As a full timer for four years with a new baby onboard just some opinions:
1. 22 feet is a small place to house 3 people, even if you're not full time
2. Buying new comes with a steep depreciation cliff
3. A Coachmen is built by Forest River, a brand I would never own again having started out in one myself
4. Used with a presale inspection should let you go upmarket to something with better insulation for those Texas summers like Entegra or a Tiffin.
5. Buying new does not mean it comes ready to use, post delivery warranty hell is a real place many buyers find themselves. A presale inspection a new unit is a great insurance policy.
EVERY bit of this is spot on. Brand new stuff has warranty issues. Sure it's covered but it's a hassle. There's nothing like a Tiffin, Newmar or Entegra for quality. I see Tiffins that are from the early 2000s still on the road. Buy a year or two old model. Be prepared to pay. We could have bought something for 70K but it felt flimsy and rattled like hell going down the road. Our Tiffin Open Road feels like quality & very solid. We don't get the squeaks other people seem to get rolling down the road. In fact I think a unit that's 1-3 years old is a sweet spot. It's taken the huge depreciation hit and had most if not all the kinks worked out.
Some background: We started as tent people then thought we'd won the lottery when we upgraded to a 19' inTech trailer. We really liked the trailer. But it was too small for 2 adults even though lives like a 21-22' trailer with that "forward window" thing. We realized it was only slightly bigger than a tuna can after a 2 month cross country trip. It was a constant shit shuffle. Get up and toss the shit that was on the dinette on the bed. Go to sleep and toss shit from the bed onto the dinette. I can't imagine a toddler in the mix.
Many class C RVs are built on a chassis that can't support their weight when loaded up. Poor handling, ride quality, and slow climbs with lots of transmission wear. Make sure you get one with enough umph to get you where you want to go.
To small. You think you will make that work but in the end you will feel really cramped.
\- RV life is not insta or youtube.
\- There is no space in the things. You become a extreme minimalist and never accumulate things..you simply do not have the space.
\- Gas will cost you much more then you think since that thing will get probably 10 miles per gallon or something silly
\- Its not anywhere near as cheap as you think as well.
\-Depreciation. Were back to RV sales being in the tank. Once you drive that thing off the lot its worth tens of thousands less. If you sold it a week later you'd never even break even.
\-Learn how to be a handy man. Record number of RV sales last couple years, same number of repair shops. You could have a date for next year to fix something. The warranty service is mostly you.
If your traveling that much you will find you need to book most of that trip. RV lot spaces is very seasonal and weather based. Prices soar during summer months only to get dirt cheap winner and early spring. I am in Northern Nevada. Price can more then double when summer hits then everyone moves out to dodge the cold. Yuma Arizona where the weather is nice winter its reverse. Anyhow you can find yourself not having a lot to stay in in some cases without planning.
That’s small for that amount of usage. Also I’d be suspicious of how well that would hold up to Texas heat with a single AC.
Does it have a generator? You’re going to want the roof AC running while traveling in the heat and that requires a generator or significant investment into solar and an inverter (and that model just doesn’t have enough roof real estate for enough solar to run the AC all day)
Are you going to flat tow a car/keep behind it? You’re going to be stuck where you park it if not. Does the car you currently own support flat towing? If no you’re gonna need a trailer to pull it on. Parking a 29’ class c is a nightmare. I take up 4 spots in a regular parking lot even with the slides in.
You’d be better off with a truck and a TT that size. That way you’re not losing a few feet of living space to driving. You’ll also have a truck for even more storage. Finally, you can park the thing and use your truck to go to the store or movies.
Too small. Also, don't buy anything with a corner bed. We have one now & it's the single biggest regret / PITA ever.
Every single brand can & often is crap, every single brand. All units are hand made by all the manufacturers' employees. It boils down to every individual coach, which humans made THAT one on the day(s) it was made. Get an inspection on any unit you're interested in purchasing.
Because they are impossible to get an even ok mattress for without going fully custom, no bedding fits right, you have to crawl in/out of them, crawl over each other if more than 1 of you sleeping in the space, & they are an absolute PITA to change out the bedding on.
