Anyone here an expert

[Camino LS6]

...on RVs?

I'd like to learn a bit more about them.

Class A, Class C, and trailers.

Just want to get a feel for what's what in that world.

[gm4life]

C-CLASS

C-Class are based on Ford E-Series, Chevrolet Express/GMC Sierra, Dodge/MB Sprinter etc.

A-Class

A-Class are based on heavy duty truck platforms and come in Diesel and Gas verisons.

Diesel Pusher's as they are called mean the motor is in the back I believe and are more like tour buses and are much more expensive.

Hope that helps.

Edited November 16, 2009 by gm4life

[Robert Hall]

Not an expert, but I spent about 15 years vacationing in RVs w/ my folks... their first when I was a kid was a 22 ft Mobile Traveler Class C ('73 Dodge Tradesman cab, 318), followed by 3 front engined Class As...a '78 25 ft Southwind (Dodge 440), an '81 28 ft Pace Arrow (Chevy 454) and an '85 33 ft Winnebago Chieftain (Chevy 454). With the Class As, we towed cars on the back to use to go out and about from the RV parks.

RVing is a lot of fun, albeit an expensive way to travel(the cost of an RV + gas + upkeep). Probably some bargains out there in older RVs, though..

[Camino LS6]

Yeah, I have the basics down.

But who makes a good one?

Which ones are not worth having?

What features are a big deal?

I'm hoping to get a handle on that sort of thing.

[Oracle of Delphi]

RVing is a lot of fun, albeit an expensive way to travel(the cost of an RV + gas + upkeep).

Except when it's time to suck out the $h!ter! I recommend gloves ...

[Robert Hall]

Fleetwood (maker of many brands--Southwind, Pace Arrow, Midas, Tioga, etc) and Winnebago used to have good reputations for mainstream brands..not sure how they are now. I know they are still both in the biz. High end brands include Holiday Rambler, Airstream, Monaco, Beaver, Foretravel. But my RV knowledge stops at about 1992, though...

Good features to have are awnings, pull out rooms (a feature seen in the last 15 years or so--pretty common now, even on Class C models), a good generator (Onan). Pusher diesels seem to be very common in Class As, they were uncommon back in the day when I was in the lifestyle.

One very cool feature on some of the high end pusher (coach style) RVs today is a basement slide-out garage that can hold a small, low car like a Miata.

Except when it's time to suck out the $h!ter! I recommend gloves ...

Oh yeah, my Dad always wore heavy duty rubber gloves when hooking up the Stinky Slinky (the flexible hose that connected the gray water (sewage) tank to a drain..basically the sewer hookup)

Edited November 16, 2009 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Camino LS6]

"Stinky Slinky"?

Good stuff, Cube, thanks.

[Oracle of Delphi]

"Stinky Slinky"?

Good stuff, Cube, thanks.

You should change your name to the Head Skunk with the Stinky Slinky.

[Robert Hall]

I remember as a kid how much fun it was to go to Camping World stores w/ my Dad and shop for gadgets.

RVing is when I learned how to read maps and act as the navigator for our cross-country vacations. It really was a lot of fun, for a family w/ a couple dogs.

And I used to help out w/ the hitch in hooking up the tow car. Over about 10 years, my folks' tow car for the RVs progressed from a '77 Chevy Vega to an '81 Chevette Scooter to an '84 Ford Escort Diesel to an '88 Bronco II (the last two became mine when I was in college and grad school).

[Justin Bimmer]

One thing to note is some RV companies get a lot of their parts from either ford or GM for their motor homes. Monaco is, in my opinion, the best RV that isn't a million bucks, but they are still really expensive.

Camino, since you are very knowledgeable about vehicle mechanics and craftsmanship, I bet you could figure out which one was best just by looking at the RV and feeling the parts.

[Camino LS6]

You should change your name to the Head Skunk with the Stinky Slinky.

Whoa!

I'm not so sure I like that.

[Camino LS6]

One thing to note is some RV companies get a lot of their parts from either ford or GM for their motor homes. Monaco is, in my opinion, the best RV that isn't a million bucks, but they are still really expensive.

Camino, since you are very knowledgeable about vehicle mechanics and craftsmanship, I bet you could figure out which one was best just by looking at the RV and feeling the parts.

Thanks for the compliment, and the input.

I'll take my time and learn all I can.

I would worry about anything with a Ford Transmission - bad track record there.

I've seen that John Deere makes some of the chassis.

