Just left the Toronto RV show and...

[MicheleF]

We haven't RV'd yet, but it's been our lifelong plan to spend the bulk of our early retirement doing so.  That time is approaching, and we're ready to dip our toes into the RV waters.  We spent about 7 hours at the Toronto RV show yesterday and today, and came away almost more confused than we were going in.  For instance:

In a Class A motorhome, one that is fully stocked for "living in" - is there really a lot of noise during travel?  One FW salesperson told us that he gave up his Class A except for short hops (he can take what he wants off of the lot) because the noise of dishes, cans, and silverware bouncing around was too much to bear.

On a FW or a TT - does the amount of space between the axles really make a big difference?  We were told that if the double wheels are too close together, it causes much more sway.

Is a tow trailer really easier to tow than a Fifth Wheel?  Which is easier to back-up?

Does a "bowed out" FW really make a difference when turning?

All the RV's had TV's in them - do you have to get a satellite dish on the RV to watch TV?  (that sounds like an obvious answer, but I'm wondering if parks have cable hook-up).

How hard is it to tow or FW in the mountains of West Virginia or the Rockies of Canada?

Thanks -
Michele

 

[Kim (skyking4ar2) Bertram]

In a Class A motorhome, one that is fully stocked for "living in" - is there really a lot of noise during travel?  One FW salesperson told us that he gave up his Class A except for short hops (he can take what he wants off of the lot) because the noise of dishes, cans, and silverware bouncing around was too much to bear.

Welcome to the Forum, Michelle!

I am only going to take time to answer the question that made me roll on the floor laughing...the noise thing...

Properly packed and stored, ours has never made a sound going down the road unless we hit a major chuckhole. Some of the fragile things are wrapped in towels in drawers, and properly stowed cupboards are not an issue.

A diesel pusher, if you go that route, is one of the quietest rides you'll ever enjoy.

Lots of experience here will answer your other questions, but thanks for giving me a chuckle! That might be the lamest (is that a word?) excuse not to have fun I have heard lately. And believe me, this is the best fun you will ever have!

Enjoy the resources of the Forum and ask plenty of questions.

 

[Kevin Means]

Hi Michelle...

I'll second what Kim said about the noise issue. We've owned two Class As over the past 15 years (both front-engine gas coaches), and they can be a little noisey compared to, for example, a nice car or pickup. Most manufacturers have done a pretty good job of reducing engine noise on newer coaches, but rear-engine diesel coaches are usually much quieter. Some older front-engine coaches can be downright fatigueing,  but with a little work around the engine compartment and windows, you can often quiet them down, significantly, And like Kim also said, if you take the time to stow and pack loose items properly, it will cut down a lot on the rattles.

Welcome to the forum!

Kev

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

You can cut way down on the rattles of dishes and equipment, but I don't think anybody has ever eliminated it. Motorhome owners get used to it, though.

Some years ago we were touring Alaska in a front engine gas coach and took a lot of videos while driving. The visuals were fine, but we were astounded by the amount of background noise the camera picked up.  Rattles, squeaks, thumps, and a buzzy roar from engine area. It was obvious on the videos that we had raised our voices substantially to talk to each other, even though we weren't particularly aware of it when riding.

 

[SeilerBird]

In a Class A motorhome, one that is fully stocked for "living in" - is there really a lot of noise during travel?  One FW salesperson told us that he gave up his Class A except for short hops (he can take what he wants off of the lot) because the noise of dishes, cans, and silverware bouncing around was too much to bear.

That is way too funny. I live in a class A full time and noise has never been an issue. I don't have a toad so I use my RV for short and long hops.

All the RV's had TV's in them - do you have to get a satellite dish on the RV to watch TV?  (that sounds like an obvious answer, but I'm wondering if parks have cable hook-up).

A satellite dish is not necessary. Most all RVs have over the air antennas which work quite well. Most but not all RV parks have cable TV hookups.

 

[Hfx_Cdn]

    Welcome to the Forum and the first rule that you must learn, even in Hogtown, is that NEVER, again NEVER LISTEN TO WHAT A SALESMAN TELLS YOU!  As stated above, yes since you are in a moving vehicle, there will be road and vehicle noise.  We each have our own tolerances to how much is too much, and we each seek and receive different solutions.  But, there is little doubt that a diesel Class A will provide the most comfortable quietest ride on the road, bar none.
    We have an older DP, and we were side swiped on the TCH just west of Winnipeg last spring.  One of the major damages was that they rode up on the exhaust and dislocated the muffler.  We chose to drive it back to the Maritimes to get all the repairs done at the same time.  DW and I barely notice the noise since it is 30+ feet behind and we were moving at 110 KPH.  As for contents noise, we used to place plastic between every plate, pot etc, and wrap all the glasses.  We stopped doing so as the rig is stable enough that nothing moves except on the rare occasion if we go over a major dip while parking.
  DW is very noise conscious and if we can get by with a 12 year old entry model Class A, a newer one with limited upgrades will more than satisfy your needs.

Ed

 

[Joezeppy]

Welcome to the forum, Michele. We were at a show yesterday, too - in Syracuse NY. We're not in the market to buy but it's always fun to go kicking tires and see what's new!

