When it comes to motorhomes, FMCAers have their favorites, for a variety of reasons. Here’s a sampling of the answers we received in reply to the question:
If you have owned more than one motorhome, which has been your favorite, and why?
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We have been living full-time in our RVs for six years now. We have had seven different RVs in the past 15 years, including a 40-foot MCI bus conversion we did ourselves; an 18-foot Thomas bus we converted for weekend camping; and our current 1997 Gulf Stream Yellowstone. The hardest to part with was the Thomas. But our current Gulf Stream is wonderful. When we remodel a motorhome (new wall paint, carpeting, curtains, and sofa upholstery), we always do away with the booth, add in a long counter with additional under-counter storage, and remodel from that point on. It becomes our home, and home is where the heart is.
Deb Schmalshof, F322061
Cumming, Georgia
We’ve owned five motorhomes, and our favorite has been a GMC (front-wheel drive).
We purchased our first GMC, a 1976 GMC Eleganza II, in 1976. Each of our three children had their own bed, including the couch that converted to a bunk bed. When we began traveling alone, this coach served us very well driving the blue roads and was small enough to maneuver in small city parks “” our favorite place to overnight. The great fuel mileage of GMCs (9.5 to 12 mpg) and superb ride have held our interest. After 17 years, we sold this coach for exactly what we paid for it, a price that exceeded the manufacturer’s suggested retail in 1976! The odometer read 276,000 versus 38,000 in 1988. Our current GMC is older “” a 1973 “” but with far fewer miles. Who says RV ownership has to be costly?
Steve & Gail Ault, F106024
Green Valley, Arizona
Our favorite motorhome has to be our first one. We bought a new 23-foot 1975 Country Squire Type C on a Dodge chassis, which was perfect for our young family on vacations and weekend ventures. A fold-up table in the back extended in front of the rear couch to make a bed for our two boys, and the dinette was big enough for the two girls. Mom and Pop got the queen-size overhead bed in front. The motorhome was great for traveling, as the boys had their table to play at and the girls had the dinette. Being an early-riser, I usually started on the road about 6:00 a.m. and would stop about 8:00 a.m. By breakfast time, I had covered about 100 miles. That way we could pull off the road early and let the kids use the campground pool for a while. We’ve had bigger and fancier motorhomes, but none we enjoyed more.
Ed Kutschat, F170580
El Paso, Texas
We live in our motorhome about eight months each year, six of those in Mesa, Arizona. We have had five motorhomes since 1988: two Winnebagos and three Holiday Ramblers. All have been really good as far as living quarters and maintenance are concerned. Our favorite is our current quad-slide Holiday Rambler 40-foot PDQ, which is comfortable and has great living space. We chose light maple wood this time, which really brightens the interior. We have a computer table up front behind the driver’s seat with a swivel chair, and a four-door refrigerator. We never opt for the washer and dryer, as we prefer using that space for storage, and most parks have laundry facilities. We also have a 400 ISL Cummins engine, which gives us all the power we need in the mountains. The motorhome drives like a dream and performs great.
Grant & Nancy Joy, F170907
Marshall, Minnesota
Having owned just one gas-powered motorhome before, we have been thoroughly spoiled by our current 1996 U270 Foretravel. Imagine: not one slideout! The workmanship is unparalleled on this 40,000-pound machine, and the ease by which she handles is surely comforting. But the real reason we love our motorhome is the multitude of memories generated by these past 10 years of full-time traveling. This is OUR home, all 36 feet of it! The close quarters offer an intimacy that enhances a safe, cozy feeing whenever the wind blows, the rain pelts against the roof, or sunshine shimmers on our dashboard decorations. We cherish the many opportunities we have enjoyed volunteering in nearly 20 state parks throughout the country. Our Foretravel has accumulated more than 100,000 miles, but we’ve hardly “broken her in.”
Susan Beaman, F245684
FMCA Mail Forwarding
Our favorite of the three motorhomes we’ve owned is our current 36-foot 2009 Alpine Coach Limited. The two front slideouts provide a spacious living area; the extra inches to the ceiling keep my 6-foot-5-inch husband from banging his head, and the side-opening bay doors also prevent a lot of bumps on the head. The electric leg rest on the copilot seat makes the ride so comfortable. The 425-horsepower Cummins engine tows our Avalanche through any terrain or weather without overheating, and the automatic air leveling system is quick and precise, whether we are driving down the road or parking. The two-stage engine braking system keeps the coach at a constant speed going down the steepest hills. We always look forward to our next trip!
Jean Gunderson, F388264
Yakima, Washington
Future questions:
1. What is your favorite Southwest destination (park, city, tourist attraction, etc.)?
2. During a motorhome trip, how do you peacefully coexist with other occupants (spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.)?
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