Gloria here. What a wonderful site! My husband and I are just starting our search for a new Class C motorhome. We were both campers in our "prior" life, but never a Class C. He was a seasonal (never towed) and my family had a pull behind 33' bunkhouse trailer. We have no clue what we're doing. lol. My husband is retiring in a few weeks after 42 years with the same company. We want a Class C and have a budget of $90,000 (less would be great!). Our plan is to drive cross country and just go and do whatever we want, when we want for the most part. Eventually. Right now, I work, but have the ability to work from "home" occasionally. We want a private bedroom and a bunk over. We would like to keep it at 32 feet or less. Most of the time it will be just him and I and a few large dogs (we have 3 but one is 14 and has cancer :( ) So if this was your budget and situation, what would you get? What would you stay away from? We are not very handy (at all) and don't really know anything about the "best" roof type, what is good construction vs bad etc. We are open to any and all suggestions and guidance because we do not have a clue. So far we went to one dealership that sold Jayco's and we liked the Jayco Blackhawk 29MV. We also looked at a DS. The DS floor plan felt "choppy" to me when looking at the 29 MV which seemed to have a lot of open floor space.Thanks in advance for suggestions and help!!

You may want to look at Lazy Daze and a few others that are considered best in quality of house box construction. Bear n mind that costs of owning a motor home are original purchase price including taxes and DMV fees, insurance and emergency road assistance coverage as well as recurring maintenance and DMV fees.Don't be overawed by the length and size of motorhomes. I recommend at least a 27 foot class C with rear bedroom and overhead bed (for kids). Short Class C's generally don't have much storage space and elbow room and are just as tall as longer floor plans. Slides are nice but can have electro-mechanical problems and when retracted, limit access to things on the road. Don't overlook Winnebago and Fleetwood, etc. which may satisfy your desires/needs. Each brand has more and less expensive model lines. Your going to get a lot of advice!!

New is not really wise for a first timer. If you absolutely hate it the financial hit you take on a MH might be hard to swallow. Look for a 2 to three year old coach. Let the previous owner take the hit. Now, class C, why? Generally speaking many Cs can be right up at their chassis limits before adding much stuff. Are you planning to tow a toad? Again many Cs have no room left over for a toad. Personally I think a gently used class A might be a better option in the long run.

I should've stated that we do not intend on towing a car. We chose Class C because we feel it is easier to find a place for repairs when it needs them. We prefer the ease of driving (from what we hear) of a Class C over a Class A. I want to be able to drive also and am not sure I would be comfortable driving an A.

That is a preceived notion, not an actual one. Class A seating is more up front, better frontal visability, better over the traffic visability. While driving a C might seem more van like, the downsides are hard to access the living area without going outside, overhead you can possibly hit with your head, cramped feeling driving area. I tought my wife to drive our class A in about 15 minutes on I5 in southern California years ago. I dont advocate it, but when traveling to the eadt coast years ago we were able to switch drivers without sropping. Something you can never do in a class C

get one with either an aluminum or fiberglass roof. not rubber or TPO.JMHObumpy

Help! Newbie (sort of) What to buy | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

donn0128
Explorer II
Feb 21, 2016
That is a preceived notion, not an actual one. Class A seating is more up front, better frontal visability, better over the traffic visability. While driving a C might seem more van like, the downsides are hard to access the living area without going outside, overhead you can possibly hit with your head, cramped feeling driving area. I tought my wife to drive our class A in about 15 minutes on I5 in southern California years ago.
I dont advocate it, but when traveling to the eadt coast years ago we were able to switch drivers without sropping. Something you can never do in a class C
gandb26
Explorer
Feb 21, 2016
I should've stated that we do not intend on towing a car. We chose Class C because we feel it is easier to find a place for repairs when it needs them. We prefer the ease of driving (from what we hear) of a Class C over a Class A. I want to be able to drive also and am not sure I would be comfortable driving an A.
donn0128
Explorer II
Feb 21, 2016
New is not really wise for a first timer. If you absolutely hate it the financial hit you take on a MH might be hard to swallow. Look for a 2 to three year old coach. Let the previous owner take the hit. Now, class C, why? Generally speaking many Cs can be right up at their chassis limits before adding much stuff. Are you planning to tow a toad? Again many Cs have no room left over for a toad. Personally I think a gently used class A might be a better option in the long run.
Bordercollie
Explorer
Feb 21, 2016
You may want to look at Lazy Daze and a few others that are considered best in quality of house box construction.
Bear n mind that costs of owning a motor home are original purchase price including taxes and DMV fees, insurance and emergency road assistance coverage as well as recurring maintenance and DMV fees.

Don't be overawed by the length and size of motorhomes. I recommend at least a 27 foot class C with rear bedroom and overhead bed (for kids). Short Class C's generally don't have much storage space and elbow room and are just as tall as longer floor plans. Slides are nice but can have electro-mechanical problems and when retracted, limit access to things on the road. Don't overlook Winnebago and Fleetwood, etc. which may satisfy your desires/needs. Each brand has more and less expensive model lines. Your going to get a lot of advice!!

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Help! Newbie (sort of) What to buy

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