re: Family trip in an RV opinions

I seriously question if it would be possible to rent an RV if the owner knew the intent was to haul 14 people in it. I would also posit that IF there was accident and someone was hurt the renter and the owner may be liable for negligence for having operated a vehicle which was grossly over loaded....the camper portion of even the nicest Class A motorhomes are pushing the load capacity of the chasis. Class c's are even worse. Most RV chasis are designed for about 500 pounds per person. That includes an individuals water needs, food, clothing, personal gear and body. For 14 that would mean 7000 pounds. Most class A motorhomes have a net carrying capacity or the more modern term which I forget of about 4000 pounds. Class Cs are more around 2500. 500 pounds by design lends some safety factor for sure but youre talking about exceeding the maximum on average by 75%....that is excessive, not to mention there will not be enough room for 14.

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14 of us headed to see the mouse for Mardi Gras

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Sounds like you need a bus, not an RV

I would drive that rv off a cliff after the first hour. That sounds terrible.

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My buddy drive his wife, daughter and one dog down from Frisco BUT they stayed at the beach a few days heading there and afterwards and made it like a 3 week trip (and towed his car).

We met up with them one day and he said literally, every other day he was fixing or working on something while his family was in the parks.

He said the same thing...never again and that was only three people and a dog.

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Can't speak to a rental but if you keep them road ready you don't have to do much while on the road. Keeping one road ready is not cheap or easy but if you are dumb enough to own one cheap and easy ain't your goal to begin with...financial ruin maybe but not cheap and easy.

We have driven ours across country 4 times and from New Mexico to Georgia and back 3 times and from New Mexico to LA once....and hundreds of short 5-800 mile trips. 2 adults, one teen and one child, and 2 dogs and some of the time a cat. We pulled a Honda CRV behind us most of the time. We have lived on the road in ours for up to 3 weeks. It is 42 feet long and with 4 people, 2 dogs and often a cat it is TIGHT. When the slide out is out it is comfortable but on the road it is tight. The only issue we have ever had in close to 90K miles is blowing out the inside rear drivers side tire a couple of times. The black water and most of the fresh water holding tank is on that side as well as the couch, the generator and the kitchen...almost all of the weight in other words. We have enjoyed it but we are insane LOL...it has been a VERY expensive hobby...a 3 day local camping trip costs us a cool $1000 or close to it...they ain't cheap but they are great ways to spend mostly quality time with your family, within reason. 14 people in one is not going to be close to quality time....

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Sounds like you need a bus, not an RV

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Exactly

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Sounds like you need a bus, not an RV

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A charter bus for 14 would be cost effective and comfortable...and allow for some fellowship in transit. We have done this with groups of friends and it was always a blast. 20 of us did a tour from Spokane through Yellowstone and Grand Teton to Jackson about 5 years ago. It was a blast. We went to 3 concerts over a 4 day period and ate and drank like pigs. If memory serves me it was about $350 per person round trip.

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The Black water and most of the fresh water holding tank is on that side as well as the couch, the generator and the kitchen...almost all of the weight in other words.

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FIFY

WAIT!

14 people in an RV? Unless this is a trip of less than 61 minutes, it will be absolute hell!

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I'm gonna be driving aren't I?

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From the Northshore the drive takes us about 11 hours on the clock (with stops, time change, etc) so from BR add another hour or so to that without playing Smokey & the Bandit.

If you hit the road at 4 am you should be there by 4 pm (including a Buc-ees breakfast stop, lunch in Tally-Whacky, snacks in Lake City, traffic in Ocala, etc).

OR, split the drive, leave one afternoon stay somewhere around Tallahassee or Lake City then wake up early on the morning you're checking into Copper Creek.

This will suck a lot more than you can imagine. That’s assuming you’re only using it for the drive and not staying in it too. RVs are not made for 14 people, especially the ones they rent. It is too small of a space for that many people. You’ll be ready to jerk the wheel into the median before you’re halfway there.

And you’re not going to save any time. They’re slower, harder to maneuver, burn more gas/diesel, etc.

Seriously, avoid it at all costs. You’ll be ready for the vacation to end before it’s even really begun.