Advantages and Disadvantages

[Wanderer2]

OK, so I am going to jump right in here and tell you what I am thinking in terms of a rig.
I have studied them all and priced them. From what I have found so far Class B is too expensive for me. On a limited income and I may work along the way for extra money if I see a good opportunity in a place that I enjoy.
Class C-safer than a towed trailer in an emergency situation. Don't have to hook and unhook etc. But my thoughts are that I will not travel constantly. When I find a place that I would like to linger, I might stay a week or month. Then take my vehicle to explore day trips around that area. And I like to eat, so want to sample the local cuisine. You know, lobster in Maine, crabs and clams in Maryland or wherever. Seafood deprived right now. So I am craving fresh seafood.
So-I think that the best thing for me is a trailer and vehicle. Oh and I forgot to mention my dog Maggie! She is my buddy! She is part lab/mix. She is getting on in years but loves people to tell her what a good dog she is and loves a new adventures. I think she is just as bored right now as I am. And I love doing crafts so would be doing that along the way also.
So that kind of gives you an idea of what I have come up with so far. I am going to be here for the winter as I have some thyroid issues going on that I still need to resolve. Even Maggie is hypothyroid-we do everything together but that is kind of funny:)
Any thoughts on this are appreciated. I know that I haven't covered everything yet.

[Bethers]

Whether you do a truck/trailer or Class C/toad, you're still hooking and unhooking. So as far as doing it because you need a vehicle, that's not the best reason to decide. Look at the pluses and minuses of both in terms of what you want and like. And why. My plus list was much much higher for the C, thus it's what I have. Yours might be different. And I prefer having a small car with great gas mileage for tooling around. Not pushing you towards a C, just nudging you in how you decide.

[JudyJB]

One BIG advantage to a Class C over a trailer is the "basement" storage. For the most part, trailers have only small storage compartments underneath, while Class Cs have a LOT of underneath storage. I suspect inside storage is equal.

If you are planning on full-timing or even long-timing, you will want to take stuff like a small vacuum cleaner along. Some Class Cs also have pass-through areas for stuff like a telescoping handle brush to scrub the vehicle, plus stuff like an outdoor mat, outdoor chairs, small BBQ grill, extra hoses and electrical cords, maybe even a small satellite, etc. (Believe me, it adds up.) The bigger the Class C, the more storage, which is one reason I have a large Class C. I full-time, however, but I think even if I traveled only half of the year, I would still take all the stuff I take now. (Right now I am facing a large bay, so pulled in forward and am using my 30Amp extension cord and my extra water hose to reach the hookups. Don't use them often, but really need them sometimes at weird campsites.)

Another Big Plus is that most Class Cs will have a built-in generator that you can operate from inside. You will really need a generator if you want to dry camp occasionally and need to charge your batteries. My son has a trailer he uses for vacations, and he has very little outside storage and no generator. He is planning on buying one for Christmas, but he will still have to find a spot to stuff it in his outside storage.

I think you will also find it easier for pets to ride in a Class C along with you, rather than in a pickup truck. Not a good idea for them to ride in a trailer while you are driving a truck.

One thing a lot of new buyers do is look only at the living space. Make sure you inspect all the underneath storage space and the utility compartments. Start making a list of everything you need to take and estimate where it will go.

[BarbaraRose]

I am still going back and forth on the Class C w/toad versus travel trailer thing. With the Class C pulling a toad, you have 2 engines to maintain and put gas in and insurance is higher with two vehicles. And you need to outfit the toad with the tow gear which is somewhat costly. However, it would be easier to travel with pets in a Class C. You can back up with a TT but not with a Class C with a toad attached.

So, I too, am weighing the pros and cons of each set up. Decisions, decisions....

[JudyJB]

Or you can do what I have done and skip the toad. I am mostly in a travel mode, however. Might do things differently if I wanted to stay a month in one place. If I did a lot of staying, I would probably tow a vehicle.

