Your opinion on a few rigs, please!

[TarheelBornGal]

Okay, here come my early questions, and thanks for the warm welcome to my introduction!

I guess I should say first that we are looking for a Class C with large basement storage (we plan to travel with two road bikes, two mountain bikes, and a take-apart kayak!) We want a rear queen bed as we don't want to have to set up a bed every night or climb a ladder to get up and down to bed. In front we want both a dinette and a sofa. We want an oven, not just a microwave and cooktop. We want the cabover bed rather than the entertainment center in that area (for extra storage). There are a lot of rigs that meet our specifications in the 31'-34' range, but we really want to stay with 30' or less if at all possible. Here are some of the rigs I've seen online so far that I kind of like. Anyone have any opinions/knowledge of these rigs (or manufacturers), good or bad? Be honest -- I can take it!

Coachmen Leprechaun 290QB
Coachmen Roadmaster 314SS
Winnebago Chalet 29TR
Winnebago Outlook 29B
Thor Chateau 28A

Some of these are newer models, some discontinued, some with slides, some without. We like the space that slides provide but not sure if we want the extra maintenance they may require. Would love any feedback you might have about slides (pro or con).

Also, when buying a used model, how many miles is too many? There's one I like online that has 49K miles -- is that too much to even consider?

Thanks so much!
Emily

[BirdbyBird]

I don't have a lot of experience with that size rig....but I do know that Winnebago has a pretty solid rep behind their products. A slide is a must for some and a maybe for others. Especially when thinking of full timing the space may be very important to your mental health What you do have to consider on the Class C's and with slide/s has the added weight factor that each slide adds. The longer Class C's often have the same 450 ford engine that the 23 and 25 ft rigs have. More rig equals more weight and leaves you less CCC .....the amount of added weight you can pack into your rig....for full-timers that is important. Read the details carefully. An overloaded rig is not a safe rig.

For "sail boat" dreamers this idea of minimal living may not be too hard to figure out. So much is about specific floor plans and what is most important to the two of you. If you are imagining renovating a used rig...for example taking out a couch and putting in two comfortable chairs.....always look under the furniture and see what utilities may be hidden. Water tanks and heating ducks get placed under the most amazing things. Also look carefully where all the mechanical boxes and switches are located including the hot water heater and low water drainage points. They are all things that need to be checked and monkeyed with and some are in the most outlandish places.

Okay, I started the info.....next someone to add their 2 cents....

[Rufflesgurl]

It almost sounds like maybe you would like a Class A - LOTS of basement and inside storage. You will find the right rig for you!

Linda

[longdog2]

You may not be able to get the kind of basement storage that you envision, especially in a C. Slides can make a lot of difference in full time living, especially since there are two of you. You are talking about a lot of bicycles so you will need a really good bicycle rack because you definitely won't be putting them in the kind of basement storage you will get.

[retiredhappy]

Just sold a 2001 Gulfstream Ultra Supreme 30' that would be exactly what you were looking for, if you can find one. Had as much outside storage as a Class A and everything you want except I had the entertainment center rather than an overhead bed. You will need to be very careful how you carry those heavy bikes. Those carriers that hang off the rear are NOT acceptable as it overloads the rear portion of the rig. With that much stuff you might take a look at towing a small trailer. I opted for no slides cause of the added weight and the possible maintenance. As for mileage it depends on how well maintained the rig was. I sold mine with all the maintenance records right down to the oil changes and it had 52,000 miles. If an older rig has too low mileage I would worry because it meant that it sat for long periods of time and the rigs are meant to be driven and used. Stuff dries out and freezes up if not used. Its just a matter of looking at a lot of different rigs. Sit in them, sit at the dinette, lay on the bed, pretend you're preparing a meal, etc. Because mine had an open bath concept it seemed to have more room even without the slides. Only YOU can decide what's right for you. When I was looking at mine I spend so much time looking and looking that the dealer told to either buy it or he was going to charge me rent.

[Bethers]

Moved to the general talk room.

I had a scooter on a hitch rack on the back of a Class C - weight wasn't a problem - just have to make sure it's not above what the rig you get can handle.

I recommend you get out and get in and out of as many rigs as you can - there is no one "magically" manufacturer - although some like some better than others. I love my Gulf Stream, others hate them. The basement storage from one rig to another is so totally different - even in the same manufacturer, and sometimes in the same model from different years. Make sure you see it to know it has what you need.

[TarheelBornGal]

Thanks for the feedback, ladies! Definitely a lot to think about.

