Camping trailer, motorhome

[dadsbee]

Just don't get a Suite at the Days Inn in Alexander City, Alabama.....

 

[Fran Blacker]

Look and see if "Hotels At Half Price" is still around can save a ton. Used it on vacations, in Hawaii. Don't know if you need reservations in advance.

 

[Cojohnso1]

One concern with motor homes is depreciation. Even the best maintained rigs depreciate like a stock market crash. To avoid the largest hit? One plays the 3-7 year old used market game. With motor homes? I believe it's buyer beware on steroids. RESEARCH AND INSPECT.

 

[Don selleck]

bought a 2017 winnebago 27rls 5th wheel last summer, in like new condition got it for less than half of list when new. Did a 7000 mile trip across the

country and back in 21 days. also bought my first dodge cummins truck, pulled that 10000 lb 5th like nothing. wanted the smallest one I could get, didn't want a monster behind me, worked out well. We bonnedocked for a few days then rented a campsite with water and dump station, and repeat. stayed longer where we liked it. camp sites can be a **** hole in the desert to ocean front property. state parks are nice but hard to get reservations sometimes. a national park pass is a good investment will save quite a bit if you frequent. I'd have to say the nicest thing is pulling over walking back making your lunch in your own kitchen or sleeping in your own bed, and then just disconect your truck when your set up somewhere, and go anywhere. and take the dogs too!

 

[Budnicks]

I must say some great comments on here
are great, some helpful & I agree to the most extent too

especially @Triplegreen500 comments

Personally;
I liked my Motorhome better than the truck & travel trailer
I had a 97 Safari Serengeti 36' Class A, on a Magnum chassis
diesel pusher Cummins & Allison combo
for just pure traveling, not really camping
I tend to go from place to place on trips
the 'getting there is 1/2 the fun', the wife will appreciate it...
unless she likes to rough it, your a fortuneate man, if she does

I took my dog with me too
easier on them also

staying for long times
it may be better with an RV/Travel trailer
unless you flat tow a car/truck/Jeep etc. with you behind the MH
that's really hard on the car being towed too
just another thing to reg. & ins.
I had a Bike, a scooter or a Motorcycle
I could go most places

Motrohome it was fine towing a tag trailer, almost anywhere
I had a Featherlight Alum. 40' tongue to tail, tag
I hauled for a time
35' racecar trailer, small lounge area, sink/restroom
no problem hauling it all over the USA

I bought the MH used in 1999, it was a $225k+ listed new
not a huge pricetag, but too much for me
it had low miles I don't remember what, IIRC less than like 10k
I only paid $108k out the door after taxes/reg. etc.
sold it when my dad moved in

I use to drag it (above 40' trailer) with a
1995 Dodge & later a 98 Dodge Power Ram
Cummins 12 valve Cummins turbo'd, 5 speed
wish I would have kept the 98 Power Ram 4x4
before I bought the Motorhome

I had a gooseneck trailer & early 90's to 99-ish
Kodiac diesel midsize/intermediate
Turbo'd International
I pulled a double-decker 2 car 43' Featherlight cars trailer/hauler
with apr. 8'x12' lounge living area,
with a kingsize bed sleeping area, above in the gooseneck overhang
carpeted, kitchen'et, fridge, couch, lots of storage, 4'x6' bathroom/shower
& truck had a huge appr. 8'x6' sleeper on the back of the cab
lil' kitchen, fridge couch, fold out to a bed & captain chairs

after my dad moved in
I now have a 02 36' Jayco Designer 5th wheel with 2 slideouts now
& pull it with a 02 F350 4x4 Powerstroke 7.3 turbo'd
has 150k on it now, the trailer has about 1/2 that mileage
all over the western US, as far back east as Mt. Rushmore
It's OK, does the job, easy to maintain...

I liked the MH for convenience, all self-contained,
expensive if anything breaks in the chassis/engine or trans
(so is the 7.3 Powerstroke Ford F350 too)
the living part really isn't much if any different than a travel trailer
BUT;
MH it's more like driving your living room, down the interstate
great views out the front, better than any Pick-up truck
& not dealing with hooking & unhooking the trailer or tag/tow'd car

I like the Trailer for when you got somewhere
& wanted to go somewhere else, just unhook & drive the tow rig/Truck
But;
I usually had a side-by-side, a quad or Skooters in the trailer
I could buzz around on, rarely ever unhooked

