to look at used motorhomes there are some good deals on Foretravels, which will last forever. Having said that, we have been happy with our Newmar Dutch Star and we have had it eight years.

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

What's right for you for full-timing is a very personal matter. If you look around, you'll find people living quite comfortably in a variety of situations. For us, we've full-timed in a 16' teardrop a 17' fiberglass egg and now a 35' vintage bus conversion.

Look around at the options, research, ask around.. and feel what is right FOR YOU.

heyduke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cherie and Chris are spot on... look at quality rigs for full timing and when you walk into your future home it will just hit you like a ton of bricks when you will look at each other and say "This is the one!"

dream reachers · RV-Dreams Family Member

We full-timed in a fifth wheel 3 1/2 years. Although we were happy with the space and layout of our 5ver we decided to go to a motorhome. After studying several companies and models we started looking for a used Allegro Bus, a Phaeton, and a Dutch Star of certain years used units. We ended up with a Phaeton 40' and have continued our fulltime lifestyle in it this last year. We are very pleased with our MH and the wonderful support we received at the Tiffon factory. They have really stood behind this MH we purchased used and out of warrenty. We have met several people that have owned other brands of MHs that have been pleased with theirs as well. No matter what you buy, you will have some problems {this is a fact] You need to look for a MH that you can get good repairs and service. Some companies stand behind their products much better than others. Dealers can fix surface problems but often more extensive issues need to be taken care of at the factory. Our fifth wheel had to make 3 trips to the factory for repairs.

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

Motorhome...Tiffin is the one I went with. We love ours. From the least expensive to the most they are all built the same. Quality is there.

Joe and Sherri

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

We're slightly ahead of you in the research phase, but you will probably beat us to the purchase. We're buying used, and at a fairly low budget, so our choices may not match what you can do.

We initially were open to 5'ers, motor homes, and travel trailers as the three that were most likely to be comfortable full-time coaches. We bought our mpg, in fact, in anticipation that we would eventually buy a Big Horn 5'er. As we researched, though, we soon learned that a 5'er that is good enough for full-time living and travel is going to be heavy and require a heavy truck to pull it. Accordingly, we dropped 5'ers to a much lower place on our list. Three travel trailer brands that stood out were Airstream, Arctic Fox, and Excel. Lack of storage space dropped them down, too.

At first we were reluctant to consider motor homes, since they use quite a bit of fuel. Eventually, though, we figured out that we weren't going to be driving the MH all day every day. A small car would get great gas mileage and be just the thing for sightseeing, going to church, the store, etc. Our research soon had us focusing on the Bluebird Wanderlodge, Foretravel, Newmar, Tiffin, and Winnebago. For us, the Foretravel seems to be the best deal as far as quality, price, and general living appeal. The 'Bird is a close second as far as quality, but we'd be getting a Detroit 6V92 or 8V92 2-cycle engine, and I'm not as sanguine about them as I am about a Cummins. They are also quite heavy, since they are all steel. Newmar, Tiffin, and Winnebago would all have slides, and we're not convinced that we need a slide.

Do your research, tour the factories, and enjoy the hunt.

rperry · RV-Dreams Community Member

Looking at going full time next year and in the process of picking our coach. Would like feedback if anyone has a Cameo Carriage 5'er. I have recently looked at a 35 ft used,2007 model. The owner also has a 3500 Chevy dually For sale. This truck is a 2005 model but only has 68,000 miles. Should I be concerned with the age of this truck. Any help will be appreciated.

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

rperry wrote:
Looking at going full time next year and in the process of picking our coach. Would like feedback if anyone has a Cameo Carriage 5'er. I have recently looked at a 35 ft used,2007 model. The owner also has a 3500 Chevy dually For sale. This truck is a 2005 model but only has 68,000 miles. Should I be concerned with the age of this truck. Any help will be appreciated.

It's really more about the maintenance than the year, have a professional look things over.....also do some searches on this and other Forums......Read, and Read some more, welcome aboard....

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

rperry wrote:
Looking at going full time next year and in the process of picking our coach. Would like feedback if anyone has a Cameo Carriage 5'er. I have recently looked at a 35 ft used,2007 model. The owner also has a 3500 Chevy dually For sale. This truck is a 2005 model but only has 68,000 miles. Should I be concerned with the age of this truck. Any help will be appreciated.

Russell,

First of all, welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You will find this a source of a lot of knowledge about all kinds of RV's.

Gene's advice is good. Also, look into the Carriage Owners forums. Even if you do nothing but read, you will learn a lot about those models. Keep in mind that Carriage is now out of business, so while components within the RV will have a source for repairs or replacements, any "body parts" for the coach itself will likely be scarce.

Good luck with the research an planning.

Terry

rperry · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the feedback. It looks like we will be going forwards with the Cameo and GMC 3500. If everything goes according to plan we will pick up the unit next week and take it on our first trip in August.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

WOW! That was quick! Congratulations on your new purchase. Between now and when you get your new coach home, get an electrical hookup (30A minimum, 50A if that's what your coach uses) so you can plug it in at home. Then spend a couple of nights in it, getting all those little things that are needed for a trip taken care of. If you have spares, or are planning to buy them, get a can opener, toothbrush, towels, etc. You will forget things, even after a couple of years of ownership and use, but the first night I can guarantee that you will make several trips back into the house. Make a list of those things that will come from the house when you go out, print it out, and make that part of your pre-departure checklist. If your community won't allow this, pack as best you can and go to the closest campground you can find. You will end up driving back home a couple of times, but it will be worth it.

One idea that I stole from someone else is to use some big plastic tubs for carrying stuff from house to camper. Make a list of what goes in each tub, print it out, take it to Kinko's or similar place and laminate it. Tape that list to the lid of the tub. Use one color of paper for stuff that moves back and forth for each trip and another color paper for stuff that stays in the camper the whole camping season, and will come back into the house when you winterize the coach.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

NWEscapee,

Depending on your budget, which is a large part of picking out any Motorhome, I would encourage to look at American Coach. There are obviously much more expensive motorhomes, i.e., Prevost/Newell, but American Coach (depending on the model) can be purchased new/used at the same price-point of the Tiffin Bus/Phaeton ... which would probably be our second choice ... that is, after a year of research and two factory tours.

Good luck ...

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tim & Cindy, are you talking about http://www.americancoach.com/?

BTW, we're class of 2015, too. I tell people that I graduate with that class, since I'm one of their sponsors.

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes ... that's the right site. If you're looking at price points between AC & Tiffin (between the four most popular models), Phaeton would be the lowest price, the AC Revolution, then Tiffin Bus, then AC Tradition. And, obviously buying used will get you more bang-for-your-buck.