Just out of curiosity, what's the best way to go, IMO, for a "touring" vehicle? Class A is out. I looked at some Class C with the 3.0 diesel engine, and they look really nice for road trips. Or, is it much better to go the 5th wheel or toy hauler route? I do like the looks of a 27ish foot motor home with a diesel though.

If you like it and it's size won't prevent you from stopping at the DQ for a milkshake, buy it.

I have done the motor home and both types of trailer. For me, a bumper pull is the answer. I can get by with unhooking to use my truck, and I can carry a load of wood back to camp. My motor home getting stuck in the mud in Montana was fun, all the 4wd trucks made it no problem, but I had to rally the crap out of my ride to get home.

I prefer a bumper pull also. If hanging at Del Webb in Sun City AZ a motor home might be mo'betta.

I can unhook and get thru the DQ for my milkshake a lot easier.lol

For comfort/flexibility/convenience going down the road and least hassle when stopping to sleep/visit - I think decent sized motorhome.

For flexibility when you are staying somehwere for a while and want to run around in a truck - a trailer, and I prefer a 5th wheel setup due to towing stability.

There are some excellent pickup bed mounted campers on the market, but they seem like the least best option these days. Even the great ones are cramped in space by comparison, but a good thing is you are not concerned about a trailer back there and a truck with camper can go most places easily.

For easiest tow, lowest cost and ability to get into tighter/bumpier places for hunting/fishing, etc. - I prefer a tent trailer (some call them pop-ups). But, it''s even easier to just sleep in the back of my old 4wd Blazer when way,way back in hunting.

We have done all of the above and currently have an aged motorhome and aged tent trailer. I recently converted an old motorhome to a flatbed/gooseneck hauler (with sleeper cab) and am looking for a less than 25 ft. used 5th wheel in great condition. Not easy to find around here.

That's all I have to add - hope it helps.

This here. Crew cab diesel truck, camper shell, and bumper pull trailer. Drop the trailer and everyone has a seat and I can store all the fishing gear, cooler, etc in the shell. I did one year without the camper shell and it was a pain.

I've owned them all. For ease of travel I don't think you can beat a motorhome but you never stop working on them. I couldn't keep mice and rats out of mine. I used it to attend benchrest matches and I loved being able to pull into a rest area, crank up the generator and get comfortable. I didn't use it for family vacations, though.

For vacations I'd probably prefer a pull behind with a pickup.

If I were to start back shooting/traveling I'd get a toy hauler since it would be just me and a couple of dogs but that ain't gonna happen at my age.

Whichever route you choose be prepared to own a money pit.

Calvin,

For me personally - "only" a 5th wheel!! They tow better than a tow-behind, and give you approx. 7 more feet of living area with overall (tow vech. + trailer) lenght about the same. Your mid to upper end 5th. wheels also have a bunch of storage area. If your selective, several 5th wheels are true 4 season units. My wife and I have spent many nights in our units at -20 to -30 degrees F, with no freeze-ups. Last but not least, and this is were my paranoia kicks in!!!! The most likely component to fail in a motor vehicle is something in the drive train (motorhome). I'd much rather have my tow vehicle (pick-up) at the repair shop while I sleep in my 5th wheel with my guns, cameras, ect., than be in a motel room while everything I travel with is at an unknown shop!!! I'm really not fond of motel rooms!! memtb

I've been considering a Class B RV (I don't need much space) for cross-country touring. One thing I like is the ability to roll out of the driver's seat and into a bunk whenever I feel like it and not have to get out in a downpour, walk to an entrance and, unlock a door.

Also, I prefer to be inside if anyone starts tampering with the vehicle when parked for the night.

Here is what I ended up with, it is our third fifth wheel, mine has one slide out, storage in front, storage in the belly and a large side door that is around six feet tall it has the most storage of any we have had.
Tows great and even took it hunting one year.

My preference is the 5th wheel. Easy to hook up and easier to tow than a travel trailer. I do like the idea of a motorhome but having to tow a secondary vehicle keeps me from going that rooute.

Gotta get my 2 cents in before the 30ft mansions start showing up...

Grew up traveling in one and finally talked my grandfather out of his. The only way to roll fellas...

Another vote for a 5th wheel, we've had them all growing up. Get to where you're going and un-hook and go do your thing.

I'd personally keep a 5th wheel with a 26' or less floor plan (Not including the 5th wheel part). That size you can still get it around very well.

I like the looks of the size of Partsman's he posted above.

Another vote with HC. Being able to keep base camp and then unhitch and go do what you gotta do is the ultimate in flexiblity.

