Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
I am looking for some advice on expenses concerning the general upkeep on Class A,s versus a Fifth wheel and truck. How much more would it be to maintain a Class A?
I have ZERO evidence to support my opinion, but I think class A Diesel Pushers cost more to buy and more to own than a 5th wheel and appropriately sized truck. This assumes that equivalent living accommodations are evaluated.
A diesel pusher normally needs a "toad" (additional vehicle) to allow for personal transportation when parked. This adds considerable cost to the equation.
May I repeat, I have no evidence, only an opinion, to support this position.
I personally have a 5th wheel and an F350 dually, and I have voted with my checkbook on this subject.
__________________
Ron and Janice
2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system
2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114 LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW
It may have more to do with how you are going to RV over the years. My guess is that costs of maintaining and running either will be similar whether an "A" or a fifth wheel. It's just a matter of luck in most cases.
We choose a class A because of how we were going to travel. We needed an economical toad because we put 4 times the miles on a toad as we do our motorhome. I choose to bet that a Honda would be more economical fuel and repair wise. Now in our fourth year the theory seems to be working. But this has to do with "our" usage. Everyone has a different RV lifestyle. We put 20,000 miles per year on the Honda Fit.
Back to the original question, "How much more will an "A" cost to maintain?" Every answer will be different depending on personal experience.
My cost to maintain our motorhome over the last three years is just under $10,000.00. Some off that has to do with usage, some with the age of our old motorhome..... but most of it is just dumb luck or misfortune.
Flip a coin. It may be just as accurate.
__________________
Russ & Terri Ranger
Travel since July 2013
Home base: Buckeye,AZ
Wandering the USA & Canada in our Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40' PDT Motorhome
Travel so far: 49 States - International Travel -19 countries
To have a 5er comparable to our DP, you'd have an HDT to pull it. Want an HDT as a daily driver? All interior appliances are the same. Diesel engines in both. What makes you think there is so much difference?
__________________
Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID
I got a funny feeling this is a hot question ........but here is my 2 cents.......Depending on your travel plans and how you use them ......a class a Diesel pusher is only comparable to a 5ver with an HDT diesel pulling it...they both have plenty of power to spare and run relaxed
A Gas class A or a gas truck pulling a 5ver both are over loaded before you pull out and under powered so there is a greater strain on the drive-train.......so in the end both sides of the coin are equal unless fate has its way and Murphy's law presides!!
__________________
1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
The above comments are all relevant. I had a 5vr for 4 years and have been in a MH for over 4 years. The maintenance on the MH is more than the maintenance on the fifth wheel but not when I figure in the truck that I had pulling it. Yes I do have a car in tow but it is so much better than having to drive the truck around when the MH is parked. We had more repairs on the trailer than we have had on the MH but that will always be a variable when comparing others. We like the setup we have now but we are full-timers that travel a lot. If we were vacationers or snow birds our choice would have been different. Our budget is quite different than Howard's because even though we are both full timers, our lifestyle is very different and we include replacing more things and our contributions etc. Bottom line is no one can give you a definite answer. You have to decide what you want and if you can afford it. My maintenance is different than another persons. MHs come in all different sizes and a person traveling to a nearby football game vrs. someone traveling to Alaska and back would make a huge difference.
__________________
Allan, Jeanne and Katie the cat Full-timers from Alabama "07 -40' Phaeton & '08 Jeep Liberty
Thank you all for your responses. I know I didn't give very specific information. The purpose of my question was that I had heard that it is more expensive to maintain a MH versus a 1 ton pickup. We will be full timing in 19 months and have been "shopping" to see what we could afford and what we would like. We are leaning heavily towards a fifth wheel, probably a mobile suites, only because we haven't really found a floor plan in a MH that we like. Thanks again for your input. This is a great forum.