It all depends on your travel style. Some of us here are very comfortable in small spaces and others of us need more room. Very individuAl decision

[MandysMom]

Traveling as Judy does, in a class C, you can always rent a small car where you stop a while. We did that in 08 on a long trip with a big 40 ft A with no toad. Most of the time we did not need the toad as we stopped at larger grocery and had enough food for more than a week. When we stopped in areas we wanted to explore we called the nearest Enterprise and they actually picked me up, took me to their office to,sign papers and pick up rental then when done I took it back and they returned me to the camp where our bus was parked. It worked and was way cheaper than equipping a toad for tow and the extra fuel and wear on tires etc. like Judy said it can work well. You have a lot to consider but like others said your four legged companion would be happier in a vehicle where she could change places,she rested during travel and be near you. On the other hand, Beth is right, if you work, having a small economical car to take to look arounfpg and go shopping would be easier and possible cheaper in long run than a rental.
Keep asking, we will be happy to tell you our thoughts. Welcome aboard.
Velda

[MelissaD]

As the others have said how you chose to use it is what matters. While I'm a fan of the 5th wheel we are also looking at class A's. I like large vehicles Different vehicles tend to wiggle more when parked. In many TT's / RV's you can feel a pet or someone else as they move in the camper. The suspension is stiffer in a Class A/C and if you have the hydraulic stabilizers I'm told they are pretty stable. Either way you go I would make sure I had a power source (solar and/or generator) to boondock with. A generator means A/C or heat for Maggie while you are in a store or stopped exploring if need be.

Think of the things you use everyday and where you might store them. Playhouse and pretend you are living in the unit and move around, go through the motions of your day. It adds up faster than many people realize. We weighed our rig before a trip and compared to empty weight from when it left the factory we had added 1,500#. Some of it is just stuff and some of it was upgrades like a 2nd A/C unit. SO you need to look at all the numbers. Some rigs have a very low load capacity. Ours is around 4,000# so we are ok.

If looking at a towable make sure you do not skimp on the tow vehicle. A proper sized tow vehicle can make pulling a trailer a good or a bad experience and it takes some number crunching to do it right.

Also pay attention to where they mount the drain valves and other controls. Can you get into a storage bay when the slide is open? I like the bays with the valve controls where I can reach them all. I can no longer reach under the trailer to open and shut dump or drain valves.

Good luck.

[mitch5252]

..
I think most of us experienced this decision making process, too...and we all chose what we chose for our own personal reasons.

My husband and I chose a small TT and we used an already-owned vehicle as the tow vehicle. Like Barbie said - only 1 engine to maintain and you have your touring vehicle all ready to go. I had a husband when we bought our first TT and that husband factored in hugely to the process - he's not one to "run to the store", so if we had a Class XX, if I ran to the store or went out touring, what in the world would I do with him?

Now, he's gone and I just bought my second TT. I considered other types of RVs, too, but the reasons for the first TT still fit for me alone (and The Beast). But I don't (and most likely won't ever) full time. BUT, a larger travel trailer/tow vehicle combination would allow for full timing.

So, it does boil down to reading all you can about the pluses and minuses for each type of rig and how you imagine your personal journey should unfold.

I will throw in another personal opinion - GO SOLAR for those boondocking days. Panels that are about 1/4" thick are now very reasonably priced. (Keep in mind, you're not going to run A/C or microwave with most solar installations, although it can be done).

Good luck and Happy Reading while making your decision.

[Cudedog]

Probably I shouldn't jump in here, because all of the ladies here have a lot more experience than I.

However. For a whole lot of reasons (discussed on the "van building" part of my blog, link below - step-by-step photos also), I went with a cargo van and converted it to a camper myself. I don't have major construction skills, the conversion took forever, but it was a lot of fun.

For now, the van suits my travel needs. I have a porta-potti, carry water in 5-gallon jugs, so although not by definition self-contained, am close to what I need.

One of the (many) good points of this van is that it is a V-8 (no slowing down up those steep hills!), gets darn good gas mileage for a vehicle of it's size (averages 19 mpg) and it is rated to pull 9,000 pounds. So, if I ever decide I need more room, I can easily add a TT - and still use the van as a "spare bedroom" or just for a massive amount of storage.

