If your domicile state is Texas and if the GVWR plus toad is > 26,000 pounds, then you need a Class B exempt driver’s license (non-commercial version). As for me, I have a big Class C motorhome that can easily flat tow my GMC Canyon (2017 Jayco Greyhawk 29me). It is perfectly for solo camping and very easy to change tires myself if I have a blowout and the engine is easy to access. It is super comfortable as well and it can be legally driven with a Texas Class C driver’s license even while flat towing the GMC Canyon. Flat towing means no trailer or dolly to store at the campsite. Flat towing is quick and easy to hook up and put the transfer case in neutral. I just store the towing equipment in the storage cabinet in the back of RV while at the campsite. Having a huge windshield and bigger windows is wonderful for sight seeing on the road, but can draw in a lot of heat, especially during spring or summer. I would use reflective insulation on these windows and the windshield while at the campsite or boondocking. For me, unhooking the toad vehicle, and backing up in a campsite with a motorhome is a whole lot easier than backing up a travel trailer or a fifth wheel. Backing in a towable can be a royal pain in the rear.
Tanks for the info on Texas rules. We also prefer flat towing. We can unhook and go explore boondocking sites before driving the big MH into an area. And agree about the windshield. Definitely is not good for hot weather. Safe Travels!
It's a good idea to have an RV professionally inspected before buying. We review everything from top to bottom and can even take motor fluids for analysis. Most RV inspectors won't inspect anything over 20 years but some will.
@@RoamingWithRosie Hi Ya'ALL! I'm a newcomer. If U don't mind cpl ?s. Year of your Rig? Thoughts on Frame by Magna & thoughts on a 1994 Safari Sahara bus? Great show thus far.👍🏻
We just went full time and we bought a 25 year old class A 33 footer on an F53 chassis. Yes, it is old but has 40K miles and was taken care of and everything works as it should and it came with 6 new tires. We don't do payments, so our cash budget was 15K. This one was 11K from the original owner. I agree with the storage, high floor for views and just having lounging room separate from sleeping and eating space. We also kept our Toyota RAV4 but, unfortunately it is not towable so my wife just drives it when we move. Not ideal but, we could not afford another vehicle and the 4WD RAV has been a great vehicle for us. When it wears out we will find something we can flat tow. We do not move a lot, so it works for us for now. Thanks for your video.
Thanks for sharing your set up. Finding old RVs that were cared for is a treasure! We drove our car for the 1st year til we decided what fit us best too. Safe Travels! 😉
I'm a certified RV inspector. Something that many people don't know is they can have the fluids in their vehicle analyzed to see if there are any issues in the oil of the engine, generator oil, coolant, transmission and hydraulics. It's something to consider with an older vehicle, for piece of mind and know if there are any issues. LOTS to learn about RV maintenance.
We have a Class A diesel pusher. Our number one reason was the ride. That air suspension is pretty awesome. Also if it is raining out we don't have to get out of our truck, come around, and open our RV to get inside. We just park, unhook the seatbelt and we are in the RV. It is a straight shot back to the bathroom or kitchen. Like you we have a full size residential refrigerator. That is pretty nice. We tow a car four down too. We can be unhooked in under a minute and be free to go explore. Kitty stays in the RV. With three roof top air conditioners we know she is safe and comfortable. Her favorite thing seems to be sunbathing in that massive front window.
We almost bought a gas coach for our first RV and ended up with a 2001 Holiday Rambler diesel. I could tell the difference right away when I test drove it. I would never go with a gas coach especially after owning two diesel pushers. Dexter loves the window when we are gone. That's where he is whenever we come back to the RV. Thanks for watching!
We love our 2000 model Safari Trek 2480. 26ft total length. Easy to park. Take it anywhere, and lots of room with the bed lowering electrically from the ceiling when needed. Oh and I have another vehicle on the back. A Triumph Bonneville. Far more economical than a car.
Great video. We couldn't agree more with all your reasons for choosing an older Class A. We went FT 3 1/2 yrs ago in a 1999 class A gasser. Ours only had 28k miles, was well cared for and cost us only $15k. It's nice being debt free! It is rated at 26k lbs GCWR so we don't need any additional DL upgrade. This is an advantage of a gasser - they are much lighter than a diesel pusher, so less getting stuck in the mud and sand when boondocking, which we do mostly. Speaking of getting stuck, we are FMCA members too but dropped their roadside assistance a couple years ago when their rates doubled and went with Escapee's excellent $119 a year roadside assistance plan which includes recovery within 100ft of a maintained road or CG, among many other benefits too. A couple disadvantages of a fiver and truck with only one engine is you drive your big 8-10 Mpg dually wherever you go when unhitched - burning extra fuel and putting lots more high dollar miles on your tow vehicle. But a MH with a little 30+ Mpg 4-cylinder toad like we have is easier on gas, cheaper to maintain and repair, and easier to park and get around town with. We've found we put more mileage on our toad than our MH so this translates to a significant cost savings even with the extra insurance and registration costs of the toad. Plus, if you break down in the hot desert with a truck and fiver you have no way to go get help. If you are in the mountains and out of cell range that can be a real safety issue.
