Gbono2: I haven?t been in this lifestyle very long, and like you, came here to gather information helpful to buying and using a motorhome. I?m a newbie. But, believe it or not, I can answer your questions. I can give you some advice that you asked for, and just a little that you didn?t ask for. (Hope you?ll excuse that, but it may be helpful as you go along.)
Like you, I have made some posts where the answers were just exasperating. I found two reasons for that, when I looked back at the frustrating threads
The first reason I found was that while they answered my question, it wasn?t what I wanted to hear. For example, I spent a lot of energy trying to find out how to tow my Volvo, within the weight limits of my MH and without modifications. The answer is - that cannot be done - which I didn?t want to hear. Took a while! This does not apply to you. What you want is doable.
The second reason is that some people answered the question I asked.
Yep! That?s what they did. The way I asked my question sent them off on the wrong path, though. What I really wanted to know, I hadn?t actually asked! So, I wait a day or so and ask the question, again. This time I zero in on what I actually want to know. Worked every time. Honestly, I made the same mistake, reading your questions that everyone else made.
In your initial post, you said, ?Also, any individual opinions would be welcome on this topic. I would appreciate any comments on the models that ar best for full time living.? Every response you got, including this one, is directly responsive to that post.
In your initial post, you also said, ?Could anyone indicate which manufacturers are high end, mid level & low end.? In your last post you make it very clear that this is really what you want. That is a sizeable job for even the most knowledgeable veterans, here. It?s a biggie!
That is really a very long list and I doubt that it would be usable. Like you said, yourself, there are a lot of manufacturers. But, such a list does exist, is easy to find, and in useable form! Every manufacturer makes all or nearly all of a selection, from ?Best? to ?Worst.? (Almost every - - )
Every manufacturer that I have wondered about has a web-site. All of them list their models - sub-brands - in a ranking order, either top to bottom or the reverse. For example, Tiffin at
http://www.tiffinmotorhomes.com/
Lists the Allegro first, that?s ?entry level,? - the top of the line will be to the right, and will be diesel. The other manufacturers will be similar. There are quite a few of them. Winnowing them out will have to be done by your own criteria. Apply what you learn about new units, to used units. They are pretty much consistent.
Among manufacturers, price will tell you what competes with what. That?s by difinition! At that point, personal prejudices and gossip/hearsay/rumor and anecdotal personal experience, mingled with technical knowledge and expertise enter the picture. Hard to tell which is which! It?s all opinion. You have to make the decision based upon your opinion.
In your second post, it appeared to me that you set an upper price limit at $100K. Later, it appears that sticking to that limit gave you an acid stomach. You withdrew it - I think. You seem to want to limit the selection work, and I sure don?t blame you for that! Gave me an acid stomach, several times! I can help you.
Discontinue looking at manufacturers and brands, and look for a single chassis. All motorhomes built on the chassis I am going to recommend are super-reliable quality. Several manufacturers make them, and there are no lemons. (Any lemon manufacturer got eliminated on his first or second unit. They are gone.)
I have very limited experience driving and watching the maintenance on this chassis, commercially, over several decades, more than just a few units. Never owned one, but I will when my boat comes in. (The boat is a bit over-due, late!) Quality is consistent with few or no blemishes that I know or have heard about. They are easy to recognize, with the chassis brand on the front, rather than the house manufacturer, sometimes, in large letters.
Look for ?PREVOST.? Available new or used, and in some considerable quantity. Save you a lot of work. If you were serious about the $100K upper limit, this may take some doing and such a unit may date a ways back. (I don?t recall seeing one.) It?ll still be good. Ignore the miles on the odometer. They don?t matter - six figures is routine and common, 7, not unheard of, commercially, I am told. Don?t think you?ll find a PREVOST RV with the engine or chassis worn out from miles driven. The house components can be cleaned, repaired, refurbished or replaced, reasonably, as needed. You won?t be disappointed.
Ray D