I hope to buy an RV someday. I wonder if there might be RV owners/users on the board who might speak to the Motorhome vs. Trailer choice? Especially from those who might have owned or used both.

I lean toward a Motorhome, because of the access to the coffee pot, food, and bed while on the road, especially because of my disabilities. But I still see the benefits of having your "vehicle" separate from your "home".

Any comments would be appreciated.

Tuck

If you get one (motorhome).. please don't use the auto-pilot feature if thats new this year yet? LOL

Hog

Wish I could help you, but I don't have first hand knowlege. My grandfather had a winnabago when I was growing up. He used to tell me. "Take everything that can go wrong with a truck, add everything that can go wrong with a house, and triple the cost."

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

This is a pretty cool (but expensive) line. No first hand experience with them, but on this website you can video test drive some of the motor coaches,

http://www.beavermotorcoaches.com/index.html 

Trailer, un -Hook and travel with ease. Had them both and Motorhomes are gas guzzling pains in the butt. They rot and are alot to maintain.

I also vote for the trailer. You can still get a tax write off as long as it has a bathroom and bedroom. My friends and I all have toy boxes. They are basically a full blown trailer in the first 3/4 and the back opens up to make room for your dirt toys. Plus being able to unhook the trailer and have a truck is priceless.

Classic --

"Design + Innovation + Quality = Leadership

Airstream began with a single man and a most singular dream. The man was Wally Byam: his dream, to build the perfect travel trailer. One that would move like a stream of air. One that would be light enough to be towed by a standard automobile. One that would provide first-class living accommodations anywhere in the world. Thus, over 70 years ago was born the first Airstream trailer. And with it was born yet another dream, a dream of new freedom, new places, new experiences, and new friendships. It was a dream so powerful, so enduring it did far more than create a new way of travel; it created a new way of life shared by thousands upon thousands of families.

The Airstream philosophy has always been and will always be, “ Let’s not make any changes — let’s make only improvements!” Every inch of an Airstream has a functional purpose. There is no planned obsolescence. This is as true in today's models as it was of the first Airstream to see the light of the open road. The classic Airstream of the thirties is no museum piece. Still in use today, it is as sturdy and modern in appearance as the first day it swung into traffic. As a result, an Airstream is always “in style’ — conceived and constructed as a lifetime investment in happiness.

Today, the Airstream is the most thoroughly tested Airstream in trailer history. It is years ahead in engineering — the culmination of over 70 years of experience in trailer making, millions of miles of Caravan travel throughout the world; plus millions of miles more, run up by happy Airstream owners! More than ever, the Airstream remains a testimonial to the practical vision, the tenacity and know-how of one dedicated man — Wally Byam, and his team who made your travel dreams come true."

http://www.airstream.com/index.html 

Airstreams are good but real expensive. I had a Carriage ,(also salty), which outlasted my next door neighbors Airstream. Mine had a solid Aluminum frame and a 1 piece roof, But the new ones are over 50 grand.

Tuckersdad,

My path to RV ownership was thus: tent stuffed in the back of a van, tent and other gear loaded into a cargo trailer, pop-up camper, travel trailer.

Whoever said take what can go wrong with a truck, combine that with what can go wrong with a house and triple the cost is dead on when it comes to motorhomes.

Travel trailers are relatively inexpensive if you buy used. Even a 2 or 3 year old model is going to be about half the price of a new one. Somebody is always trading up so the used inventory is plentiful, especially in the off season months like December through February. Dealers LOVE to see customers on their lots in January.

Don't try that with a motorhome. Its worse than buying a used car. You pays yer money and you takes yer chances.

The other problem with motorhomes is insurance. You pay full car insurance rates on a motorhome, but a travel trailer is a fraction of that even though its through your car insurance company.

The third problem with motorhomes is taxes. In most places they're taxed like a car with the value set unrealistically high. Your travel trailer is taxed more like other personal property or real estate.

If you live near or drive the interstate frequently you will notice that 99% of motorhomes are pulling a "dinghy" vehicle for use once the final destination is reached. I can't imagine the extra convenience of getting coffee or a sandwich while driving is worth the extra cost. If you want food while pulling a travel trailer you simply pull over at the rest stop or travel plaza and go to the trailer to get what you want.

