Class A or C, that is the question

pompomgirl wrote:
You have directed this question to the Class C Motorhomes section of the forum, which is obviously a group whose preference is decidedly in favor of Class C. I think you would get a very different response from the Class A Motorhomes members.

We just traded in our 2008 diesel Class C on a 1998 Class A diesel pusher and are absolutely delighted with the decision. The Class A is only four feet longer and has enormously more room. It doesn't have the cabover bed, of course, but it has a fold-out sleeper in the living room area (yes, an actual living room area! - find that in a Class C!) and I'm sure there are other models available that sleep more people than ours.

I think the blanket statement that Class A's are inferior in construction to Class C's is nuts. No, they haven't been crash-tested, but ours has a welded steel frame that is much stronger overall than the rickety plywood construction of the box on the Class C. The Class A goes down the road much more smoothly with no creaks and groans and rattles like the Class C had, and again, it was a 2008, not some old clunker.

I think some people are prejudiced toward gas engines because they are just more familiar with them. Our Ford diesel in the Class C and the Cummins in our new Class A are noisier than a gas engine but nowhere as loud as some others I have heard, and diesel gets significantly better mileage. Please post your question to the Class A forum and see what answers you get.

My thoughts on pompomgirl's points.....Diesel Pusher Class A's are generally in their own category. A new entry level class A gasser MSRP starts around $80k. A new diesel pusher, MSRP starts around $200,000 and it's not $120,000 more chassis & drive train alone. A diesel pusher of any era is very well constructed with great quality as they should be when considering their cost when new. If I were to consider full-timing, I'd be sure to get a DP for they are ideal for that. But considering a class A gasser made in the 90's as trucker677 is considering, many he finds in his implied price range will be somewhere between rough and rolling wrecks. Of coarse there could be a bargain-priced cream puff forgotten in a heated storage facility somewhere, but that will be a very rare find. On the other hand, it seems DPs hold up better and are better cared for, given their higher value.

Because trucker677 is accommodating his two near adult sized girls, I am thinking the girls would appreciate their own sleeping quarters of a class C, their own space up top to draw a curtain for privacy. Not sleeping in the living area where Mom & Dad will be getting up early to start their own day with a cup of coffee, catching up on the www and making breakfast.

There are some real sweet small Class C's today that I think would be worth considering in trucker677's situation. The Winnebago Minnie Winnie model 22R below offers affordability and mobility. But finding something like this in the well used market in good condition, could be challenging.