Which Class A to buy for full time use

[NJ0F]

Welcome to the forum and the new lifestyle, Andre. You guys are gonna love it. When I retired we sold the house, bought a coach, and went full-time. Without a doubt it has been the best thing we've ever done in our lives, (other than the kids!)

I don't have much for you on your questions, but I do want to reiterate what Neal said about floor plan being the most important thing. I was also given that advice before we bought our first coach, and boy did it pay off. We, too, are full-timers, and if you're going to live in the coach, this is most important for you. When you're looking - before you buy - actually spend the DAY in the coach. Watch a little TV, (is the angle good to where you're sitting). Work in the kitchen, like you're preparing meals. Consider where you're going to put the coffee maker, the plates, the pans, the potato chips, etc. Get in the shower, close the door, and actually mime taking a shower, but I recommend keeping your clothes on. Lay in the bed for awhile. Where are the dogs going to ride and sleep. Truly experience the coach before you decide it's the right one.

Best of luck, and happy trails!!

Ed

Thanks for your response Ed. We are very excited for this chapter in our lives and we hope to start smelling the flowers again! I like your advice in spending time in one. There is not really a local dealer with a large inventory of Class A’s close to us but perhaps we should find a large dealer somewhere and go spend a couple of days there. We have no problem flying in somewhere. Any ideas on a dealer with large inventory in the Midwest or East Coast?
The dogs will probably ride upfront. They will probably sleep on a couch as they do here at home! Thanks again for your response!

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

If you are looking at 40’+ most likely you will end up with two rear axles, especially if you want to have a higher tow rating for a car hauling trailer.

Floor plan is key - walk it, sit in it. Take your time and think about different activities. We work full time remotely and we were able to figure out a working arrangement. One person sits at the dinette with 2 large monitors. The monitors can easily be folded face to face and pushed to the side. The other person had a chair in the bedroom utilizing a small TV tray as the keyboard stand and the monitor was sitting on a shelf in front of the bedroom tv.

Ideal? No, but it works for us because we stay in one place for a couple months at a time, avoiding weekly tear down and storing.

We use a car hauling trailer, it is a hybrid with open deck for the car and closed area at the front, which we use as “garage storage”. Works great for us since our car is not flat towable. It is more work and it requires more planning for nightly stays when traveling, maneuvering fuel fill ups and of course finding campsites where we can store the trailer. (And of course extra security items for the trailer to avoid it driving off.)
If our car was flat towable - I don’t believe we would have the trailer.

Car hauling trailer adds length and complexity, but gives more flexibility in vehicle choice and storage.

 

[NJ0F]

If you are looking at 40’+ most likely you will end up with two rear axles, especially if you want to have a higher tow rating for a car hauling trailer.

Floor plan is key - walk it, sit in it. Take your time and think about different activities. We work full time remotely and we were able to figure out a working arrangement. One person sits at the dinette with 2 large monitors. The monitors can easily be folded face to face and pushed to the side. The other person had a chair in the bedroom utilizing a small TV tray as the keyboard stand and the monitor was sitting on a shelf in front of the bedroom tv.

Ideal? No, but it works for us because we stay in one place for a couple months at a time, avoiding weekly tear down and storing.

We use a car hauling trailer, it is a hybrid with open deck for the car and closed area at the front, which we use as “garage storage”. Works great for us since our car is not flat towable. It is more work and it requires more planning for nightly stays when traveling, maneuvering fuel fill ups and of course finding campsites where we can store the trailer. (And of course extra security items for the trailer to avoid it driving off.)
If our car was flat towable - I don’t believe we would have the trailer.

Car hauling trailer adds length and complexity, but gives more flexibility in vehicle choice and storage.