I haven't been able to travel as much as I had hoped this year because my sweet little dog (14 years) has become ill and can no longer travel.

But the open road still awaits. I love it how on this blog every one has something different.

Anne

[gypsyrose1126]

I will throw my 2 cents in, even though I am still looking. I have decided on a Class C for the following reasons -- I have done tons of camping but never in an RV. I did not want to hook & unhook every time I stopped. A class C will allow me to park and be done, for the most part. I am looking for a small one, a 24' would be perfect as right now I do not want to tow a car. A smaller RV will allow me to drive it around without needing a toad. The C has a lot of storage, I can use the overhead bunk if I need more and no one (grandkids, kids) are with me. I also think it will be easier for me to get used to for driving, parking etc. without having to worry about pulling a toad. Also, a C will let me get into areas maybe a large RV won't be able to go. I am not planning on full time as still working part of the year. It helped going to RV Dealers and RV shows and walking thru the RV's to see what I really needed. I am not planning on spending a month or several weeks at one place. I am thinking a few days to a week to see the area, hike and/or kayak and move on. Also, I prefer out of the way places, so a Class C would be perfect for me.

[Wanderer2]

Hi everyone-I enjoyed reading all of your comments. I know that it is a personal choice and that there are pros and cons to both. I also think that my first choice might not be the best one because you don't know for sure until you experience some travels in it. And that's OK too. Just trying to make an informed guess and you have all given me added fuel for the fire.
I personally like the Class C idea but no toad. More money and long term expense as Barbara said with the tow motors, tires, etc. A small class C would do fine but I have to go out and kick more tires. I am still going to look at Class Bs if I could ever find one that is affordable. Even if I have a trailer, it will have a generator as I do want to boon dock too. I prefer the back road scenic routes more that interstate any day. So what it comes down to is I am going to look at everything Solar-great suggestion, will defintely look into that too.
Have any of you seen the Safari Altos? Canada make some cute lightweight trailers. Kind of pricey though.
So I am going to continue doing my homework and will keep you posted on progress. Thanks again

[gingerK]

Coming from the truck camper contingent, I would say my choice was based on the fact that I want to go horse camping. This means pulling my big bumper pull steel trailer so I didn't want anything too large. I already had the truck and didn't want a large truck camper that would stick out over the rear bumper so I bought a pop up truck camper. I don't full time, and I don't think it would be doable in this type of camper but as of right now it suits my needs. I also didn't want a large hard sided truck camper as I felt uncomfortable with something that large over head. I've also had experience camping in everything from army tents to big Class A's so I have a pretty good idea of what I'm comfy with. I have been, however, sneaking peaks at smaller Class C's with the thought to future rving!

[IrishIroamed]

...Have any of you seen the Safari Altos? Canada make some cute lightweight trailers. Kind of pricey though. ...

I've seen them but not in person. Quebec is just a little too far for a day trip to see in person but I agree - a little pricey, but I like that they have the automated roof raising and fit in a garage (no storage fees). Not sure I'd live in it, but since right now I'd like to get a TT to figure things out (dumping tanks, hooking up, etc) a TT would be cheaper in case I really screw things up. Then at retirement get a C class.

I've gone back & forth on the C vs A and have found a couple of interesting videos on YouTube doing comparisons. Some things to think about.

[JudyJB]

Really and truly, hooking up water and electric and dumping tanks is so easy it is silly! So don't let that be part of your decision although you do want the hookups to be easily reachable.

And driving is easy with a little practice also. Backing up alone is a little harder but you will get the hang of it.

[mitch5252]

...Backing up alone is a little harder but you will get the hang of it.

..
And you get TONS of exercise jumping in and out of the truck checking to make sure you're not about to smash into something.

However, it still could happen...I had side and back alarm things on my Toyota Sienna, along with a back-up camera AND a huband. I still managed to hit a boulder in Montana (and there was no trailer involved).

..