We almost bought a gas coach. Luckily we had it inspected and lot's of problems. We ended up with a 2001 Holiday Rambler DP and sold that and now we have the Alfa. We love it! Thanks for watching!
All great reasons. We have a class c and love it. However, like you said, there is no perfect RV. Our next one may be a class A, just because of the storage space. That is the one thing we are missing. Also, like that you can turn the driver chairs around for extra seating. Great video. Lynn and Danny
No perfect for sure! We could end up with a class c next. There's been lots of boondocking spots this past week we felt way to big to attempt . But if we go smaller, those front turning chairs would be important too. 😄
Yes, we have sent photos showing our coach and it hasn’t been an issue. There are some campgrounds that are real sticklers about the age of the coach. Thanks for watching!
Are the seats your sitting in, original to the rv of did you buy the aftermarket? Do you like them? Would you buy them again? We are looking to replace our theater seats in our travel trailer. Thanks
Those are an original design from Alfa Motorcoach. We actually dont like them as much as the ones we put in our last RV. They were really simple to get into the coach and more functional. I added the links to the 2 episodes we did on those. ua-cam.com/video/S9mtTJWHpuA/v-deo.html. And ua-cam.com/video/NDrT2vZEHBA/v-deo.html
I have friends with 5th wheels and diesel pick up trucks who all get worse mileage than my 45 foot class A as their smaller diesels have to work twice as hard and never get overdrive while towing trailers.
Glad you found Magnolia Beach, isn't it stunning? We agree with your reasons and add the real wood cabinets, solid surface counters, smooth ride and plenty of power to the list. With the Cat engine have you had any trouble getting it worked on? We decided to go even older to stay away from the potential for trouble with slides. Less room is the trade of course. Enjoying our 94 HR Navigator full time since 2/10/22. Thanks for sharing your adventures!
We haven't had any issues so far. Knock on wood, right? But the Alfa FB groups are very helpful . We know where to take it in AZ, but now we wont be based there. Where we're camped now, there's an old Airstream Motorhome. No slides. First thing I thought was, "well they dont have to worry about them breaking." Newer coaches are falling apart while these old girls just keep rollin' down the road.
Enjoyed your video, and subscribed. I agree with you on the Class A build quality. My son and I looked at all types of RVs for his off-grid living, while he built his house. The 5th wheels did seem flimsy compared to the Class A motor homes. We ended up finding a 2000 Holiday Rambler 36G Admiral. My son lived in it with his wife for 19 months off-grid on their 14 acres. Another plus with the motor home is you can start the engine and warm or cool the unit some with out running the onboard generator.
Glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for subscribing. We almost went with a 5th wheel and are so glad with that we went with the Class A. Thanks for watching!
I've had a couple Class A Motorhomes the one I bought now what I looked at is what chassis was under the coach body and how the coach body was constructed I want a aluminum frame and an aluminum exterior no slide outs and no computers so I ended up with a Holiday Rambler Limited gillig bus chassis 3208 cat everything old school a lot of these modern chassis Builders are having problems with the chassis that these motor coach bodies are on gillig is an excellent company to work with not familiar with any others and a lot of people don't like 3208 cats they got a bad reputation because they were used to transport 80,000 lbs that engine wasn't made for that my coach weighs 22000 lb it pushes it effortlessly I don't need 400 or 450 horsepower to go camping LOL and I don't need a bunch of computer controlled components what I did is bought an older unit Holiday Rambler made a good body in aluminum frame but the wiring is substandard in other words It's A Rat's Nest
Unfortunately there is no perfect motorhome. They all have their pros and cons. You just have to find what works for you. I still believe the older rigs were built better. Thanks for watching!
I have a '95 Spartan chassis pusher with the 5.9 cummins and an allison.. 34' no slides.. got it cheap with 44k miles, it's in great shape and plenty of power at 230hp
The window treatments in the Alfa were standard. We don't let you see them up close because they are showing their age. Rosie Too will be getting an update soon for sure.
Just found u guys. Really enjoyed it Your both very similar to us and I can’t tell if we lived close we’d probably be friends lol We are thinking about buying a class a and even considered selling the house and going full time I’m going to start watching all prior episodes but want to ask you a few questions right off the bat If it’s too much to answer I understand You shared you spent approx 50 k for your rv. That’s about our budget but I’m stuck on a concern from reading posts on RV FB sites regarding break downs. I am surprised how many talk about it really being a problem and VERY costly and problematic I understand things break and I’m a general handyman w plenty of tools and can handle anytning inside but motor and generator etc isn’t my thing My question is when you were shopping did you research brands or ?? Did you hire a inspector ? Have you heard people talking about how NOT to buy a certain year or after ?? Can you give me a idea after purchasing your rv y did you then also have to stick a bunch more $ into it ?? Oh one more question On another video you mentioned your solar system staying with 3 hrs of tv and computer you go to 40% power by 10pm Is that with A/C ?? You have 1200 watt panels and lithium batteries You didn’t say how many batteries you have. We like our A/C so the concern is boon docking staying comfortable. How big a system do u think / guess I need ? Thanks so much I’m subscribing
Nice to meet you! That's a lot to answer in this space and we really would like to share answers on what we can from our experience. Would you be able to send us a note on Facebook Messenger? facebook.com/RoamingWithRosie or email at RoamingwithRosie@hotmail.com. Then we can keep a chat going. Look forward to hearing from you.