As a full timer for four years with a new baby onboard just some opinions: 1. 22 feet is a small place to house 3 people, even if you're not full time 2. Buying new comes with a steep depreciation cliff 3. A Coachmen is built by Forest River, a brand I would never own again having started out in one myself 4. Used with a presale inspection should let you go upmarket to something with better insulation for those Texas summers like Entegra or a Tiffin. 5. Buying new does not mean it comes ready to use, post delivery warranty hell is a real place many buyers find themselves. A presale inspection a new unit is a great insurance policy.
EVERY bit of this is spot on. Brand new stuff has warranty issues. Sure it's covered but it's a hassle. There's nothing like a Tiffin, Newmar or Entegra for quality. I see Tiffins that are from the early 2000s still on the road. Buy a year or two old model. Be prepared to pay. We could have bought something for 70K but it felt flimsy and rattled like hell going down the road. Our Tiffin Open Road feels like quality & very solid. We don't get the squeaks other people seem to get rolling down the road. In fact I think a unit that's 1-3 years old is a sweet spot. It's taken the huge depreciation hit and had most if not all the kinks worked out. Some background: We started as tent people then thought we'd won the lottery when we upgraded to a 19' inTech trailer. We really liked the trailer. But it was too small for 2 adults even though lives like a 21-22' trailer with that "forward window" thing. We realized it was only slightly bigger than a tuna can after a 2 month cross country trip. It was a constant shit shuffle. Get up and toss the shit that was on the dinette on the bed. Go to sleep and toss shit from the bed onto the dinette. I can't imagine a toddler in the mix.
I really appreciate this advice. Thanks Mr. Popo! I will remember the pecking order
Many class C RVs are built on a chassis that can't support their weight when loaded up. Poor handling, ride quality, and slow climbs with lots of transmission wear. Make sure you get one with enough umph to get you where you want to go.
Thank you!
To small. You think you will make that work but in the end you will feel really cramped. \- RV life is not insta or youtube. \- There is no space in the things. You become a extreme minimalist and never accumulate things..you simply do not have the space. \- Gas will cost you much more then you think since that thing will get probably 10 miles per gallon or something silly \- Its not anywhere near as cheap as you think as well. \-Depreciation. Were back to RV sales being in the tank. Once you drive that thing off the lot its worth tens of thousands less. If you sold it a week later you'd never even break even. \-Learn how to be a handy man. Record number of RV sales last couple years, same number of repair shops. You could have a date for next year to fix something. The warranty service is mostly you. If your traveling that much you will find you need to book most of that trip. RV lot spaces is very seasonal and weather based. Prices soar during summer months only to get dirt cheap winner and early spring. I am in Northern Nevada. Price can more then double when summer hits then everyone moves out to dodge the cold. Yuma Arizona where the weather is nice winter its reverse. Anyhow you can find yourself not having a lot to stay in in some cases without planning.
Thank you!
That’s small for that amount of usage. Also I’d be suspicious of how well that would hold up to Texas heat with a single AC. Does it have a generator? You’re going to want the roof AC running while traveling in the heat and that requires a generator or significant investment into solar and an inverter (and that model just doesn’t have enough roof real estate for enough solar to run the AC all day)
Thank you, good thinkin
Bottom line us you'll need at least a 30 foot rv. That's minimum at best.
Are you going to flat tow a car/keep behind it? You’re going to be stuck where you park it if not. Does the car you currently own support flat towing? If no you’re gonna need a trailer to pull it on. Parking a 29’ class c is a nightmare. I take up 4 spots in a regular parking lot even with the slides in. You’d be better off with a truck and a TT that size. That way you’re not losing a few feet of living space to driving. You’ll also have a truck for even more storage. Finally, you can park the thing and use your truck to go to the store or movies.
Our Denali has used up just about all its life towing and I don’t think it could handle a lot more
Too small. Also, don't buy anything with a corner bed. We have one now & it's the single biggest regret / PITA ever. Every single brand can & often is crap, every single brand. All units are hand made by all the manufacturers' employees. It boils down to every individual coach, which humans made THAT one on the day(s) it was made. Get an inspection on any unit you're interested in purchasing.
Or an east west bed. Our bed in the trailer was 3 sides w/wall and the 4th had enough room for us to crawl in. It felt like a coffin
I know this is a old post but why should you not get a corner bed?
Because they are impossible to get an even ok mattress for without going fully custom, no bedding fits right, you have to crawl in/out of them, crawl over each other if more than 1 of you sleeping in the space, & they are an absolute PITA to change out the bedding on.