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ScottD's avatar
ScottD
Explorer
Nov 10, 2017

Class C choices around 24'

I'm in the market for a class C motorhome for my wife and I. We've had a travel trailer and a slide-in truck camper but I think we're ready to step up to a motorhome. I'd appreciate any opinions on these 3 makes and models:

Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22M. It's 24'2" in length. 158" wheel base and ford E450 chassis. It has a slide out for the bed (bed is 60" x 75")

Jayco Redhawk 22J. It's 24'8" in length. 158" wheel base and ford E450 chassis. It has a slide out for the queen bed. (Layout is very similar to the Winnie 22M)


Forest River Forester 2251SLE. It's 23'10" in length. 158" wheel base and ford E450 chassis. It has a slide out for the queen bed. (Very close layout to the Jayco 22J)


Forest River Forester 2291S. It's 24'6" in length. 158" wheel base and ford E450 chassis. It has a slide out for the dining area.


The reason for these smaller motorhome layouts is because my thinking is that a lot of the time we're using it, we would be towing our 21' boat and when parking the motorhome/boat trailer it is going to be taking up a lot of space. I'm also thinking the ford chassis due to the higher tow rating than Chevy.

I'm leaning toward the Forester 2291s.

I'm probably going to scratch the Winnie off the list because of the smaller bed size. It looks like a queen bed isn't available until stepping up to a 27' Minnie Winnie. I'm thinking the shorter wheelbase is going to be better for turning and getting positioned down a boat launch (any thoughts on this?)

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Scott
Class C

43 Replies

  • ScottD's avatar
    ScottD
    Explorer
    Apr 02, 2018
    Phil, the subject was hashed out over on another forum. Check out post #8:
    http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f18/towing-capacity-and-frame-design-57904.html

    I realize it is not an official endorsement from the manufacturer for simply replacing the factory hitch with a higher class but I'm fairly confident now. I still may try to see if forest river can tell me if they changed anything other than the hitch from 2013 to 2014.
  • Lumpty's avatar
    Lumpty
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2018
    Forest River has an optional hitch of that capacity. Also, if the frame was extended per the Ford QVM procedures, the original chassis ratings are preserved. For an E450, those are pretty stout numbers.
  • pnichols's avatar
    pnichols
    Explorer II
    Apr 01, 2018
    Remember that hitches are attached to frame extensions that, I believe, are usually welded by the coach manufacturers to the OEM chassis frame members.

    I'm curious, where did you get info that one could merely change out a 5000 lb. rated hitch to a 7500 lb. hitch on an already-welded-on frame extension? (I'd want this in writing from the coach builder.)
  • ScottD's avatar
    ScottD
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2018
    Well, since I started this thread and just bought a class C today, I thought I should give an update.

    Ended up with a Sunseeker 2450s (27'). It was a model that I hadn't even considered. The ad listed it as a 24' so it caught my eye, since I was really wanting to keep it to 25' max.

    I wanted to get a used motorhome with the E450 chassis but the Sunseeker and Forest River models we liked the best in the 25' and under range did not come with E450's. 2018 model years have E450 but earlier models have E350's.

    Funny thing about the one we got, is the hitch is only rated at 5,000 lb but I can easily swap that out for a 7,500 lb hitch. It is a 2013 with less than 7,000 miles and loaded with every option including upgraded paint.
  • gmctoyman's avatar
    gmctoyman
    Explorer
    Dec 02, 2017
    Kinda true, but not totally. The LD uses (or did on my '04 & '06) particle board in the floor. There have been incidents of the black tank pulling the mount bolts thru the floor on certain models.. Of course this will only happen if to have a full tank. Cause is related to the water tank & pump being sources of leaks being located above the floor over the black tank.

    tjfogelberg wrote:
    Both Lazy Daze and Nexus use plywood ...Nexus for the bed platform. The entire shell of a Lazy Daze is plywood including the bottom of the storage bays.
  • resucami's avatar
    resucami
    Explorer
    Nov 29, 2017
    ron.dittmer wrote:
    We special ordered our Phoenix Cruiser ...

    This is pretty much my dream RV. Congratulations. There is a used Phoenix Cruiser for sale in my area but it has a slide out, and I also would prefer to have an RV without that.
  • Cider's avatar
    Cider
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2017
    ScottD wrote:
    tjfogelberg wrote:
    Make sure your mattress doesn’t have to be folded up to bring in the slide.


    That's a great suggestion. I think I'll scratch the first 3 models off my list because of that.

    The folding mattress is not a big deal. It opens and closes by itself, if you do not have a bunch of blankets on it when operating the slide. We have this on our MBS 2400R and find it simple, comfortable and no big deal. I would not use this as a factor to eliminate several class C models from consideration.
  • tjfogelberg's avatar
    tjfogelberg
    Explorer
    Nov 14, 2017
    Both Lazy Daze and Nexus use plywood ...Nexus for the bed platform. The entire shell of a Lazy Daze is plywood including the bottom of the storage bays.
  • Desert_Captain's avatar
    Desert_Captain
    Explorer III
    Nov 14, 2017
    Phil,

    Once again we are back on the same page and sort of returning to the topic when it comes to our Class C's. One of the things we enjoy the most with our little 24ish C is its ability to keep us comfortable in just about any weather and still accommodate the occasional guests. My buddy has a top of the line Winnabago diesel pusher that at 40+ feet sleeps two comfortably and in warm weather resembles a sauna...

    The folks with small diesel C's don't have the option we V-10 folks {and lesser gassers} have of running the dash AC as a back up in extreme heat as diesels don't take to extended idling all that well. Don't use this option often {last time was in the cornfields of Illinois dodging tornados}, but it is nice to know we can. When it comes to cold temps the 35,000 BTU furnace always gets the job done quickly and efficiently.

    When the trucks on I-10 are doing 80+ setting the cruise control at 83 actually works pretty well as you can really make good time on a long boring ride. Our Solara Coupe {poor mans Lexus} is a great road car when you just need to get someplace to start having fun. We cruise the coach at 63 - 65 unless I'm towing my Harley and then I back it down a tad.

    But really... the panhandle in August? Seriously? :S

    LMAO.

    :B

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