Hi,interested in a Thor 22b, forest 2250 variant or 210rs and thinking maybe the sunseeker 2500tsHopefully I can explain my situation and listen to your thoughts?We have 2 class c rvs, a large diesel fun mover 39c and a starflyte 21 footer. Wife is not able due to health reasons to do the hard core off roading we used to so she's agreed to cut loose the fun mover and her razor.For some time I've taken the starflyte with a dirt bike on back for short trips or trips with friends to ride. This summer the whole family piled into the starflyte 3 people and hit Glacier National Park. Took a ktm dual sport on back, had a blast. We encountered a lot of roads with 24 ft or less restrictions. Good thing starflyte short and glad didn't need a toad. What were tho was a bit cramped...we think an extra 3 ft or more and overhead bunk will do it. Questions?1. How different are the 24 and 27 ft models to drive? My starflyte drives almost like on rails, we encountered 50+ mph winds and thunderstorms in Nevada and was fine, safe. Really, really enjoyed parking the starflyte at a trail first thing in the morning, having breakfast, hitting the trail, returning, feeding the crew and Wife is real impressed with the livability of a larger c like the 2500ts and the privacy door, heated tanks and ability to tow our jeep. I think small is better, especially for easy use of rv to sight see. Thoughts?2. Any tips on makes and floor plans is great. I haven't been too impressed with the Thor stuff I've seen, lots of poor quality and unfinished work, however reviews of theirs and Forest River indicate lots of small issues thor, couldn't find much on water leaks which I could for forest River. Any brands recommend ? Winnie didn't impress me much more and Jayco Redhawks had no vent in bunk.3. Slides, any better, more reliable than our 2004 era fun mover? It will be used, probably a lot, dirt bike trips with a bike hanging on rack off back, pull an occasional jeep or enclosed 4, 5000 lbs trailer and gear. Thanks,

Gee, you already have four RVs....

I've got a 26' that I got last summer, used. Took it on a couple of trips through the mountains, ran like a charm especially with the banks system on the v10. The biggest difference I saw between the 22/24 and 26/27 is the layout of the bedroom. The shorter ones seem to have the main bed shoved into the corner and the bathroom on the other side. The bigger ones have the whole back end a bedroom, mine has the split toilet and shower so the hallway is in the middle ( I can actually use the rear view mirror that way) DW likes the separated bedrooms since we have different sleep patterns, curtains don't cut it.Once you get past the bathroom, there's the kitchen, then the living room area. Ours has the overhead bunk so you can sleep a couple people up there as well. Anything over 29' in this state gets dinged for extra length when traveling on the ferry. Still not cheep but can make the difference between driving around or taking the boat. I can park the 26' in a regular parking lot end to end without blocking traffic. That said, I still have the E350 passenger van with a couple of camp cots in the back when even a motorhome is too big. Both the van and the MH are only a couple years apart, and they drive pretty similarlly, MH acts like the van with a heavy load.

Health problems ?? if any with back, hips etc STAY AWAY FROM A CORNER BED !

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, we like the single slide out on the divers side rear holding queen bed.the bigger 3 slide 2500ts looks nice but the rear slide will interfere with a bike on the rack, solvable. How is driving 27 vs 24 ft?

