It’s a subject that just won’t die around BangShift Mid-West right now: the recreational vehicle. Ever since our first tour of Rocky Mountain Race Week (and, honestly, before we said goodbye to the Chevy Cruze), we’ve been haphazardly discussing how an RV would work in our current system of vehicles. It’s a bit of a puzzle: on one hand, the costs of hotels would be minimized and I’d always have a place to stay close by. I’d also eat healthier, probably sleep better, and when I’m done there is no check-out BS to deal with. I just pack the boxes, top off the fuel tank and get back out onto the Interstate. In a normal year, I’m pushing between 10,000-15,000 miles of road time and I’m in hotels most weekends I’m working away from home. Makes sense, right?
Here’s the other side of the coin:
My idea of an RV looks like this EarthRoamer HD…which is about $1.7 million and a year long wait, at least.
Haley’s idea of an RV looks something like this Monaco Coach Emperor…and I don’t want to know how much.
Our budget:
In hindsight, I should’ve paid $4,900 for this Wide One-converted Dodge, but that’s in the past. And that’s not the point of today’s question. You see, I’ve spent most of the day tormenting myself over one-ton trucks and fifth-wheels, Craigslist options, tow-behinds that might work with the Angry Grandpa Chrysler (we do have a trailer hitch for that car) and other possibilities. So, be real and realistic…what RV suits you best? Do you need the big diesel pusher that is basically a single-wide with license plates, or would a Caravan with a pop-up roof be enough for you?
Sprinter converston RV. Stone-axe reliable, easy to drive and manuver. My wife has told me for almost 30 year, “No RV’s” (after we stopped racing the funnybike), but now is warming to the idea of one of those Sprinter conversions.
I’d want something that isn’t too big for easy storage and maneuvering, is built in a relatively leakproof way (no fiberglass sheets over plywood!), needs to be affordable, but could tow the Dart in an enclosed trailer if I had such a trailer. So that pretty much puts me in conversion van or short-bus conversion territory other than some oddities from the ’70s with one piece fiberglass roofs. The GMC front wheel drive chassis might qualify too.
Of course, with my warped sense of humor, what I might do given too much time and money would probably be to recreate the Herkimer Battle Jitney from Mystery Men.
Just got my 74 GMC with its new 488 stroker back on the road in time to go… nowhere. Now its a tire smoking portable executive suite (as opposed to a slow moving executive suite) Aluminum sheets over a welded aluminum frame with fiberglass end caps, torsion bars up front with air bags in the rear bogys for a smooth ride and good head room.
Look at a class c no different then a one ton box van to drive you can find a good deal on a used one.You will have room to move around and a real bath room.
Wife and I are going to buy a 28′ ATC toy hauler to tow with our F350. All aluminum chassis, roof, floor, even the cabinets. Nothing to wick moisture and rot. Super light too. 28 footer is under 7000lbs. Built way better than anything else on the market and believe me when I tell you we looked at them all.
Drag race weekend, camping, take the bikes or UTV we’re good to go. Set up, unhook the truck and you have something to drive around.
One con: They ain’t exactly givin’ them away.
Wait until this covid crap passes. Prices are through the roof.
No kidding. Now is not the time to buy, if you can avoid it. Same goes for boats. Even inflatable boat prices have gone nuts – I paid about $160 for an little raft when this started, and now I see the same rafts selling for $400 with a month of lead time!
The “poorman’s” Earthroamer would work for me. The one based off the F450/550. C’mon lottery numbers!