Omg I never knew that. Well I was never going to be in Wyoming nor in a class A. Until recently when I learned my life has shifted and I need to move. Since I dispise Florida ans want to go out west I picked Wyoming. Already lived in Colorado and Utah and Montana..But anyways.....brought me to the oh crap! But I guess I can't afford a luxury bus like class A that's so big anyhow. Was looking more older just like yours here. I like the two pop outs each side making more living space, mine to be lived in.. Ok not sure now on diesel or gas now. Lol
A class A like ours can be found in decent condition for as low as $25k. But it is big. Shorter would be less. Important notes on diesel: Fuel is now more $, used to be less. More $ to repair. Harder to find place to repair. If an older diesel has low miles on it, it's not necessarily a good thing. These engines need to be kept going. Good luck. 😊
We have added two 3000 watt inverter chargers one for each side of the 50 amp service on the coach. We also have 1200 watts of solar and six Lithium Batteries. When we are boondocking the inverters take the 12 volt power from the lithium batteries and makes it so we can use the power to run our A/C, refrigerator, microwave, etc. The solar panels charge the batteries during daylight hours. If we need to we will run our generator to charge the batteries back up. We only have to run the generator if it's cloudy or raining outside. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!
No. Never park on typical sand. Quartzsite is hard packed rocks and dirt. We went to Magnolia Beach in Texas. It's crushed shell and perfect for big rigs & FREE! Here's that episode: ua-cam.com/video/hRbEDOv0HcE/v-deo.html
We spend most of our time in the Southwest where it’s a dry climate. Humidity isn’t a issue. If we were spending more time in areas with high humidity it would make sense. Thanks for watching!
Our motorhome is a 2006 Alfa Seeya. It's a diesel pusher. As far as where to buy, too many factors to anser that. First you need to decide what you'relooking for. If you decide you're interested in purchasing an Alfa, I can send a list of some for sale from the Alfa Owners Facebook group.
Hi guys long time don't comment on your videos. As always great content on your topics. We will look for an old Class A. Thanks for all the information and details on this video. Hope you have a great time stay safe. Enjoy your traveling. Zoe and Ramon
I'm sorry if that was confusing. We're talking about the older class a in the whole video which is about the older class a we own and some info would also be found in class a MH in general.
I was curious. What type of engines were/are in Rosie I / II ? I am looking at an older Monaco with C series Cummins 8.3L turbocharged. I think its 330hp. I am a retired Navy mechanic, looking forward to going thru it and hitting the road !
Rosie 1 was the Holiday Rambler with a Cummins 300HP. Rosie 2 the Alfa Has a Cat 350HP. The Cummins is a great motor. The 300HP was not enough power for our 36 FT rig. It was horrible up hill. Thanks for watching!
Interesting! -- QUESTION -- You RV exterior looks so much like the RV that a woman named Liz Amazing uses. She has a Alpha See Ya and it looks so much like yours.
Halfway through this video and I haven't heard any explanation as to the title why you chose a used class a. Might want to change the title of this video
Been trying to figure out how best to answer this in short format. I think that everyone is talking about how poorly current RVs are being built. They spend so much time in the shop. But, they're under new Warranties or at least you can purchase Warranties. You often cant get one for older RVs. Even if they were made well, it's important to know if previous owners kept up with maintenance and if that work was done well. Then you will also be spending on upkeep and replacing things as they wear out. It's best if you re handy so you can do a lot yourself. A good inspection before purchase is advised. These are not cheap but could save you a lot in the long run. Hope that helps. Best of luck. 😉
Get an older one that was well maintained. I would recommend a coach over a regular RV. Get one pre DEF if you can. I got a used Prevost. Stainless steel wont rust. In accidents they dont explode into a thousand pieces. They last two million km or more. New RVs depreciate a lot more than getting used. Just my thoughts.
@@RoamingWithRosie The whole Prevost frame is pretty much stainless steel and the H model has fiberglass sides. It pretty much can hardly rust any where.
Are you a member of Alfa owners on facebook? If not I would join. You can ask about any problem you might have and get numerous responses to help diagnose any issues you might have.
Im currently in the process of selling my house and im looking at a 2004 holiday rambler endeavor 40' diesel pusher with 55k on it hopefully my house sells soon so i can hit the road at least for the winter months i have a class a cdl license so i don't believe i have to get any special endorsements to drive it . Any recommendations on what i should look for when inspecting this rig before i purchase it ??
We paid an certified inspector to check out our rig. If you don’t do that. Make sure to open and close all the slides, test leveling system, run the generator, check the roof ac units, heating, fridge, water heater. Also check the ceiling for any discolouration that could be signs of leaks. An older rig will probably have some issues. You just want to make sure that it’s something you can fix or afford to have fixed. You’ll have to check to see if the state you domicile in requires and endorsement for anything over 26,000 lbs. If your CDL is still active then you don’t have to worry about that. I have a CDL as well. Good luck with the RV search and your new adventure. Thanks for watching!