cbigham wrote:Hi,interested in a Thor 22b, forest 2250 variant or 210rs and thinking maybe the sunseeker 2500tsHopefully I can explain my situation and listen to your thoughts?We have 2 class c rvs, a large diesel fun mover 39c and a starflyte 21 footer. Wife is not able due to health reasons to do the hard core off roading we used to so she's agreed to cut loose the fun mover and her razor.For some time I've taken the starflyte with a dirt bike on back for short trips or trips with friends to ride. This summer the whole family piled into the starflyte 3 people and hit Glacier National Park. Took a ktm dual sport on back, had a blast. We encountered a lot of roads with 24 ft or less restrictions. Good thing starflyte short and glad didn't need a toad. What were tho was a bit cramped...we think an extra 3 ft or more and overhead bunk will do it. Questions?1. How different are the 24 and 27 ft models to drive? My starflyte drives almost like on rails, we encountered 50+ mph winds and thunderstorms in Nevada and was fine, safe. Really, really enjoyed parking the starflyte at a trail first thing in the morning, having breakfast, hitting the trail, returning, feeding the crew and Wife is real impressed with the livability of a larger c like the 2500ts and the privacy door, heated tanks and ability to tow our jeep. I think small is better, especially for easy use of rv to sight see. Thoughts?2. Any tips on makes and floor plans is great. I haven't been too impressed with the Thor stuff I've seen, lots of poor quality and unfinished work, however reviews of theirs and Forest River indicate lots of small issues thor, couldn't find much on water leaks which I could for forest River. Any brands recommend ? Winnie didn't impress me much more and Jayco Redhawks had no vent in bunk.3. Slides, any better, more reliable than our 2004 era fun mover? It will be used, probably a lot, dirt bike trips with a bike hanging on rack off back, pull an occasional jeep or enclosed 4, 5000 lbs trailer and gear. Thanks,I think you answered your own question as to size. If a lot of the places you go already have a 24ft limit, then you'll have to give them up. Look for a 24ft so you aren't limited.

interested in buying a 22,24ft or step up to 26, 27 ft?

13 Replies

Bordercollie
Explorer
Aug 06, 2017
Sleeping in the overhead and getting out and back into bed in the dark is more practical if your partner can sleep elsewhere. A 26-27 footer can have a rear bedroom with closet and cabinets, plus added storage area so that boxes and bags of "stuff" aren't cluttering the aisle and in the shower, etc. Making and unmaking a convertible dinette or uncomfortable jackknife sofa can get on your nerves after a couple of weeks. A lot depends on you and your partner's needs and ability to compromise. Trade sleeping comfort and storage space for somewhat easier parking??

Exception: If a 26-27 footer is too long for to park in your driveway you may need a shorter rig.
John_S_
Explorer II
Aug 06, 2017
We went from a 24 foot to a 27 foot and picked up a corner bed and more storage as well. It has a F550 instead of the e450 so I get a Diesel generator too. I love it and have taken it everywhere i have gone in the 24 foot. If you can get by with he 24 foot layout then stay that size but the bigger coach is more livable for us. I downsized from a 42 foot Foretravel and up sized from a 24 foot Born Free that I owned at the same time for ten years.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Aug 05, 2017
I sleep in my cabover even with torn cartilage in both knees. I use the dinette seat back to get in and out. I find it's very comfortable and it stays warm even in the winter. The dogs sleep up there also - they have a set of steps.

I'veslepton the couch and if a friend joins, that is where they sleep. Dinette table holds the parrot so that stays as is.
pnichols
Explorer II
Aug 05, 2017
Bordercollie wrote:
Sleeping in overhead bed is for kids without arthritis, etc.

Gary,

Not necessarily ... I'm far from being a kid due to my arthritis and other stuff ... and I sleep in our Class C's cabover bed all the time. Maybe not all Class C cabover bed areas are the same. Ours has plenty of length (I'm 6'2") and headroom - plus the roof vent right there provides fresh air while I sleep. Also, the stock ladder that it came with has wide steps so it's easy on the feet to go up and down.

The DW has the rear corner bed in our 24 footer all to herself because she needs the spread-out room for to her bad back. For occasional guests, we use the full size bed that the dinette quickly converts into. I also have slept (slightly cross-wise) in the dinette full size bed.

I'm at times concerned by our Class C's 101 inch exterior coach width - but never by it's length being "too short" ... in fact I wish it was both narrower and shorter so we could take it on the the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier NP.
Bordercollie
Explorer
Aug 05, 2017
Short Class C's are as wide and tall as longer ones. Most 27 footers have a rear bedroom with RV Queen sized beds. Sleeping in overhead bed is for kids without arthritis, etc. Can't get out of bed without waking the sleeping partner, somewhat unsafe in the dark. Most camp sites accommodate 27 footers. Parking Class C's in cities and shopping malls and tourist attractions is usually easily done with some walking. Handling/cornering and stopping of 27 footers is not much different. Used short Class C's are not plentiful. Don't be over-awed by 3 extra feet in length and wish you had bought a longer rig.
pnichols
Explorer II
Aug 04, 2017
In a Class C for the best flexibility stay as short as you can.

