BoxinTheCompass wrote:
One thing surprising that I thought you would advise as a con versus pro is the wardrobe space
Thanks!
Storage space is always at a premium in a Class C, which was one of a number of factors that led me to buy a rental Class A, with driver comfort being the other major one.
Last summer, we rented a large Class C (Jamboree 31 bunkhouse, which is actually 32 feet long), and while it had sleeping space for our family of 6, it was pretty short on storage space, and the fridge was small enough that we had to bring both an ice chest and a small 12-volt car cooler. Those were secured in the step well and under the table, since the ice chest wouldn't fit in the small external storage compartments.
Wardrobe space was adequate (just) for our 1-week trip, and large Class C vehicles like that are pretty generous on wardrobe space by Class C standards. Even then, some extra clothes, as well as dirty laundry, were kept in external compartments.
The Bounder we bought has a lot more wardrobe space, a bath-and-a-half floor plan (convenient when 4 out of 6 are girls) with a big shower (convenient for my dad, who is mobility-impaired) and more external storage space than I think I'm likely to ever fill. In terms of driver comfort, the worst Class A I've ever sat in (and I tried a lot) is still better for me than any Class C I've ever sat in.
Other factors: the two slides are much deeper than Class C slides, so the inside is far roomier than a C. Even with the slides in, the aisle is wider. The bed is a standard queen (60 x 80), and the 12 cubic foot fridge is twice the size of the 6 CF one in the C we rented. The power awning, 5KW generator and 50-amp power system are also nice. The 22.5 inch wheels and real truck suspension give a better ride than a Class C.
The downsides?
At 36 feet, it's bigger than any C except a Super C, which means it's heavier with the same engine and it maybe slower on hills (OTOH, it has a 5.38 final drive, which may be lower than a Class C's, not sure) and it's not bad on hills. Definitely will get lower mileage than a C. 22.5 inch tires cost a lot more, and the ones that were on it when I bought it had good tread, but were old enough to have severe dry rot on the inner sidewalls on 5 of the 6. It's very first trip after I bought it was to the tire shop to have them all replaced.
Also, because of the size, it's less practical to try to use it as a sightseeing vehicle, so I plan to tow our minivan behind it. Getting the pieces in place for that. Just need to get the base plate in, and I'm done. Towing is some added expense of course, and some extra work. It may also lead me to chip it and possibly go the full Banks Power Pack route, depending on how it performs this summer.
A smaller family can probably get by with a smaller Class A, and just a couple can get by with a much smaller one. Even at the same length, they typically have more storage space than any Class C. Those who can do that may be able to get by without towing a vehicle behind. Of course, many Class A owners do forego towing either much of the time or completely, so you _can_ live without a toad. It's just nice to be able to leave the RV a the campground and sightsee or grocery shop in the passenger vehicle.
It also can prevent what happened to me last summer at the Kaibab Lake forest service campground. We took the motorhome up to the Grand Canyon, and when we got back in the late afternoon, another RVer had removed our reservation paper from the post, presumably thrown it away, and taken our lake-view site. The campground host have me a nearby double-sized pull-through at no extra charge, but it didn't have a view. I still half regret not asking him to call a ranger and make the guy move, but it probably wouldn't have been worth the delay and conflict. The campground host told me that happens all the time when people don't have something they can leave behind in their site.
