Cougargm
NE PA
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We looked at a nice used Four Winds 23A in very good condition the other day. It has several plusses, such as not having a window in the bunk area above the cab, having all new tires, low mileage and is reasonably priced.
This model makes use of every possible square inch; it has a decent amount of indoor storage for a small MH. There's not much outdoor/basement storage but I think a hitch carrier could remedy that problem. What we're wondering is whether or not this floorplan would be too small for a family of two adults and three kids, ages 10,7 and 5, or if we will outgrow it too soon. There's enough sleeping space utilizing the dinette and the single bunk up top (there's also a cabinet up there). There's not much floorspace in the dinette/kitchen area (where kids might pass you going to the bathroom while you're cooking something but I think that's true of most non-slideout models.
Our intent is for multi-use: some weekends at various campgrounds and some destination traveling, taking trips to historic sites, etc where we'll be out much of the day site seeing.
Anyone experience family camping in a smaller MH? Any suggestions besides the hitch carrier to expand storage? Thanks in advance!
* This post was
edited 06/29/09 10:31pm by Cougargm *
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nurvguy
california
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Joined: 01/31/2006
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We have a 21" and one child. For the three of us it works.We have taken a fourth person. We don't spend much time inside the coach. However, there are times when it's busy. Getting dressed and ready for the day can be a challenge as getting ready to call it a night. I will admit there are times it feels small.
Storage for us is not too much a problem. We have been on 10 day trips. The key is to not take items that you can do without and factor in a trip to the laundrymat on extended trips for clothes. Also, be prepared to move and store things all over and putting items in places you not would normally. Ie: bunk area,corner bed,shower,bathroom etc.
Good luck and have fun!
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bldrbuck
Boulder, Colorado
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If it does not have at least one large slide out you will be too crowded. My wife says our 5er is too small with just the two of us and the dogs.
93 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel, DRW, Crew Cab. PullRite Hitch. 90 Nomad 28' 5er, 375 Watts Solar, 2800 Watt Yamaha Generator, 1750 Watt Inverter, 4 Trogan T105 Batteries, Spare tire and wheel and folding ladder. Me, wife and 2 spoiled Maltise furkids.
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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two adults and three kids? NO.
bumpy
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Kamphiker
South Florida (this 'aint paradise anymore)
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Joined: 07/09/2002
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depends on the type of Camping / RVing you like OR intend to do.
If you like outdoors camping at state / National Parks and the kids want to take tent along and camp outside in good weather. If you do most of your cooking outdoors. If you sit around campfires at night. If you don't pack full change of clothes for a week camping trip or need every pot and pan a gourmet cook wants.... Then it will work
If on the other hand everyone has to have their own bed, cabinet for clothes, Place to sit around the dinning table, couch to sit for hours and watch TV, Only want to RV in resorts. You more than likely will not use the Rv as much as you thought you would.
We have a 24 ft Winnebago Outlook no slide 2 adults and 1 growing teenager It works for us with plenty of storage. We Prefer Stat / National Parks The overhead bunk is the teenagers. The TV is in a lousy location but no where else really to put it. We have camped anywhere from 10 day to overniter trips. You just have to learn what not to take along. Our selection of the 24' (24'9" bumper to bumper) is / was due to parking restrictions at home (I won't use a RV storage lot) and the best floorplan for us. The 24' with slideouts do not have a dedicated bed.
Concerns on your possible RV are as follows:
* Which chassis is under the RV
* Maximum loaded weight with all of passengers and "STUFF"
is there enough capacity for your needs.
Selecting a RV is all about compromise.
2006 Winnebago Outlook WF324V
2009 Honda CR-V 2wd TOAD ......Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains NP
Last Camping trip ->Elkmont Summer 2009 slide show
NEW-> Memories of OLD Miami, Fla. (pictures)
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marknpat
Colorado
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IMHO you've already "outgrown" the motorhome and your kids aren't even finished growing. In addition to the cramped interior space, you need to consider the weight capacity of the MH. You likely would find that with your family onboard (which must be used for the weight considerations) and the MH storage compartments nearly full you may be exceeding the weight capacity of the MH, which does open another set of problems. I'd seriously consider something a bit larger.
