Regret buying a motorhome?
 

I am really struggling right now with the motorhome issue,

I have a wife and 2 small children that I really can't think to leave for the weekend, and it's simply too hot or to difficult to take them with me when I want to go,
I had the bright idea of getting a motorhome, and I have passed on some really good deals with the fear that I am making a bad decision...

Another decent deal has shown itself and I have to make a decision, because if I don't buy this one, I need to stop looking...

Has anyone ever bought one and regretted it?
Ever bought one and was disappointed that it wouldn't pull your trailer?

Im really on the fence about this one...

Your thoughts?

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Just my humble opinion but I think a 32' living qtrs trailer would be better. You would need a decent diesel p/u to pull it. I think the advantage is the truck can be used daily if need be and also allow you to leave the track during the weekend. Think of how much use you'll get out of the motorhome besides race dates. To me having a motorhome is like putting your house on a truck and driving it around.Things with start breaking left and right.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Motorhome draw backs: 4-6 miles per gallon; must pay to have hitch reinforced and motorhome frame has to be boxed (welded) to keep the frame from buckling; if it's been sitting for a while chances are that it will need tires and all the systems checked, don't forget to check for recalls. If new, you can look forward to 15 years of payments and when you're done with it you will be upside down in it and will have to take a loss when it's sold. But, if you have children and can use it for weekend vacations you might be able to get your money's worth

That's my experience with a motorhome and racing.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Having family with you at the track is a big plus on many fronts if they enjoy it. Being able to use it for regular RV trips is great as well and will make some family memories that will last a lifetime. It's a gorgeous country and having a Motorhome enables you to experience that. Expensive to buy, insure and maintain? You betcha. Difficult to afford what is essentially a second home but if you can financially swing it then go for it. If that expense stresses your budget more than racing alone then it's definitely not worth it. We just spent the summer on the west coast with our MH (the racing part resumes next year) and the comfort and ease of driving compared to a large dually and living quarter trailer makes a MH a great choice. The prediction that fuel prices will remain low is helpful as well. You'll benefit from doing tons of research using the RV forums before taking the plunge. Making a bad choice can lead to a nightmare.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

I bought a 99 class a 31ft with vortec 454 w/55k miles no slides for 11k, I towed enclosed with dragster, did ok, now I tow open, 2600lbs car and golf cart, does fine, I did put 4 tires on it and serviced all the fluids, I figure I can sell for close to what I have in it and its nice to have at the track....moral is if you can swing it buy a cheap one if it doesn't work out you can sell it

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

I don't think you can find a living quarters trailer with enough living
space to keep two little ones happy. We bought a used M/H last
year and so far have only used it for racing. Everyone is much
happier! I leave the gen. and A/C on all day when it is hot, we
now eat real food instead of track food, and it is comfortable as
heck. I had a GoldRush style trailer with a salon/living quarters
and the M/H is way more comfortable. Most important benefit is
Mama is happy at the track, cause if Mama ain't happy, racing
could be in jeopardy. J.R. P.S. Tow's my enclosed trailer like a
dream.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

We bought one 5 years ago and have zero regrets. 10-11 mpg,Winnebago diesel pusher pulling a 26' enclosed trailer. We have a grand total of $15,000 invested in ours so far. Sure,little things break now and then but the comfort and convenience have out-weighed any of its mechanical issues.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Agree with most..... if you have children, a motor home for sure. My wife and I use a 34 ft bumper pull enclosed trailer with 10 ft living quarters. Just fine for us... but would not work with kids.

I would add, if you are racing within 400 miles of home, a few times a year......definitely a motor home. Suggestion would be to get an inexpensive one and see how it works out....and please expect the children and college.....really expensive. Stopped my racing for about 16 years. Lol

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Hitman, When my dually wore out (>300000 mi.) I went looking for another one the problem was that new they were ~$40K And I found a used low Milage Moter home for $15K it has an 8.1 vortec with an over drive trans.
The previous owner had pulled a 24' tag with a 3500# car in it. Since I was going to pull a 32' 7000# tag with it I purchased a trailer toad to keep the tongue weight off the motor home.
Pros:
AC at the track 24 hrs a day for ~$10-15 per day
Another generator
Heat
Microwave stove shower & potty TV
Confortable place to sleep with out the hassle of hotel rooms
You can have a beer or two after the races if your not driving home.
Cons:
Tows almost as well as the dually simular 6-8 MPG@70-75 does not stop as well.
The parts for the chassis can be expensive and harder to find

