For 7 months we have been living in a 35 foot Montana 5th wheel which was pulled by a F350 dually. We were fortunate enough to find a great deal from an individualwho was selling both as a result of the death of her spouse. It was a wonderful experience and we throughly enjoyed it but it was an experience. This was all new to us so we had the 5th wheel checked out prior to our taking off for the winter. We spent about $1000 getting things “fixed” that you could not see or notice when driving but were definitely needed. We had some interesting moments driving down some country backroads trying to navigate the narrow turns with no side strips. We also missed our car as everywhere we went we had to drive the truck which is a gas or in this case a diesel hog. It did however have no problem pulling that 5th wheel. The biggest pain was leveling, hooking and unkooking each time we moved. The 5th wheels have so much living space they are great for staying in one spot for a long time but a nuisance when you have to level, hook and unhook every few days. It was also not the most insulated trailer as we could feel drafts around the windows and slides. Taking all that into consideration and after 7 months on the road we decided to move up to a diesel pusher and make our travels easier.
That being said we bought a used 2008 Damon Tuscany with 17,000 miles on it. It is a beautiful coach with lots of amentities. The downside is the cost compared to a 5th wheel. A year or so ago it was easier to get a great deal on a motorhome but now with the economy rebounding the deals are becoming less and less. I will say, if you do not already know, don’t trade your trade in at the dealer. They give you WAY less than its worth and a song and a dance to go along with it. If you can walk in with cash you can get a good deal but trading in anything you will lose.
The motorhome is quieter, better insulated, drives quietly and smoothly and is easy to set up and level. It is all a matter of pushing a few buttons. We really enjoy it but we already have had few clitches with it and we have only had it a week. Be sure to look everything over throughly. The dealership takes you through a program and shows you how everything works but there is so much to absorb and they go so quickly things get missed. If I had to do it over again I would open and close each slide several times, try every appliance several times, move all the curtain again and again, set up the hoses, turn the knobs, and look at each and every awning, opening and closing them to see how they maneuver. Take your time, you are spending big bucks to get a nice motor home and you do not need to take the dealership at its word that everything works “because they have a 250 check off list” to ensure the coach is operating correctly. They may have a 25 check off list but they might also forget to reattach a nozzle or install a cord or fix a screw that holds up a awning. If the coach is over a year old there is no warranty, not even 30 days on the coach or its parts. In some cases there is a power train/engine warranty but there are many more things that can go wrong other than the engine which can all add up to one big mental, financial and time drain.
When choosing your 5th wheel or motorhome think seriously how you are going to use it, how often, where you intend to go and how long you will stay in each spot. If you start there you have at least some idea of the pros and cons of each type of RV. There are many individuals selling used RV and it may be wise to see if you can find one of those that you really like instead of going to a dealer where things are never quite like they should be.
The RV lifestyle is great. You just have to be aware that things can and will go wrong and take it all in stride and have fun on the road!