Simple. We dont want to go to their business. So far we've encountered only one near Sedona where there is a ton of RV parks and lots of boondocking. Others who say on their website they have the right to refuse you upon arrival based on condition? I would never book it. What would we do if we were traveling somewhere and got turned away at the entrance? I get the need for it for some places, but 10 years is not old for the appearance of most rvs. There's a 1984 Airstream motorhome parked next to us now. It's so cool.
We dont know. It was unexpected and of course there's possibility for error. But driving 75 on I40 started with full tank, noted odometer, drove 3 hours, filled up again, did the math. It wasnt too hot out, so no a/c running. Had sun roof open part of it and rear windows cracked for our dog. Altitude was around 3,000.
@@RoamingWithRosie thank you..... no need to describe and talk features....viewers can see them all in the video....what they can't see is driving dynamics, MPG, craftsmanship, reliability, handling, power and torque, etc....these things are more important......
@@Aikynbreusov, you’re very rude & disrespectful! Not only that, you’re wrong! We do like hearing about the likes, dislikes & people engaging with us! I just can’t figure why so many of you disrespectful people leave such comments!!
NO. your chassis answer is wrong, there are some built on crappy ford truck frames and extended and will not ride right even off the showroom floor. My ASE cert and the other 12 are from Ford, i know a thing or two about the chassis. Only one good Ford chassis and one good Freightliner all the rest ticking down for failures. Full timed for a decade and with parks going to 10 yr rule, this will effect all of this, plus 9 states are going away from camping in any city limit like walmarts. I watched my brother get turned away from a crappy Klamath falls park with a 2022 trailer he bought 8 weeks earlier. Plus in 2024 labor day weekend COLORADO said every single park was full in the state, so full timing will be headed out, mainly because republicans can't figure a way to make you more miserable.
Older Rig have better GVWR newer models have cut cargo weight to nothing which is a big problem if you want to have a toad and gear this is acrossed all models we all know being overweight on the road cost you big money
If your domicile state is Texas and if the GVWR plus toad is > 26,000 pounds, then you need a Class B exempt driver’s license (non-commercial version). As for me, I have a big Class C motorhome that can easily flat tow my GMC Canyon (2017 Jayco Greyhawk 29me). It is perfectly for solo camping and very easy to change tires myself if I have a blowout and the engine is easy to access. It is super comfortable as well and it can be legally driven with a Texas Class C driver’s license even while flat towing the GMC Canyon. Flat towing means no trailer or dolly to store at the campsite. Flat towing is quick and easy to hook up and put the transfer case in neutral. I just store the towing equipment in the storage cabinet in the back of RV while at the campsite. Having a huge windshield and bigger windows is wonderful for sight seeing on the road, but can draw in a lot of heat, especially during spring or summer. I would use reflective insulation on these windows and the windshield while at the campsite or boondocking.
For me, unhooking the toad vehicle, and backing up in a campsite with a motorhome is a whole lot easier than backing up a travel trailer or a fifth wheel. Backing in a towable can be a royal pain in the rear.
Tanks for the info on Texas rules. We also prefer flat towing. We can unhook and go explore boondocking sites before driving the big MH into an area. And agree about the windshield. Definitely is not good for hot weather. Safe Travels!
Totally agree. 1998 National Tradewinds, Ford Focus toad.
Nationals have good bones. We love our 99 Tropical.
I'm kind of partial to older coaches. They just seam to be built better. Thanks for watching!
Interesting that I have seen more Alfa SeeYa’s over the past week than in the past year. They all looked good and were well cared for.
Most of the owners are extremely proud of their Alfas. And many are original owners. It's like time stood still after 2008 for them.
I just want to comment on how well Linda is informed and articulate in explaining the advantages of a Class A
Thank you for your kind remarks. ☺️
It's a good idea to have an RV professionally inspected before buying. We review everything from top to bottom and can even take motor fluids for analysis. Most RV inspectors won't inspect anything over 20 years but some will.
We had it done and I think it's a small price to pay for piece of mind.
@@RoamingWithRosie
Hi Ya'ALL!
I'm a newcomer.
If U don't mind cpl ?s.
Year of your Rig?
Thoughts on Frame by Magna & thoughts on a 1994 Safari Sahara bus?
Great show thus far.👍🏻
Not sure what cpl is. It's a 2006. Our friends @Travelingenablers purchase a Safari Bus. We don't know much about it, but they love it.
@@RoamingWithRosie
Thank You for your reply man.
The (cpl)?s) Simply an abbreviation for couple questions. 👍🏻
We bought a 2004 Monaco Diplomat 40' 2 slide. Absolutely love it. I added a huge solar system to it for boondocking.
We almost bought a Monaco! Another well built older Class A. Well done!
the main reason is build quality
we have a 2004 tiffin phaeton
we call it the war machine cuz it is a serious beast!!!!!
Haha! Totally built to last!