 

[Conquest aka Robert]

Welcome

  We went to a show on SAT. The sales people would sell their own mother don't beleive a word they say. The noise is no worse than any other vehicle going down the road. Like stated everything in it's place and a place for everything. When we got our first RV the PO had drawer anti-slip mats between all the dishes they worked GREAT never had rattles.

 

[Pierat]

You have a lot of good questions, and so did we when we started, about four years ago. Fortunately, we were able to short circuit some of the issues by attending RV seminars, especially Life on Wheels, which ended a couple of years ago when the principal passed away. If you can find an RV rally or seminar that offers basic classes, you will probably find it worth your while to attend. RVSEF was giving "boot camp" classes a couple of years ago, don't know if they still are.

The Escapees RV Club offers "boot camp" but I don't know how close to you, or whether you are interested in joining (we think it's a great club, helps us in lots of ways). We attended the Arizona version of the Escapees boot camp a couple of years ago, and learned quite a bit even though we'd been on the road for a couple of years already at that time. They did have folks attending who did not yet have RVs, and offered classes on what to look for.

I don't tow, so can't really help with those other issues, although I did attend some towing classes a few years ago, and wheelbase issues can be important. Lots of experts here on the Forum, so I won't try to answer it. Best of luck in your search!

 

[ArdraF]

Hi Michelle and welcome to the RV Forum.

In a Class A motorhome, one that is fully stocked for "living in" - is there really a lot of noise during travel?  One FW salesperson told us that he gave up his Class A except for short hops (he can take what he wants off of the lot) because the noise of dishes, cans, and silverware bouncing around was too much to bear.

Well, poor baby. Like Kim I almost died laughing at that one.  That is a bunch of you know what.  We've owned five motorhomes over a 35+ year period and noise of things like dishes has never been an issue.  Many RV manufacturers today put carpet on the shelves so you really don't hear things rattle with that.  If there's no carpet, then use a roll of foamy shelf liner found in grocery and drug stores or places like Camping World.  Most of us don't carry a lot of glass because we don't want to clean up broken glass if something falls out of cupboard, but I have Corning dishes for baking and we use Corelle dishes.  The bigger issue is flatware and utensils sometimes get marked up from rubbing together.  Also I do use foam liners between skillets with a Teflon surface so they don't get scratched.  But none of those are noise issues.

Re television.  Most RVs have an over-the-air antenna but that might not work well in remote areas.  It's better in metropolitan areas that have local TV stations.  Yes, most RVs also have cable TV hookups, but many campgrounds do not subscribe to cable so there won't be a hookup for it on their utility box.  In addition, cable can be really crummy in some places.  On more than one occasion we've found one or two channels and at least one of them carried shows from multiple channels so there was no such thing as shows being on when you would expect them.  Programming and poor online guides make us avoid cable unless it's the only choice.  We much prefer DirecTV which we use at home and on the road except when there are too many trees or we're too far north (such as in Alaska) to make it workable.  So, there are three TV alternatives and you might need or use all three, depending on where you are located at any given time.

The reason you're more confused now than you were before the show is because too many people told you conflicting information.  Take what the salespeople tell you with a grain of salt.  If you join Escapees, Family Motor Coach Assocation, or Good Sam they have rallies where you can attend seminars on various subjects ranging from engines to generators to water filtering systems.  We learn more from one another and at rallies than we ever did at a show!  Also, many years ago when we were trying to decide the motorhome vs. trailer issue we subscribed to both Motorhome and Trailer Life magazines.  We read every issue from cover to cover and finally decided after our reading and going inside RVs at shows that we would prefer motorhomes over trailers.  You have determine how you're going to use the RV to make the decision.  If you're going to park for long periods of time then you'll probably prefer a trailer of some kind, but if you want to get out and see the country then you'll want to do more driving so a motorhome might be preferable.  I call this the "parker" vs. "traveler" decision.  Personally we're travelers and don't stay put for very long so a motorhome is more suitable for us.  Whatever you decide, you'll be embarking on a wonderful experience and lifestyle.

ArdraF

 

[muskoka guy]

Whatever the salesman has on the lot is the best thing going. Everything else is no good. Sounds like he didnt have any class A for sale.

 

[MicheleF]

Such friendly people, and such great advice!!  Thank you all so much.  I love the idea of taking out magazine subscriptions. 

Also - is it possible to attend a Rally (okay, what IS a rally?) if we don't have an RV of any type yet?

 

[Hfx_Cdn]

    A Rally is just what the name implies.  The rallies referenced by previous posters are sponsored by large organizations, such as FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) where RVrs from North America hold membership, and they have Regional Chapters.  So, every now and then, they have Get togethers or rallies at various location, some are regional and others are national/international.  It is at these large rallies that you will find the support that others have spoken about.
      If you read through this forum, you will note that we have Rallies and mini-Rallies, as well.  These are get togethers of people who frequent this forum, and while we usually do speak to each about things RV, or even help each other do minor repairs, they are more social and with no formal agenda.
    Sorry for the long answer to a short question, but whether with us or elsewhere, take in some rallies.  As for going to a Rally sans-RV, we do not discourage it, and I'm sure the larger ones would also welcome you.

Ed