If buying a used Class C - what not to do
I am in the beginning stages of looking for either a Class B or C not more $30,000. It is a bit overwhelming as everything else we have had has been a trailer. I am looking within about 200 miles of w...
Forum Discussion
For what it's worth ... here are some things, in no particular order, that we looked for when shopping for our Class C ... or found out were beneficial and wound up with (luckily) after we owned it:
- We wanted "good old American iron" in the chassis for easy repair and service everywhere -> so we chose Ford.
- We wanted a chassis designed and built to carry a generous overhead of weight above what the coach might actually weigh for extra margin in areas such as brake swept areas, frame material thickness to provide stiffness supporting the coach, less rear end sagging over time, and a lower rear differential ratio to help with engine and transmission cooling on long grades in high temperatures -> so we chose the E450 even though the E350 was rated high enough to carry the coach.
- We wanted a one piece fiberglass roof with 3-4 inch rolled edges for leak resistance, that wouldn't dent from freak hail storms (aluminum dents), that was nicely crowned for water runoff and vertical strength to minimize damage from bounching up/down of the air conditioner on rough roads -> so we chose Itasca (Winnebago) with it's 10 year roof warranty.
- We wanted the driver's seat to be able to move all the way back when traveling -> not blocked by any furniture or other structures.
- We wanted the shower stall to have high headroom.
- We wanted room for at least two Group 31 batteries without having to sacrifice exterior storage areas better used for other things.
- We wanted two permanent queen size beds in about a 24 foot Class C length.
- We did not want slides in order to keep wall shear strength and leakproofness optimized.
- We wanted large as possible gas, propane, fresh, grey, and black tanks in about a 24 foot Class C length.
- We wanted the fresh water tank and all fresh water plumbing to be contained within the heated interior.
- We wound up with aluminum running boards -> fiberglass can crack.
- We wound up with an automatic coach step.
- We wound up with steel lined fender wells for the rear duallies so that a shredded rear tire would not damage the underside of the coach.
- We wound up with steel drawer slides.
- We wound up with solid wood drawer fronts.
- We wound up with gravity latches for all the drawers that never wear out.
- We wound up with an exterior sewer storage bay that can hold the entire 30 foot of sewer hose so no sewer hose tube at the rear of the coach is required.
- We wound up with a full size spare mounted out of sight and a huge heavy duty lug wrench to loosen/tighten the wheel nuts.
- We wound up with seven steel lined and carpeted exterior storage bays -> with two of them running laterally across the coach width for storage of long items such as fishing poles, shovels, etc..
- We wound up with a black/grey tank emptying valve arrangement that permits off-loading of the grey tank into the black tank in an emergency situation -> where the grey tank is full with the black tank still having some spare capacity.
- We wound up with 12 volt electrically heated grey and black tanks for cold weather travel and cold weather hookup camping or drycamping.
- We wound up with a built-in Onan generator fueled off the main tank, that is mounted way up so it doesn't show, and is enclosed well enough such that it is low enough in interior vibration and noise that it can be tolerated for hours, if necessary, while living inside the RV.
- We wound up with a bunch of interior 12V DC receptacles.
- We wound up with a bunch of interior 120V AC receptacles.
- We wound up with all interior wiring being neatly bundled.
- We wound up with a double galley sink with a single control faucet
- We wound up with built-in curtains (so we didn't have to buy them or make them ourselves) to seal off the rear bed area, the cabover bed area, and the cab area -> for added privacy and better heat-loss control in cold weather or better heat-gain control in warm weather.
- We wound up with a combination of vinyl and carpeted areas for good ambiance where needed and ease of cleaning where needed.
- We wound up with storage areas along the head and along the foot of the cabover bed.
- We wound up with good ground clearance to minimize scrape-ing when entering parking lots or traveling off-pavement. The wheel wells also permit larger diameter tires to increase stock ground clearance, if necessary.
- We wound up with a water heater drain valve that's very accessible for changing of the sacrificial rod.
- We wound up with storage areas under the dinette seats that are fully usable, as no equipment is under the seats -> some Class C designs have the propane furnace there.
- We wound up with ducted air conditioning.
- We wound up with ducted heating.
- We wound up with a built-in fresh water filter.
- We wound up with an exterior shower with a remote water pump switch right next to the valves.
- We wound up with four rechargeable walkie-talkies in a charging rack accessible right by the exit door.
- We wound up with an exterior entertainment center with handy 12V DC and 120V AC receptacles.
- We wound up bright chrome wheel liners for good looks.
- We wound up with a roof ladder that is well mounted for many years of reliable use in doing roof washing, waxing, and roof equipment servicing or repairs.
- We wound up with heavy gauge wiring between the engine alternator and the coach batteries for fast charging with the engine idling and when traveling.