We just went full time and we bought a 25 year old class A 33 footer on an F53 chassis. Yes, it is old but has 40K miles and was taken care of and everything works as it should and it came with 6 new tires.
We don't do payments, so our cash budget was 15K. This one was 11K from the original owner.
I agree with the storage, high floor for views and just having lounging room separate from sleeping and eating space. We also kept our Toyota RAV4 but, unfortunately it is not towable so my wife just drives it when we move. Not ideal but, we could not afford another vehicle and the 4WD RAV has been a great vehicle for us. When it wears out we will find something we can flat tow.
We do not move a lot, so it works for us for now. Thanks for your video.
Thanks for sharing your set up. Finding old RVs that were cared for is a treasure! We drove our car for the 1st year til we decided what fit us best too. Safe Travels! 😉
I'm a certified RV inspector. Something that many people don't know is they can have the fluids in their vehicle analyzed to see if there are any issues in the oil of the engine, generator oil, coolant, transmission and hydraulics. It's something to consider with an older vehicle, for piece of mind and know if there are any issues. LOTS to learn about RV maintenance.
We have a Class A diesel pusher. Our number one reason was the ride. That air suspension is pretty awesome. Also if it is raining out we don't have to get out of our truck, come around, and open our RV to get inside. We just park, unhook the seatbelt and we are in the RV. It is a straight shot back to the bathroom or kitchen. Like you we have a full size residential refrigerator. That is pretty nice. We tow a car four down too. We can be unhooked in under a minute and be free to go explore. Kitty stays in the RV. With three roof top air conditioners we know she is safe and comfortable. Her favorite thing seems to be sunbathing in that massive front window.
We almost bought a gas coach for our first RV and ended up with a 2001 Holiday Rambler diesel. I could tell the difference right away when I test drove it. I would never go with a gas coach especially after owning two diesel pushers. Dexter loves the window when we are gone. That's where he is whenever we come back to the RV. Thanks for watching!
7:47 ''Wallydocking''
New to me, perfect...😂
😁
I have to agree with your reasons. I love my ‘03 Beaver Monterey. Full time since September 2021.
Good to hear from you. Your just ahead of us. Hope it's been a smooth journey!
We love our 2000 model Safari Trek 2480. 26ft total length. Easy to park. Take it anywhere, and lots of room with the bed lowering electrically from the ceiling when needed. Oh and I have another vehicle on the back. A Triumph Bonneville. Far more economical than a car.
Triumph Bonneville is a lot more fun to ride!! Thanks for watching.
Great video. We couldn't agree more with all your reasons for choosing an older Class A. We went FT 3 1/2 yrs ago in a 1999 class A gasser. Ours only had 28k miles, was well cared for and cost us only $15k. It's nice being debt free! It is rated at 26k lbs GCWR so we don't need any additional DL upgrade. This is an advantage of a gasser - they are much lighter than a diesel pusher, so less getting stuck in the mud and sand when boondocking, which we do mostly. Speaking of getting stuck, we are FMCA members too but dropped their roadside assistance a couple years ago when their rates doubled and went with Escapee's excellent $119 a year roadside assistance plan which includes recovery within 100ft of a maintained road or CG, among many other benefits too.
A couple disadvantages of a fiver and truck with only one engine is you drive your big 8-10 Mpg dually wherever you go when unhitched - burning extra fuel and putting lots more high dollar miles on your tow vehicle. But a MH with a little 30+ Mpg 4-cylinder toad like we have is easier on gas, cheaper to maintain and repair, and easier to park and get around town with. We've found we put more mileage on our toad than our MH so this translates to a significant cost savings even with the extra insurance and registration costs of the toad. Plus, if you break down in the hot desert with a truck and fiver you have no way to go get help. If you are in the mountains and out of cell range that can be a real safety issue.
We have 2000 A-Class 33ft gasser and love it!
Thank you both for taking the time to share such valuable information with all of us. 🙂 Dexter is so handsome! 💛🐾🦴🐾💙
Our pleasure. Thanks for watching. (We shared your message with Dexter. 🐾)
Great Video and good advice! And yes. Alfa owners are proud of them! We love Big Betty, our 2004 Alfa SeeYa!
Yeppers! Love the name, Big Betty. Big and not sleek. We're considering painting a Beluga Whale on the sides. LOL.
I wouldn’t travel in anything but my class A DP -we love it ❤️🚌🇺🇸
We almost bought a gas coach. Luckily we had it inspected and lot's of problems. We ended up with a 2001 Holiday Rambler DP and sold that and now we have the Alfa. We love it! Thanks for watching!
All great reasons. We have a class c and love it. However, like you said, there is no perfect RV. Our next one may be a class A, just because of the storage space. That is the one thing we are missing. Also, like that you can turn the driver chairs around for extra seating. Great video. Lynn and Danny
No perfect for sure! We could end up with a class c next. There's been lots of boondocking spots this past week we felt way to big to attempt . But if we go smaller, those front turning chairs would be important too. 😄
I was watching videos and there we are parked next to you at Magnolia beach
We're you in one of the Class As parallel to the water? If you see us again, come say hi! Certainly can't miss the giant Beluga Whale.
