Seeking Advice: Travel Trailer vs. Motorhome

mwilder

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Apr 20, 2016
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15
Location
Hopkins
We have owned a Whitehawk travel trailer for the last 9 years and are considering moving into a Class C motorhome.

I'm seeking advice from others who have made the switch. What are the pros and cons of having a motorhome vs. a travel trailer. The biggest sticking point for us is not being mobile once we get to the campsite. We don't want to tow a TOAD because then we're back to towing something.
Has that been a big deterrent for those who move to a motorhome? What do you do to be mobile once you get to your destination?

Can anyone point me to other threads on this topic? Thanks for any thoughts you have.
 
How often do you travel? A motorhome is another engine you need to maintain, and engines don't really like sitting. Seals dry up, belts start to dry rot, things go bad. If you're driving it every month or two, you're probably fine. If you drive it once in the fall to Florida, and once in the Spring back home, expect some problems.

Depending upon where you go and what time of year you go, you may find that these new electric bikes can help you go mobile. We have lots of friends in Florida that don't toad a vehicle behind their motorhomes anymore. They have electric bikes that can go 30+ miles on a full charge that they take to the beach, to the pickleball courts, to the supermarket a couple times a week, out to dinner, etc. Add some saddlebags and you can carry your groceries, etc. If you need to go someplace further, call an Uber.

Then again, if you are going to Yosemite, you may find that a bike isn't a viable option and Uber is few and far between. Or if you aren't going to warm locales all the time, you might not want to be riding a bike in the 40 degree weather and rain.

Everything is a tradeoff.
 
opinions, opinions, opinions...

We had 3 small kids and that was the majority reason for our change..

We pulled a trailer for 20k miles. Mileage between gas stops was an issue and stopping to let kids use the bathroom. We moved to a class C for this reason.

We didn't have to stop to use the bathroom and we got ~300 miles between gas stops vs 200. Enabled us to get to the destination faster and with less stops.

Now we have less kids along, if any, and I sometimes thing of moving back to the trailer. Given the right truck, we could travel better.

When pulling the C, we tow a jeep - always want to go around and visit destinations and make grocery trips. If we had a trailer and a towing vehicle, this would be the same scenario.


Certainly not a wizard on the issue but this is what I've learned. A trailer is cheaper and easier to fix. No engine. It does limit you on going places depending on tow vehicle. If I wanted to do fire roads, I'd like the jeep, but maybe a 4x4 would be ok. I love the class C, but its impossible to take somewhere to get something fixed (I have to fix on my own), and there's lots of suspension upgrades to do. I also have to tow something to go places I want to go - Mt Rushmore, grocery, round town, trails, etc.

So i've thought of going to a small trailer I can tow with the jeep, but not sure I'd want to stay in a small trailer... that leads me back to class C and towing. I did tow with a dolly for a few years. Worked out based on expenses and cars I could purchase. I ended up buying the jeep and it is SOOO much easier.

I don't think I'd change from class C and towing a car. Easiest all around and most maneuverable. I might upgrade from Ford 450 to Freightliner, but its not required, just better/more power, longer distances, etc. Perhaps easier maintenance (freightliners can be serviced at diesel shops). But for now and costs, Class C and towing is MY best scenario.

- we also like to keep our units below 35' so we can get into most state/fed parks.
 
Someone told me many years ago, You either: Drive your truck and tow your camper, or Drive your camper and tow your truck. Some replies to this post say that you don't have the maintenance in a trailer that you have in a motorhome, it seems that they are forgetting the maintenance that is required to the towing vehicle, not to mention the set up cost of the truck, hitch, sway control, etc. Not to mention the hitching, unhitching and leveling once you get to your destination.
 
They aren't forgetting, it's the difference between two oil changes, two air filters, etc and one.
 
We have owned a Whitehawk travel trailer for the last 9 years and are considering moving into a Class C motorhome.

I'm seeking advice from others who have made the switch. What are the pros and cons of having a motorhome vs. a travel trailer. The biggest sticking point for us is not being mobile once we get to the campsite. We don't want to tow a TOAD because then we're back to towing something.
Has that been a big deterrent for those who move to a motorhome? What do you do to be mobile once you get to your destination?

Can anyone point me to other threads on this topic? Thanks for any thoughts you have.

I’ve always understood motor homes to be chosen mostly due to their durability. They seem to be constructed better than a travel trailer. There’s also the benefit of having at least some access to the home while traveling without having to pull over. For me the advantages stops there. I don’t want to be tied down to a campsite and not be able to venture out to get a bite to eat, see other parts of the area, etc. And I would rather pull a camper than my car. Not to mention you’re having to buy a heavy duty cab and chassis in addition to the home and then you have to maintain it.
 