A Lexus and a Hilton Honors membership

I have a 5th wheel. For our purposes, it is the best choice for me IMO short of a motorhome that costs 3-4+ times as much, but my choice would be different if my uses were different. If I was touring the country, etc., it would be a pain setting up, packing back up, etc., every couple of days.

Ours is a beast, but it's for the family plus son's friends. We don't go place to place much, usually just to one place per trip. It has most the comforts of home (and more than a hotel!), but we can be in places out of the city.

40ft mansion -

That thing is a beast!

I'm liking the looks of those truck bed campers too. I better make some money this summer..(grin) I can picture myself driving the south with a truck bed camper and a bass boat in tow in the winter months.

I can only see Calvin in an Earthroamer.

ya mines about 36 + hook up,02 Jayco bought used great shape, can be a little long in some circumstances , but when you live in something for 6 months on a work site it beats the he77 out of a 9 ft camper.

norm

have had a motorhome, currently have a slide in camper.

like it for up here, as you said Calvin, I can tow the boat or snowmachine trailer behind it.

we beat the crap out of our old slide in by going down some pretty rough roads. One time I had to sit on top and saw overhanging limbs outa the way while momma kept inching us closer to the gravel bar on the river we wanted to camp.


for just the missus and I to tour America, we're looking at a van setup like one of the posters pictured. Will probably rent one for a trip (if we can find one available to rent) to see how we like it.

if it's too cramped, gonna go the 5th wheel or bumper pull version. We'll do plenty of camping but will want to go to some cities as well.

I desire to have the ability to be more mobile than what a slide in or motor home offers doing such.

I'll try the van thingy route, but really don't think it will be roomy enough.

we don't need much, smaller 5th wheel or bumper pull will be plenty for us and the odd grandkid or two

I've got to see about riggin up a small motor for my inflatable canoe, but my wife really doesn't enjoy being on the water as much as I do.

but I've a feeling the van thing will be just too small for comfort.

Most 5th wheels will require a 3/4 ton or bigger truck to pull.
We went with a bumper pull trailer (26')and a 1/2 ton. We use the truck for everyday driving and mileage is reasonable. (previous truck was a 3/4 ton diesel, a pulling beast but fuel and mtnce costs got pricey over it's life)
When we do lots of traveling, only stopping overnight or for a couple days, setting up and taking down is a bit of a pain, but not really that big a deal. We did 5000 miles in a month so experienced lots of overnighters!
Driving around town when you are hitched up is a bit of a pain, but not bad unless you are looking to park!
All of them are trade-offs, just a matter of which are acceptable to you. One thing for sure, don't buy a low end (read cheap) one, they will not last and repairs get old fast.

Calvin,
From your latest post, it seems that you are thinking of going a little smaller and more user friendly; however, this was our elk camp for almost three weeks this past fall. We had all the comforts of home while enjoying our elk hunt. We have a hitch on the back of the camper to pull the small trailer with the Polaris Ranger on it. As you can see, we got a pretty good snow early in the season. - memtb

Here ya go! No worries about low trees, tow whatever you want, go anywhere that truck can go!
http://www.hallmarkrv.com/campers/cuchara/

I borrowed my fil's lance camper with a slide out and it was sweet....but I could buy a dang nice trailer and a fishing boat for the price. The part I didn't like on my mh was more expensive to license here, another rig to insure for collision, the thing just always needs something because it doesn't get enough miles through the year and working on one is suck squared. I lost a alternator in Ely nv once and I sure did wish it was just a pickup. My diesel truck gets decent mileage towing our trailers, but my motor home with the big block was good for about 7-9mpg...and another set of filters and different tires to stock.

Partsman - that looks just about right for us.

memtb - yours looks very impressive - like a hunter's Hilton - but too long/much for us at this stage.

Good thread - experience shown, and differing points of view.

We went with a moderate sized, used bumper pull trailer so that I could unhook my Chevy Avalanche tow rig and go places a camper bound truck or motorhome could not even sniff at.

That said, if I was wealthy I would sure consider a Unimog camper or one of the earthrover campers like whiptail posted a photo of.

Occasionally we see AWD school buses here. Duallys in the back and a drive axle to the front for 6 wheel drive. I have toyed with the thought oof getting one of those at a surplus sale and trying to convert it to an off road capable camping rig, maybe with some shooting ports with miniature bench rests and sandbags etc. where a couple of the windows are for varmint blasting!

Bumper pull travel trailer, truck with cap. Gives the most usable space for me. Bought ours new, haven't had to dump much money into it, until I listened to what the dealer told me about a rubber roof, "don't do anything to it". That cost 3 grand to fix. Otherwise, replaced a battery, and I need a new anode for the hot water heater. As Mickey said, mice are a b!tch to keep out. had it for 9years now.

