Currently I have a 2009 Navion, class C diesel, and I love it. I use it for everyday travels, long trips, camping, but more as my daily driver; it gets 15.5 mpg regularly, sometimes as high as 17.xx.Back last September I bought a 5th wheel to live in. I never towed it, just had it delivered and set up. DW and I lived in it two months and our circumstances changed. Now we need to sell it, trade it, whatever. I'm think about getting a class A, trade for one, hopefully get something that will help me retain some equity towards the trade. You how these RV deals can get...lose, lose, lose $$$$ it seams.I figure if I'm gonna pay for something, might as well pay for something I can use regularly. I have never owned a class A, so this would be a new experience. I'd like something I can use for DW and I and for our extended family, for traveling. I need something that could seat 6 adults, two children and three dogs...so we can all ride together when we are together. The rest of the time DW and I can camp, boon dock, travel and let the rest of the family use as they would like.I like good clean lines and that is well laid out, nothing puffy plush or over sized, but neat and fit, comfortable.It would be great to consistently be able to get 10mpg, not towing or driving crazy, just cruising with the family. It wouldn't have to sleep 6 adults, but that would be nice too. Nice roomy bath and a private bed are for DW and I would be great.It doesn't have to be a fancy rig with all the whistles and bells, just practical, safe, comfortable and affordable, something that will last us 10 years, 100,000 miles. Is there even such an animal out there? Or am I expecting too much?Suggestions please. Thank you!

I think you're expecting too much. I don't know of a class A that's going to get over 10mpg all of the time and seat eight people - with seat belts anyways.We've got a DP and there's just the two of us so we've never gone looking for one to handle more people.Bill

I agree with trackrig. My motorhome came with driver, passenger, and sofa(3) seat belts. I've never seen one with 8. Mine now has only two as I changed the sofa.As for mpg, mine has been 8.3 mpg for about 60,000 miles.Fred

I sorta agree, but not really. Not an expert on all, but our home state (Illinois right now) only requires seat belts for the front seat passengers.Our rig could easily seat 8 plus the dogs. Others will have even more room, we're kinda tight with the slides in.the 10mpg will be tough. IMHO, class A motorhomes get 7, maybe 8 MPG, period. Don't matter the size, don't matter gas or diesel, 7 MPG.A 36' or so gasser will probably do what you want.There just is no feeling in the world like watching the world go by that 8 foot wide 4 foot tall windshield.

Well, our rig came from the factory with 12 seatbelts: driver, passenger, 3 on each of two couches for 6 plus 4 at the dinette.Best gas mileage I ever got on it was low 9's. BUT....that was before they forced this ethanol junk on us (10% MPG loss right there), it was Fall, so no generator/AC running, and we weren't dragging our 4,500 lb. Honda Odyssey behind us, and I was keeping the speed between 55-60 mph and we were travelling on mostly level terrain. Now, with crummy gas, running the generator for the house AC and towing the Honda, I usually travel at 65 mph and my mpg hovers around low to mid 7's. But it's dipped into the high 6's. One time several years back after filling up with 100% real gas, the mpg jumped to low 8's.All that said, in my opinion, there is NO BETTER WAY TO TRAVEL with your family than in a motorhome. It's never bothered me to fill the tank on the motorhome because when I'm filling it, it means I'm on vacation. :) It bothers me more to pay for the gas in my daily driver 'cause I'm using THAT to go to work! :)Anyway, 10 mpgs is probably unrealistic for most rigs, although some of the smaller diesel units might do it. But, the seatbelt requirement is possible. Plus, you can always add additional belts if the rig you find doesn't have enough.Oh, and by the way, our rig was the first RV of ANY TYPE when we bought it almost 11 years ago. Big expense for us for the 10 years we were paying it off, but I've never regretted the decision. Now that it's paid off, I like it even better! :)Good Luck in your search.~Rick

My Newmar has 8 seat belts and 4 beds, 38'

New to class A's, I THINK I want one, but...? | Good Sam Community

Rick_Jay
Explorer II
May 15, 2015
Well, our rig came from the factory with 12 seatbelts: driver, passenger, 3 on each of two couches for 6 plus 4 at the dinette.

Best gas mileage I ever got on it was low 9's. BUT....that was before they forced this ethanol junk on us (10% MPG loss right there), it was Fall, so no generator/AC running, and we weren't dragging our 4,500 lb. Honda Odyssey behind us, and I was keeping the speed between 55-60 mph and we were travelling on mostly level terrain.

Now, with crummy gas, running the generator for the house AC and towing the Honda, I usually travel at 65 mph and my mpg hovers around low to mid 7's. But it's dipped into the high 6's. One time several years back after filling up with 100% real gas, the mpg jumped to low 8's.

All that said, in my opinion, there is NO BETTER WAY TO TRAVEL with your family than in a motorhome. It's never bothered me to fill the tank on the motorhome because when I'm filling it, it means I'm on vacation. :) It bothers me more to pay for the gas in my daily driver 'cause I'm using THAT to go to work! :)

Anyway, 10 mpgs is probably unrealistic for most rigs, although some of the smaller diesel units might do it.

But, the seatbelt requirement is possible. Plus, you can always add additional belts if the rig you find doesn't have enough.

Oh, and by the way, our rig was the first RV of ANY TYPE when we bought it almost 11 years ago. Big expense for us for the 10 years we were paying it off, but I've never regretted the decision. Now that it's paid off, I like it even better! :)

Good Luck in your search.

~Rick
JimM68
Explorer
May 15, 2015
I sorta agree, but not really. Not an expert on all, but our home state (Illinois right now) only requires seat belts for the front seat passengers.

Our rig could easily seat 8 plus the dogs. Others will have even more room, we're kinda tight with the slides in.

the 10mpg will be tough. IMHO, class A motorhomes get 7, maybe 8 MPG, period. Don't matter the size, don't matter gas or diesel, 7 MPG.

A 36' or so gasser will probably do what you want.
There just is no feeling in the world like watching the world go by that 8 foot wide 4 foot tall windshield.
fcooper
Explorer
May 15, 2015
I agree with trackrig. My motorhome came with driver, passenger, and sofa(3) seat belts. I've never seen one with 8. Mine now has only two as I changed the sofa.

As for mpg, mine has been 8.3 mpg for about 60,000 miles.

Fred
Trackrig
Explorer II
May 15, 2015
I think you're expecting too much. I don't know of a class A that's going to get over 10mpg all of the time and seat eight people - with seat belts anyways.

We've got a DP and there's just the two of us so we've never gone looking for one to handle more people.

Bill

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