Looking for a $10,000-15000 Class C MH that will sleep 8, 27 feet or less. Found one, a 1996 Dutchman. How about some other names I should look for? Did they make any with the bunk over the cab, sofa across from dinette booth and rear sleeping area that would sleep 2 in a queen or twin bunks that were less than 27 feet? This is the configuration I want. (I realize the sofa and dinette probably only adequate for kids). If so what names should I search?How about engine hp, size, etc. for the under 30 feet Class Cs. I had a 24 Foot 1997 with the chevy 350 and it was marginal on power. Now days ford is the big player with the v8 460 or the v10. Is there a strong preference there?How about the 350 vs 450 Chassis. For all of this think 30 feet or under. Tail overhang looks excessive on some models. Did a 450 chassis get you a longer wheel base? Starting over again. I searched for a big class c, daughter, paying half wanted a diesel. Bought a diesel. Too big 40 feet and expensive to maintain. Bought a 35 foot dolphin. Daughter filled it once with fuel and as a just retired school teacher realize it was gong to cost to much so that is for sale. I decided I wanted something to haul the family in so I am looking for the above mentioned class c. My cost for everything, purchase, fuel, maintenance etc. so big compromise between that and the Monaco diesel we had to start with. Thanks for your help

Most 27 footers can sleep two adults in rear bedroom,2 kids in overhead and one or two on the convertible dinette/bed or jacknife couch. Two more kids could sleep in a tent with sleeping bags when practical. 8 people/kids in a motorhome for more than a weekend is not my idea of relaxation.

It's gonna depend on just how "comfy" the people want to be, and their sizes.As BC mentioned, you'll have two in the bed, two in the overhead, and maybe two in the dinette and sofa.....but the dinette is going to fit short people/kids, and the sofa, will be for thin people or kids.If you've got 8 adults, and they have any size on them, you are asking for trouble.Bring along some air mattresses, and they can sleep on the floor!:)I've got the 31', and we can fit a lot of people if we want. I'd prefer not to use the dinette, but it's there if we need it.I really don't know if you'll notice the extra 4' of RV when you are driving, or camping. Unless you are restricted in your parking at home, I'd keep the 31' on the list. All of the mfgrs will have what you want, so it comes down to which one you can get the better deal on. The big players will be Winnebago, Thor, Fleetwood, Tioga, etc. You are right about looking in the 10-13 year range for your price range.The V-10 in the Fords has plenty of power....I used ours going over the mountains between Tennessee and NC....and it handled it fine. I have heard good things about the 460 also. But I think you first want to find the coach that you like, THEN think about the engine. Fords are probably the most common.Good luck in the search:)

Appreciate the quick replys. I'm not parking limited at home so will include 31 footers to give me more to search, however thought the shorter ones would be easier for the one or two day trips to see things, park it and preclude the necessity for a toad. Long term stays at a camp ground aren't in the plan with a load of rug rats, but the wife and I might take it for a few days here and there--like the NASCAR races or Mt. Dora flea market. Not concerned about size and down the road driving--owned 5 class A up to 36 feet. Thanks for the names.

We LOVE the floorplan on our 1983, 26 ft. Jamboree.The queen bunk is surrounded by windows. We have twin capt. chairs and a table pops up between them. My favorite feature is that there is no dinette. Instead we have a three or four person couch with a long table on two posts. Lift out the table and posts and you get a nice open floor. The couch folds down to a double bed and tall people actually fit.I don't have good pics of mine (still finishing the inside), but here are a couple I found online that show the floorplan well.The second pic shows how the sink and stove are on the driver's side and the fridge and pantry are on the passenger side, in front of the bed.Jose

Basically, any "original Class C" (with a big cabover bed that's usually bigger than Queen), that's "bed down" (double, queen, short queen, island, etc.) with Dinette and Sofa "will sleep eight." Tons of room in the cabover, good room in the bed down, marginal room in sofa and dinette. And pray for good weather - There's no room for 8 once out of bed. And no room to do much till the sofa and dinette are converted back to day use.Any C with 460 or V10 Ford, 6.0L or 454 or 8.1L GM engine will get you down the road. Reviews claimed the V10 (even original 275HP version in 1997-99 chassis) outperformed the 460 and 454 of the 1990s era. Personally I felt that our old 1983 carbureted 460 (rated maybe 250-HP) drove with more "authority" than our current 2002 305-HP V10. I liked the V8 sound and low-end torque more than the high whine of the revving V10. Best I can offer on this is that I wouldn't avoid a '96 with 460 to get a V10. In V10, the newer the better. Big improvements going into 2000, fully matured in 2004. Then the next big step in Ford was the TorqShift transmission, which I think was 2005 chassis year for E-Series with gas engines.