This sounds very close to what we are thinking. Do you mind sharing a little more info on your trailer? I really like the idea of a Hybrid trailer with extra storage. I have been towing long trailers all my life so getting in an out of gas stations is not a problem. I was however wondering about storing the trailer at sites. We plan to stay in one place for several weeks to months depending on how we feel. I recently moved from three monitors to a large curved monitor and I was really hoping to create a space where we can leave the "office" without taking away dinette space. Having said this, we know there are sacrifices to be made so if that is what it takes, that is what it takes. Regards

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

When we bought our rig, the trailer came with it. The prior owner had the trailer made by ATC.
From end to end the trailer is 29’ long and has a GVWR of 13,300. Trailer weighs in at just over 3k giving us 10k in cargo capacity. Ramps slide in the rear of the trailer behind two small locking compartments under the deck.
Solar panel on top to help keep the battery charged on the trailer (lights inside the trailer and outlets with small inverter). Tried to setup my office area in there, but without an A/C it was just too blasted hot.

Trailer length of almost 30’ coupled with a rig of 45’ puts us at a total length of… right at 65’ so we don’t violate any length laws.

Knowing a couple areas of the country are more stringent on the length, we will always avoid DC and avoid the coast in CA.

 

[NJ0F]

When we bought our rig, the trailer came with it. The prior owner had the trailer made by ATC.
From end to end the trailer is 29’ long and has a GVWR of 13,300. Trailer weighs in at just over 3k giving us 10k in cargo capacity. Ramps slide in the rear of the trailer behind two small locking compartments under the deck.
Solar panel on top to help keep the battery charged on the trailer (lights inside the trailer and outlets with small inverter). Tried to setup my office area in there, but without an A/C it was just too blasted hot.

Trailer length of almost 30’ coupled with a rig of 45’ puts us at a total length of… right at 65’ so we don’t violate any length laws.

Knowing a couple areas of the country are more stringent on the length, we will always avoid DC and avoid the coast in CA.

Thanks for this info amd photo. That is an awesome trailer. The enclosed area in the front would be great for us. I will get with ATC and see if they can come up with something for our application. We typically avoid city traffic but of course its not always possible. Did you find enough RV sites that would allow room for the trailer? I assume this is aluminum?
This is a huge step for us but we are excited.
Andre

 

[NJ0F]

I think you can widen your mileage parameters a bit. For instance our 2017 Dutch Star 4018 has 55k on it and probably runs better now than when it was new. I would have no problem purchasing a coach with 50k+ miles as long as the owner had good service records.

Thanks for the info. In your opinion what is the typical mileage one can expect before tire replacement?

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Thanks for this info amd photo. That is an awesome trailer. The enclosed area in the front would be great for us. I will get with ATC and see if they can come up with something for our application. We typically avoid city traffic but of course its not always possible. Did you find enough RV sites that would allow room for the trailer? I assume this is aluminum?
This is a huge step for us but we are excited.
Andre

It is aluminum
Finding sites is tough, especially on the east coast. East coast a toad/4-down would be much easier.
The further west you go, the easier it gets to find campgrounds with the extra long sites or extra parking for trailers.
Another consideration - A trailer also takes longer to load up than a toad.
Trailer is also more weight - both on the tongue of the rig and also pulling uphill.
Our rig has a 30,000# towing capacity and can handle 5,000# on the tongue. According to scales, trailer fully loaded, we are just under 10,000# for the trailer (including the tongue weight) and under 2,000 on the tongue.
when looking a A-Class rigs you will need to be careful to check your towing weight limits as many of them have limits around 10,000# total.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Thanks for the info. In your opinion what is the typical mileage one can expect before tire replacement?

Unless you do a lot of traveling, most tires on RVs age out before they wear out.

Personally, as we have tandem screw axles on our rig (8 tires on the rear), we MAY keep the rears a bit longer, but the steering tires will be replaced around year 6, long before the tread would say they need to be replaced. Don’t want to risk a blowout on a front tire. You can find lots of stories about accidents caused when a steering tire blows.

 

[BGMAC]

Here is a setup we’re going to use with our non flat tow vehicle. This is a light weight car trailer 5000lbs capacity. I’ve had it for 18 years just cleaned it up and put new wheels and tires, lubed the bearings.

Don’t look on the back. Washer and dryer were taking to my daughter. Heading out Friday.

 

[Headhunter]

Beware we camp a lot in the North East. We are now camping across the western part of the US. WE just camped in three different National Parks. there is NO ROOM for a car and a trailer at the campsites. None nada.