1 minute mark rockwood silver truck 2 dogs I think I said hello you were trying to leave we were there again this November always a nice place
Have you ever encountered a campground that has set age limit on your coach ? To camp
Yes, we have sent photos showing our coach and it hasn’t been an issue. There are some campgrounds that are real sticklers about the age of the coach.
Thanks for watching!
Are the seats your sitting in, original to the rv of did you buy the aftermarket? Do you like them? Would you buy them again? We are looking to replace our theater seats in our travel trailer. Thanks
Those are an original design from Alfa Motorcoach. We actually dont like them as much as the ones we put in our last RV. They were really simple to get into the coach and more functional. I added the links to the 2 episodes we did on those. ua-cam.com/video/S9mtTJWHpuA/v-deo.html. And ua-cam.com/video/NDrT2vZEHBA/v-deo.html
All R.V. s have their own advantages. I have a '06 diesel pusher as well. Love it.
Absolutely!
I have friends with 5th wheels and diesel pick up trucks who all get worse mileage than my 45 foot class A as their smaller diesels have to work twice as hard and never get overdrive while towing trailers.
We've seen the same thing. Surprising. Thanks for sharing that.
Glad you found Magnolia Beach, isn't it stunning? We agree with your reasons and add the real wood cabinets, solid surface counters, smooth ride and plenty of power to the list. With the Cat engine have you had any trouble getting it worked on? We decided to go even older to stay away from the potential for trouble with slides. Less room is the trade of course. Enjoying our 94 HR Navigator full time since 2/10/22. Thanks for sharing your adventures!
We haven't had any issues so far. Knock on wood, right? But the Alfa FB groups are very helpful . We know where to take it in AZ, but now we wont be based there.
Where we're camped now, there's an old Airstream Motorhome. No slides. First thing I thought was, "well they dont have to worry about them breaking."
Newer coaches are falling apart while these old girls just keep rollin' down the road.
Great topic explained really well.. Everyone needs to do lots of hands on research before buying.. Thanks RWR
Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!
Good information, well done
Thank you.
Enjoyed your video, and subscribed. I agree with you on the Class A build quality. My son and I looked at all types of RVs for his off-grid living, while he built his house. The 5th wheels did seem flimsy compared to the Class A motor homes. We ended up finding a 2000 Holiday Rambler 36G Admiral. My son lived in it with his wife for 19 months off-grid on their 14 acres. Another plus with the motor home is you can start the engine and warm or cool the unit some with out running the onboard generator.
Glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for subscribing. We almost went with a 5th wheel and are so glad with that we went with the Class A.
Thanks for watching!
good conversation
Thank you and thanks for watching!
I've had a couple Class A Motorhomes the one I bought now what I looked at is what chassis was under the coach body and how the coach body was constructed I want a aluminum frame and an aluminum exterior no slide outs and no computers so I ended up with a Holiday Rambler Limited gillig bus chassis 3208 cat everything old school a lot of these modern chassis Builders are having problems with the chassis that these motor coach bodies are on gillig is an excellent company to work with not familiar with any others and a lot of people don't like 3208 cats they got a bad reputation because they were used to transport 80,000 lbs that engine wasn't made for that my coach weighs 22000 lb it pushes it effortlessly I don't need 400 or 450 horsepower to go camping LOL and I don't need a bunch of computer controlled components what I did is bought an older unit Holiday Rambler made a good body in aluminum frame but the wiring is substandard in other words It's A Rat's Nest
Unfortunately there is no perfect motorhome. They all have their pros and cons. You just have to find what works for you. I still believe the older rigs were built better.
Thanks for watching!
I have a '95 Spartan chassis pusher with the 5.9 cummins and an allison.. 34' no slides.. got it cheap with 44k miles, it's in great shape and plenty of power at 230hp
Luv your window treatments, did you do them yourself??
The window treatments in the Alfa were standard. We don't let you see them up close because they are showing their age. Rosie Too will be getting an update soon for sure.
Just found u guys. Really enjoyed it Your both very similar to us and I can’t tell if we lived close we’d probably be friends lol
We are thinking about buying a class a and even considered selling the house and going full time
I’m going to start watching all prior episodes but want to ask you a few questions right off the bat
If it’s too much to answer I understand
You shared you spent approx 50 k for your rv. That’s about our budget but I’m stuck on a concern from reading posts on RV FB sites regarding break downs.
I am surprised how many talk about it really being a problem and VERY costly and problematic
I understand things break and I’m a general handyman w plenty of tools and can handle anytning inside but motor and generator etc isn’t my thing
My question is when you were shopping did you research brands or ??
Did you hire a inspector ?
Have you heard people talking about how NOT to buy a certain year or after ??
Can you give me a idea after purchasing your rv y did you then also have to stick a bunch more $ into it ??
Oh one more question
On another video you mentioned your solar system staying with 3 hrs of tv and computer you go to 40% power by 10pm
Is that with A/C ??
You have 1200 watt panels and lithium batteries You didn’t say how many batteries you have. We like our A/C so the concern is boon docking staying comfortable. How big a system do u think / guess I need ?
