Hi all. I have a big motorhome (40+ feet) and over the past years we have used it less and less. Pretty much about once or twice a year for tailgating. Now, I was set to use it more this year and take it back down to florida and then had a hydraulic leak that put the brakes on that trip. My husband seems to use it less and less and it was always me who would do the basic maintenance, cleaning, winterizing of it. So, I am thinking I would like to downsize it but now am spoiled with the room, the king sized bed etc. and the fancy features of the Class A diesels and wonder if any of you have seen some good smaller alternatives that have big slide outs, nice living space and ideally a king bed. Thanks for any help. I don't know if this should be on the class C board, but you all would know what I mean I think.

Nothing comes close to a Class A

azdryheat wrote:Nothing comes close to a Class AThat's what I"m seeing other than a Dynamax and then I am as big as I was before. There are just times when I think a smaller unit would be fun to zip around in. Things like more football games, swim meets etc. where taking the big class A is too much hassle and money. I wish I could design one.

I have owned a standard Class C listed at 31' but actually 33' on a Ford E450 223" wheelbase chassis. We now own a Class A DP listed at 33' but actually 34' on a Freightliner 208" wheelbase chassis. With a standard Class C the ride is harsh and noisy, the payload is poor typically 1,000# - 2,000# payload. Handling is typically poor. Typically they can only be used in summer months due to lack of enclosed tanks or plumbing. The other difference is the turning radius. Our class A has a much tighter turning radius with a 55 degree wheel cut and a 208" wheelbase than our standard Class C with a 223" wheelbase and a 45 degree wheel cut. Super C motorhomes are a different story however have some of the same noise and heat problems as well as the turning radius issues. However they don't have the payload problems that the standard Class C units do. We like the air ride suspension and panoramic view out the window.

Trish, your generator slide problem is not a reason to not go to Fla for the winter. The children of a older friend now drive the DP to NC from Fla each summer and set it up for them. Hopefully you have the same option.

Downsizing from diesel pusher | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

NCWriter
Explorer
Aug 11, 2016
ncrowley wrote:
I looked at the Navion and others on the Sprinter chassis. You do not have enough max gross weight to pull a 4 door Rubicon. You have to be really carefully to not exceed the max combined weight even pulling a lighter car. Even with a smaller RV, I would not consider going without the toad. We decide to stay with our 39 foot pusher. We were giving up too much to go smaller.

We prefer not to tow, while other people do happily tow in small/mid Cs. Toad vs no-toad is a whole different subject, though, often brought up on this forum. The bottom line is always: to each his own, different strokes for different folks, etc.
ncrowley
Explorer II
Aug 07, 2016
I looked at the Navion and others on the Sprinter chassis. You do not have enough max gross weight to pull a 4 door Rubicon. You have to be really carefully to not exceed the max combined weight even pulling a lighter car. Even with a smaller RV, I would not consider going without the toad. We decide to stay with our 39 foot pusher. We were giving up too much to go smaller.
NCWriter
Explorer
Aug 07, 2016
For something easy to zip around in, there are quite a few makers with diesel Sprinter-based small Cs (25 feet or so) with slides, and some like ours do not have the over-cab bed, but instead have a skylight. Such models get about 14 to 17 mpg.

Ours has a rear slide queen bed. Driver's side sofa slide-out. Front seats swivel around to face the living area, so easily seats four.

Look at LTV, Coachmen Prism, Coachhouse Platinum, Winnebago View/Itasca Navion IQ and lots of others. Various floor plans.
eichacsj
Explorer
Aug 07, 2016
If you are not using it why would size matter? Either keep it and do the maintenance or sell it. I do not understand why a small motor home would change anything, you still have to do the maintenance between tips.
Gonzo42
Explorer
Aug 07, 2016
We have our first RV, a class C and we enjoy it tremendously, but so far our trips have been fairly short.

Recently I worked on a 36 foot Class A and I was very impressed. I would love to have one for a coast-to-coast trip which I am planning.

Are you sure a class C would really suit you? Perhaps you could rent one for a few days and see how you like it before you make the plunge.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Aug 07, 2016
It all depends what you use RV for. We use it to get us and supplies to the site and then we spend whole days and evening outside at the lake or campfire.
Even with 40' conversion, sons liked to sleep in tents.
So when sons moved out we downsized to 11' Truck Camper and are pretty comfortable. Camper has all we need for our camping, while driving 325HP pickup allows me to beat traffic going there.
Sure I can not put dirt bike into camper bay like I did in conversion, but having pickup I use it after dropping down the camper.
Difference in cost is humongous as I had pickup for business anyway.
supercub
Explorer
Aug 07, 2016
Downsized from a 41 foot DP to a 32 foot gas Class A. Lasted less then a year. Sold it and now have a 38 foot diesel pusher. I'm set and won't change, love it.
Colo_Native
Explorer
Aug 07, 2016
I sold my Class A for a FW now I am thinking of going back to a Class A so much easier IMHO
Traveler_II
Explorer
Aug 07, 2016
We sold our Class A because I felt we weren't using it enough, it took some time to sell and we took a big hit. The problem is after about a year we missed RVing, but after the monetary loss ended up buying a 5th wheel trailer because we wanted the room. It's great to be back RVing but I do miss our Class A.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Aug 07, 2016
Trish, your generator slide problem is not a reason to not go to Fla for the winter. The children of a older friend now drive the DP to NC from Fla each summer and set it up for them. Hopefully you have the same option.