Cross Country Trip - What length Class C???

My theory was to go bigger at first... Then if you don't like it, you can trade down.. Which is always easier than trading up. We have a 31 ft class c and have driven it cross country twice in 2 years. Never had a problem. You just have to know your limitations...??

Some great posts so far, let me share my experience.

I came from a TCer to a 19' Class C. Length is great and I love it, can back it in and out of so many places with ease I can take it to work, the store and maneuver down roads without worrying about if I need to turn around.

Problem for me is width, I do not have the ability to use it in narrow parking spots so in the peak season I still have to park in RV spots. With the TCer I only had the width of the truck to worry about, the class C is a lot wider in the rear. Makes for parking a little harder as you will take up the ENTIRE width of any standard parking places and maneuvering around obstacles is harder.

Can you do it - yes! Is it fun in busy places - not really but I don't go to a lot of these places. Would I go for a short RV if I was like most people and used it for camping for weeks at a time in just the summer - no, I would get it a bit longer for the extra benefits that you have with the extra length and either take the tours or haul along a car/motor bike or bicycles.

The walk around queen bed is worth the few extra feet. If you are going to the National Parks during the "busy" season, parking is a bear regardless of what length RV you have. Best way to see Going to the Sun Highway is on the Red Bus Tour. Leave the driving to some else. Many National Parks have tours, which take the stress out of visiting the attractions.

Driving cross country, no differences till you try to park at some tight place, and even then you'll probably find the 30-ft range doesn't cause more trouble than the 25-ft range. This from owning a 24 and a 31.

Using state/national parks as an example, here's my list, easier on top, tougher on bottom:

Driving into the park
Driving to the campground
Parking on campsites
Driving within the park sightseeing
Parking within the park at lookouts/points of interest while sightseeing

Ths length limit on Going to the Sun Highway is pretty short. Like a Class B. Can't be over 21' long, 8' wide, 10' high. That eliminates pretty much all Class C's.

We've been to many national parks in our 27 foot C. We have not experienced any difficulties getting around. We love the floor plan of ours, and as noted above by others, one reason is we do not have to climb over each other to get in/out of bed or climb a ladder to the bunk area. Be careful of getting one too long and with too many options as the extra weight cuts down on your usable payload (OCCC).

Having had both a 24 and a 31, we prefer the longer if only for the walk-around bed. If you are the one who has to make it, you will prefer it too. As older folks, we also find it convenient not to have to climb over your partner if you need to get up at night. The short one sure was easier to park at the tourist traps, though!

I will second a few other posts. How many are making the trip with you. There are advantages to the different sizes. Short rigs have more CCC and it is easier to find parking when playing tourist. The wife and I have a 26.5' rig that is just right for us. I do a lot of longer solo trips (I am retired, she is not). I have not had trouble finding parking in campsites, but at sight seeing stops along the way even this length is sometimes long.
Also look at the amount of overhang. As already mentioned there is a ratio of length to wheel base that makes a big difference in handling.

There is much to learn about length and the handling of the rigs. E450 Chassis' are very popular, but the available carried weight of your possessions gets less and less as the rigs get longer and more slides.

I doubt whether National Parks for the most part would be much more difficult to navigate at almost any Class C length.

In the national parks I've been too, my 30' was fine. When I was buying it back in 2004, I was led to believe that 30' was a maximum.

But, I'd be more concerned with internal design for a trip that length. You don't say how many of you there are, but a lot of the shorter RV's don't have a separate bedroom - just a curtain at the end of the bed. We love having a sliding door to the bedroom as well as being able to block off the hallway for an expanded bathroom (nice when showering - you can step into the hallway where the closet/dresser drawers are and change there).

If you haven't been RV'ing before, rent something now for a weekend and see what you like/don't like about your rental.

JMHO! Good luck with your purchase!
Bill

I liked the fact that our 28' had an island queen bed. Was SO much easier to make up (plus there was good storage along the sides). Re: Nat'l Parks - unless you visit in the way-OFF season, ANY RV will be a stinker to park in those lovely scenic turnouts. We usually rented a car to do our exploring with - then we could fit in that "last available space" to see the waterfall, etc. Some parks limit vehicle length to 22' (Glacier's Going-To-The-Sun Rd) on the smaller scenic drives.

But as far as driving down the road, I doubt a 25' feels any more petite than a 28' or so. And if you'll be spending weeks doing this, having the extra room and seating in the MH would be nice