RV Fantasy

[mikeferg75]

Originally Posted by legion

I'm not really interested in a trailer. Part of what I'm looking for is a place the kids can nap and use the bathroom and move around a little while on the road. I thought a Class C was the smallest available, but a Class B is more inline with what I was thinking. (I thought a Class B was one of those RVs built on a semi chassis.)

Last year we were driving through Atlanta on the way to my sis-in-law's wedding in Orlando. I knew, based on living there, that we had a window of about 10:30-Noon on a Friday to make it through without getting stuck in traffic. Well, my older son had to pee, we ended up spending 45 minutes searching for a bathroom in southern Tennessee and hit Atlanta at 11:15. As we were travelling the south end of the Perimeter at noon, we got hit with massive traffic and ended spending two additional hours in traffic. By the time we were on the other side and could stop for lunch, I had two very hungry kids, and the baby had severe diaper rash from sitting in his filth for 3 hours. This trip is what got me started thinking that it would be nice to have an RV.

Our family is 7, 9, 10 and 17 hours away by car. The 7 and 10 hours away family isn't worth flying to (as the flight would require changing planes twice) and we can't fly to the family that is 9 hours away (closest we can get is 3 hours away). We can fly to the people 17 hours away, but I pretty much don't fly anymore. (Thank you TSA.) Also, flying four of us, because we are starting on a non-hub endpoint serviced by "partner" airlines, tends to cost around $1,000 just to get somewhere close. A flight to see the family 17 hours away could easily approach $2,000 for the four of us. And that's before a car rental. Driving to see them, while miserable, typically costs us less than $500.

So we travel by car, and sometimes it's miserable. And sometimes we hit traffic or snow and end up having to shell out obscene rates for last-minute hotels.

With that many in your family you will still most likely need a C, I don't think even what they call a B+ will sleep 5 people. My family of 4, two adults and two kids and a dog is tight in mine. The boy sleeps on the floor so he does not have to share a full bed with his sister. We do pack a tent for guests or sometimes as a placemarker for a backcountry spot.

[legion]

I've found a few B's online that claim they will sleep 5. Heck, I've slept on the floor of an RV in a sleeping bag. The kids can too.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

Posted this before, I think. Small. But fun!

What is that (the trailer)?

[tevake]

I've been holding off for four pages of an R V thread, but no longer.
My 1989 35' airstream motorhome is a little young for the vintage RV scene.
But that is another Segment of the RV world that is pretty cool.
I resently found this vintage site.
https://tincantourists.com/blog/#

My rig is serving as full time home and exploration vehicle as I get resettled here on the mainland.



Was chilly in N Az this morning, heating inside makes for big icicles below the Windows.

Cheers Richard

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by legion

I've found a few B's online that claim they will sleep 5.

I think my Roadtrek claimed to sleep 4 or 5. Two could sleep in it comfortably. Three if one of them was a dog.

[911boost]

You could in theory sleep 4 in my West, if two of them are children.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by legion

I'm not really interested in a trailer. Part of what I'm looking for is a place the kids can nap and use the bathroom and move around a little while on the road. I thought a Class C was the smallest available, but a Class B is more inline with what I was thinking. (I thought a Class B was one of those RVs built on a semi chassis.)

Last year we were driving through Atlanta on the way to my sis-in-law's wedding in Orlando. I knew, based on living there, that we had a window of about 10:30-Noon on a Friday to make it through without getting stuck in traffic. Well, my older son had to pee, we ended up spending 45 minutes searching for a bathroom in southern Tennessee and hit Atlanta at 11:15. As we were travelling the south end of the Perimeter at noon, we got hit with massive traffic and ended spending two additional hours in traffic. By the time we were on the other side and could stop for lunch, I had two very hungry kids, and the baby had severe diaper rash from sitting in his filth for 3 hours. This trip is what got me started thinking that it would be nice to have an RV.

Our family is 7, 9, 10 and 17 hours away by car. The 7 and 10 hours away family isn't worth flying to (as the flight would require changing planes twice) and we can't fly to the family that is 9 hours away (closest we can get is 3 hours away). We can fly to the people 17 hours away, but I pretty much don't fly anymore. (Thank you TSA.) Also, flying four of us, because we are starting on a non-hub endpoint serviced by "partner" airlines, tends to cost around $1,000 just to get somewhere close. A flight to see the family 17 hours away could easily approach $2,000 for the four of us. And that's before a car rental. Driving to see them, while miserable, typically costs us less than $500.

So we travel by car, and sometimes it's miserable. And sometimes we hit traffic or snow and end up having to shell out obscene rates for last-minute hotels.

Traveling with kids, a class C bunkhouse style might work for you. It is designed to sleep a lot of kids and you could probably find a decent used one for $20k. Buy one try it for a season and re-evaluate. Something like this maybe:
https://thormotorcoach.com/fourwinds/floorplans/

Our 22' class C worked fine for long trips and camping with two kids. If they brought friends we would let the older ones sleep out in the dome tent.
We got ours used when the kids were 7-9 yrs and kept it through the sporting years. It was quite handy during away soccer tournaments and swim meets.

[Hugh R]

Bunkhouse style is OK if the kids are really, really young and you plan to sell when they start growing.

My C can sleep two in the Master and one adult in the fold out couch, I suppose two for a night if they're "friendly" and the dinette fold down is again for one or two adults if they're friendly and not too tall. One or two on the floor in sleeping bags, I suppose.

IMHO, a 30' versus a 35' gets more room to move around but not more sleeping area.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Bunkhouse style is OK if the kids are really, really young and you plan to sell when they start growing.

My C can sleep two in the Master and one adult in the fold out couch, I suppose two for a night if they're "friendly" and the dinette fold down is again for one or two adults if they're friendly and not too tall. One or two on the floor in sleeping bags, I suppose.

IMHO, a 30' versus a 35' gets more room to move around but not more sleeping area.

I thought you had an "A?"

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

What is that (the trailer)?

2007 16' debadged Scamp fiberglass rv. $8-10K used.

[glewis80SC]

We have had a Fleetwood pop-up for 10 years and were debating on upgrading to a Class C but friends that have had them complained about maintenance and having to tow a vehicle to get around once you reach your site, we ended up upgrading to an Airstream and love it.
For build quality Lazy Daze is supposed to be the best for Class C though, they are based in Montclair,CA and build to order you can find some good deals on used ones.

[legion]

Heh. I used to go to Montclair Plaza as a kid.

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by Scott R

I thought you had an "A?"

Yes, an "A".

[cstreit]

Five people in a class B will definitely have you spending a lot of time outdoors...