Hope I've helped some.

We will fill you in as we go. Just bought one for our new venture into the world of NASCAR. We needed a place to stay in the infield of the race for the weekend. We now have the official JHC travelador. 30' smoking machine on wheels. We are going to see it for the first time this weekend. Watch out Macanudo.

OOCamper and everybody - great help. I've always leaned toward motorhomes, but you guys have made some very solid points, certainly some I hadn't thought through yet. I have to do a lot of research, but I'm certainly going to look much closer at campers and 5th wheels.

OOCamper, could you elaborate on travel trailers over pop up campers, the convenience vs. the expense, etc.?

Thanks, Tuck

Dave, did you go motorhome or trailer? Tuck

Motorhome.

JHC - If you will, and have time, how about e-mailing me the one you got, I'd like to check it out on-line, as well as hear what you think doewn the line. Thanks, Tuck

I camp.

I don't RV.

At least that's what I keep telling myself...

Tenting with three kids was great, but it was tough to convince my wife to do it more often, so I was going to buy a pop up.

Then I saw a "hybrid", which is a hard side travel trailer with the pop down ends. You sleep in a "tent" and the rest is pure luxury: full kitchen, bathroom, sofa, dinning, AC, etc.

Now my only problem is finding the time because I'd go every weekend if I could.

As for trailer vs. coach?

Good friends of mine retired several years back.

They got a 5th wheel unit that sits on the back of a pickup truck bed. Reasoning: They wanted to be able to unhook and go without dragging a "toad" behind them.

After one year, they sold it all and bought a Class A motorhome and a small toad (it's called a toad because it's "towed" behind them).

Bottom line: Think about what you want, and HOW you're going to use it. Rent each if you can and try them out.

I love my trailer and wouldn't trade if for anything. There is no higher quality time with my kids than when we're out in the middle of a State Park, toasting marshmallows and telling stories.

And they would tell you the same thing.

Almost forgot:

My vote?

If you're going to travel around the country you might want the Coach or a 5th wheel.

If you're using it for vacations and get-a-ways, then the trailer or 5th wheel is the way to go.

I've had a trailer and am on my second motorhomme, a 33-foot Southwind gasser, which means it runs on gasoline. True, they're guzzlers and in these days that's a consideration. But I love mine. As for having a car to drive, one can tow a "dingy" behind the motorhome, an easy task once once learned. I have a disability in the family, my wife has Alzheier's, but we still travel all over, and are headed from California to Montana this summer. It has a fan, ha, to get the smoke out after you light up. Peace.

Tailgater is right. Rent one of each and decide for yourself.

Pop-up campers are like tents on wheels. You crank up the roof and slide the beds out at either end. With air conditioning they're pretty comfortable for sleeping but not much else. A pop-up is probably not the way to go for someone with a mobility issue.

Tailgaiter's hybrid is a good compromise. The only real problem with them, or pop-ups, is folding them up in the rain.

We camped a lot when I was a kid. We did the whole range. Tent to motorhome and all between. I prefer the motorhome. I know it is nice to have a car/truck but the motorhome was really nice. We could be comfortable and we could eat when we wanted and even go potty. You can't do that with a trailer. And with the way my mom's bladder was... that was important. We would have never gotten anywhere.

The motorhome we just got is a 29 or 30 foot 2003 Coachman. My dad bought it for the company so it is at his house. We haven't gotten to see it yet since he just picked it up on Tuesday. We should be seeing it this weekend. It was very expensive in my opinion but they gave us a considerable amount off since we were willing to put a sign in the window at the NASCAR races advertising their company.

Tuck,

Although it may be too late, check to see if there are any RV Shows in your neck of the woods. A google search should be fine.

I went to one with my family a couple weeks ago at Gillette Stadium fieldhouse. It was fairly small compared to others I've been to (80,000 sq. ft), but it still had plenty to see.

I'm not in the market right now, but it's good to get "ideas", and also we get campground information.

These shows are a good way to do one-stop shopping since every type of RV and every manufacturer should be there.

You can shoot me an email if you want further information.

jnasuti

at argosco

dot

com