Class C vs. Class A engine access...
Hi, I'm new at this and have looked at several Class A and C motorhomes. I initially thought the Cs would have the easy engine access, but upon inspection, the couple of Class Cs I looked at SEEMED ...
Forum Discussion
On conventional class A rigs with the engine under a cover between the two front seats, you will find access to some things easier but not so for all things mechanical.
Class C's are intimidating when opening the shallow hood, but all that plastic is easily removed to access things like the water pump, alternator, belts and such. It is not "easy" access, but no worse than many cars these days.
One critical point to make here is that every auto shop understands a Ford and Chevy van, how to make repairs on them, what is involved, the hours invested, available parts, good supporting documentation and all the rest. That is NOT the case with class A's. Many mechanics won't touch A's because RV outfitters often change things using non-standard, often poor practices. They'll use custom made brackets and cheap fasteners. They work with substandard and sometimes unprotected metal that rusts fast. They use fasteners that break instead of coming apart, like self tapping screws instead of high quality nuts & bolts. Disassembly often involves the breaking of such things.
Wiring is generally of a lesser quality as well, using piercing connectors instead of factory made water-tight connectors like a van has, often without the use of a wire jacket to protect them from abrasion. Water and salt spray create trouble more often on class A's compared to class Cs. Mechanics know that if they disturb such wiring, they could create new trouble while fixing old trouble.
Get the idea?
A class C with a van front is friendly to a mechanic. Class A's are not friendly and therefore mechanics often say, "I don't work on those vehicles". So if they are not friendly for a mechanic, they won't be friendly for you either.
Adding that the safety in a class C is far superior to a class A. I would take my chances in a frontal collision in a class C any day compared to a class A. There are safety standards designed into a van that are not in a class A.
With that said, a class C would be much safer in a roll-over crash if the RV outfitter did not cut the roof to accommodate for easier front seat access from the house in back. I think every RV manufacture does this.
Class C's are intimidating when opening the shallow hood, but all that plastic is easily removed to access things like the water pump, alternator, belts and such. It is not "easy" access, but no worse than many cars these days.
One critical point to make here is that every auto shop understands a Ford and Chevy van, how to make repairs on them, what is involved, the hours invested, available parts, good supporting documentation and all the rest. That is NOT the case with class A's. Many mechanics won't touch A's because RV outfitters often change things using non-standard, often poor practices. They'll use custom made brackets and cheap fasteners. They work with substandard and sometimes unprotected metal that rusts fast. They use fasteners that break instead of coming apart, like self tapping screws instead of high quality nuts & bolts. Disassembly often involves the breaking of such things.
Wiring is generally of a lesser quality as well, using piercing connectors instead of factory made water-tight connectors like a van has, often without the use of a wire jacket to protect them from abrasion. Water and salt spray create trouble more often on class A's compared to class Cs. Mechanics know that if they disturb such wiring, they could create new trouble while fixing old trouble.
Get the idea?
A class C with a van front is friendly to a mechanic. Class A's are not friendly and therefore mechanics often say, "I don't work on those vehicles". So if they are not friendly for a mechanic, they won't be friendly for you either.
Adding that the safety in a class C is far superior to a class A. I would take my chances in a frontal collision in a class C any day compared to a class A. There are safety standards designed into a van that are not in a class A.
With that said, a class C would be much safer in a roll-over crash if the RV outfitter did not cut the roof to accommodate for easier front seat access from the house in back. I think every RV manufacture does this.