For me the trip has become far more enjoyable in the motorhome vs the TT. My wife and granddaughter can play games at the table and watch tv, and eat as we travel down the road. I don't have to stop every 1/2 hour for my wife to use the restroom, so that's a huge bonus.

We loved our TT but the trip didn't start for us until we reached our destination. Now, as soon as we pull out of the driveway, the adventure begins. I spent the first year without a TOAD, and it can be difficult as we live to explore, so this year we have a maverick that we will tow.
 
Class C all the way

I had a pop up for years then a 30'+ TT. Now we have a class C and love it. I flat tow a jeep wrangler and that is very easy to do. I find towing that to be much more relaxing than towing a TT. It is also quick and convenient to hook up or release. With that said about a toad, that is only for flat towing. I thing messing with a dolly or trailer would undo the ease. Don't know what will work for you. but for me the class c and toad have really sparked my travel fever again.
 
Thank you all for sharing your experiences!

Thank you all for sharing your experiences! I recognize the logic in all the pros and cons. I know ultimately it comes down to personal preference and that usually includes a lot of trial and error. But I'm grateful for your input so newbies like me can learn more with less trials and error!
 
DW and I have had this conversation, too. We are in a stage of life and RVing where we would travel more if we had a small C motorhome. Over the decades, we've gone from backpacking to large tents and from a popup camper to travel trailers. Today, were it not for the cost, we would go with a small Class C. It's financially best for us to stick with what we have, get a new truck, a lighter WDH (probably Andersen), and hone-down our travel distances. There's no doubt, small motorhomes have setup and take-down pros, maneuverability advantages, and destination situational conveniences.

For us, the main deficit we see with the small C is a loss of interior comfort, kitchen size and utility, and bathroom space. When it comes to floorplan options and comforts, travel trailers give a lot of bang for the buck.

:campfire:
 
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DW and I have had this conversation, too. We are in a stage of life and RVing where we would travel more if we had a small C motorhome. Over the decades, we've gone from backpacking to large tents and from a popup camper to travel trailers. Today, were it not for the cost, we would go with a small Class C. It's financially best for us to stick with what we have, get a new truck, a lighter WDH (probably Andersen), and hone-down our travel distances. There's no doubt, small motorhomes have setup and take-down pros, maneuverability advantages, and destination situational conveniences.

For us, the main deficit we see with the small C is a loss of interior comfort, kitchen size and utility, and bathroom space. When it comes to floorplan options and comforts, travel trailers give a lot of bang for the buck.

:campfire:

The cost of a motorhome vs travel trailer is substantially more, even more depending on where you live or register the motorhome. Having a newer class C in California, my annual registration cost is over $800. Then you have liability insurance. After 4 years of ownership, I will have to get a smog check every 2 years at about $100 each time. Granted, the registration would decrease over time, but it's still up there.
 
Everything, as other have mentioned, is a bit subjective. I am retired now but earlier on when I was trailering an RV I purchased a new RV and a new truck for the purpose of towing the trailer. The truck was too large for me to use as a daily driver as I worked in a city and I had to park in a tightly spaced parking garage. Therefore the truck and trailer combined cost very close if not more than what I could have purchased a motorhome for. This certainly isn't the case for everyone and many use their truck as a daily driver instead of it being an additional vehicle. However, even those that do likely wouldn't own a 3/4~1 ton truck if it wasn't for towing the RV.

In any case, with my class c which I may keep for years to come (as it has been trouble free and looks similar to newer models), I have at times traveled with and without a toad. I often go to State Parks and Lakes where I have no need for a toad and when going to the Rocky Mountains I have brought my 4x4 Colorado ZR2 for sightseeing and offroad enjoyment. I enjoy being able to do either as desired. I have considered going to Alaska with my class c but I haven't done so, when\if I do go to AK I don't plan to tow a toad. A class c is a better driving experience in many cases than I have encountered compared to the longer truck\trailer but not in all cases such as high winds where the 5th wheel was a bit better imo.

Having owned every type of RV with the exception of a class a and super c, I can claim that I have enjoyed the class c the most. It is so nice when traveling in less than ideal weather conditions (very hot, very cold, rainy, etc) to just pull over and use the facilities and then grab a bite to eat without ever leaving the RV as is required for a truck\trailer combo. A class a would be similar in this respect and my parents did have one although my preference was for the class c for many reasons that were important to me. ~CA
 
The cost of a motorhome vs travel trailer is substantially more, even more depending on where you live or register the motorhome. Having a newer class C in California, my annual registration cost is over $800. Then you have liability insurance. After 4 years of ownership, I will have to get a smog check every 2 years at about $100 each time. Granted, the registration would decrease over time, but it's still up there.


Don't feel bad; here in NH, my 23 Class C is $2200.
 
