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[Scubawise]

Originally Posted by bazar01

Good advice.
That's what we are planning to do actually. Rent a class A and C and see which ones fit our needs.

Right now, I have a 18' travel trailer I have been towing with my 2018 Suburban Z71. We have been camping since 2017. Been to Pikes Peak, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce and all over Florida beaches. We love camping.

Same here 18ft colt bullet on road 3 years..90 days at a time ..then THE VEGAS!

[bazar01]

Originally Posted by Scubawise

Just to really test hit 90 for 10 minutes no issues
Total 12000 miles
Things are expensive..if you could save and pay for gas food good thing

How is the ground clearance on these small class As?

[Scubawise]

Great I have a incline driveway never hit ..year of camping hit once leaving a big dip from Albertsons

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by bazar01

How is the ground clearance on these small class As?

How much ground clearance are you looking for? 4x4's they are not (unless you make them one LOL--at least two on here have done that to their Axis/Vegas unit).

I would say that Axis/Vegas units don't have much. Even though in 7 years we've never hit anything or got stuck with ours either.

[bazar01]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

How much ground clearance are you looking for? 4x4's they are not (unless you make them one LOL--at least two on here have done that to their Axis/Vegas unit).

I would say that Axis/Vegas units don't have much. Even though in 7 years we've never hit anything or got stuck with ours either.

Good to hear.
From pics online, it looks very low though.
Considering the distance between front and rear wheels, it looks like the middle lower side panels and entrance steps might scrub a inclined driveway entrance like I have.
I am looking at one this weekend. We'll see.
Thanks.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by bazar01

Good to hear.
From pics online, it looks very low though.
Considering the distance between front and rear wheels, it looks like the middle lower side panels and entrance steps might scrub a inclined driveway entrance like I have.
I am looking at one this weekend. We'll see.
Thanks.

I've never scrubbed our driveway with the little panel below the door (it is pretty flimsy so it would "get out of the way" LOL). I have scrubbed it on a curb when I parked too close (on our very first "long distance" trip with the RV)--that scrub mark is still there to this day LOL.

Here is where we scraped it (on Route 66 in IL back in 2014):


And here you can see the scrape below the door (here we are in Mesa Verde this past July):

[saddlesore]

Originally Posted by bazar01

I just joined to gain some ideas on selecting, buying and maintaining a class A or C motorhome.

1st.. View the "tag" lines at the bottom of the responding posters..
To give you an Idea of where they are coming from and the equipment they have.

Keep in mind..
You Do Not Know...... What You Do Not Know..

Your 1st coach is simply a learning tool..
When You tour/view "In Person" any perspective coach..
View it First with all slides retracted, then shuck your shoes and do a dry run in the shower, sit on the throne (AND Close the door!), lay on the bed,study the galley(enough counter room/pantry space/pots & pans storage?) Do You have access to all these with slide retracted???
If the coach is fully usable without the slides extended, then give it a second look.
(Think wally-docking, rest areas, truckstops... any where that you cannot/do not have room for the slides to be extended)

BUY USED! & buy one with everything you "think" you want and will need..
IF the perspective coach seems a bit small but still "DO-Able" ....... REMEMBER!!!
What seemed small... becomes unbearably TINY after being Coop'd up" for a week or more due to weather...
(AKA.....Cabin Fever)
A coach that is "Too Big" lasts for a week or two..One "Too Small" lasts forever.

And.... You WILL make mistakes and have booboo's We all have.....
Within a year or less, you will discover.. about the RV

What you love about the RV...
What you can kinda-sorta tolerate with the RV..
And what you absolutely hate about that !@#$%^%$#@! RV.
Then you can go get what you should have gotten in the first place..
Happy Hunting

[bazar01]

Thanks JamieGeek.

Thanks saddlesore for the excellent tips.
I'm not in a hurry, and I'd like to take my time esp on a big expense like this.

[bazar01]

Thank you everyone.

For now, I will continue towing my 18-ft camper with my Suburban until I can find a good deal on a small class A or C.

[Pabs4]

Welcome!! We also joined this forum when we were still shopping. We learned so much before and after our purchase. Saddlesore was correct when he said to check people’s signatures to see what equipment they have. He was also correct when he said a too small RV lasts forever.

In our case we had never had any RV. We had never even camped, but it was something we had been talking about for many years. We purchased ours new in 2019. There was definitely a learning curve, but this forum has been a lifesaver! We took our first long trip last month, and we truly loved it! We love the way our Vegas now handles after the upgrades we made. It was the first trip we took with a “toad”. I had never driven any vehicle that was towing anything, but I drove our Vegas while towing our Jeep with no problem.

We feel as though we need an RV that is a bit larger. We have two grandsons who will soon be old enough for us to take with us for a couple of weeks in the summer. We will call it Camp Pammy We also are interested in getting a diesel pusher next time, but that is still to be determined.

I have to say that after this last trip we are hesitant to get rid of our little Vegas. We know it is reliable, and we know it handles really well. We took it through the Big Horn Mountains and drove through Yellowstone at over 8000 ft elevation in a heavy snow, and it performed beautifully! We are looking forward to our next trip.

Good luck to you in your search, and enjoy the process

Pam

[bazar01]

I have a grandson that we sometimes take camping with us on our pull behind camper. He is safely secured inside our suburban tow vehicle.
How do I secure a 4 year old in the Axis or Vegas? I have not seen a used Axis or Vegas yet. I'm still searching for one nearby.
Thank you .

[paulwadley]

As you would in any vehicle. Use a car seat and seatbelts to secure your grandson inside the motor home. I have a tether connection in my dinette for car seats to attach to for safety. Be sure to bring along things for him to do while on the road. You might also have to take more breaks while driving. I have been taking our grandson with us since he was 3 yrs old. He loves to travel with us inside the motor home. He is now 9 yrs old.

Paul

[bazar01]

Unlike the suburban, the Axis seat as I understand is only attached to the wood floor and not to a structural steel base.
So now I'm thinking about a class B with better and stronger seat attachment points.
Any comments?
Thank you.

[Scottishgypsy]

Welcome to the forum

[bazar01]

Update:
Change of plans.
Now looking at a class B, 2009 Winnebago ERA 170XL with the 3.0L turbo diesel with 4 captain chairs. Just perfect for our needs. This rig only has 19k miles and won't need DEF. It's just perfect for my diy skills.
I will be moving over to the Sprinter class B forums.
Thanks guys.