JTHarley
Northeast, Michigan, USA
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Joined: 02/27/2003
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I've had 5 coaches now in 8 years...not all class A's but I certainly learned that once the DW and I figured out just how much we loved traveling in the RV we wished we would have gone bigger with more "stuff".
First was a class B (only had that for 8 months.
Next was a class C (one year.
Then I entered the class A realm and loved my winnie Journey. 36'
Had an opportunity to buy a Vectra at over 40% off MSRP so I jumped in. 36'
On the way home from Florida this year I decided to pull the trigger on my dream coach. Since I had a buyer for my Vectra and I got a great price I jumped to my 45; Dynamax with quad slides and every bell and whistle I ever wanted.....aqua hot, stone heated floors, giant shower, dishwasher, w/d combo, king bed......So I told my wife that this WAS the last coach I will buy......after she got off the floor laughing she said sure it is........
Jim , MJ & Spirit of Sambuca Bear
"He's one big Newfie"
Dynamax Ultra 450UL
450 MBE
Jeep Sahara Toad
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flyswamper
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Joined: 04/20/2003
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Well... I'm at about 1 month and counting and haven't gotten there yet.
We took posession of our first Class A DP (2011 Monaco Knight 40PBQ) back in late June. We know the rig is a wonderful thing, but the better half and I are still second guessing ourselves *BIG TIME* as to whether or not we are gonna regret having a much longer unit (we had a 29ft 5ver before) that might prevent us from some of the more primitive state/provincinal/federal sites that we've really really enjoyed in the past.
Already driven it from Alberta --> Oklahoma. That was a joy, but it was a fast hard-driving drip to get to see family and get to a lake. In a couple of weeks we are gonna take the scenic route in getting back from Oklahoma to our home in Alberta. We'll head up the west coast in N. Cali, Oregon, and Washington to get there and take a couple of weeks to do it. Will be interesting to see if our fears of being "too big to fit" are a big issue or not for us...
When we fit into a place we like though.... the Class A DP is awesome!
Constructive disagreement is encouraged. It is how I/we learn!
Dad,Mom, & 3 young'ns
Current Home (Calgary)
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Ivylog
Blairsville, Ga. USA
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Joined: 06/30/2004
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Let me explain better about boondocking in a 42' DP: It's easy for us to go five days without cutting back on anything so we tend to set up a base camp during the week and use the toad to go exploring. If you wait until Friday to find a site for a big rig you will probably be in trouble. In fairness to those that only have weekends, we usually use them to travel to the next area and to resupply. You will have plenty of choices, even in CGs that say 34' max if you come in Sunday afternoon or Monday plus not near as many people in the Public CG during the week. Seems like everthing out West is 500 miles apart so Walmart on Friday night ($40+) inroute and a private CG at the destination Saturday lets us scope out where to boondock starting Sunday. Five days in one area is usually enough for us so time to move on.
This is the best site I've found for finding Public CGs. I use this one for private, public, and boondocking plus there is now a APP for your phone using their database.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
04 Monaco Dynasty 42' quad slide
Where am I?
How I tow.
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donee
Ca. 93063/ Ut 84129
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Joined: 03/05/2006
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When we bought our first coach, we got a C thinking it would work as it was just the two us traveling.
After having it for about a year, we took a trip with my sister and realized that we were due to upgrade.
Stopped at the local dealer "just to look what they have" 
Found a brand new Monaco Class A, with 2200 miles on the odometer and less than 20 hourson the gen, that had never been registered.
ITs now residing beside our stick and brick.
After getting it, we went to Yosemite and again took my sister with us.
Worked out great.
We re very happy with it.
* This post was
edited 07/28/11 09:03am by donee *
donnie (KA6DON) & Linda
1 rescued furrykid "Buddy"
08 Monaco Monarch 30SFS
09 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited.
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koda55
Jacksonville
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Joined: 07/28/2009
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Wwe started off with a 35 ft gaser with 3 slides and have never been sorry. This is our only rv we have ever owned.
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J-Rooster
Port Orchard, Wa. / Lake Havasu City, Az.