The travel trailer is a different beast
you can't haul stuff in it like the Racecar trailers were
but it serves the purpose, it's a mobile home, with a tow rig
not really much if any cheaper,
like the difference between a nice house
& a moderate home in quality will depend on the price
except for the initial purchase price, taking a big hit
after 3 years it doesn't matter with either, both lose a shitload of value

truck capable is $60k new in today's market
trailer for any decent nicely amended trailer,
for a nice truly comfortable setting, not some thin aluminum sided
cheaper versions
(I wouldn't suggest/recommend the lesser $20k easily found stuff)
buy a nicer trailer, better insulated, better FRP sides,
better amenities/options inside too
5th wheel with all the amenities slide out etc.
probably starting at $40k+
that's $100k in my book,
$80k if your lucky & buy right/new

with a Truck & trailer,
you also have 2 reg., 2 insurance policies, double the tires
2 things to maintain

if you just use the Motorhome for travel it's
1 reg. & 1 insurance policy
(unless you tow something behind it)
a wash really slightly more,
about the same as the truck & trailer combined here

But;
I had a motorcycle on the back of the MH
I could ride where ever I wanted to, too

get a capable generator, have its own fuel storage
unless propane or diesel
so you can dry camp (with no hookups) & still have electricity
it'll make the lil' woman happier

remember to winterize every year
& clean it out before going on a trip
& do it all over again, unless you plan to use it regularly
monthly at a min.

tires rot
just sitting especially outside in sun or weather

trailers age in dog years,
usually depreciate like it too
30% driving off the lot, & probably a 5%-10% hit yearly
up to about the 7th year

some class A's esp. Motorhomes will retain value more
some won't, you can get storming deals on them
just need to look
insure it based on value/total replacement value
purchase price & it's contents
just in case it's burned to the ground
or totaled, you don't get screwed

do your due diligence in that realm all insurance isn't alike/same

most people that own RV's or MH or Travel trailers in general
are on the 3-5 year plans
if you buy new you will take a huge hit, initially
but not anyone else's problems either
just check the out well or have an expert that knows their stuff
pay someone to do it for you, mostly all common sense stuff

some opinions will vary,
that's pretty much mine, take it or leave it
I'm not going to argue about any of it
it's just my experience & my thoughts

when I just went parking, "camping"
in some RV park, plug it into a 40 amp service on city water
or some campground...
(by the way, I highly suggest, that you plan your trips ahead,
get reservations for RV park or campsites, well in advance,
it's really hit or miss out on the road, finding places the will be available)
it's not camping IMO
camping is a tent on the ground in sleeping bags etc.
a fire pit, not a fridge & stove, couch, bar, slide-outs & dining set

 

[Dennis H]

Take the Daytona. Ride in style. Stay at Hampton or better. Splurge for B and B some nites. Pull into Virginia City and try to park a rig. No storage. No maintenance. Walk away from messed up beds. No dumping the black water. You’ll still have money left over.

 

[440 4 speed]

What ever happened to the day when people were campers! Drive down some trail in the bush to a lake or fishing spot, with a fold up tent trailer with a boat on a car top carrier. Or have a tent.
Dig a latrine nail a branch between two trees for a poop stick. Dried ice for the cooler. No one new where you were and no contact. Take a rifle incase of bears.
Great times with the boys as youngsters. They learned how to carve knives, fillet, make fires etc.
We still have the pop up.
2009 bought a 1986 2nd owner class B Dodge van 350 series. 59000 kilometres. You can park it on any street and we were on the move quite a bit. Two of us and the dog. Been to Corpus Cristi , California,New Mexico and points in between. Not great for staying for a long time unless you can be outside or attach a gazebo. Now we have a 102,000 kilometres on it. I could sell it for more than I bought it for.
I swapped the q jet for a thermoquad what an improvement!! Can pull a car and trailer no problem.

 

[joe smith]

My preference would be a small toy hauler so I could take this along

 