[FAPTurbo]

Our C-Class is a Royal, based on a 2000 F-450 (beefier components all around) with the 7.3. Royal was a brand owned by Travelaire, I believe. It had rot and mold in the walls of the bed compartment, which was discovered and repaired last year, which cost a bit of money. The Onan generator also has a problem with its solenoid.

However, it has a mountain of storage space, which was handy for our family of five during eight-week trips. Plus, it's been through its share of abuse because it's been up in the Northwest Territories, past the Arctic Circle, in Alaska, Eastern Canada, and the Eastern US Seaboard. It's also been to Mexico, and the Southwest US, as well as the Midwest. This is one RV which doesn't stay in Florida for six months of the year.

Travelaire is a Canadian company based in Alberta, and it's always good to buy Canadian!!!

From my experience, the RV's from Yellowstone had fantastic build quality. However, it's been a while since I've stepped into one, so chances are, the competition have kept up.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Captainbooyah

[Camino LS6]

More good info, thanks.

[daves87rs]

"Stinky Slinky"?

Good stuff, Cube, thanks.

LOL!

[RBB]

The only way to go is to track down one of these bad boys:

What about a B-class Sprinter convo?

-RBB

[Robert Hall]

The only way to go is to track down one of these bad boys:

A modern GMC motorhome would be cool..didn't the original use Toronado-derived FWD parts? Maybe a modern one w/ Lambda parts...

What about a B-class Sprinter convo?

-RBB

I saw about 1/2 dozen of these yesterday on a local RV dealer lot.

[A Horse With No Name]

Check out the 460 Ford powered units. Yes, a few more tranny issues, but most of the guys I know that tow with them prefer the 460 Ford powerplant for wahtever reason.

Don't IMHO buy a 350 powered or 351 powered motorhome, even a smaller one, as they are under powered. And seem to use as much fuel as the ones with the larger motors.

Good Luck!

Chris

[Robert Hall]

Check out the 460 Ford powered units. Yes, a few more tranny issues, but most of the guys I know that tow with them prefer the 460 Ford powerplant for wahtever reason.

Don't IMHO buy a 350 powered or 351 powered motorhome, even a smaller one, as they are under powered. And seem to use as much fuel as the ones with the larger motors.

Good Luck!

Chris

Some of the Ford Class C Econoline based motorhomes also have the V10. Friends of mine have one, about 22 ft..mostly use it for tailgating at Broncos games.

[Camino LS6]

I did one search locally and found two Ford 460 units with low miles and not functional due to either the engine or trans (these were both under 60k miles).

I think a Ford powertrain is out of the running.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Camino LS6

[A Horse With No Name]

I would get a diesel if you could afford one...

But that's just me and probably not realistic...

Chris

[FAPTurbo]

I think a Ford powertrain is out of the running.

If you're in the C-Class game, then you'll be hard pressed to find a unit that's based on a GMC frame, and I don't think they had diesel options, either. If you want a GM powertrain, you may end up having to tow a fifth-wheel, or hitch-trailer.

However, our Ford 7.3 has been great, and it's amazing how much grunt it has given the size of the motorhome; when going up hills on highways, it seems to be passing more vehicles than being passed. The economy is also pretty decent too.

Edited November 18, 2009 by Captainbooyah

[Camino LS6]

I know that the Ford units are far more common, but I'm not comfortable with them.

A trailer might be a real option though.

All of this is just hypothetical at best right now.

[A Horse With No Name]

I like the idea of a trailer or a 5th wheel, esp. if you can hang on to the Silverado.

Chris

[Camino LS6]

I'd love to find a classic Airstream...

[BigPontiac]

My friend went the 5th wheel route and tows with his 2004 GMC Sierra Duramax Crew Cab 2500HD 4x4.

[ocnblu]

Wait a minit... Savana/Express 3500 Dually cutaway-based RVs are not available with the Duramax? I thought the vans were... why not the RV conversions?

[FAPTurbo]

Wait a minit... Savana/Express 3500 Dually cutaway-based RVs are not available with the Duramax? I thought the vans were... why not the RV conversions?

They might. When I poked around for all of thirty seconds, all I came up with were motorhomes based on the Kodiak/Topkick from searching for 'Duramax+Motorhome.'

Like this beauty: http://cgi.ebay.ca/2010-JAYCO-SENECA-35GS-DIESEL-MOTORHOME-CLASS-C-DURAMAX_W0QQitemZ310182438359QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRVs_Campers?hash=item48385065d7#ht_9188wt_1046

I think one member here who knows his stuff about RV's is Hudson. I recall him making a thread about motorhome's ages ago, so perhaps PM'ing him is a good way to go, providing he swings by often.

[Camino LS6]

That's a thought.