You gotta empty the black and grey water tanks
There is a lot more maintenance on the RV tanks to empty and fill, batteries,carpets and seats to clean, refrigerator to keep stocked and plugged in,another generator to maintain etc it takes us as much time to prep the RV as it does the race car and trailer but for me the comfort and convenience is worth the hassle :)

Oh one more con: they start racing stockers every day at the U.S. Nationals at Indy at 7:00 so if your sleeping at the track your not going to sleep in.:eek:

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

We had a 27 foot gasser that was ok. It had a reinforced hitch. Pulled ok, but wind would wear you out and the brakes were marginal. (24 ft trailer). That would work ok if you were not pulling too far and the prices are decent. If you have to take an RV to the shop for every little thing, it will be expensive to maintain. If you can tinker, not too bad.mwe have an older diesel pusher now that we love, but it is much more money to maintain. In our case,mwe are slowing doing a makeover, but the coach pulls and stops like a dream!
If we ever go newer on one two things we learned. 1). Love the 8.3 Cummings 2) must have diesel generator. We can run it pretty much. Non stop. That is priceless when the weather is crazy hot out.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Full size or Class C be sure rear wheels are close to rear end of MH. Longer wheel base units tow better and less distance to reinforce for hitch.
With enclosed trailer a single sway control at hitch really helps stabilize. Some guys use two if trailer over 26 ft long.
Many pro and con of fifth wheel with sleeping quarters and Dualie so you can use during week but I always loved the MH approach.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Bought my first one around 1989 and haven't looked back .Start off if you can with a inexpensive gas coach to see if you like it and what options are important to you and you're family .For yourself , wife and kids to be happy you'll have to start with a class A that's at least 34' .Good luck ............

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

I may be crazy but I am in the process of trading my 31ft gas Fleetwood Class C for a 34ft Class A gas Thor Motor Coach. The Class C towed ok but the shorter wheelbase along with towing a 24ft Featherlite enclosed trailer was wearing me out on longer tows. The trailer tows fine but if there is any wind at all it requires your constant undivided attention. I'm hoping the heavier coach with a couple of feet longer wheelbase and the additional interior room with be worth the trade. Jim


.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Jim, you may have to resort to a DP to get the desired results. Any new gas MH and you're still looking at the Ford Chassis. Nothing wrong with them at all but once you get to pulling an enclosed trailer with car, golf cart, etc you just about have a tail wagging the dog situation. Would recommend you get on the irv2.com forum to see what some Class C folks did to make theirs more stable.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Resisted the MH route for many years, after driving a couple class C setups was convinced it wasn't for me. Had a goose neck LQ worked out OK but cramped. Bought a low mileage class A DP, tows great 10+ MPG much more room and comfort. No regrets here.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

currently on motorhome #4, and still think it is best for my family. Our kids were babies when we got our 1st MH, 1986 or so. started with a 22' class c towing open trailer, then in 89 bought a new 24' class c, towed open then an enclosed, put over 100,000 on that one, then around 2001 bought a 32' class a gas V10, put 60,000 or better on that including an 8600 mile cross country racing family trip. current one is an 05' Diesel pusher 36', have put 50,000 or so on it. Kids are all grown up now and having kids of their own. Our family of 5 spent tons of time in our motorhomes. We have used it for vacations and getaways every year also. If you put your race car together you can probably fix most things on a motorhome. They are high maintenance units, get a good one, do your homework, and your family will be better for it.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Do your homework. Decide what you want and what you can afford. Then,
BUY YOUR 3rd MOTORHOME 1st !!! (will save you thousands in the long run)

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

So my question to all the Class A owners. do you prefer the 5.9 Diesel pusher or the bigger engine 8.9? diesel pusher. I have a 24 ft. Pace trailer.

Thanks for your input

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Mine has the 5.9, pulls a 28 footer no problem and averages about 10 MPG. I'm sure the bigger motors can pull much more but I'd think you'll sacrifice fuel mileage.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

As much as I enjoy my Motor home there are days I hate it,and mostly it's not its fault!