Thanks so much
I’m subscribing
Nice to meet you! That's a lot to answer in this space and we really would like to share answers on what we can from our experience. Would you be able to send us a note on Facebook Messenger? facebook.com/RoamingWithRosie or email at RoamingwithRosie@hotmail.com. Then we can keep a chat going. Look forward to hearing from you.
Good information 👍🦅😎🇺🇸
Thanks. Hope it was helpful.
Omg I never knew that. Well I was never going to be in Wyoming nor in a class A. Until recently when I learned my life has shifted and I need to move. Since I dispise Florida ans want to go out west I picked Wyoming. Already lived in Colorado and Utah and Montana..But anyways.....brought me to the oh crap! But I guess I can't afford a luxury bus like class A that's so big anyhow. Was looking more older just like yours here. I like the two pop outs each side making more living space, mine to be lived in.. Ok not sure now on diesel or gas now. Lol
A class A like ours can be found in decent condition for as low as $25k. But it is big. Shorter would be less. Important notes on diesel: Fuel is now more $, used to be less. More $ to repair. Harder to find place to repair. If an older diesel has low miles on it, it's not necessarily a good thing. These engines need to be kept going. Good luck. 😊
What kind of towing apparatus are you using for your vehicle behind? Is that a tow Dolly
We explained the towing in #5, on the 10 Reasons episode. Flat tow choice is explained and why in detail
How do you power the residential refrigerator when boondocking?
We have added two 3000 watt inverter chargers one for each side of the 50 amp service on the coach. We also have 1200 watts of solar and six Lithium Batteries. When we are boondocking the inverters take the 12 volt power from the lithium batteries and makes it so we can use the power to run our A/C, refrigerator, microwave, etc. The solar panels charge the batteries during daylight hours. If we need to we will run our generator to charge the batteries back up. We only have to run the generator if it's cloudy or raining outside. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!
Just bought an old DP.
Did you park on sand?!? Is that possible??
No. Never park on typical sand. Quartzsite is hard packed rocks and dirt. We went to Magnolia Beach in Texas. It's crushed shell and perfect for big rigs & FREE! Here's that episode: ua-cam.com/video/hRbEDOv0HcE/v-deo.html
Did you look at Super C like Renegade or Jayco? We are torn which way?
Most of the Super C's were out of the price range we were looking at. That said I do like the Super C.
Great video I just bought a alpha would you Recommend a dehumidifier?
We spend most of our time in the Southwest where it’s a dry climate. Humidity isn’t a issue. If we were spending more time in areas with high humidity it would make sense.
Thanks for watching!
@@RoamingWithRosie
Thank you !
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
What year model do you own and where is the best place to find a good used RV?
Our motorhome is a 2006 Alfa Seeya. It's a diesel pusher. As far as where to buy, too many factors to anser that. First you need to decide what you'relooking for. If you decide you're interested in purchasing an Alfa, I can send a list of some for sale from the Alfa Owners Facebook group.
Hi guys long time don't comment on your videos. As always great content on your topics. We will look for an old Class A. Thanks for all the information and details on this video. Hope you have a great time stay safe. Enjoy your traveling. Zoe and Ramon
Good to hear from you! Almost ready for RV Life?
Not yet, we have a medical emergency on December which delay our RV life for a time been. We will resume when we finish with some bucket list items.
Very good video, however, everything you talked about was referring to a Class A motorhome.....NOT a older Class A motorhome, which is in your title.
I'm sorry if that was confusing. We're talking about the older class a in the whole video which is about the older class a we own and some info would also be found in class a MH in general.
Did you change your freg or was it all ready residental?
It was already. 2005.
good insights
thank you LB!
I was curious. What type of engines were/are in Rosie I / II ? I am looking at an older Monaco with C series Cummins 8.3L turbocharged. I think its 330hp. I am a retired Navy mechanic, looking forward to going thru it and hitting the road !
Rosie 1 was the Holiday Rambler with a Cummins 300HP. Rosie 2 the Alfa Has a Cat 350HP. The Cummins is a great motor. The 300HP was not enough power for our 36 FT rig. It was horrible up hill.
Thanks for watching!
Interesting! -- QUESTION -- You RV exterior looks so much like the RV that a woman named Liz Amazing uses. She has a Alpha See Ya and it looks so much like yours.
I heard Liz Amazing no longer owns the Alfa See Ya. We love ours.
Thanks for watching!
Magnolia ❤
We had a great time at Magnolia Beach.
Thanks for watching!
Did you have any experience with a diesel motor prior to Rosie?
Yes, We had a 2001 Holiday Rambler with a Cummins 300HP diesel.
Halfway through this video and I haven't heard any explanation as to the title why you chose a used class a. Might want to change the title of this video
9 reasons for class A. #1 is why we drilled down to older. And we explained why. Built better, cost, etc.
What are the maintence implications owning an older Class A? Nice Video!