I may do that when I have better questions to ask.

[Z-06]

And there are some Duramaxes and Caterpillars which are worth mentioning too.

[Justin Bimmer]

The 6500 - 8500 medium duty GMs you can get a Cat.

I think they usually make motorhomes out of 4500 and 5500 GMs and those are all durmax or gas.

[XP715]

I'd love to find a classic Airstream...

You and me both. That or a nice old Spartan (Royal Manor, Royal Mansion, Royal Spartanette, etc). Or, If I won the lottery, a Pierce-Arrow Travelodge and a 12-cylinder Pierce-Arrow to pull it:

A fine-looking setup If I've ever seen one!

[Camino LS6]

Sweet!

[Robert Hall]

I wouldn't mind having an '80s Airstream motorhome, '80s Holiday Rambler Imperial, or the sleek Apollo Sceptre (IIRC, there was a stainless steel variation). I like the '80s styling before most Class A's went to the flat nose coach pusher designs of today.

[Camino LS6]

The ultimate would be a completely updated and restored classic GMC.

[Robert Hall]

The ultimate would be a completely updated and restored classic GMC.

The only thing I never liked about the GMCs was the lack of a long model...IIRC, they were only 22 and 26 feet. I'd like a 35-45 foot motorhome for ultimate comfort..

[Camino LS6]

The only thing I never liked about the GMCs was the lack of a long model...IIRC, they were only 22 and 26 feet. I'd like a 35-45 foot motorhome for ultimate comfort..

True.

But they proved that an RV need not be ugly and awkward.

I do like the Airstream RVs too.

[Camino LS6]

I found this one interesting:

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/rvs/1448796584.html

[Robert Hall]

I found this one interesting:

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/rvs/1448796584.html

Cool..that was the Itasca equivalent of the Winnebago Elandan. (Itasca was to Winnebago what GMC is Chevy).

My folks looked at upgrading from their '85 Winnebago Chieftain to an Elandan around '90.

[Camino LS6]

Any idea what the drivetrain would be?

[Robert Hall]

Any idea what the drivetrain would be?

Chevy 454 or 6.2 diesel (those models had the 620-50 designation).

[Camino LS6]

Thanks Cubitar, I think something along the lines of that example will be what I hunt for when the time comes.

Old, very low-miles...

[Robert Hall]

A lot of motorhomes, esp. those bought by retiree snowbirds, often have low miles--just driven yearly from home in fall to a warmer clime RV park then driven back home in the spring.

My folks' last one, the '85 33 ft Winnebago had about 30k when they sold it in '98. For 10 years they used it to drive back and forth from Ohio to their house in Florida after I went off to college, and for the occasional summer camping trip.

One observation (from years of reading Motorhome Life magazine in the '80s) is that most of the front engined Class As in the '80s and early '90s used GM chassis and drivetrains. After Chrysler dropped out of the biz in the late '70s, GM pretty much had the market to themselves..don't recall seeing any Ford chassis/drivetrains in '80s Class As. The early pushers (in the late 80s) often had Oshkosh chassis and diesels.

[Camino LS6]

More good info!

Thanks again.

[A Horse With No Name]

Thanks Cubitar, I think something along the lines of that example will be what I hunt for when the time comes.

Old, very low-miles...

Often very low miles hurt a motorhome more than they help it. Seals dry out, etc. A lot of SCCA guys I know of who use them to tow race cars actually look for old rigs with higher miles, as they know they often have been better taken care of, and initial problems will have been dealt with.

YMMV.

chris

[Camino LS6]

I've never regretted seeking out low-mile vehicles.

Seals are a minor thing..

[Robert Hall]

I've never regretted seeking out low-mile vehicles.

Seals are a minor thing..

IIRC, my Dad had to replace the valve cover gaskets, oil pan gaskets, and maybe head gaskets once or twice over the years on the 454 in the Winnebago. The biggest problem was more with the RV itself, the interior assembly of components and overall assembly... a 20k lb vehicle on lousy US interstates of the '80s--lots of stuff worked loose over the years, the roof leaked after a few years, the shower leaked, various outside storage compartments leaked, poor fitting of kitchen cabinet doors,etc...

The older Fleetwood (Southwind, Pace Arrow) RVs they had seemed to better put together than the 'bago.

[Camino LS6]

I've never been too impressed by the build quality of RVs in general.

I expect some issues like you describe.

[ocnblu]

These seem well made. If I could afford it, I think I'd get one of these. No-nonsense, light, and rot-proof.

livinlite

[Camino LS6]

Those would be fine for camping, but I'm thinking more like a mobile apartment.