But it looks like a TRUCK! (or, it's fun to drive)
Jun 20 '01
The Bottom Line Class C RV's are great if handling, maneuvering, and the ability to sleep a small army are concerns.
This is an opinion on the general worthiness of Class C motor homes. We've been RVing with a Class C for many years now, and are getting ready to replace it. In our research we have found a lot of things along the way. I'd love to share...
So, what do I have now?
We have an ancient Class C 23' Beaver that just refuses to quit. It's on an old Dodge Van chassis, which makes it super easy to find parts. Being 24 years old, it doesn't really have any warranty left on it. We've owned it for the last 11 years. In that time, we've put around $12K in maintenance in it. Not bad for 11 years. Everything works, even though it's starting to fall apart.
Class C, Class A, etc. What's the difference?
First off, lets do a little review on what the main differences are between Class C, Class A and Class B RV's.
Class A
Class A RV's are the big bus-looking things you see all over the road. They are generally very luxurious, and come in sizes from 23' all the way up to those converted Greyhound buses you see every now and then.
There are sub-classes in the Class A category: Gas and Diesel-Pusher
The Diesels get better fuel economy while putting out more power. Great combo, right? Right! Unfortunately, you pay for this combo; through the nose you pay.
Gas RVs get lousy gas mileage. (Hey, what do you want? You're driving a truck!) On the other hand, it's easy to get fuel for them, they don't smell like diesel exhaust, etc...They're also cheaper than the diesels, but price is relative. Class A's can range from $50K to over $1 million dollars (think tour bus).
Class C
Class C RVs are the ones that have the regular van front end. They are built on standard heavy duty van chassis', and drive very much like a regular van, with a wider turning radius.
Class C RVs are available in sizes ranging from 18' to 31'. I saw one special-order van chassis with a Ford Powerstroke Diesel in it, but this is not a common option.
Class C RVs get slightly better gas mileage (again, mileage is relative), handle better, and fit in tighter spaces. They generally sleep more people than a Class A, but are not as luxurious.
Class B
Class B RVs are basically converted vans. Think of the Volkswagen Vanagon with the pop-up tent. That's a class B RV. New ones can cost up to $40K, and for that kind of money I'll go out and buy a used Class C (or even a used Class A) instead. I don't see any value in a Class B RV, other than they are VERY small, and so would be good for one person who like cramped spaces.
But this is a discussion on Class C RVs!
OK. So what have I learned about the Class C? Well, first off, they're smaller than the Class A's. This could be good or bad, depending on what you want to use your RV for. We recently went shopping for a new one, because the family is growing, and we need more space. OK, OK, I admit it. We really want a queen bed in the back instead of the cab-over sleeper.
We went to several RV lots in the Inland Empire area of Southern California (note: Richardson's RV sucks; Giant RV was the best) and looked at everything that's available. I mean everything, from the biggest 40' Class A to the smallest 20' Class C. Boy, those Class A's are nice, but you know what? They're not really designed for big families or weekend outings. The best Class A we saw was a Flair, by Fleetwood. It was 31', had a rear bed, and also a sofa bed and a dinette that folded down into a double. That made for sleeping for 6 if everyone doubled up. By comparison, our 23' Class C has twin bunks in the back, a fold down dinette, and a cab-over queen bed, for a sleeping capacity of...6! The only thing more you get with the Class A is space.
But, we also saw a Class C that we decided was our dream RV. Imagine a 31' Class C. It had a full dinette and living room slide-out, with a couch and dinette, plus a rear queen island, and a double cab-over sleeper. Not including the 4 people that could comfortably stretch out on the floor, that makes 8! Wow. A party van! Well, maybe not, but definitely an efficient use of available space. This was a Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31'. Great RV!
So, the real question is, what are you going to use your RV for? If you go out on a lot of short weekend trips, and are spending time in remote areas such as the desert or mountains, then you are probably better off with a Class C. If you typically bring a lot of guests with you, then again, the Class C is for you.
On the other hand, if you are planning on living in your RV, or will be taking an extended trip, then you'll be MUCH happier in a Class A. A rule of thumb that is very true says:
Buy 3 feet longer than you need and spend $8K more than you want to.
For myself and my family, I vote for the Class C right now. When we retire we'll probably trade it in on a Class A, but that's a ways off yet.
What should I watch out for when shopping for an RV? Safety First!!
The chassis' of Class C RVs are typically Heavy Duty application Vans from either Ford or Chevy. Dodge used to be a big player in this market, but haven't been around for a while. In our research, we found that the Ford Super Duty chassis can carry more weight than the Chevy HD chassis. This is important for any RV purchase, because these are heavy beasts. Overloading them is exceptionally dangerous. Pay attention to the GVWR and the actual curb weight of the RV. Curb weight is the unloaded standing weight of the vehicle with a full tank of gas.
If for example the curb weight is 12,500 pounds and the GVWR is 14,000 pounds, then this only leaves 1500 pound for cargo, including you and your family! So, using my family as a measure, we could diet more than we do, so lets say that between my, my wife, and our 2 kids we weigh in at 600 pounds. OK, that still leaves 900 pounds. We want to bring along plenty of water, too. We have 100 gallons storage capacity. Water weighs 7 pound per gallon. ok. There goes another 700 pounds. Now we have 200 pounds left. Wait, here comes the family dog (we have a big Lab) - 80 pounds. 120 left. Now we want soda, and beer and food and....you get the point. Now, if you have some toys you want to tow, like a boat or jet ski or Jeep or whatever, and accessories, and...oops. You're overloaded, and headed for disaster. The biggest problem you'll face here is the inability to stop. Brakes are designed for certain weight loads, and when exceeded, will fail.
So, what's the downside? Well, they have less storage pace, hold less water, have smaller holding tanks, smaller gas tanks, and are a little or a LOT more cramped than even the smaller Class A' s, depending on whether or not you get one with a slide-out. But, as with everything in life, there are always tradeoffs.
I hope this helps to clear up the questions regarding what type of RV to buy.
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Epinions.com ID:
_peteyg
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Location: San Diego, CA
Reviews written: 5
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About Me:
I like what I like, and that's about that.
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