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#1227375 - 08/05/09 12:31 PM
Motor Home vs Camper
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,409
SW GA
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Hopefully, I'll retire in a few months and am considering buying either a motor home that will be able to pull my little Honda Element or buying a camper (no 5th wheel!) that can be pulled with a pickup. No matter which I decide to get, it must have a cargo area in the back since I'll be taking it to craft shows, gourd shows, Indian festivals, etc.
Those of you with either a motor home or camper, why did you decide on the one you have? Do you wish you'd gotten the other? Have you had both and what were the pluses and minuses of each. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreaciated!
Since I'll be driving/pulling it myself, it will not be one of the larger units no matter which I decide on.
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Semiretired. Working parttime at Historic Westville as a tour guide.
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#1227385 - 08/05/09 12:46 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
Bagweaver
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Power Poster
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,132
Somewhere in the middle
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Personally I prefer the camper pulled by truck. I camp with a group everyyear after school lets out (about 10-14 families). In our group we have everything from tents to large rv. We are the pop up pulled by truck. Would like to move up to a 24 foot pull behind.
I like the truck/pulling because of my familiarity with my truck and the storage in the bed. The 5th wheelers are easier to pull and have storage under them, so some day I would like one of those, but not for some time.
The folks who have the RV have a 24 ft Toga and they pull a trailer behind it for storage.
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#1227428 - 08/05/09 01:40 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
Bullseye
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100 Club
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 190
TX
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Voice of experience here - tent,popup tent trailer, motorhome,and finally 5th wheel I would definitely get a popup tent trailer. The 5th wheel is very nice, but heavy and causes lots of gas consumption! The motorhome is what we called a "driveway queen". Unless you use it A LOT, it's not always as dependable as you would like. If something mechanically goes wrong with the engine - you are screwed! The popups nowadays even come with slides and pack a lot of space into a small area. Just be sure you can open the door when it is almost down and pack stuff in it. GOOD LUCK!
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#1227449 - 08/05/09 02:13 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
QueenBB
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,409
SW GA
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I really don't think a pop up would work since I have so much merchandise that I'd have to haul too. That's why I want a camper/motor home with the storage area in the back. I just don't know whether to go the camper route or the motor home route. I have friends that are forever having trouble with their motor home engine. I'm leaning toward camper, but really didn't want to give up my little Element!
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Semiretired. Working parttime at Historic Westville as a tour guide.
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#1227501 - 08/05/09 03:08 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
DD Regs
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Power Poster
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,984
FINALLY ABOVE the gnat line
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I've been looking at the little A-liner campers on the internet - anyone have any experience with those?
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My Opinion Only.
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#1227503 - 08/05/09 03:14 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
waldensouth
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10K Club
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 20,656
The Swamp
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Whatever I got, I'd make sure it was a gooseneck/5th wheel, not a pull-behind...for stability.
The wind drag on pull behinds is unreal causing awful stability problems on the interstate. Having pulled more horse trailers than campers, my experience is limited but I nearly had a nervous breakdown trying to pull a pull behind (not pop-up) camper down I75, it was whipping all over the place.
as far as horse trailers go...I'll never own another bumper pull....never.
Last edited by RR joker; 08/05/09 03:14 PM.
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My opinion only. Not legal advice. Say you'll haunt me - Stone Sour
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#1227506 - 08/05/09 03:18 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
waldensouth
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10K Club
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,244
Stuck w/Avatar
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We have friends who have an RV and they love it, but it's a HUGE $$$ burden. Unless you're going to live on the road, I wouldn't recommend this option.
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#1227523 - 08/05/09 03:30 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
Bacon Boy
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Power Poster
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,266
Chillin an grillin
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We have a pull behind and love it, have to get the stability bars so it's a more managable to pull. We thought about motorhome but:
a. they're expensive b. you have to maintain full coverage insurance on it c. you have to pay more expensive vehicle registration on it d. you have to have it's oil changed and all of the other mechanical expenses that go along with owning another vehicle.
The trailer is cheap in comparison. One drawback, we have to take 2 trucks to pull take the boat too.
Last edited by Boatn Shasta; 08/05/09 04:02 PM.
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#1227527 - 08/05/09 03:31 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
bOaty
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10K Club
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,766
Turnpike Exit 10
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what is a 5th wheel?
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Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain
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#1227545 - 08/05/09 03:42 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
Retired DQ
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Power Poster
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,132
Somewhere in the middle
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It is a trailer with a "gooseneck" that hooks onto the truck inside the bed between the two rear wheels.
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#1227590 - 08/05/09 04:14 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
DD Regs
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10K Club
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,766
Turnpike Exit 10
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OK... ty
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Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain
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#1227684 - 08/05/09 05:59 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
waldensouth
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,409
SW GA
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Walden,
I'd considered one of those until I decided to retire and do more festivals. My friends that I do these events with have a camper, but after more than a couple of days, three people just get to be too many in one camper.
Looked inside a few at one of the Byron GA camper dealerships.
Last edited by Oldie But Goldie; 08/05/09 06:00 PM.
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Semiretired. Working parttime at Historic Westville as a tour guide.
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#1227687 - 08/05/09 06:03 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
Bagweaver
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10K Club
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 18,989
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Did someone say motorboat? Home! I mean home.
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#1227972 - 08/05/09 11:50 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
A_G
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Power Poster
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,389
Looking for My Happy Place....
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We just purchased a 22 ft. pop up. Very affordable and practicle no affect on the our gas mileage. We are really enjoying it. A couple of years down the road we may switch to a pull behind camper.
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What would you do if you knew you could not fail? ~ Dr. R Schuller
My opinion only.
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#1228716 - 08/06/09 07:56 PM
Re: Motor Home vs Camper
Tigg
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100 Club
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 126
South of Canadian Border
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We've had both a motor home and 2 campers. Right now we have a 24' camper that we leave parked at a campground year around and that is our summer cabin. My husband is retiring next year and thats when I get a 30' with 2 slides!! When the kids were at home the motor home was wonderful. I agree that the "toy haulers" might be something you would like. They have extra sleep space in the back, but if you needed it for storage of crafts, you would have it.
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