Buying a used Class B - what not to buy

These comments are very helpful. It's just so hard to make a decision. Seeing as we are in our golden years, I don't anticipate us having this vehicle for more than a year or so. I just want to get out and see the US while we are still able. (husband is 7 yrs older than me) Please keep the suggestions and comments coming. This has been a dream of mine for many years, but then we had this unexpected move to SC and because of lack of storage for 2 cars, 1 truck and a 30' trailer, we had to sell the truck and the trailer and took a beating on both. Im sorry, TMI

One last thing. I guess why I was leaning to a B is I don't like the covering over the cab.

As others have already said, you pay a price for the compact size of a Class B. There's higher quality on the Class B's and high end Class A's of the spectrum with the sweet spot for price generally being the Class C. However, Class C's cover a very large part of the RV spectrum and quality is all over the place on them. Bottom line is the old adage, "you get what you pay for".

That said, Class B's do tend to hold their value over most other RVs, so you may be hard pressed to find something in your price range. Suggest you check out the vender/model specific web sites. Roadtrek, PleasureWay, Great West all have forums and web sites where owners can post their units for sale. There are some RV dealers who specialize in Class B's and you might check their on-line inventory to get some idea of what's available and at what prices. Many of them also offer fly-to-buy programs. (Wagon Trail, Van City, Johnsons, etc).

It's a lot like when you're looking for backpacking gear. The lightest weight stuff is the most expensive. If you're looking for kiwer prices you need to be willing to pack more in weight.

I've had a number of Class B's and like them a lot for size, maneuverability, MPG, etc. But I came up into RVs from doing tent camping where I was comfortable with small spaces and minimal gear. I recently moved up to a small Class C for a bit more room though. And while I've done a couple of camping trips with my GF in my previous Class B I can't really imagine spending a month with her, a dog and two cats all cramped into that small space. Not even sure I'd like to do that with my current Class C. LOL

As donn0128 pointed out above, Class B units are pricy per square foot of space; however they are quite handy for driving and parking in that they are really just a big van. We had a Pleasure Way for several years and it was well built, got good gas mileage, and held it's value. We now have a 23 ft. Class C coach House which has a lot more room, better sleeping and bathroom arrangements than our PW had........but it cost a lot more and doesn't get near the gas mileage. Craiglist is an excellent place to shop, especially for the privately owned units. For used Class B units, I'm partial to Pleasure Way. Coach House, or Leisure Travel; can't tell you much on new stuff. For used Class C, there's Coach House, Born Free, and a couple others; you get what you pay for generally speaking. Good luck on your search.

None! Class Bs are crazy high priced for miminal sq foot floor space. Your much better off with a class C if that is what works for you.