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Joined: 11/14/2004
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wny_pat wrote:Just wait until you figure out how great a Diesel Pusher is!!! I went from a '94 Tiffin Allegro DA32 P-32 chassis to a '94 Foretravel U225 with a Cummins 5.9. It was like moving from the shack to the mansion, and the ride was like night and day. And the Foretravel does not have airbags!! Still rides and handles great compared to the P-32!!! Tell me about it Pat! Every time I take my Winnebago on a cruise it's like sitting on a orange crate compared to my air ride long nosed Pete!
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dan1000
Honolulu, HI
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Joined: 02/27/2004
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But the OP should post a similar question in the fifth wheel section, and see what replies he gets from those who have ended up in a 5er.
My suspicion is that the responses would be along these lines: "We loved our MH, but we have much wider slides in the 5er and it seems more spacious", "I love being able to sell one part or the other", "if I traveled a lot and camped a few days I'd prefer a MH but since I travel only twice per year and camp for months at a time I prefer the 5er", and so on.
People who end up in fifth wheels often do so by choice, not by economics. My family, for example, had a 45' 2007 Newmar Mountain Aire, and loved it. But we sold it and bought a Teton Laramie Experience (2002) for 1/15th of the money and a Volvo VNL-780 truck (2005) for about 2/15 of the money (officially converted to a motorhome on paper). We then proceeded to travel for 4 months in it and had a blast. We loved the extra room of the fifth wheel, but didn't like that it took longer to set up. I loved the huge comfort of the Volvo truck, and also being the center of attention at campgrounds. But I didn't like being afraid of every weigh station I bypassed (not from being overweight, but from uninformed patrolmen who might wonder where my DOT numbers were).
We may move back to a MH next year, probably something similar. We want to tow a Jeep and do some off-roading through the Western states, and while it can be done behind truck/trailer, there are serious issues involved in doing so.
Bottom line: For us, whether MH is better than fifth wheel is a very personal decision, very dependent on circumstances. We're a family of 4, and so size matters. But activities matter too, and "travel vehicle" versus "seasonally moved home" matters too.
The good news is that it's a great time to buy any of them at the moment!
Dan
------------------------------
2005 Volvo VNL-780 towing 2002 Teton Laramie Experience 36'
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Bigdog
silverdale wa.
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Joined: 06/28/2002
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I'm kinda the samw way,but my parents were the proud owners of an Apache Buffalo and my ex and I had two tents,a 9x14 wall tent and a couple of backpack tents that we used alternately for 19 years.Never even thought about the parents pop-up.New wife wasn't too much into tents,so the first pop-up,then the second,then a 27' Wilderness bunkhouse and a suburban,next came a Cougar 304BHS TT and the Excursion,that we hauled around for 6 years and one day I looked at Craigslist and saw this cool '01 Tradewinds 7390LTC DP and we've never looked back..Looked at it the next day and drove it home the day after that..Of course,I did know what I was doing after driving school bus for 10 years.I would advise anyone buying one of those to take some kind of class,either before you pick it up or at least before you take it on a trip.
Man,I sure miss that PSD Excursion tho..It even getys better fuel mileage than my Trailblazer,even when it's being towed.
GO COUGARS
2001 Tradewinds 7390 LTC
330 Cat Turbo Freightliner Chassis
2004 Chevy Trailblazer LS (toad)
'88 Mustang 5 Spd 5.0L GT convertible (not Toad)
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shutterhappy
Wisconsin
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Joined: 07/28/2011
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Texas TC wrote:
I am also not completely comfortable with sitting over the front wheels.
As a former charter coach driver I know where you are coming from. In my truck driving days before getting into a coach I felt safer and more secure up higher and behind the wheels and engine.
But the more I drove coach the more I liked it.
I {will} say however that a head-on, cross the median crash would not be fun. Just give it time and you'll get used to it.
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Bigdog
silverdale wa.
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I agree..I was closer to the front of the school bus,transit style dp as our boss won't buy FREDs,but it has more strengthing than your typical Class A.I have seen school buses that have taken a head-on and there was still a lot of damage and I wouldn't have wanted to have had the same hit on mu MH..One advantage is that most smaller cars will hit under where you're sitting.Also,if you have a front generator,there is more bracing and weight in the nose.
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