As far as Class A's, I just find them way too intimidating. I don't think I'd ever feel comfortable driving one. I am sure they have great storage, but I am not sure I'd feel safe not having anything in front of me at the wheel. I'm sure you get used to it...but for a first-time RVer, I don't know! Anyone start with a Class A?

I have seen several Class C's that have HUGE basement storage compartments in the rear, mostly the newer ones (2011+). I have a feeling we could at least get my little bikes (without front wheels) in a couple of them. I'm petite, so my bikes are small -- and not heavy. My road bike only weighs 20 lbs! We might be able to store a couple on their side in the cabover as well, with some careful bungeeing and cargo nets. We had to get really creative with storage on our sailboat too, which was also 30' but not nearly as much space as an RV of that length since that included a huge cockpit, tapered bow, and lower ceiling height.

Fortunately, we are both slim and fit so our rig should be able to accommodate the weight of us and our bikes, we hope! And Paisley only weighs 16-17 lbs.

We really want to avoid a trailer because many of the campgrounds we think we'd like best have a lot of back-in sites. We are not planning on a toad for the same reason. May need one at some point if it proves too inconvenient not to have one, but we are used to doing a LOT of cycling, so I'd like to think we'd be okay with bikes. We could rent a car in an unusual situation, I suppose.

Once we actually get into some rigs and can see how the space feels, we'll know if the 30' size is doable for us, but there are fewer places we can get into if we go larger, so I hope we don't have to. Also, being first-timers, the larger the rig, the more intimidating to drive, park, etc.

Really good point on the slides and the weight issue -- thanks for pointing that out. I hadn't even thought of that, but with that in mind, will probably lean towards the no-slide models, even though the extra space slides provide would be nice. My husband wasn't too sure he wanted them anyway because they might require more maintenance.

We are not sure if we'll go with a used or new unit. I know there is a huge depreciation hit with new, but since we won't have a house to park at do a lot of changes/repairs (and landlords don't always appreciate a lot of noisy car work being done in their parking lots), we might want to start with a new unit as at least things shouldn't wear out so quickly. I know new does not mean problem-free, but at least the components aren't nearing the end of their natural life. But our sailboat was a 1989 and we had a great time fixing it up and refitting it, so we may end up going that route with a RV as well if we can do some of the work while we're in parks. I don't think we'd want to go older than 2003 or 2004 or so, though. Cars are not built to last as long as boats. Good point though on the older rigs with not much mileage -- that can be just as iffy as too much.

Thanks for all the replies so far! Am open to any more comments you might have. One more question while I have you: what do you think about wood floors in RVs? I've seen a couple used models where the old floors were stripped out and a wood floor was put in, and I love the look SO much more than carpet or vinyl, but I wonder if weight would be a big problem? Seems like that would be a lot heavier than the alternatives.

Thanks!!
Emily

[BirdbyBird]

Besides the rv world I know many groomers and owners of multiple dogs there are many wood look alike products out there that wear better than wood and don't have the weight of wood. Investigate and research.

[sharon]

You probably wouldn't want to go with wood, rv's flex while going down the road, wood doesn't. There are some beautiful vinyl products that look just like wood and work beautifully in rv's. That's what I put in mine and folks walk in and comment on the beautiful "wood" floors. They're amazed that it's not real wood.

[carold]

Quite a few of us have replaced the carpet with vinyl that looks like wood. We did that in our Class C and A. Most people who see it assume it is wood until they touch it Take a look at the "rigs" posts and see for yourself. Whoops, seems that Sharon beat me to it. carold

[sharon]

Gotcha Carol !!

Don't remember that pix being that blurry....

[TarheelBornGal]

Wow, that vinyl really does look good! What a great idea -- who knew? Thanks so much for posting the picture, Sharon!

Emily

[longdog2]

I know a number of people have put the manufactured stuff like pergo in but if that is actually vinyl, I would sure go with that. It's lighter and easier to keep clean. Looks absolutely great!

[sharon]

I know a number of people have put the manufactured stuff like pergo in but if that is actually vinyl, I would sure go with that. It's lighter and easier to keep clean. Looks absolutely great!

Yeah, it's actually vinyl, and it's in planks like wood is. If I hadn't been so sick in La you would have seen it. Hoping to catch up with you in Tx later this summer, but if not, there's always the Tx GTG!!

[longdog2]

So glad you said that. I was picturing sheet vinyl. My DB and SIL had a PVC material in planks put down in their kitchen, breakfast area, and family room. They had a dog with lots of problems at the time and lots of messy small grandchildren. What is this stuff called?

I leave for Florida with the RV about Jun 10 and will be back here about the same time in August so I would love to connect before the GTG if you are around SA.