Been trying to figure out how best to answer this in short format. I think that everyone is talking about how poorly current RVs are being built. They spend so much time in the shop. But, they're under new Warranties or at least you can purchase Warranties. You often cant get one for older RVs. Even if they were made well, it's important to know if previous owners kept up with maintenance and if that work was done well. Then you will also be spending on upkeep and replacing things as they wear out. It's best if you re handy so you can do a lot yourself. A good inspection before purchase is advised. These are not cheap but could save you a lot in the long run. Hope that helps. Best of luck. 😉
Get an older one that was well maintained. I would recommend a coach over a regular RV. Get one pre DEF if you can. I got a used Prevost. Stainless steel wont rust. In accidents they dont explode into a thousand pieces. They last two million km or more. New RVs depreciate a lot more than getting used. Just my thoughts.
Did Prevost build with a lot more stainless? Rosie seemed to be rusted everywhere after 2 mo along the TX coast in the spring.
@@RoamingWithRosie The whole Prevost frame is pretty much stainless steel and the H model has fiberglass sides. It pretty much can hardly rust any where.
Hello, I have an alpha see already 2002 but I’m having problems with the generator I think something is wrong with the connections could you help me?
Are you a member of Alfa owners on facebook? If not I would join. You can ask about any problem you might have and get numerous responses to help diagnose any issues you might have.
Im currently in the process of selling my house and im looking at a 2004 holiday rambler endeavor 40' diesel pusher with 55k on it hopefully my house sells soon so i can hit the road at least for the winter months i have a class a cdl license so i don't believe i have to get any special endorsements to drive it . Any recommendations on what i should look for when inspecting this rig before i purchase it ??
We paid an certified inspector to check out our rig. If you don’t do that. Make sure to open and close all the slides, test leveling system, run the generator, check the roof ac units, heating, fridge, water heater. Also check the ceiling for any discolouration that could be signs of leaks. An older rig will probably have some issues. You just want to make sure that it’s something you can fix or afford to have fixed. You’ll have to check to see if the state you domicile in requires and endorsement for anything over 26,000 lbs. If your CDL is still active then you don’t have to worry about that. I have a CDL as well. Good luck with the RV search and your new adventure.
Thanks for watching!
YUP! I have a 40 ft 1998 Country Coach magna...Very pleased with my choice...as well...All rvs have plus and minuses
Exactly! Safe Travels!
How do you deal with the 10 year rule?
Simple. We dont want to go to their business. So far we've encountered only one near Sedona where there is a ton of RV parks and lots of boondocking. Others who say on their website they have the right to refuse you upon arrival based on condition? I would never book it. What would we do if we were traveling somewhere and got turned away at the entrance? I get the need for it for some places, but 10 years is not old for the appearance of most rvs. There's a 1984 Airstream motorhome parked next to us now. It's so cool.
@@RoamingWithRosie , great, thank you. We are new to full time, and have a 2008.
wait, is this a Holiday Rambler or Alpha See Ya??
It’s an Alfa See Ya. We sold the Holiday Rambler.
How many Watts of solar do you Have?
We have 1200 watts of Solar and 6 Lion Energy Lithium batteries.
Thank you.
35mpg out of the honda? Mine only gets 28mpg at best? What can I do to get 35mpg?
We dont know. It was unexpected and of course there's possibility for error. But driving 75 on I40 started with full tank, noted odometer, drove 3 hours, filled up again, did the math. It wasnt too hot out, so no a/c running. Had sun roof open part of it and rear windows cracked for our dog. Altitude was around 3,000.
@@RoamingWithRosie Possibly no A / C I always running the air. But no matter; was it 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive?
Test drive.........no more talking about your likes and dislikes .. it's subjective..... test drive and tell us how it drives..
It drives amazing. Powerful. Takes hills easily. Can't even feel the tow.
@@RoamingWithRosie thank you..... no need to describe and talk features....viewers can see them all in the video....what they can't see is driving dynamics, MPG, craftsmanship, reliability, handling, power and torque, etc....these things are more important......
@@Aikynbreusov, you’re very rude & disrespectful! Not only that, you’re wrong! We do like hearing about the likes, dislikes & people engaging with us! I just can’t figure why so many of you disrespectful people leave such comments!!
if you spend 90k on new motor home you’ve been screwed.
Is there a new MH under $150k? And just going to plummet in value
NO. your chassis answer is wrong, there are some built on crappy ford truck frames and extended and will not ride right even off the showroom floor. My ASE cert and the other 12 are from Ford, i know a thing or two about the chassis. Only one good Ford chassis and one good Freightliner all the rest ticking down for failures. Full timed for a decade and with parks going to 10 yr rule, this will effect all of this, plus 9 states are going away from camping in any city limit like walmarts. I watched my brother get turned away from a crappy Klamath falls park with a 2022 trailer he bought 8 weeks earlier. Plus in 2024 labor day weekend COLORADO said every single park was full in the state, so full timing will be headed out, mainly because republicans can't figure a way to make you more miserable.
Republicans where did that come from?
Thank you for watching and sharing your opinion.
For 2 people😂😂
To each his own. Thanks for watching! 😀
Older Rig have better GVWR newer models have cut cargo weight to nothing which is a big problem if you want to have a toad and gear this is acrossed all models we all know being overweight on the road cost you big money
Agreed. 😉