[Don selleck]

we used to really camp back in the day, locating different parts of streams driving down an old logging trail(usually was a campsite used by all and kept clean bringing out whatever was taken in), for opening of trout and walleye season. That is real camping at its finest, most year's opening day was on a boat on lake Gogebic using my friends sister boat that lived in wakefield, (she was a hell of a woman her job was to set explosive charges in one of the copper mines up there until it shut down), next day was fishing on the black river for brooke trout hiking thru swaps following the feeder creeks always catching some pristine clean brookies cleaning them in the streams and cooking them over an open campfire. Driving down the trails with a michigan county map, not seeing another human being for 2 or 3 days. We camped in tents, always took a big tarp, some mason line, and a chain saw, we would cut down some small tag elders about 7ft and create a canopy over the tents for rain protection. about 2 hours before sunset would be dedicated to locating some standing dead wood looking for mainly hardwoods that would burn with little smoke. then getting drunk shooting guns and howling at the moon. it was a great time with your buddies. took the wife a few times, she was interested in the concept at first but after having to pee in the woods temps dropping down into the 20's sometimes at night, it could become quite uncomfortable. getting older sucks, spending most of my time with her and doing things together, real camping is a job to survive, I would not be against a day trip walking the streams again or renting a fishing charter. but sleeping in a warm bed at night is a must nowadays.

 

[Hey-O]

When we were young, it was fun, now, I'm with Dennis H, No thanks. I'm not going to spend a hundred and twenty thousand on a truck and a fifth wheel and forget having an RV with the bullshit maintenance of a piece of equipment good for only one thing, otherwise it just sits there looking like yard furniture. I have several friends that have one or the other and unless you plan on really using it, I mean, REALLY using it, forget it, money down the crapper. It's usually the same story, starts out with good intentions and then, by the time you realize you're not going to use it that often, it's depreciated to the point of no return. I get it, but, know what you really want or need. You can stay at a lot of hotels for a lot of years for the money the whole setup costs and with a hotel you leave the mess and go! Just an opinion.

 

[slepr1]

I wonder if I'm in love with the idea and romance of motorhoming, rather than what it really will be like.

I have also thought of just taking a couple 2-3 week road trips per year in the car & just staying at hotels.

Sounds familiar. When I retired in 2011 we were looking at a 5th wheel. Great deals. After a couple weeks of debate we passed. We realized we loved our road trips, not camping. We've combed through the US, Canada and couple years ago did a road trip through Europe. Mostly used Hotwire to find a motel along our next destination. Sometimes would just drive till we didn't want to anymore and find a place. We talk of doing again asap once the borders open. I highly recommend Pacific Coast Highway, but start in Seattle and end in San Diego.

 

[Cojohnso1]

My preference would be a small toy hauler so I could take this along View attachment 1099045

Nice bike. So many of my friends have and enjoy their bikes. Don't get me wrong. They love my Mopars. And I jokingly say that I'm not mature enough for 2 wheels. But the truth? Just don't have the riding experience for a heavy 2 wheel.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I must say some great comments on here
are great, some helpful & I agree to the most extent too

especially @Triplegreen500 comments

View attachment 1098863

Personally;
I liked my Motorhome better than the truck & travel trailer
I had a 97 Safari Serengeti 36' Class A, on a Magnum chassis
diesel pusher Cummins & Allison combo
for just pure traveling, not really camping
I tend to go from place to place on trips
the 'getting there is 1/2 the fun', the wife will appreciate it...
unless she likes to rough it, your a fortuneate man, if she does

I took my dog with me too
easier on them also

staying for long times
it may be better with an RV/Travel trailer
unless you flat tow a car/truck/Jeep etc. with you behind the MH
that's really hard on the car being towed too
just another thing to reg. & ins.
I had a Bike, a scooter or a Motorcycle
I could go most places

Motrohome it was fine towing a tag trailer, almost anywhere
I had a Featherlight Alum. 40' tongue to tail, tag
I hauled for a time
35' racecar trailer, small lounge area, sink/restroom
no problem hauling it all over the USA

I bought the MH used in 1999, it was a $225k+ listed new
not a huge pricetag, but too much for me
it had low miles I don't remember what, IIRC less than like 10k
I only paid $108k out the door after taxes/reg. etc.
sold it when my dad moved in

I use to drag it (above 40' trailer) with a
1995 Dodge & later a 98 Dodge Power Ram
Cummins 12 valve Cummins turbo'd, 5 speed
wish I would have kept the 98 Power Ram 4x4
before I bought the Motorhome

I had a gooseneck trailer & early 90's to 99-ish
Kodiac diesel midsize/intermediate
Turbo'd International
I pulled a double-decker 2 car 43' Featherlight cars trailer/hauler
with apr. 8'x12' lounge living area,
with a kingsize bed sleeping area, above in the gooseneck overhang
carpeted, kitchen'et, fridge, couch, lots of storage, 4'x6' bathroom/shower
& truck had a huge appr. 8'x6' sleeper on the back of the cab
lil' kitchen, fridge couch, fold out to a bed & captain chairs

after my dad moved in
I now have a 02 36' Jayco Designer 5th wheel with 2 slideouts now
& pull it with a 02 F350 4x4 Powerstroke 7.3 turbo'd
has 150k on it now, the trailer has about 1/2 that mileage
all over the western US, as far back east as Mt. Rushmore
It's OK, does the job, easy to maintain...

