In the first chapter I came up with this hair-brain idea and
tried to convey a little bit about why I want to go do this craziness. Well, in
this installment I’ll go a little into what type of chalet-on-wheels I’m
thinking of doing this in.
Before I get too far I need to spout a bit of a disclaimer. There
are many different types, makes, and models of RVs and each person’s situation
is different. So what works for one, may not work for another. I’m not even sure
that my conclusions will be the right ones for me after getting on the road. In
other words, these are my opinions and they work for me at this moment.
If you’ve been following along, you know that I’m going with
a large truck and fifth wheel type rig. But even after thinking it all through
MANY times, I’m still not sure it’s the right solution. I know for sure that
it’s not the perfect solution. The problem is that I don’t think there is a
perfect solution.
The biggest reservation I have with the truck/fifth wheel
setup is what could happen when I’m out in the middle of nowhere and the truck
breaks down? Now, the first thing anyone would say is, just make sure that you
have top of the line roadside service (AAA, Coachnet, Good Sam, etc.) and you
would be absolutely correct. I’ve already done a good bit of research into that
very thing.
But, while the truck and trailer are towed into the shop,
I’m down to traveling on a pair of sneakers or bicycle. Yes, if there’s a
rental car place in the vicinity I could go that route, but a lot of small
towns are many miles from the nearest rental car place. So that keeps bringing
me back to the backup transportation issue and whether a small to mid-size
Class A or very large Class C with a
toad (towed vehicle) would be a better transportation safety net solution.
So let’s look at Class C rigs. I’m always shocked at how
small they actually are and how little interior AND exterior storage space they
have. Yes, they have enough living space to go camping for a few days and maybe
even a few weeks, but remember this will be my home for a long time.
They also have some other annoying little quirks about them.
Like for instance in almost all of them the LP tank is hard mounted and cannot
be removed for refill. So every time the LP tank runs out, I would have to take
the whole rig someplace for a refill. Another is that I’ve never, ever seen a
four wheel drive class C. So remote camping would be chancy at the very best.
There is a sub-class called Super C that is somewhat larger,
but they push the weight loads on the chassis to the point where a toad may
push it over the weight ratings. Besides, by the time I get into a super C, I’m
only a very tiny step away from a class A. I’ve actually seen some super C’s
that cost more than a small class A.
So even though I COULD make a class C work, it would be a
large pain and I think I would wear it out pretty quickly with the weights and
towing a car behind. Especially if/when I spend time in the mountains.
Ultimately I just don’t think a class C is a really viable option.
So now let’s look at class A’s. Class A’s are nice, and have
lots of external storage which is great and they can get super luxurious
inside. However, gasoline class A rigs get unbelievably horrible gas mileage and
tend to lack power in the low end (think hill climbing). Diesel pusher types
fix the low end problem, but push the price tag up even higher. Then there’s maintenance
on a diesel which is expensive and not the do-it-your-self type stuff. Not to
mention that diesel fuel is more expensive than gas and can be harder to find
in some places. Plus, they get expensive really quick.
To me, the biggest drawback to a class A is the expense.
These suckers can get ridiculously expensive. By the time I get to one that has
a nice floorplan and is big enough, I can’t afford it anymore. I would have to
postpone my jump-off at least another two, three, or more years just to be able
to afford a decent mid-line class A. That plus I just don’t think I would like
driving one. They are very boxy and can’t possibly maneuver very well. I
wouldn’t even think of taking one off road at all. There’s no such thing as a
4x4 class A so forget remote camping.
The other big problem with both the A & C type is that
as soon as I put a toad behind it, I can no longer back up. To use reverse, I
have to unhitch the toad, do whatever maneuvering that’s needed and then
re-hitch. Yes, I know that I would plan my entry & exit from parking lots
and such, but every now and then I would have to go through the hassle of all
of that and probably while I’m blocking other people’s cars. Yeah, that sounds
like a whole lot of fun.
That brings me full circle and right back to a fifth wheel
and back to the original problem of a single vehicle. I wish I had a really good answer for this but
I don’t. I thought for a while that I might get a small motorcycle to use as
emergency transportation and for off-road stuff. It’s still a possible option,
but transporting it would be a problem.
So after all that, am I convinced that my choice is the
right way to go? I wish. I wrestle with the issue of RV type at least once a
month and every time I go to an RV show. I don’t think I’ll finally set the
decision in concrete until I actually sign on the bottom line and take
delivery. Even then I could change my mind after getting on the road.
Next up I’ll dive into what I’m looking for in a truck and
fifth wheel.
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