RedGT wrote: Assuming Chief is proven at this point
Chief is proven but is not the most stable thing in the world with only a light open deck trailer + rally car. I would have to go small on the trailer for sure.
RedGT said: You want to tackle some single lane washboarded dirt road in an old winnebago?
It's like you've forgotten who I am or something 
As I said, I had a cheap old Winnebago like pictured. Even on smooth roads it shook like crazy (think about driving a barn down the road) with so much wind resistance. And any rough road shook the stick built construction to death (it was actually coming apart at the seams after one trip on dirt roads). At this point, any 40 year old motorhome will be rickety and not what you want to take down washboard roads, as they are just stapled together 1x1s and 1x2s.
Yes, there's something romantic about the thought of taking a classic motorhome like that all over, and you will have a conversation starter, but it's really not so good to live with.
Take a test trip in a rental RV before deciding maybe? I see LOTS of rentals up here in the Great North plodding and wallowing along the highways and byways (which are the same thing up here) all summer long. Just a quick look at renting a large RV from Cruise America, for a two week 1400 mile trip starting in eastern PA it was around $2500. The upside, or downside depending on your outlook and goals in the end, is your not stuck with a crappy old RV at the end of it...
Going through similar thoughts with wanting to take the wife, baby, and dog on road trips in Alaska while we still live up here. I'm leaning towards a small travel trailer myself, one less vehicle to insure and maintain.
Ok. My teammate is asking a fair bit more than your budget, but if you're interested he said can give you his cell number. He lives in the NoVa area, so not terribly far from us. He apparently just put a ton of money into it.
I'm posting from my phone right now and PM is a bit wonky.
A typical mid-priced hotel runs about $100 - $125 per night. For a $5K RV, plus the maintenance and updates you would have to do, and the added gas over a car, and the park fees, and the roadside repairs, that's 40-50 nights in a Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn Express. They have pools. And free breakfast. And someone else makes the bed. And cleans the toilet. And the hot water runs forever. Most have outside tables to eat. Just saying.
In reply to pinchvalve:
Wanting an RV rarely has anything to do with logic. 
pinchvalve wrote: A typical mid-priced hotel runs about $100 - $125 per night. For a $5K RV, plus the maintenance and updates you would have to do, and the added gas over a car, and the park fees, and the roadside repairs, that's 40-50 nights in a Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn Express. They have pools. And free breakfast. And someone else makes the bed. And cleans the toilet. And the hot water runs forever. Most have outside tables to eat. Just saying.
And most don't take dogs, as the OP has. It's why I take my hotel with me.
In reply to pinchvalve:
There is still a chance that we just take the registered service dog, who legally is allowed wherever the hell we take her, and go with a car. But that's not the scenario we're examining here.
Ian F wrote: Ok. My teammate is asking a fair bit more than your budget, but if you're interested he said can give you his cell number. He lives in the NoVa area, so not terribly far from us. He apparently just put a ton of money into it. I'm posting from my phone right now and PM is a bit wonky.
No thanks, even the budget I posted is a hopeful sort of number so anything more is out.
Understood. His comment on your budget pretty much echoed MGTD. A $5k RV will likely need a good bit of work before being trip-ready.
$5k rv will typically need belts, hoses, tuneup, all the fluids, brakes, tires, wipers, battery and u-joints to be ready for a long road trip.
$5k camper probably won't need anything, but even if everything is shot you only need bearing, brakes, tires, and wiring for the lights. You already have the tow rig. You know what direction I'm leaning.
We currently have a 31 foot motor home and enjoy using it for weekends, vacations going to NASCAR and other race venues. However, the idea of saving money at hotels, preparing meals and eating in etc. is really not a reality. You have to enjoy the lifestyle and be prepared to do a fair amount of maintenance. Newer motor homes and for that matter travel trailers are much better constructed today then even a decade ago. Be prepared for a lot of work and money on those you see in the 5 to 10K price range.
Most older motor homes and trailers built even 10 years ago were mostly wooden structures built on a truck or trailer frame covered with aluminum and most likely a cloth roof of painted canvas or vinyl. Without a lot of maintenance they leak and then the wooden construction starts to rot. Also as someone else said they begin to fall apart simply from the road vibrations, bumps, potholes, etc. The newer motor homes and trailers have steel framing and composite walls of fiberglass/aluminum/steel. Also the electrical, plumbing and other systems are much better.
RV's depreciate at a terrible rate and to me for that reason it doesn't make sense to buy new. Even top of the line RV's can lose almost 50% of there value in a couple year period. To me if your budget is around 5K it probably makes sense to buy the latest model travel trailer in good shape you can find for that money. Its also a matter of how much you are going to use and if you have the time. They pretty much require the same maintenance rather they are being used or sitting in storage which can become another expense.
