Size of Class C?

Don't forget the issue of weight/carrying capacity. Most class C's are on a 14k-sh Ford chassis. The larger/longer the "house" part, the lower the remaining capacity for people and things. You will likely find a 30 footer doesn't have enough CCC left for much after you put more than 2 people and their clothes in it.

I think we are lacking a lot of information that is needed to give good advice here. Things like what part of the country will you be in (it is often easier to find parking for larger vehicles out west), what sort of traveling will you be doing (lots of miles between stops or staying in one place for days?) How long of trip are we talking, ...

2gypsies wrote:

TyroneandGladys wrote:
Also depends on where you plan to stay. Some state and federal campgrounds have 26 to 27 foot maximum lengths. And yes I have seen this enforced.

This is not the norm. We used many of these parks with our 40' motorhome.

That is why I said SOME. And IMHO the original poster should be told that SOME do exist so that they can check the places that they want to stay at to make sure that they can stay if they are in a 30 foot plus RV.
I think that people that I saw that were forced to leave a park late in the day because there RV was to long would have liked to have had that info beforehand.

TyroneandGladys wrote:
Also depends on where you plan to stay. Some state and federal campgrounds have 26 to 27 foot maximum lengths. And yes I have seen this enforced.

This is not the norm. We used many of these parks with our 40' motorhome.

To add a bit to the maneuvering issue....larger Class C's have a good bit of body overhang behind the rear axle. Consider that swing effect when pulling away from things like gas pumps and turning at the same time. Those concrete filled posts that protect the gas pumps do a very good job. You know how they say...don't ask how I know.
Otherwise jump in the big one and git on down the road. By the end of the first day ain't nothing to it.

Also depends on where you plan to stay. Some state and federal campgrounds have 26 to 27 foot maximum lengths. And yes I have seen this enforced.

2gypsies wrote:
How about bringing a tent for the kids? :) Get the bigger RV and I think you'll enjoy it more, especially on rainy days.

Regardless of the RV size, the tent thing is a good idea. Most kids (of the age that yours are) would love it, and you'd probably appreciate having them love it, too. If you don't have a tent already, there would be no great need to get a very expensive or fancy tent for this. I have and occasionally use a $40 Christmas Tree Shops tent, and while it's not the heaviest or sturdiest or best built tent imaginable, it does just fine for casual use in moderate weather.

Make the kids responsible for setting up the tent, of course, if they want to sleep in it.

How about bringing a tent for the kids? :) Get the bigger RV and I think you'll enjoy it more, especially on rainy days.

3 youths? Id get a 40 footer myself.
bumpy

I think you'd be happier with the larger unit.

The difference in the lengths when driving on the road is not much. I'm far more concerned with and aware of the width and height of my class C than the fact that it's 32' long. If the front fits somewhere, the rest will follow along obediently. Naturally any of these will not accelerate, brake, or corner like a car, and so driving conservatively and watching the road a lot further ahead are necessary.

Length does make some difference when maneuvering around gas pumps and camp sites and parking lots and things like that. None of the motorhomes you're looking at are really good for tight maneuvers, to be honest. There are very few if any vehicles that have a worse turning radius than a large class C motorhome on a stretched van chassis.

Getting out and looking over the situation before proceeding in tight maneuvers is an exxcellent idea...as frequently as needed, even if it's every couple of feet. It's far better for other campers or drivers to suspect you're a cautious newbie than to go crunch against something and prove your an incautious one.

Deploying people in your party to act as spotters is also a good idea. Make sure you have an understanding of what they're looking at and how you're communicating. Sometimes the most useful is to have no communication other than "STOP NOW," at least from all but one key guide. Also make sure the spotters are watching both the top and the bottom of the motorhome for hazards.