Any experience with RVs?

[audiocontr]

(Sorry, meant to post in General Chat)

I've known you fine gentlemen for several years now and value your opinion's. The wife and I are looking into purchasing our first RV, and wondered if you had any advice for a first time buyer to consider before jumping in?

-It would get used once or twice a month for a couple of days. Probably used longer on major holidays
-We have an infant, and hopes for a 2nd, so whichever way we go, there should be some bed space for the kids (leaning towards and overhead bunk)
-We have 2 #80 lb dogs, and although they probably will not come with us 90% of the time, there may be a time or two they tag along. I'm picturing some sort of space for stacked kennels
-I'm leaning towards a powered unit vs trailer/5th wheel
-I'm leaning towards a diesel pusher, given the case I would like to tow the 712. i understand that would conflict with my overhead bunk desire.

Thoughts?

[Haf-e]

By towing the 712 you mean on a trailer - right? not flat towing...

Lots of good deals out there on Diesel pushers - at least out here on the west coast. They would have the towing capability you would need for the 712 on a trailer.

[audiocontr]

Correct - on a trailer. It brings the load to 8k# plus which pushes me into Diesel status. I wonder if the diesel class Cs have a 10k towing capacity?

[GRCameron]

Many Class A Diesel Pushers can be had with 10K tow rating, but the nicer ones cost the same as a small to medium house - even on the used market. My wife's cousin has a 2008 Monaco Beaver that tows 10K with ease (>$450K when new). The Newmar coaches are very nice also.

Do your research. Maintenance can be extreme on these rigs. The cousin's coach has tires that are not a common size (Michelin) and he pays about $8k for the set of 8 that last about 40k miles (his rig has a tag axle). A replacement windshield costs about $2500!

You can gain a bit of knowledge by lurking some of the RV forums. Class C pusher? Don't know of any.
Happy trailing!

(At one point in life I had planned to be a full time RV "wanderer" in retirement but reconsidered and bought a house.)

[audiocontr]

Negative on the class c pusher. Its a puller. Usually a 7.3l e series if you can find one.

Thanks for the maintenance insight as well. I was thinking something around $30k max which brings us into maintenance territory. I had no idea it was so pricey!

[David Dunn]

RVs are defined by:
Class A, coach built on a chassis. can be either front or rear engine
Class B+ and C are built on van cut-away chassis , how the coach is attached at the cab is the defining difference, but most all C's will have a bed over the cab.... and since are based on vans, all are front engine.

It has been a long time since I looked at or studied RVs, there is a Super C class with is based on the F550 trucks with a heavier tow package.

When I had bought my B+, they ( B and C) were all with a 5k towing, BUT with the research I had done on the RV, I could upgrade to a WDH (weight distributing hitch) , reduce the amount of fresh water I carried and other added weights and easily (legally) tow the 716 on a trailer behind a 26' Lexington RV. The numbers fell within the GVW ( with tongue weight added) and the CGVW. The hitch manufacturer also confirmed that the hitch was rated for the additional weigh with the WDH.

Also remember a "short" A pusher would be at least 29', but or like 32 or more long and 102" wide.

[Haf-e]

Here is an example that sounds too good to be true...

http://skagit.craigslist.org/rvs/5214673019.html

1984 Bluebird Bus - $8500





Contact: Jeff @ 360 603 0612 WA state

[GRCameron]

The CAT 3208 isn't the best of engines. In ag applications many of them would only last a couple thousand hours before needing major work. The block doesn't have liners, so no in-frame rebuilds. Carry a spare water pump!

They were available from 210 to 435 HP. No telling what this Bluebird has. 17,500 miles? $8500? Such a deal! For that money you could repower it when the 3208 dies.

Expect 5-6 MPG...

[audiocontr]

very cool!

[dadnova]

I have an over head 23' with a 460ci, does just fine. Sleeps 6 on beds. I live near Hemet and have towed to Utah, Las Vegas, borrego time and time again.
The only time I had an issue was going to Utah's off road area, as it was one hell of a grade, 10% and at 7,500 foot elevation is where I started having an issue, as no computer adjustment for the high altitude as mine is a 1997.

Also if buying used I would suggest buying from an older person, someone who could afford to do the up-keep properly and on time.

[Hotzenplotz]

What about having a RV - Pinz ?



I have seen that vehicle at the Puch Generationentreffen 2013 on the Erzberg mountain, in Styria, Austria.
The couple hat two kids with them....

[ExpeditionImports]

Do a cost analysis for the justification on the Diesel. A 460 setup properly (We added a Banks power pack) has no problem towing a Pinz on a trailer. I had also been very much of the opinion I needed a Diesel Pusher. When we really sat down and put our mileages onto paper, the added cost of the pusher versus the gas unit, it became very clear that based upon the usage we would be doing, the diesel while nice, was not a smart buy. That was back in 1998 when we bought a new 32' Winnebago. To date in 17 years I have put just over 90K miles on our motor home. With the Banks upgrade we are averaging between 7-8.5 mileage wise. Drops to 6 when towing.

Lots of good deals to be had on RV's second hand. They lose there value quite rapidly.

Cheers,

Scott