When you camp you pull in with your RV, via Travel Trailer, 5th wheel, C Class, or A Class. The space left over in front of your RV is for you tow vehicle. Many times if you have a pickup truck you have to park it at an angle. You may have to park the trailer at an over flow parking lot, IF they have one, IF they will let you.

I don't want to rain on your parade. You can go to campsites all over the USA. Count on your hand to see how many campers are towing vehicles with trailers. IMHO, and this is just me, you are better off to just flat tow a vehicle.

Do your research.

 

[BGMAC]

Beware we camp a lot in the North East. We are now camping across the western part of the US. WE just camped in three different National Parks. there is NO ROOM for a car and a trailer at the campsites. None nada.

When you camp you pull in with your RV, via Travel Trailer, 5th wheel, C Class, or A Class. The space left over in front of your RV is for you tow vehicle. Many times if you have a pickup truck you have to park it at an angle. You may have to park the trailer at an over flow parking lot, IF they have one, IF they will let you.

I don't want to rain on your parade. You can go to campsites all over the USA. Count on your hand to see how many campers are towing vehicles with trailers. IMHO, and this is just me, you are better off to just flat tow a vehicle.

Do your research.

I would agree, it’s just that I don’t have a flat tow capable vehicle yet.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Beware we camp a lot in the North East. We are now camping across the western part of the US. WE just camped in three different National Parks. there is NO ROOM for a car and a trailer at the campsites. None nada.

When you camp you pull in with your RV, via Travel Trailer, 5th wheel, C Class, or A Class. The space left over in front of your RV is for you tow vehicle. Many times if you have a pickup truck you have to park it at an angle. You may have to park the trailer at an over flow parking lot, IF they have one, IF they will let you.

I don't want to rain on your parade. You can go to campsites all over the USA. Count on your hand to see how many campers are towing vehicles with trailers. IMHO, and this is just me, you are better off to just flat tow a vehicle.

Do your research.

Agree that if you are wanting to stay in national parks, the trailer will make things VERY challenging. Since we like to stay for many weeks or months in a location, staying in a national park is not in the equation for us. But this is a very valid point about national parks.

Agree that each person needs to do their research and understand the pros and cons.

There is a reason most people go with a flat tow and not a trailer.

 

[NJ0F]

It is aluminum
Finding sites is tough, especially on the east coast. East coast a toad/4-down would be much easier.
The further west you go, the easier it gets to find campgrounds with the extra long sites or extra parking for trailers.
Another consideration - A trailer also takes longer to load up than a toad.
Trailer is also more weight - both on the tongue of the rig and also pulling uphill.
Our rig has a 30,000# towing capacity and can handle 5,000# on the tongue. According to scales, trailer fully loaded, we are just under 10,000# for the trailer (including the tongue weight) and under 2,000 on the tongue.
when looking a A-Class rigs you will need to be careful to check your towing weight limits as many of them have limits around 10,000# total.

Wow I did not know some RV’s has that kind of towing capacity. I guess we have a lot of research to do. Which make do you have with that kind of capacity?

 

[NJ0F]

Here is a setup we’re going to use with our non flat tow vehicle. This is a light weight car trailer 5000lbs capacity. I’ve had it for 18 years just cleaned it up and put new wheels and tires, lubed the bearings.

Don’t look on the back. Washer and dryer were taking to my daughter. Heading out Friday.

Thanks for sharing. Nice trailer. Our main goal is to be able to haul our 1500 truck and be able to find a spot to leave the trailer at sites . Safe travels.

 

[NJ0F]

Beware we camp a lot in the North East. We are now camping across the western part of the US. WE just camped in three different National Parks. there is NO ROOM for a car and a trailer at the campsites. None nada.

When you camp you pull in with your RV, via Travel Trailer, 5th wheel, C Class, or A Class. The space left over in front of your RV is for you tow vehicle. Many times if you have a pickup truck you have to park it at an angle. You may have to park the trailer at an over flow parking lot, IF they have one, IF they will let you.

I don't want to rain on your parade. You can go to campsites all over the USA. Count on your hand to see how many campers are towing vehicles with trailers. IMHO, and this is just me, you are better off to just flat tow a vehicle.

Do your research.

Thanks for the advice. This was kind off my main concern all along after looking at some photos of campsites.