Our non-slide 24 foot Class C on it's over-kill E450 chassis has such things as: Heated tanks, two queen beds and one full bed, privacy curtains for both queen beds, a multiple-ducted A/C system, a multiple-ducted furnace, and a driver's seatback that is not blocked so that it goes way back for driving comfort.

It also can be parked almost anywhere, can be camped with in many tent camping sites if needed, can tour on many scenic roads recommended for short vehicles, can be used to tow and launch a boat hassle-free, and actually does "drive like a van".
toedtoes
Explorer III
Aug 04, 2017
From what folks say, a 27ft is no more difficult to handle than a 21ft. You can park most anywhere but you may have to park a bit further out in the lot. You'll need 2 spaces. Driving down the road, you won't see much difference. There are folks who travel with no toad and do fine.

Where it only becomes an issue is if you like to go places that limit to 24ft and under. Now, sometimes a 27ft can park in a 24ft or under campsite by riding the back over the end of the parking pad. That will be dependent upon what the campground uses at the end (boulders, trees, posts, etc.). The bigger issue will be some first roads that are windy and narrow - the 27ft may not be able to get through some of those roads.
cbigham
Explorer III
Aug 04, 2017
No, not quite. The 24''s we've seen sunseeker 2250 and Thor 22b with the bed slide only are a good match and handy size, but they don't have things like enclosed tanks, doors for privacy and kitchen space, which appears nice for momma.the slightly bigger rvs have more extras.

My experience with motor homes is 40ft and 21 ft, what I'm concerned with the bigger is more wallowing and poor handling and ease of parking, fitting I small spaces; the enclosed tanks and dual pane windows, expanded counter tops would be nice...trying to find balance point, thanks.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Aug 04, 2017
cbigham wrote:
Hi,interested in a Thor 22b, forest 2250 variant or 210rs and thinking maybe the sunseeker 2500ts
Hopefully I can explain my situation and listen to your thoughts?
We have 2 class c rvs, a large diesel fun mover 39c and a starflyte 21 footer. Wife is not able due to health reasons to do the hard core off roading we used to so she's agreed to cut loose the fun mover and her razor.

For some time I've taken the starflyte with a dirt bike on back for short trips or trips with friends to ride. This summer the whole family piled into the starflyte 3 people and hit Glacier National Park. Took a ktm dual sport on back, had a blast. We encountered a lot of roads with 24 ft or less restrictions. Good thing starflyte short and glad didn't need a toad. What were tho was a bit cramped...we think an extra 3 ft or more and overhead bunk will do it. Questions?

1. How different are the 24 and 27 ft models to drive? My starflyte drives almost like on rails, we encountered 50+ mph winds and thunderstorms in Nevada and was fine, safe. Really, really enjoyed parking the starflyte at a trail first thing in the morning, having breakfast, hitting the trail, returning, feeding the crew and

Wife is real impressed with the livability of a larger c like the 2500ts and the privacy door, heated tanks and ability to tow our jeep. I think small is better, especially for easy use of rv to sight see. Thoughts?
2. Any tips on makes and floor plans is great. I haven't been too impressed with the Thor stuff I've seen, lots of poor quality and unfinished work, however reviews of theirs and Forest River indicate lots of small issues thor, couldn't find much on water leaks which I could for forest River. Any brands recommend ? Winnie didn't impress me much more and Jayco Redhawks had no vent in bunk.
3. Slides, any better, more reliable than our 2004 era fun mover?

It will be used, probably a lot, dirt bike trips with a bike hanging on rack off back, pull an occasional jeep or enclosed 4, 5000 lbs trailer and gear.

Thanks,

I think you answered your own question as to size. If a lot of the places you go already have a 24ft limit, then you'll have to give them up. Look for a 24ft so you aren't limited.
cbigham
Explorer III
Aug 04, 2017
Yeah, that's what I was thinking, we like the single slide out on the divers side rear holding queen bed.the bigger 3 slide 2500ts looks nice but the rear slide will interfere with a bike on the rack, solvable. How is driving 27 vs 24 ft?