Best used winter rv... - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Emelle · RV-Dreams Community Member

Best used winter rv...

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our '08 Monaco Diplomat coach was very winter friendly. Double pane windows and decent insulation in the walls. Spent a winter in Verdi NV. after our initial purchase of the coach, (aka we didn't know anything), and even using both furnace's we only went thru one tank of propane a month. The propane tank was 40 gallons. In later years we used electric space heaters to supplement the propane furnace. It also had 12VDC space heaters in the basement and water compartment to ensure nothing froze in the basement. We only brought the slides in if freezing rain or heavy snow was forecast and we had travel planned in the near future. Never had a problem all the years we full-timed.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Best winter RV is one whose owner understand that wheels go south rather well and will take you to a warm, calm place to spend the winter.

Trikester · RV-Dreams Family Member

I’d expect southern Oregon to have a range of climates (coastal vs. eastern). For an Iowa winter, here’s a starter list.

Dual pane windows
Four season rating
Lots of insulation—walls, ceiling, floor, exposed pipes
Heated holding tanks (if temps consistently stay below 20 degrees or so)
Heated basement
Supplemental electric space heaters
Lots of propane—We have two 40 lb tanks (and would have liked more this past March in Iowa)
Heated fresh water hose a plus (either bought or homemade).

Some of the year-rounders in Iowa skirt their RVs with Styrofoam sheeting; some then put space heaters in the skirted sub-basement.

As for brand of RV, I’m partial to New Horizons (we have an ’07 Summit), but winter isn’t our primary criterion and we usually head south (March of this year was an anomaly). I’m thinking the feature list is more important than the manufacturer.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Emelle,

Are you specifically interested in just a motor home, or would a fifth wheel be something to consider?

We have a 2010 Mobile Suites by DRV Suites. The Mobile Suites and Elite Suites models have 3 1/4" walls and extra insulation. We've lived in our fifth wheel now for about 4 1/2 years and have experienced temperatures between 115 degrees down to -6 degrees and have been comfortable. We do supplement our furnaces with a pair of Lasko electric space heaters and the built in electric fireplace. In the summer, we also supplement with a pair of Hunter oscillating fans. With both the fans and the Lasko heaters, one of each goes into the bedroom and one into the living room area.

Terry

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you have enough money you can use anything in the winter. If not, take the advice above.

The first winter we were in our Foretravel in SW Missouri we had only the two propane furnaces. No skirting. We were fine, but since we were at our S&B the propane truck came by on a regular basis. We went through plenty of propane that winter. A full fill is 64 gallons, and one two-week period we used 63.

Last winter we were farther south, with full hookups including 50A service. We had a small electric heater in the wet bay and a small "wood stove" in the salon. We filled the tank on 2 January and again mid-March. We took on about 50 gallons that time. BIG difference.

We did have a humidity problem because we tried to keep all the heat in. That also keeps the moisture in. We're now leaving a vent open in the bathroom all the time, and are using the kitchen vent more, too.

As for what sort of coach for full-time use, that will vary quite a bit. Are you going to stay for a month or more at a time? A towable is probably a better choice. Are stairs an issue? A motor home or Airstream TT might be a better choice. Whatever you pick, buy your first one used, as you will probably go through two, three, even four coaches before you get it exactly right. Spend many hours discussing how you expect to live in your coach. Talk to other full-timers, listen to their reasons for picking the TYPE (not brand) of coach they did, and then compare their reasons to what you think you will do. Go to as many dealerships and RV shows as you can. Go into every coach there, no matter the price or condition. Imagine yourself living in that floor plan. If you spend a lot of time watching the television set you don't want it placed at 90 degrees to where you will be sitting. If both of you like to cook together, is the kitchen big enough for both of you? If one of you likes to spread out projects (sewing, puzzles, etc.) is there room for that and eating inside, too?

Consider that sooner or later you will hit a stretch of days where you really don't want to go outside. Is there enough room inside for both of you?

A fifth wheel or travel trailer will require a pickup truck to tow it. That truck will most likely be your daily driver. A MH can tow another vehicle for the daily driver.

Whatever you decide on, buy a high quality coach, even for your first one. You will be much happier with it.