We really like our motor home and used it a lot and can stay in some neat places however, if the idea is to save money you probably better of staying in hotels which are pet friendly. A lot of Hampton Inns, and Holiday Expresses and other allow dogs however some have size requirements.
I agree with the points here. RV/Trailering won't be a money saving endeavor but do it if you think it will add to the trip. SUVs can be fine tow rigs depending on the SUV my buddy uses a 2500 Suburban as its essentially a 3/4ton truck. Also at least in some states people CAN ride in the trailer while you are driving but you have to have a form of communication between the tow vehicle and the trailer
I have no illusions about this being the cheapest way, what I'm hoping to get out of it is an increased ability to "wing it". We don't want to have to say "we're going to be at this hotel, on this day, then here the next" etc.
We can do that in a car with just the service dog. Is there a vehicle that can do it with both dogs and let us sleep comfortably wherever we want cheaply? That's why I made the thread, because I'm not sure.
I spend too many hours a day thinking about it and have pretty much settled on something like this or an Airstream scraped to the bed of a deuce and a half. My wife probably can't climb in and out of a big truck anymore so more likely the small RV. It should be no worse than driving a big SUV and comfortable enough for two.
java230 wrote:
The Chinook pictured is what is classified as a Class B and although there are some companies that have been making them for a while although they are a realitively new to the market. In order to get an idea as to what is available out there you might try going to a Camping World (probably wouldn't buy there) and walking through their lot and going inside different RV's. There is a huge variety from motorhomes to travel trailers to tent campers. See what fits your needs as far as size and style of travel. Then you can start looking for something that fits your budget.
State Parks and National Parks are probably the most reasonable as far as fees. Anything that says RV Resort can be expensive but usually have all the amenities you could ask for and are nice to stay at from time to time. There are also a lot of Mom and Pop places that run the gamut from very nice to "I can hear bangos". People in RV's tend to get off the road fairly early while traveling so it can be difficult to find a campsite the later it gets in the afternoon. In a pinch where you are trying to just get someplace Wal-Marts and Cracker Barrel welcome people to stay overnight or for a few hours of sleep. They tend to discourage people from setting up a homestead!
In the same boat but have 4 dogs. Well over most hotel restrictions. Though I have called some directly and they've given us a break. This thread interests me on the travel trailer front. Have an Awd Astro to pull with.
Depending on where you are going, you will probably need to make reservations for the campsites too.
I think most of the points have been made. I'll just add that trying to see the country in an RV is a PITA. You will basically park it in each location, level it, make the connections, and setup your stuff every time you go some where. Whoops, you ran out of beer or want something different for dinner....Got to pack it all up and head out and do it all again. Such a pain unless you tow a vehicle or have a motorcycle with you.
At least with a trailer, You can set it up once and leave it till you move to the next campground. You can then take your SUV and go 4x4 or explore.
For staying anywhere I'd say the travel trailer is the way to go. For traveling across the country in a small apartment then the RV is your winner.
I had a 2002 25' mini winni class C RV and it rattled and banged along every road returning a powerful 10 mpg for my efforts. It was replaced with a 2006 Pleasureway 20' class B+ which was quieter. It also didn't track for E36 M3 and made passengers terrified to ride in it. It did "better" mileage wise at 13-14 mpg but not enough to compensate for the terrible tracking/rolling. Honestly, it had the short wheelbase E-350 chassis and a single rear wheel setup that made it terrifying to drive. I MUCH preferred being behind the wheel of the class C.
As ever I'd say that as long as you get something OBD2 and newer then you should be fine. Class C and 1996+ and you'll be fine.
Have fun and enjoy the journey!
In reply to KyAllroad:
Personally, I'm surprised your MPG was that good in either.
Few things in the world are more expensive than a cheap motorhome.
If I were specifically wanting to drive a cool car someplace in the country, I'd get an RV and pull the car.
If it were just to get to cool places in the country, I'd get a travel trailer and pull it around.
Especially since we'd really focus on a "right size" trailer and pull the car with a nice driving small SUV or CUV.
Even so, the time we pulled our GTV down R66 in a 5.4 F150 was quite fun. The car stayed on the trailer until we got to Tulsa.
Start your trip in Seattle, 5k, 4x4, 454 
I've been looking on CL and can't seem to fully wrap my head around what everyone is saying here. If used RVs are unsellable, how is the price floor for functional ones over $5k? There are plenty advertised as fully functional for less than that, although I understand how rampant false advertisement is on craigslist.
Maybe start by tearing apart that first one I posted?
JG Pasterjak wrote: Few things in the world are more expensive than a cheap motorhome.
A cheap Porsche.
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