- We wound up with grey tank and black tank level sensors that are outside the tanks to keep them from clogging up -> they sense the liquid levels through the walls of the tanks.
- We wanted "good old American iron" in the chassis for easy repair and service everywhere -> so we chose Ford.
- We wanted a chassis designed and built to carry a generous overhead of weight above what the coach might actually weigh for extra margin in areas such as brake swept areas, frame material thickness to provide stiffness supporting the coach, less rear end sagging over time, and a lower rear differential ratio to help with engine and transmission cooling on long grades in high temperatures -> so we chose the E450 even though the E350 was rated high enough to carry the coach.
- We wanted a one piece fiberglass roof with 3-4 inch rolled edges for leak resistance, that wouldn't dent from freak hail storms (aluminum dents), that was nicely crowned for water runoff and vertical strength to minimize damage from bounching up/down of the air conditioner on rough roads -> so we chose Itasca (Winnebago) with it's 10 year roof warranty.
- We wanted the driver's seat to be able to move all the way back when traveling -> not blocked by any furniture or other structures.
- We wanted the shower stall to have high headroom.
- We wanted room for at least two Group 31 batteries without having to sacrifice exterior storage areas better used for other things.
- We wanted two permanent queen size beds in about a 24 foot Class C length.
- We did not want slides in order to keep wall shear strength and leakproofness optimized.
- We wanted large as possible gas, propane, fresh, grey, and black tanks in about a 24 foot Class C length.
- We wanted the fresh water tank and all fresh water plumbing to be contained within the heated interior.
- We wound up with aluminum running boards -> fiberglass can crack.
- We wound up with an automatic coach step.
- We wound up with steel lined fender wells for the rear duallies so that a shredded rear tire would not damage the underside of the coach.
- We wound up with steel drawer slides.
- We wound up with solid wood drawer fronts.
- We wound up with gravity latches for all the drawers that never wear out.
- We wound up with an exterior sewer storage bay that can hold the entire 30 foot of sewer hose so no sewer hose tube at the rear of the coach is required.
- We wound up with a full size spare mounted out of sight and a huge heavy duty lug wrench to loosen/tighten the wheel nuts.
- We wound up with seven steel lined and carpeted exterior storage bays -> with two of them running laterally across the coach width for storage of long items such as fishing poles, shovels, etc..
- We wound up with a black/grey tank emptying valve arrangement that permits off-loading of the grey tank into the black tank in an emergency situation -> where the grey tank is full with the black tank still having some spare capacity.
- We wound up with 12 volt electrically heated grey and black tanks for cold weather travel and cold weather hookup camping or drycamping.
- We wound up with a built-in Onan generator fueled off the main tank, that is mounted way up so it doesn't show, and is enclosed well enough such that it is low enough in interior vibration and noise that it can be tolerated for hours, if necessary, while living inside the RV.
- We wound up with a bunch of interior 12V DC receptacles.
- We wound up with a bunch of interior 120V AC receptacles.
- We wound up with all interior wiring being neatly bundled.
- We wound up with a double galley sink with a single control faucet
- We wound up with built-in curtains (so we didn't have to buy them or make them ourselves) to seal off the rear bed area, the cabover bed area, and the cab area -> for added privacy and better heat-loss control in cold weather or better heat-gain control in warm weather.
- We wound up with a combination of vinyl and carpeted areas for good ambiance where needed and ease of cleaning where needed.
- We wound up with storage areas along the head and along the foot of the cabover bed.
- We wound up with good ground clearance to minimize scrape-ing when entering parking lots or traveling off-pavement. The wheel wells also permit larger diameter tires to increase stock ground clearance, if necessary.
- We wound up with a water heater drain valve that's very accessible for changing of the sacrificial rod.
- We wound up with storage areas under the dinette seats that are fully usable, as no equipment is under the seats -> some Class C designs have the propane furnace there.
- We wound up with ducted air conditioning.
- We wound up with ducted heating.
- We wound up with a built-in fresh water filter.
- We wound up with an exterior shower with a remote water pump switch right next to the valves.
- We wound up with four rechargeable walkie-talkies in a charging rack accessible right by the exit door.
- We wound up with an exterior entertainment center with handy 12V DC and 120V AC receptacles.
- We wound up bright chrome wheel liners for good looks.
- We wound up with a roof ladder that is well mounted for many years of reliable use in doing roof washing, waxing, and roof equipment servicing or repairs.
- We wound up with heavy gauge wiring between the engine alternator and the coach batteries for fast charging with the engine idling and when traveling.
- We wound up with grey tank and black tank level sensors that are outside the tanks to keep them from clogging up -> they sense the liquid levels through the walls of the tanks.
