TJ Gordon
USA
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If you have ever seen a class A motorhome that has been involved in even a minor accident, you would never let your children roam around or use the bathroom while you are driving down the road! I saw a motorhome where the entire body was sheared off the frame. Everyone needs to be in seat belts at all times...it's the law.
Don't base your decision on the fridge and bathroom.
Just take a few minutes to pull over and give yourself and everyone a break...TJ
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becker
Conroe, Texas
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Joined: 05/19/2008
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Excellent suggestons..... all of them.
I might add my experienced suggestions.....
A) The Class A (of some length) is definitely the way to go.
B) The loaded weight of the Class A would be of major consideration. Some of manufacturers do not allow much between the empty weight and the gross allowable vehicle weight (per axle). This is very important and you need to know this before you buy. With 7 people and their added equipment, (especially with children) this can add up very very fast. Don't forget to add in the weights of full grey, black,and fresh water tanks. You do not want to be running down the road with a over weight coach (safety issues would be paramount here).
C) Someone needs to mechanically inclined and have a good set of tools. Something almost always needs attention and sometimes it can't wait till you get home.
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UltraKen
Ohio
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Joined: 06/05/2007
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elbmiNrM wrote:crasster wrote:I just need advice about class A RV's and if what I THINK I know about them is correct.
What I THINK I know about class A's
1) Kids can go potty on I45 at 60mph
Kids shouldn't be out of seat belts at 60 mph in ANY vehicle.
...snip...
Having traveled in a large class "A", I shutter to think about your children becoming missiles in the event of an unexpected stop.
The need for seat belts doesn't magically disappear in a motorhome. In fact, motorhomes are less structurally rigid than automobiles or trucks.
I strongly urge you to reconsider the so-called advantages of having several children loose in your vehicle as you drive. If toileting is a problem with 5 kids, just stop once an hour for a "pit" stop.
Ken
96 Safari Sahara- 3530, 35', CAT 300
UltraKen
Ex -1968 Ultra Van
NOW - 1996 Safari Sahara 35' - Cat 300 - Model 3530
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tropical36
Southwest Florida_USA
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Is there another way to go? Seriously...yes there is, but if you want to do it on the road like you said and park somewhere in a storm without ever getting out, then the Motorhome is the way to go. Now, having said that, the A's look like a factory model and resemble a bus....the C's in my opinion look like they were made at home in someone's garage, especially the large ones. Again the C's have some advantages when hauling a brood such as yours, but I would still go with the A and find myself a large bunkhouse model, which I saw at Lazy Days back in July. Especially useful if you have both boys and girls. One bunch in the bunk room and the others on the pullout and dinette...still leaving a nice private BR for you and your S/O.
There have been some good points made about managing the children while underway, which is not as much of a concern when straped inside a regualr vehicle. If this is going to be a problem and a safety issue, then you might want to look at a fiver and a good used 4 door truck to go with it. I use a light duty model (F150) for the family vehicle, so they are useful when not RVing. A travel trailer is also an option to consider.
* This post was
edited 09/05/08 06:29pm by tropical36 *
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."
1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal, with a tag axle and one slide, on a 1997 P32 Chevy chassis....7.4 Vortec Engine
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69RoadRunner
VA
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You need to be able to haul and sleep 7 people. We have a Newmar Ventana 3942 with bunkbeds. We sleep in the back, the kids sleep in the bunks. This weekend, the out-laws slept on the sleeper sofa (don't get a jacknife, get a real sleeper sofa with an air mattress).
But that's 6. The dinette can turn into a SMALL bed.
The problem is hauling 7 people. You won't have 7 belts in ours. Maybe the bunkhouse Class A mentioned earlier can handle 7.
I would suggest getting a used Suburban (or similar 3 row vehicle with plenty of towing capacity) to tow a bunkhouse travel trailer. The 5th wheel won't work because pickup trucks don't have seat belts for 7. Even my 06 Dodge Mega Cab 2500 only seats 6.
You can probably pick up a used 06 Suburban cheap. You'll also have a vehicle to tour around.
09 Newmar Ventana 3942
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elbmiNrM
Atlanta
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Joined: 08/20/2008
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UltraKen wrote:The need for seat belts doesn't magically disappear in a motorhome. In fact, motorhomes are less structurally rigid than automobiles or trucks.
I strongly urge you to reconsider the so-called advantages of having several children loose in your vehicle as you drive. If toileting is a problem with 5 kids, just stop once an hour for a "pit" stop.
Ken, maybe it's me, but I'm not believing that we're in the minority in our feelings.
2004 4X4 Dodge Ram Turbo Diesel with Wheels
2008 Jayco 218
My Two Dogs Take Me Camping
“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.”....J.M. Barrie
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triton77
WI
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We are making the same decision too except we have 4 kids and one grandma . What we decided is that it's either a class A diesel or upgrading our suburban to 3/4ton and pulling a travel trailer. The reason for a Class A diesel is that our toad (acura MDX)weighs ~4500# and by the time we load up the MH with all the junk that comes with 4 kids, all the hubby's toys, and add the toad and we would be over the weight limit for a gasser. I'm also assumeing that the toyota weighs about that much. Getting a lighter toad is impossible because we need to seat at least 6 and they don't make sedans that seat 6.
We considered a Super C but I haven't heard much good about them and a regular C is out because of the number of people and weight again.
A truck and 5th wheel is out since they don't seat 6 and definitely not 7.
Suburban, Expedition, or a really big van would pull a bunkhouse TT and have seating for everyone. The problem with this is that you have to stop for the "I have to pee now" vs MH where they could get up and go.
Good luck and I feel your pain .
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elbmiNrM
Atlanta
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triton77 wrote: Suburban, Expedition, or a really big van would pull a bunkhouse TT and have seating for everyone. The problem with this is that you have to stop for the "I have to pee now" vs MH where they could get up and go.
Good luck and I feel your pain
I just can't see where stopping to pee trumps safety, and there are definitely safety issues with children unbelted in ANY vehicle. While Class As LOOK big, for the most part, they are not as structurally safe in the event of a crash.
Limit what the kids have to drink. Stop and stretch your legs. I assume you're on vacation. What's the hurry? You can pull off so many places, open a trailer door and let everyone pee! Just my 2 cents.
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crasster
Dallas
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I went through the first 16 years of my life without a seat belt. My parents went through the first 40 years without using them.
My grandfather who is 86 still doesn't use them.
We use them.
Saying "I'll let my kids pee while going 60mph" doesn't imply that they will run loose and free while in the RV.
It's basically if they say they gotta pee, they can go pee, then back to the seat.
There is common sense with seat belts. In the heat of traffic, on ice, or "uncomfortable roads", no way they aren't getting out.
But if we are in West Texas in broad daylight on those lonely stretches of straight roads with no other cars in sight & vanishing point visibility, I have no problem with the kids getting up to go pee.
I hate living by what ifs, I like living by what is.
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elbmiNrM
Atlanta
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crasster wrote:I went through the first 16 years of my life without a seat belt.
I hate living by what ifs, I like living by what is.
You asked for opinions. You don't have to take my advice. They are your kids.
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