I liked the MH for convenience, all self-contained,
expensive if anything breaks in the chassis/engine or trans
(so is the 7.3 Powerstroke Ford F350 too)
the living part really isn't much if any different than a travel trailer
BUT;
MH it's more like driving your living room, down the interstate
great views out the front, better than any Pick-up truck
& not dealing with hooking & unhooking the trailer or tag/tow'd car

I like the Trailer for when you got somewhere
& wanted to go somewhere else, just unhook & drive the tow rig/Truck
But;
I usually had a side-by-side, a quad or Skooters in the trailer
I could buzz around on, rarely ever unhooked

The travel trailer is a different beast
you can't haul stuff in it like the Racecar trailers were
but it serves the purpose, it's a mobile home, with a tow rig
not really much if any cheaper,
like the difference between a nice house
& a moderate home in quality will depend on the price
except for the initial purchase price, taking a big hit
after 3 years it doesn't matter with either, both lose a shitload of value

truck capable is $60k new in today's market
trailer for any decent nicely amended trailer,
for a nice truly comfortable setting, not some thin aluminum sided
cheaper versions
(I wouldn't suggest/recommend the lesser $20k easily found stuff)
buy a nicer trailer, better insulated, better FRP sides,
better amenities/options inside too
5th wheel with all the amenities slide out etc.
probably starting at $40k+
that's $100k in my book,
$80k if your lucky & buy right/new

with a Truck & trailer,
you also have 2 reg., 2 insurance policies, double the tires
2 things to maintain

if you just use the Motorhome for travel it's
1 reg. & 1 insurance policy
(unless you tow something behind it)
a wash really slightly more,
about the same as the truck & trailer combined here

But;
I had a motorcycle on the back of the MH
I could ride where ever I wanted to, too

get a capable generator, have its own fuel storage
unless propane or diesel
so you can dry camp (with no hookups) & still have electricity
it'll make the lil' woman happier

remember to winterize every year
& clean it out before going on a trip
& do it all over again, unless you plan to use it regularly
monthly at a min.

tires rot
just sitting especially outside in sun or weather

trailers age in dog years,
usually depreciate like it too
30% driving off the lot, & probably a 5%-10% hit yearly
up to about the 7th year

some class A's esp. Motorhomes will retain value more
some won't, you can get storming deals on them
just need to look
insure it based on value/total replacement value
purchase price & it's contents
just in case it's burned to the ground
or totaled, you don't get screwed

do your due diligence in that realm all insurance isn't alike/same

most people that own RV's or MH or Travel trailers in general
are on the 3-5 year plans
if you buy new you will take a huge hit, initially
but not anyone else's problems either
just check the out well or have an expert that knows their stuff
pay someone to do it for you, mostly all common sense stuff

some opinions will vary,
that's pretty much mine, take it or leave it
I'm not going to argue about any of it
it's just my experience & my thoughts

when I just went parking, "camping"
in some RV park, plug it into a 40 amp service on city water
or some campground...
(by the way, I highly suggest, that you plan your trips ahead,
get reservations for RV park or campsites, well in advance,
it's really hit or miss out on the road, finding places the will be available)
it's not camping IMO
camping is a tent on the ground in sleeping bags etc.
a fire pit, not a fridge & stove, couch, bar, slide-outs & dining set

View attachment 1098840

View attachment 1098841

View attachment 1098842

View attachment 1098844

View attachment 1098843

Thanks for all the info. If you don't mind me asking, how often does the trailer get used?

 

[Budnicks]

Thanks for all the info. If you don't mind me asking, how often does the trailer get used?