Class C, 27 feet or shorter, sleeps 8? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

Bordercollie
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
Da Hose,

Our 24 foot '79 Delta "money pit" had an almost identical floor plan to yours.
There was no rear bed, rear area was spacious restroom with a short enclosed shower/tub. The ornate restaurant-style ceiling lighting system and Keebler cottage cabinets were something special. Orange shag carpets!!!
j-d
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2013
Basically, any "original Class C" (with a big cabover bed that's usually bigger than Queen), that's "bed down" (double, queen, short queen, island, etc.) with Dinette and Sofa "will sleep eight." Tons of room in the cabover, good room in the bed down, marginal room in sofa and dinette. And pray for good weather - There's no room for 8 once out of bed. And no room to do much till the sofa and dinette are converted back to day use.
Any C with 460 or V10 Ford, 6.0L or 454 or 8.1L GM engine will get you down the road. Reviews claimed the V10 (even original 275HP version in 1997-99 chassis) outperformed the 460 and 454 of the 1990s era. Personally I felt that our old 1983 carbureted 460 (rated maybe 250-HP) drove with more "authority" than our current 2002 305-HP V10. I liked the V8 sound and low-end torque more than the high whine of the revving V10. Best I can offer on this is that I wouldn't avoid a '96 with 460 to get a V10. In V10, the newer the better. Big improvements going into 2000, fully matured in 2004. Then the next big step in Ford was the TorqShift transmission, which I think was 2005 chassis year for E-Series with gas engines.
DaHose
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
We LOVE the floorplan on our 1983, 26 ft. Jamboree.

The queen bunk is surrounded by windows. We have twin capt. chairs and a table pops up between them. My favorite feature is that there is no dinette. Instead we have a three or four person couch with a long table on two posts. Lift out the table and posts and you get a nice open floor. The couch folds down to a double bed and tall people actually fit.

I don't have good pics of mine (still finishing the inside), but here are a couple I found online that show the floorplan well.

The second pic shows how the sink and stove are on the driver's side and the fridge and pantry are on the passenger side, in front of the bed.

Jose
fighterpilota
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
Appreciate the quick replys. I'm not parking limited at home so will include 31 footers to give me more to search, however thought the shorter ones would be easier for the one or two day trips to see things, park it and preclude the necessity for a toad. Long term stays at a camp ground aren't in the plan with a load of rug rats, but the wife and I might take it for a few days here and there--like the NASCAR races or Mt. Dora flea market. Not concerned about size and down the road driving--owned 5 class A up to 36 feet. Thanks for the names.
PapPappy
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
It's gonna depend on just how "comfy" the people want to be, and their sizes.
As BC mentioned, you'll have two in the bed, two in the overhead, and maybe two in the dinette and sofa.....but the dinette is going to fit short people/kids, and the sofa, will be for thin people or kids.
If you've got 8 adults, and they have any size on them, you are asking for trouble.

Bring along some air mattresses, and they can sleep on the floor!:)

I've got the 31', and we can fit a lot of people if we want. I'd prefer not to use the dinette, but it's there if we need it.
I really don't know if you'll notice the extra 4' of RV when you are driving, or camping. Unless you are restricted in your parking at home, I'd keep the 31' on the list. All of the mfgrs will have what you want, so it comes down to which one you can get the better deal on. The big players will be Winnebago, Thor, Fleetwood, Tioga, etc. You are right about looking in the 10-13 year range for your price range.

The V-10 in the Fords has plenty of power....I used ours going over the mountains between Tennessee and NC....and it handled it fine. I have heard good things about the 460 also. But I think you first want to find the coach that you like, THEN think about the engine. Fords are probably the most common.

Good luck in the search:)
Bordercollie
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
Most 27 footers can sleep two adults in rear bedroom,2 kids in overhead and one or two on the convertible dinette/bed or jacknife couch. Two more kids could sleep in a tent with sleeping bags when practical. 8 people/kids in a motorhome for more than a weekend is not my idea of relaxation.

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Class C, 27 feet or shorter, sleeps 8?

16 Replies

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