Best Used Class C's? Rank your top five.

I guess that Bigfoot didn’t account for the “Big Guy”.....only the average rv’er! :) Sorry that Winnebago eliminated your preferred pkg. It seems that many manufacturers quit the good models in search of the “Holy Grail”!

Off-roading......Winnebago builds a good solid unit....do you think your slide cautions are justified? Also, how much ground clearance do you have? We couldn’t clear a tall ant hill! I would really love to do the 4x4 conversion with a slight lift.....but it’s hard to justify. We’re just not using it enough at this time! So....about all I can do, is go with a little taller tire next time. But, that will only buy an inch or so!

When we were shopping for a good used or new Class C back in 2005-2006 I ran across a used slideless 2004 24 foot Bigfoot Class C. I had studied them pretty thoroughly and really thought that I wanted to go with one ... however at the last minute I discovered a gotcha in that used Bigfoot. The shower was not tall enough for me to stand up in it .... for some stupid design reason!!!

Our E450 24 foot Itasca does not have that problem, plus does not have a lot of other problems and poor design issues that I read about in the forums regarding other Class C brands and model years. The bad news is, Winnebago quit producing this model and feature-set in about 2006 or 2007. About the only Winnebago Class C offering in a small footprint that I would consider today would be their 22M on the optional Ford E450 chassis -> other than I can't buy into the 22M having a slide due to our off-highway camping need for overall reliability and ruggedness.

Phil, It sounds like Winnebago did a good job for probably 90+% of the rv’ers, without going all-in for extreme conditions. I’m glad I didn’t insult your Winnebago by excluding completely from my list. :) Hopefully, the large majority of class c owners never test their units at below zero F temps. Our use definitely falls outside the norm. I should stay out of the opinion polls, as my opinions are heavily biased toward temperature extremes....both hot and cold! ;)

memtb wrote:
pnichols (Phil), As the tanks, and sewer lines and valves are not inclosed within the heated area (forced air) of the unit....I don’t consider it winter (cold ) weather capable. Or maybe, I’m still misreading the construction specs! Of course, everyone has their own definition of “winter”! For me “winter” starts at zero F, and goes down from there! ;)

Well ... the sewer lines and valves on my Winnebago Itasca Class C are not exposed, per se, like those hanging down under many TTs. They're up under the coach contained within areas inside the coach wall skirts and thus protected from direct contact with the outside air.

The Winnebago Winter Package includes black and grey tank 12V heaters. When these tanks have their heating pads turned on, it of course means that the liquid in them is heated and this heated liquid is also filling the sewer lines between the sewer line valves and the tanks. This warmed liquid is right up against the sewer line valves on the tank sides of the valves - so no wrapping of the black and grey sewer lines is needed to keep these lines and valves from freezing if the tank heating pads are turned on. Of course, the sewer lines on the other side (outside side) of the valves are empty of any liquid, so there's nothing in these lines to freeze.

I prefer 12V pad grey/black tank heating for two reasons: This means 1) that cold weather drycamping does not require an inverter to power the pads, and 2) that cold weather driving doesn't require the coach propane furnace to be operating when going down the road.

The entire fresh water system is contained within coach interior areas that are warm if the coach is kept warm, so no problem camping in cold weather regarding fresh water.

At least for the year of our Class C, Winnebago got it right with their Winter Package ... other than we don't have double-pane windows.

Ron, Certainly, not everyone thinks the way I do about rv’s. I’m stuck in a rut, always thinking about cold weather use. The Bigfoot units were not a household name, and not a lot manufactured! So, used ones are difficult to find, and if fairly low mileage and in good shape.....pretty pricey! They’re pretty solid units....but not for everyone. When attempting to answer the OP’s question, I probably should have tried to evaluate my suggestions for the average rv’er....rather than an eccentric, such as myself! :)

memtb wrote:
......I’m moving Bigfoot to the #1 slot....”uncontested”! If for no other reason, the fresh water capacity is near double many other class c’s. Our 26 foot Bigfoot has 64 gallons fresh, 40 grey, and 40 black.

Last winter, we “de-winterized” our unit, filled the fresh tank while ambient temperatures were in single digit F temperatures ....left home and went camping. The previous owner had used the unit down to Minus 17 F, with no freeze-ups! Returned home, flushed the tanks and “winterized”, waiting for the next outing! That’s a unit that is “winter capable”! ;)

Big Foot is surely a top notch rig. I am just not certain a ten year or older Big Foot will fall within the price range the OP had implied. To be honest, I don't know the used market for Big Foots, nor know how many years they were made. Maybe a used one can be found in the under $30k range. If so, then they should be included in his list for certain.

Ron, Had the OP asked about “new” class c’s, I could not have mentioned the Triple E , as the Regency GT ( ClimateGuard Pkd) ceased production in 2013, or the Bigfoot which ceased production in 2008 or 2009! Both of these units had enclosed tanks, sewer lines/valves, with forced air heat. As long as the unit heater was kept on, the tanks, dump lines, and valves are kept warm! The Coach House does have tanks with “heat pads”, but as best I can remember from my phone conversation the sewer lines and valves are exposed.....rendering them useless in cold weather.

In fact, after doing some research, I’m moving Bigfoot to the #1 slot....”uncontested”! If for no other reason, the fresh water capacity is near double many other class c’s. Our 26 foot Bigfoot has 64 gallons fresh, 40 grey, and 40 black. The Triple E’s have a much smaller fresh tank! :)

Last winter, we “de-winterized” our unit, filled the fresh tank while ambient temperatures were in single digit F temperatures ....left home and went camping. The previous owner had used the unit down to Minus 17 F, with no freeze-ups! Returned home, flushed the tanks and “winterized”, waiting for the next outing! That’s a unit that is “winter capable”! ;)

memtb wrote:
pnichols (Phil), As the tanks, and sewer lines and valves are not inclosed within the heated area (forced air) of the unit....I don’t consider it winter (cold ) weather capable. Or maybe, I’m still misreading the construction specs! Of course, everyone has their own definition of “winter”! For me “winter” starts at zero F, and goes down from there! ;)

Other than maybe Earth Roamer and a rare other, "Winter Ready" rigs focus on the fresh water system protected inside & kept warm by the furnace. Waste water freeze protection is limited to insulated and heated waste tanks. Some people after purchase, add 12V heat tape around the exterior waste plumbing and waste valves. If ordering a new rig from a company like Phoenix USA, they may offer heat tape or something better.

Anything with an aluminum frame construction = no wood rot.

Gary Haupt

pnichols (Phil), As the tanks, and sewer lines and valves are not inclosed within the heated area (forced air) of the unit....I don’t consider it winter (cold ) weather capable. Or maybe, I’m still misreading the construction specs! Of course, everyone has their own definition of “winter”! For me “winter” starts at zero F, and goes down from there! ;)