Mark and Pat
09 Itasca Cambria 28B
08 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited (TOAD)
06 Jeep GC Overland 4x4 5.7 Hemi
"Fun is standard, Pavement is optional" JEEP
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ron.dittmer
We Danced & Won, Check Out My Website
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To the original posting question.
I do not feel it a good idea for 5 of you to be in a 23 foot RV with some of you (likely Mom and Dad) sleeping on a dinette or couch converted into a bed. That will get old very quickly.
I strongly advise you search out a class-C unit like klhutch has on this forum. His is a few years old, having a huge rear corner queen bed for Mom and Dad, and the common huge bed over the cab for the kids. If one kid insisted on their own bed, you could convert the dinette. Because of the big rear corner queen bed, it has a massive outdoor storage compartment that is big enough to fit all of you inside. The beauty of it all is that the RV is no longer than the one you are considering. It might be a tad bit shorter. I don't know the name of klhutch's class-C. Do a search on klhutch to find his postings, and I am sure you will find what he has.
It is perfect for a family of 5 with lots of adequate day-time room too. They were not expensive when new either.
We Danced The Rumba.
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klhutch
Sububan Chicago
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We have a very similar Coachmen Freelander 2130QB, although ours is actually the Camping World branded "Freedom Express FX21QB". As you observe that floor plan is very efficient. We don't have any children. We do have three medium sized dogs and we find the floor plan works well with them. A slide out would help. On the other hand the Coachmen has a U shaped dinette that eats a little more floor space than the traditional dinette on the Four Winds model so that gives you some of the advantage that a slide out will give you. Morning shower time is going to stretch the floor plan and your patience to their limits unless some of you volunteer to use the campground showers! Overall we liked this model and the Four Winds that you are looking at equally well, we just got a better deal at the Camping World dealer. At the time Gulfstream (aka Conquest) made a very similar model, the 6237, which is still in their catalog. So there should be used models from all three companies with very similar floor plans.
As Ron says, our model has a huge storage area under that rear queen bed and at the time we were looking the Four Winds 23A had one too. Maybe the one you are looking at was made before that feature was added but maybe it is there and you overlooked it. The Four Winds was a bit smaller at 70 cubic feet versus the Coachmen's 102 cubic feet and the Gulfstream had one too at 88 cubic feet. All three would have worked great for us. My wife felt that the Gulfstream "decorating" effort was beyond the pale so we only seriously considered the other two.
Ken
* This post was
edited 06/30/09 08:30am by klhutch *
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Bordercollie
Garden Grove, CA, USA
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We enjoyed camping when we were young, with little kids, in our VW bus conversion and later in our Dodge bubble top Maxi Van conversion. Anyhing was better than our surplus army tent. With an awning, and spending most time outside, we were happy. As we got older and kids left home, we bouught a used 23 footer Class C for us two and two border collies and "stuff". Sleeping accomodations were uncomfortable, very little storage space, used shower. etc for temporary storage bags and boxes, too much clutter. Finally ended up with a Tioga 26Q, just enough room for us two and two dogs, plenty of storage space, and rear RV queen bedroom. Try sleeping in the overhead or lumpy convertible couch for a few nights before you buy a 22-23 foot Class C. (Not good for arthritics, etc) Can take kids and grandkids for short stays, they sleep in overhead or on convertable dinette. Wouldn't want anything longer or shorter.
Slides are nice but add weight and complication.
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cruising spud
Pennsylvania
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Would the motor home be big enough? In my opinion-no. Just the logistics of moving around in the morning, not getting in each others way, etc, would be hard. Plus, the kids grow up and get bigger very quickly. With the economy the way it is right now, I would try and make sure that the rv I bought today would work for my family for many years down the road. My opinion.
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