How did you choose?

[Queen]

I've tent camped for over 50 years and Mary just about that long, so a nice hot shower at the shower house is just fine by us. My mom preferred the shower in her MH exclusively, but she was short and tiny too so I think that plays into it unless you've got one of those palatial showers like I saw in a buddies Prevost, man that whole thing was awesome!

[Colliemom]

Sounds like you are talking yourself into a TT. I use campground showers all the time as mine is really small. Saves on the gray water although I have 30 gallon tank. But I only have 20 gal. Fresh water. So if I am camping for a few days, I take a couple milk jugs overvto the restrooms and fill them with hot water to do dishes or wash my hair etc. Saves on my water and propane too.

When I took my trip west, I never unhooked my trailer when I stopped for a night, until I got to places where I planned to spend a couple days or so. Just ran out my electric cord, put down my stabilizer jacks and done.

[Queen]

Good to know that's an option, Sue, wasn't looking forward to unhooking every single night.

[Colliemom]

No need to for just a night. I've seen some people stay hitched for a couple days to if they have no plans to go anywhere. Maybe you should rent an MH and a TT and try both out.

[Redetotry]

Depending on your allergies, you may find as I do, the shower houses smell so strong of cleaning products I have seldom found one I could use. In your original post you said you were " trying to make the "right" pick on this second and final go-round." Maybe you could let go of this idea as it seems to me it puts a huge stress factor to the process. Many people, as others have said, start out in one rig and it suits them fine but as time, their interests and way of traveling change, they find another style would fit them better. So, put first and last out of the equation and think 'what suits us now'.

[Queen]

We're in a position financially, where whatever we choose, that will be it. It's a poor choice to do it at all, but a gals gotta do what a gals gotta do. We're considering it a sunken cost, buy whatever, use it and enjoy it, and when we're too old/busted to keep going, sell it off and settle in at home.

As Sue said above, we are definitely leaning towards a TT, we know we'd prefer a MH, but since we own a paid for 2016 truck, the choice of a nice but much less expensive TT would be our best bet.

[MelissaD]

Do not look at brochure weights, as they are best guesses that the engineers made. What you need to look at is the sticker on the actual unit. In the door jam and the front left corner should be a sticker with VIN, it will contain the actual dry weight of the unit when it left the assembly line. Now once the dealer adds propane tanks, battery and any other deal mods like a 2nd AC unit, window awnings, etc.. that number becomes void but it will give you the base line. Example: my 5er was listed as 10,480# but after the 2nd AC unit and some other modifications and loaded for our trip to CT we weighted out at 12,000# (14,000 GVWR) so it adds up fast! Groceries weight more than people realize. Maybe it's my cast iron cookware Adding 500-1,000# over time is not uncommon.

[Queen]

Holy cow, Melissa, that is a LOT of weight!! I've hauled some low boy loads that weren't that much.

[gypsyrose1126]

Mickie - some great advice on this post. Also, as BJ mentioned a couple years from now you may change your mind about what you need and what you don't need.
I started off looked at a Class C - as I knew that was what I wanted! - and test drove several, but it just never felt quite right. Moved to TT and ended up buying a 14' sportsman (only me, no pets) table made into a bed, etc. Used it for 2 years and had fun. Learned what to do and what NOT to do! Learned how to back up, but still in the learning stages - LOL
So this Oct. decided I had enough of the TT and bought a bigger TT - 2014 Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite - has a bed, couch and a slide out.
I had thought I would keep the small TT for longer, but with the traveling I am doing, it was just to small. So in the space of 4 years, I have gone from "Have to have a Class C " to my 2nd TT.
I haven't used my TT yet, plastic still on the mattress!! But planning a trip for April and another for summer, can't wait.
So look around, try out a couple different ones, what you buy today may not be exactly what you want, But it is a start!

[SoCalGalcas]

I have always used the campground showers...I've always carried "shower shoes" too. As far as hooking and unhooking, who's timing it? I'm retired and more slowly!!! HA lyn

[RitaMc]

Mickey,
When we first decided to give up the up the pop up and upgrade my husband wanted a Class C. I vetoed that since as I quote,"Well how will we get around to sight see? We'll have to tow a car." Since a group we know all have vintage trailers we found a 1969 Shasta, renovated it and towed that to Arizona for several years. John decided he didn't like to tow a trailer back and forth so we bought a Forest River 19foot Micro lite and leave it in Arizona and stay in motels on our journey down and back. We then decided to buy a lot and trailer in Yuma. The Micro lite gets parked there. We have only used the Micro lite twice while we are in Arizona. I't is a very nice trailer but just doesn't meet our needs. So we are thinking of selling it and replacing it with a trailer that meets our needs better. So while we were think tanking what we might get I said, "I think we should get a class c to use on our trips back and forth. Saves lugging things into the motel each night. Of course we would have to use motels when the campgrounds are closed." So here we are 15 years later back at the beginning! LOL. Not sure what we will do but my point is needs and desires change and what works for a period might not work later down the road . (No pun intended).

[Queen]

Rita, made me chuckle!

I watched my folks go TT-MH-small Class C-bigger MH-even bigger MH-GIANT Fiver (dad hated towing it)-big MH-back down to a Class C, which was what my mom wanted all along.

[MelissaD]

Holy cow, Melissa, that is a LOT of weight!! I've hauled some low boy loads that weren't that much.

http://www.drvsuites.com/full-house-luxury-fifth-wheel-toy-haulers/floor-plans.html

Mobile Suites builds some fancy "toy haulers" est. dry weight 18,800# GVWR 24,000# you really should have a HDT (semi truck) to pull one of these. Note: an empty 53" semi van trailer is 14,000#. But then again I don't have the $140,000 or so it would cost to buy one

[Queen]

I hear that! I was wandering around an RV showroom (HUGE warehouse) a while back, all the rigs were open so I wandered into a nice Class A, started noticing "touches". Hmm, that sign says heated floors, hey, there's a dishwasher, these recliners are real leather, that's a marble floor in the bathroom... it was a $325,000 rig. Well, hell, I'll take two!!

[MandysMom]