motorhoming it?

[Scuba Kim]

My husband and I are considering a motorhome to get us to the domestic dive locations around the US...we are trying to be practical and figure out which one is the best for us.

We also participate in amateur motorsports and one of the requirements is that the motorhome is able to tow a corvette and an open steel trailer. Which pretty much puts as at a really Small Class C or a class B. We think we have fallen for the Roadtrek 190 versatile, however, it appears storage might be tight and I'm having a hard time imagining where our dive gear is going to get stowed.

Can anyone out there give me some advice, before I make a costly mistake?

Thank you.

 

[Cave Diver]

Try checking out a couple of ScubaBoarders who have already traveled a similar route:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/texas-swamp-divers/307696-rum-pete-update.html

I don't know if they are towing a car/trailer or not, but might have some insight to the Motorhome angle

 

[Scuba Kim]

Thanks for the link. They are doing it a bit more full time than I will but still a very enjoyable read. I'm just looking for a little camper that will get our gear from point a to point b while still living in my comfy home! There is no way I can store a class A on my property. The extra space and strength would be nice, but just can't do it.

 

[stairman]

My experience with motorhomes is they are built to leak. It might take a year or 2 on a new one but nearly every used one has or is leaking. Cab overs are the worst and should be rechalked with silicone annually. The smell inside a used one gives it away. Mildew. Good luck and dont forget the florida springs on your journey.

 

[DennisS]

I had a class C 24 footer when I worked on a ship. I traveled up and down the east coast KW to DC and up and down the west coast Baja to Seattle. I would usually live in it a month or two at a time.

My advice if you are planning on going out west, get the biggest engine you can. It may be loafing on the flat and level but if you are towing up and down those western mtns, you will need it.

A class C is just so much more comfortable than a B, you have room to move instead of scrunching every time you move. You can spend a couple days in it if the weather is lousy, a class B will have you heading to the nearest Wal Mart to get out of it.

I had a cab over that I bought used and coated it with some kind of RV roof sealant/paint and never had a problem in 10 years.

The one thing I did have a problem with was brakes. I had a motorcylce mounted on the front bumper, an inflatable boat/25 hp motor on a rack on the back, and every space inside filled to the max. I only smoked them once, going into yosemite. I was in the valley when they went to the floor.

Think used, Florida, lot of retired people buy them and one of the couple dies. The other person puts it up for sale. A lot of these make the north south trip once a year. Mine was 15 years old with 23,000 miles, I paid $9500 for it.

 

[Scuba Kim]

I had a class C 24 footer when I worked on a ship. I traveled up and down the east coast KW to DC and up and down the west coast Baja to Seattle. My advice if you are planning on going out west, get the biggest engine you can. It may be loafing on the flat and level but if you are towing up and down those western mtns, you will need it. A class C is just so much more comfortable than a B, you have room to move instead of scrunching every time you move. You can spend a couple days in it if the weather is lousy, a class B will have you heading to the nearest Wal Mart to get out of it. I had a cab over that I bought used and coated it with some kind of RV roof sealant/paint and never had a problem in 10 years.

That is one of our fears Dennis. We stepped foot in the Roadtrek 190 yesterday and it was quite tight. Especially since, we are, well, shall we say, "Fluffy". It is a hard battle when you step foot in a class C and discover ample room...but then I think to myself, "How much am I really going to use this thing?" A class B, gives us the ability to throw 7 people in it and drive to the local mall and not really worry much about parking, plus it provides maneuverability through cities. But you just can't argue with the storage and space in a class C. Which is why I'm coming to you all, the people who share our hobby and do these things every day to see what is the reality of these beasts. Thank you all for your comments. They are very helpful.

 

[robint]

It is an interesting proposition... how long are you looking to travel? Are you planning to stick to one area, or looking to go cross-country?

I agree about diving in Calif and Fla, great opportunities to do some great diving. Fussing with a motor home though, yuck. It might be too big of a hassle.

robin

 

[DennisS]

Try them both, rent a class C for a long weekend and a class B for a long weekend. Pick out the nearest Nat'l forest with something of interest. I think the size limits in Nat'l Forests is either 22 or 24. I took the sticker off mine and called it a 22.

A word to the wise in the western mtns Nat'l forests, when the two lane road goes to one lane paved, start looking for a place to turn around. When the one lane paved goes to unpaved, turn around, don't keep going looking for a spot to turn around. It's not there and you are about to discover what the term "white knuckle driving" means. It is a lot of fun. If you get a class C, you will find reasons to use it.

 

[Scuba Kim]

It is an interesting proposition... how long are you looking to travel? Are you planning to stick to one area, or looking to go cross-country?

I agree about diving in Calif and Fla, great opportunities to do some great diving. Fussing with a motor home though, yuck. It might be too big of a hassle.

robin

At this time, I'm just looking for semi local, thinking of driving from Maryland to Florida maybe someday, but now it provides a good way of taking my 3 dogs with us and not having to burden family members or pay for dog sitters, as well as just having some comforts of home with us.

 

[mike_s]

We think we have fallen for the Roadtrek 190 versatile,

send [user]debbydiver[/user] a PM. She's been researching the Roadtrek 190 Class B and looking at used ones. She might have some insight for you.

however, it appears storage might be tight and I'm having a hard time imagining where our dive gear is going to get stowed.

Most of the Class B's, the only "large storage area" is basically behind the back seat, which folds into a bed. so that means that your bag of "wet smelly scuba gear" that has likely also been baking in a hot vehicle later in the day will stink to "high hell" right under where you are sleeping.

might be enough to make you consider a small Class C or small Class A that has storage compartments.

Can anyone out there give me some advice, before I make a costly mistake?

.

Learn to read "date codes" on the tires. The RV might only have 10,000 miles on it, but the last time the previous owner put tires on it was 10 years ago. Tires older than 5-6 years dry rot and "get hard" which GREATLY increases the likeliness of a.) blow out, b.) braking traction c.) thread separation.

You've not had any fun until you throw a tread doing 75+ mph on an old tire (especially if it's a front tire!)

This will save you from having to spend $1,200 on new tires for your RV after you buy it if you bought one with bad tires and didn't know it.

see Tire Tech Information - Determining the Age of a Tire

and How to "read" your RV tires to know if they're too old.