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Don't get a 5.9 unless your rig is super lite, the 8. Is the bet choice,mileage is nearly a wash,plus the 8.3 will do 65 no matter what the wind is doing.We have had 4 mh 2 gasburners 2 diesel one 5.9 one 8.3 350 hp. The best by far.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

A friend of ours has a 5.9 in a 40 ft Monaco with a 28 ft trailer golf cart and mustang SSer. I takes quite a while to get rolling, but has no issues on the highway. We have a 34 ft Monaco 1994 with a basic 8.3 cummins and it will walk all over him pulling our 24 ft with golf cart and Nova on board. If you are patient and not pulling a stacker a 5.9 can work. I think he gets about 9 mpg and we get 7.5 to 8.5 depending on how fast we go. I would say the 8.3 is a great deal over a 5.9 if you can find one. Also, a real plus with any diesel Rv is the diesel generator. That is a huge upgrade over LP. You can run them round the clock and they run off the main fuel tank.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

I'd add another plus for the larger Cummins; on some models you get the side radiator which is much better for cooling when you've got an enclosed trailer (think dead pocket of air right behind the coach) and maintaining yourself if much easier.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Me and a buddy used to travel together all the time and he had a rear radiator and I had a side, his was out every few years because it would clog with road gunk and he would overheat, mine never had an issue.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

As the owner of a 2015 Thor Hurricane 34 ft Class A gas MH I'll add my $0.02

If you are going to go with a gas MH try to get one with the 22" wheels not the
19" wheels.

For a gas MH plan on spending about $1000 to purchase a Safe-T-Steer for
the front and a track bar for the rear to help control sway in the wind. Mine also
has sway bars front and rear.

Most gas MH's only have a 5000 lb tow rate so if you plan on towing a trailer
plan on spending more $$ to beef up the rear frame to support it all.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Over the years I have owned a gas class A and C, a diesel pusher, and now I have a truck based class C motorcoach.
From my perspective the Truck Based motorcoach or Toter is the way to go if at all possible because of the heavy duty nature of the unit. Brake and stopping is the biggest thing you gain with a truck based unit in my opinion.
The diesel pusher is the second best but a lack braking was an issue when pulling a trailer of any size. If you choose a pusher be sure to get at least 350 HP and the largest displacement engine along with at least a 6 speed transmission. You need that if you plan to pull a trailer of any size.
I pulled a 28ft Goldrush (not a stacker) with the 350 HP pusher which was on a Spartan Bus chassis and breaking even with the air brakes was still an issue.
The gas class A and C had the breaking issues and both needed work on the frame to beef up the capacity for trailer pulling. Hills were also an issue in the hills and mountain passes.
Just My 2 Cents
Rick Cates
Canyon, TX

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

I had the same experience with a spartan chassis pusher with an 8.3 350 Cummins, ran great and pulled a moderate load just fine but I never felt comfortable with the brakes, even with the trailer brakes set to kill. I also moved to a freightliner chassis and a 14l detroit, now I don't even need trailer brakes and barely use the mh brakes with the engine brake. IMO mine isn't as nice inside as a fully decked out motorhome but damn do I feel safer.

Re: Regret buying a motorhome?
 

Hitman,

You are hearing a lot of good opinions here, and hands on advice.
I had an old class C first with small trailer years ago. Then went newer used 35' class A. Mistake was the V10 Ford motor... not a good motor for me, not good power for towing.
Motorhome was GREAT with 2 small kids. We also had to travel long trips to family, and especially with baby, wife was much happier. Was great at the track. Pulled 24' box with 3400 lb stocker ok. Used it for some vacations, lake time, etc.
As several have said, repairs and upkeep is real. Real pain sometimes, but most things are. When I stopped traveling to race (oldest started Jr's and we stayed local and I bracket raced) we sold the RV. Miss it some days. Have a 32' trailer with AC in it, and very few overnight races, so not too bad. Much smarter now for me.
RV has great benefits for family at the track, and especially if you are going to use it for vacations, etc.
Most all will say get a DP if you can swing it. Gas motor is OK, especially if racing close to home. GM motor preferred.
If and when you sell, it will not be worth as much as you think usually... but, consider the value you got. Also not always easy to sell... look at all the ones for sale. Another reason to find a real deal on the front end.
One thing not really mentioned much is the 5th wheel trailer option. Depending on what truck you have now, a 48' or 50' with slide trailer might be an option. Some really nice ones out there, but probably more $ than a nice RV. But, it is an option. Would get you about the living space of many RV's. Self contained, so you can claim on taxes just like an RV if you finance.
Good luck with what ever route you go.

Ken