Saw a Unimog with a factory Westfalia a while ago. Dam they do them right.

Been there did that, bumper pull trailer. Trailer was flexible, I could park it and use the van to tour locally. Would I buy another RV? No way, maybe rent one if I really wanted to travel in squalor and discomfort. Bought a big 4x4 crew cab diesel pickup, not to tow, but as a touring car. Best decision I ever made. Now we travel, use suite hotels and motels for accommodations, or casino hotels, and live with amenities. The old trailer was okay, if we setup where there was hookups. That thing had enough insulation for an ice chest so that the air conditioner would freeze us out, and the forced air furnace would keep us warm, but really - no room service? Wife refuses to go anywhere without her hair dryer, and I am not going to mess with a generator again, or an inverter. But then after three decades of being a park ranger, and doing primitive camping in my youth, those days are done. But have fun and enjoy it while you can, it is fun when young.

Part depends on how often the unit will be used, what your budget is, IF you already have a heavy PU (3/4T or higher) and how well you and the missus (assuming here) can tolerate confinement.

One big item re: Class C (or A) units is that, unless you're towing a small car behind, you have to unhook from the campground to go anywhere - such as in town, tours, out to eat etc.. I've noted many, many more towables in campgrounds than Class C units.

'Nother item - compare the available space between a 27-28' Class C to a similar sized trailer or 5er. That cab and engine uses a lot of space. And it's a dedicated engine etc.. If that takes a dump, you're DONE until it's fixed. Using a pickup and a towable, if the truck goes south one can always hook up another pickup and continue. (neither is cheap, BTW)..

Between TTs or 5th wheels, the latter tows much easier, safer and nearly zero chance of 'fish-tail'.. AND one can tow a much larger unit if you wish - giving your family a lot more room to utilize. If you do get a toy hauler, the garage adds even more room for entertaining on these newer, classy units. There was a great article on the new styles of toy haulers just a month ago.

It was funny, watching my SIL and her husband figure this out, two years after they bought a big-ass trailer and a truck to haul it. They only used the trailer twice.

Be sure you have the required dress of plaid shorts and white socks....and maybe the Captain's hat

We've owned an rv and currently own an 18 foot V nose enclosed snowmachine trailer set up for camping. We had the rv for about 2-3 years and hardly ever used it so we sold it. The enclosed trailer might be sold here pretty soon because we hardly use it other than for storing our sleds. If I had to do it all over again, we'd probably consider buying something along the lines of the Itasca Navion or Winnebago Via.

What excatly are you wanting to do with the rv/5th wheeler/toy hauler?

I've done both 5thwheel and truck campers. A 5thwheel is nice in terms of space, but you have to plan your camping spots and they are not very off road friendly. Towing doubles with a 5thwheel so you can take your boat is also a pain. Truck campers have limited space, but with a self contained camper you can camp about anywhere. It's also easier to haul toys behind a camper and they are the best choice offroad.

Currently it's just myself and my wife and most of the places we camp A truck camper or a tent is about the only options. Maybe when I retire and snowbird I'll get a toyhauler 5thwheel, but I will always have at least a small camper.

I have some friends who have a smaller motorhome based on the MB Sprinter with the small diesel. They recently went from NY to the west coast and back and averaged 18 mpg on the entire trip. FWIW.

Are the Airstream bumper trailers that much nicer/better than some of the other less expensive brands?

Looking to store it in Phoenix, and use it to tour/camp the southern USA a few months a year. Hunt, fish, etc. Wife, two infants.

I personally liked a bumper pull as long as you don't go way out there in lenth. There are advantages to a 5th wheel but I never could get over losing the bed of the truck. I liked using it to carry a freezer or 4wheeler or whatever.

I'd say an rv would be the perfet way to go, I think a 24-28 footer would be perfect. We owned a class c 22ft Winnebago Chalet that we purchased from Great Alaskan Holidays and it was a nice unit. If I had the scratch, i'd buy an Itasca Navian with the the 3.0 6 cylinder diesel on a Sprinter chassis.

We looked at one before we bought the Chalet and those are very nice motorhomes and everything inside them is real (cabinets, countertops,table, etc,etc), not fake like most rv's. You could pull a small car behind it instead of having to drive the rc everywhere.

http://www.goitasca.com/products/2014/navion_navion_iq/

I have an older Carson Toy Hauler. It is a big empty box with Kitchen bath in the very front.

It isn't like the newer models, no fueling stations, outside showers, etc. But, it is versatile, at times I carry my Samuari init, other times a 16 foot aluminum boat on its trailer, and some weekends we put a queen size bed in it. For elk hunting we build a visqueen hut on the loading ramp door and install a wood burning stove.

I love it.