Phil Saran

I believe you will need a longer RV to accommodate the sleeping arrangements you want.

Very few under 35 foot MH's come with a King bed, our 34 foot 5th wheel has a queen short

as do most RV's. 

I've owned, 3 TT, one Class C, one Class A and now a 5th wheel.  I liked the TT's particularly the last one 

a Keystone Springdale 30 footer and the 5th wheel we have now a 2019 Keystone Cougar 30 RLS 34 foot.

I keep a 3 step stool in the bed of my truck for hooking and unhooking the lock on the 5th wheel hitch, I have

been looking at the step that hooks over the rear tire for that job.  I did not like driving the Class A and the 

electric jacks only worked part of the time.

Something I did not see being brought up in reference to a Class B (van conversion) was the bathroom/shower.

Do you fit inside/close the door and move around?  I am 5'-11" and 235#  I do not fit into small spaces very well.

I had a 10 foot cab over camper a number of years ago, it had a comfortable wet bath (toilet/shower combo) but 

what you are talking about is even smaller.  

We have a 5th wheel trailer now with a decent size bathroom.

Road side service companies?  I've had AAA for about 50 years now.  

It runs about $160.00 a year to cover my truck, 5th wheel and my wife's car.

from what I've read in some area's other service providers contract with AAA.

When I had a MH (2015 Thor Hurricane 34E gas Class A) we were on a 5 week 

trip to Canada and back and on I-90 east of Missoula MT I had a Rt front tire blow out

good thing I thought to buy a good used spare tire (unmounted) because when I got 

towed into the tire shop in Missoula they did not have a tire of the correct  size in stock.

It was a good $80 investment.  I called ahead to the Goodyear Truck Tire dealer in Spokane

WA to order a new tire.  After installing they sent my blown up tire back to Goodyear for 

re-imbursement of  $525.00 to me.  The tire was about 2 years old (9000 miles). 

Yes as already said you need to lock down a RV park you can long term in.  I did such when I got divorced in 2004

I bought a one year old 27 foot TT (just paid off the guys loan) and placed it in a small RV park about 1 mile from 

the beach in Orange County CA.  Back then it ran $500 a month plus electric.

I was still commuting to Los Angeles for work so it was a inexpensive place for me to live.

What I want to address is the size of MH you are talking about a ACE and they can be very small and cramped, take 

the time to look at various models to see what fits your families needs.  Don't forget you are a family of 4 and kids 

have toys and they need room to spread out.

As for your mini van and it is front wheel drive I believe you will need to put it on a tow dolly.  If it is all wheel drive

you may be looking at a car trailer.  Then that would bring up another subject where are you going to store said car 

trailer.  Most campgrounds would require you to rent two spaces.

And keep in mind the 10 year rule if you are looking at campgrounds that are not State Parks or National Parks. 

A lot of private campgrounds (possibly even Thousand Trails have the 10 year rule.

My 5th wheel came with one Group 24 RV battery and I would like to upgrade to dual Group 27 RV batteries.

It seems they only come with a one year warranty.

Walmart - Ever Start - $81.67

Costco - Interstate - $87.99

Interstate Store - Interstate - $128.00

Open to comments and opinions.

Thanks IA

Can I add a little real life experience here.  Back in 2004 I got divorced, bought a 2004 27 foot TT and placed it in a small RV park about one mile from the beach in Southern California, I was still commuting to Los Angeles for work so for me it was a inexpensive place to live ($500 a month rent plus electric).

What it did lack was closet space (most TT do lack that).  You will find having a topper on your truck will be helpful for storing bines of clothes.  But you will still be short on hanging space for clothes.

I've been the buy brand new route before.  Paid about $1800 - $2000 for a matched set of Honda 2000I with the adapter to run off both.  That was in about 2009.  Sold them off when I sold the last TT in 2014before we moved to Colorado.  We were going to move up to a Class A Gas MH with a built in generator.

In May 2015 we bought said MH, 3 years and 14,000 miles later we sold it and moved up to a Diesel truckand a new 5th wheel trailer.  So craigslist shopping I went again.  This time bought two used Honda 2000igenerators for (1) $750 and (2) for $650.  Changed the oil/spark plug and filter on each and away we go.

Mine do not get a ton of use, but it is nice for the few times a year we dry camp.

I have not purchased yet, but I am going with a set of the Honda 2000i units.

I have found two sets for sale locally (within 60 miles) that are low hours and 

a little cheaper than new one's cost.

Thank you all for the responses.  This is what is so good about escapees the people are willing to 

share their knowledge and experiences.

I have sold off my MH and toad and we are in the process of purchasing a truck & 5th wheel trailer.

I want to purchase one or two small generators for the times we boondock.

Anybody have an opinion of the Honda 2000i vs the Harbor Freight Predator 2000.

Their specs are very similar.

I've owned the Honda 2000i generators previously, but the $450 each price for the Predator vs $1000

for the Honda 2000i is appealing.

Open to comments and opinions.

$5K will get you some kind of Class C MH, but you better plan on having enough $$$ to handle the repairs on it as you

go around the country.  As to where to shop to buy one, Arizona is always good.

A little more info on what you are building, the size and weight would help with giving info & opinions.

Are you building a tiny house on a trailer or what?