Class C under 30 ft. with gas engine

These do not have the View look ... but if you want superb Class C quality and good old Ford reliability and ease of finding dealers out in the middle of nowhere that can often help whenever it rarely isn't reliable ... consider one of these in one of their under-31 foot models:

http://www.lazydaze.com/

These are built ONLY on the Ford E450 cutaway van chassis with the V10 gas engine and a 4:56 ratio rear differential, so in their short length Class C models the chassis is "under-loaded/under-stressed" for great overall reliability ... as well as the ability to carry about any amount of added gear weight you want to load in ... plus tow well too.

We have a discontinued Winnebago 24 foot Class C model on an E450 chassis and it has been very reliable - other than blowing it's transmission unexpectedly at around 60K miles. We had no trouble getting the transmission replaced in a hurry, locally, just before starting out on a 9000 mile trip. We cruise at 55-60 MPH and get 9-10 MPG fuel consumption.

I've got a 25' Phoenix Cruiser with a Ford V10 Gas engine.

kstorms wrote:
And one follow-up - can a gas engine RV be taken to any repair shop for service?

No, and it has nothing to do with fuel type. Many shops won't work on motorhomes because they don't have the facility or equipment to lift them up. FWIW, you will find many more shops that will service the Ford and Chevy chassis than the Mercedes.

kstorms wrote:

My concern with diesel is service on the road if needed.

Just a bit of clarification:
All but the smallest RVs are typically maintained by TRUCK service centers. They know a lot about diesels.

Unless you are WAY out in the boonies, I suspect that won't be a real problem......in which case there might not be anybody to work on your gas engine either.

Oh....and there are a TON of class C's at or under 30' with gas engines but they might not have the "look" that you like.

Yes any good shop should have no problem working on a Ford or Chevy gas engine. Only draw back would be if it fits in there building.

Take our Aspect Class C to a independent shop here

Thank you - very helpful information.

My concern with diesel is service on the road if needed. If i am in a remote area - finding a Mercedes Benz or similar diesel service center might be hard to do. My hope with gas is that it opens up more service options (if you can service a gas rv at any service center).

The closest in physical appearance will be Winnebago's Trend, built on the Ram Promaster chassis, for which a gas V-6 is the standard engine. I don't know if anyone else is building that type of C on a Promaster.

The other possibility is somebody building on the newly available Ford Transit cutaway. Winnebago build the Fuse on this one, but engine chosen by Winnebago is the diesel, for its greater pulling power.

On the "full-size" Ford E-450 chassis, Winnebago builds the Aspect and Cambria, two models in each line are just under 30 feet. For this chassis, or the E-350, most major manufacturers and several smaller ones (e.g. BornFree, Phoenix Cruiser, Coachhouse, LTV) build B+ type RVs in a range of sizes. You will likely find some also on Chevy Express chassis.

I meant that i liked the overall look to the View.

And one follow-up - can a gas engine RV be taken to any repair shop for service?

Thanks

Like the view in what sense? If only in the sense of being less than 30' long, Winnebago (among other makers) offers several options. The Fuse line is probably the most similar (based on the Transit chassis), but the Trend (ProMaster) and Minnie Winnie/Spirit lines (E-series chassis) also have models well under 30' long overall.

Look at the Phoenix Cruiser line of RVs.