Anymore my dad uses it more than me, it has 75-80k miles
he uses that Ford f-350 4x4 1 ton Dually truck too,
uses it like his DD
The trailer is like his mobile hotel room, he loves it...
I personally only use it like once or twice a year anymore
usually when I go to family for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter etc.
when it's not up here
so I have a comfortable bed, I bring my dog everywhere too
a good place for him too, most Hotels won't allow pets
(I have the trailer so why the hell not)

Or I'll go to Montana or Wyoming every couple of years
with a bunch of hunting buddies, when people get Elk tags
Now, not much

I use to use it a lot in the 1st couple of years
lots of weekend trips, after Fri. leave & come home Monday
or Golf trips
Or when I was doing golf tournaments a lot,
until Dec. 2007-ish
it was way easier than hotels, cheaper too
again I can take my dog no issues...
With all the comforts of home, my own food & my own bed, clothes etc.
(hell, I had it why not)
& I could usually with permission 'dry camp' in the parking lot
or I'd stay at the nearest Casino, most have RV spots
some Super Walmarts do too (or use too)

My dad loves it, so I've kept it, it's still in great shape
(I keep it covered/carport, all-season when not out on the road)
or I would have sold it probably 6 maybe 10 or so years ago
it's on the 5th or so set of tires now
I replace when any sign of rot or unusual wear
I had a bad experience with tires on trailers,
dual axle the rear axle tires, get scrubbed/dragged sideways a lot,
when doing lots of tight turns or even parking
I don't even push it anymore, any signs of rot or cracking their gone
(since dad uses it most, he's agreed & been covering most expenses)
probably except last year, Wuhan Flu hell year

anyway to answer the question

It goes out probably 6 - maybe 8 times a year
lately, he's traveling more in the state, of late
his club goes to the same places every year, like clockwork
usually to some Elks club RV park too
(I like to go somewhere different I haven't seen or been to)
his social club & local RV club with the SIRs
(Seniors In Retirement/Ca)
or the Elks Club another social club,
the Motherload Rollers RV club
(I call the holy rollers)
are active they share wagon master duties
(planning trips & reservations)
sometimes when he/we go up to my sisters, in Redbluff
he'll/I'll tow it too
so he/I doesn't have to listen to the noise in the house
when the family is all there, late-night or early AM

if any of that helps any

 

[HawkRod]

My wife and I are looking into buying a camper. I am in the group that prefers a tow behind (i.e. not a motorhome). I don't want the maintenance of yet another engine/driveline; plus it is cheaper than a motorhome.

Personally, camping out of my Road Runner has been the most fun. But doing that is pretty primitive and rain can make things really miserable. If it rained, my buddy and I would simply get a hotel room.
However, with my wife, she needs/wants more amenities, so hence the camper.

One last thought: I agree with the thoughts of just getting a hotel room and forgetting about the camper deal, as long as you won't miss the camping activities. For my wife and me, having a campfire, cooking outdoors, etc. is great fun and we really enjoy it. It is tough to do that in hotels. so:
a) If you could give a crap about the camping stuff, then ditch the camper/motorhome idea and use hotels.
b) If you like the camping stuff, then choose between a camper and motorhome based on personal taste, and, in my opinion, frequency of usage. As usage goes down, the cost per trip on a motorhome goes up.
By the way, we looked at a bunch of campers recently. A nice Mercedes van based motorhome was $130,000. Yikes! I have $65,000 in a SUPER nice truck with all the goodies, and a brand new 24 foot (much bigger than a van) LUXURY camper costs $40,000. If I buy that new, I am STILL in for the whole deal for $25,000 less than the Mercedes.

Hawk

 

[Richard Cranium]

Look and see if "Hotels At Half Price" is still around can save a ton. Used it on vacations, in Hawaii. Don't know if you need reservations in advance.

Is this it?

https://www.hotels.com/hotel-deals/half-price/

 

[Johnpat]

I'd rather stay in nice hotels along the way.
Can stay in a lot of them for $70000.00
No dishes ,cooking & no parking problems.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Here's a picture of the card. Don't if any phone numbers or if the place is in business. In Hawaii ocean front 2 bedroom condo with kitchen list $475 a night paid $260. Save a ton of money using the card. They send you a booklet with hotels/motels where your trave

ling. I used an AAA travel guide that has hotel prices and ratings of hotel to cull out lousy places. The card is old so......
Dues or what ever you call it was $60 a year.

 

[dart4forte]

Leaving for a long weekend at the end of the month in out 24 footer. Going to lake Havasu.

 

[joe smith]

Ever been in a town where the Motels are all full??? Sure you can plan out your stay some, but then if you are in a place you want to stay another day or two, you either have to "Hurry" through it or the rest of your motel plans are now all done.. I am tired of "hurrying" every time I am on the road....

I don't have one but have been thinking about a towhauler for years... The one thing that everyone tells me who has a trailer or motorhome " You have a guaranteed place to sleep that night"....