I had a pop up for years then a 30'+ TT. Now we have a class C and love it. I flat tow a jeep wrangler and that is very easy to do. I find towing that to be much more relaxing than towing a TT. It is also quick and convenient to hook up or release. With that said about a toad, that is only for flat towing. I thing messing with a dolly or trailer would undo the ease. Don't know what will work for you. but for me the class c and toad have really sparked my travel fever again.

Could not agree more, after 16 years with a travel trailer we moved up to a Class C and could not be happier. In 3 years of using the Class C we have never towed a vehicle. Once we get to our destination we just rent a car. We usually go somewhere once a month and when we dont go on a trip I just take drive the RV for an hour or so down some long scenic country roads.
 
in 2019 we traded in a 30' 5th wheel, an Arctic Fox 990 pickup camper and a 2018 Ram diesel dually 3500 on a Motorhome based on a Mercedes Benz sprinter 3500.
I kept our 2006 Jeep Liberty and the towing setup. I have also ridden in several Class C and B rigs my parents owned through the years.



What we found is the MH was was a major step down in the quality of the driving/riding experence. The noise inside the cab is so bad even with a 100w per channel upgrade stereo with a3 300w sub it was hard to listen to music. Some times I used to use hearing protection instead. Plus they are loaded to the max even before you put any weight in them. All of they used to sway so bad people would get sea sick in them. I had my sprinter fixed up pretty good with custom tuned fox shocks and sumo springs but it still was noisy riding. and the seats were uncomfortable. It is nothing like the ride in the Dodge Laramie I had or the F150 Lariat I have now. Plus I really feel my 21mml has more room than that sprinter MH had. you loose several feet of space to the cab portion, even if you turn the seats around they still were not very comfortable.


When covid hit we sold it to dealer for way more than we paid for it and "officially got out of RVing". well you see how long that lasted, 2024 we bought a 21mml which has the Murphy bed and provides more space and is more comfortable than our sprinter, and we have the luxury ride of the nice truck. Plus I have the (very short) truck bed to carry additional stuff, and I don't need to tow a toad.
 
IMHO, if the Class C fits your budget, go for it. We would if we could.

I want to say that this is just my opinion today. The statement represents our (DW and I) current situation and circumstances. The reason why there are so many RV choices is we're all in different ages and stages with varying budgets, lifestyle preferences, and/or physical constraints.

We all have our proclivities, needs, and preferences. When it comes to RVs, "One size fits all" does not apply. That's what makes RVs fun, interesting, and purposeful in our lives. IMHO, for all of its failures and weaknesses, the RV industry does a great job of providing products that address the needs of just about all of us.
 
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I'm retired now and I have had a class c, a popup trailer and now a hybrid travel trailer. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, As others have said it will come down to your personal likes and dislikes. I've also done tent camping, as we got older tent camping is off the list forever. The class c was the most expensive to own. The tires and brakes are truck size rather than pickup/SUV size which makes them much more expensive than a trailer, same as insurance. My trailer is on the same insurance policy as the tow vehicle and fire and theft is an added small expense to the trailer.
 
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We’ve had a Jayco fifth wheel since 2013. Our second one was purchased in 2021 of which we have just recently traded in for a Jayco Greyhawk class C

I want to thank everyone for all the comments. I’ve read both pros and cons. My wife and I are both retired and looking forward to the ease of having a class C we do have a flat towable that we plan on using on our first trip in February. Will keep you posted .
 
We have owned a Whitehawk travel trailer for the last 9 years and are considering moving into a Class C motorhome.

I'm seeking advice from others who have made the switch. What are the pros and cons of having a motorhome vs. a travel trailer. The biggest sticking point for us is not being mobile once we get to the campsite. We don't want to tow a TOAD because then we're back to towing something.
Has that been a big deterrent for those who move to a motorhome? What do you do to be mobile once you get to your destination?

Can anyone point me to other threads on this topic? Thanks for any thoughts you have.


We have owned 8 campers over the course of over 50 years. I'll respond using our last two as an example. We owned a 2013 19-Ft. Bullet Premier until 2016. It was a great trailer, but we really had our eye on a motorhome. We found and purchased our present 25-Ft. 2017 Jayco Melbourne Motorhome. We've kept it longer than any other camper except a trailer (Shasta 21-Ft. that we had for 21 years while the kids were growing up). We're going into our 9th year of ownership of our Melbourne and wouldn't trade it for anything. It's been the perfect motorhome for us (two slides - bedroom and dining table area). It has a tremendous amount of storage for a small motorhome. It's a diesel, so it gets great mileage pulling our Jeep Wrangler (averages about 13 but sometimes better under perfect conditions). We've literally been all over the country in it. It started out great, but we've put every bell and whistle in it over the years. It was also a great investment. We paid less for it brand new than the used ones are selling for today. We plan to keep it forever.
 

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