Potential purhase of Super B or class C

Went to a dealer today to actually see some units. They had mostly low end stuff. The build quality is so bad I cannot understand why anyone would buy them. To save a few bucks one had 2 cupboards with no doors. Never had a doors installed. The laminate on the cabinets is so thin it wears out when you look at it! Bad layouts and bad materials. The worst was the Freelander. Just a big cheap white box! I can see why posters talk about their Winnies. Much better quality. I would sooner have a used unit from the 80's than that other junk. Hoping to find either an older Lazy Daze or a Bigfoot.

Moisheh

Winnie's are definitely on my short list. I am avoiding anything by Thor, Coachman and cautious about Jayco.

Super B?

There is only a Class A, Class B, and Class C.

A B+ (also known as a C-) is a marketing term to denote a Class C with a reduced overcab bed/storage area. It is still technically a Class C though, since the definition of a Class C has to do with the enlarged body of the house, not just the cab overhang.

Please note that the B+ subcategory is below the Class C forum here.

Super C is also a marketing term to denote a Class C built on a much heavier truck chassis than the usual van chassis of the typical Class C.

But, to try to aid in your search, I have a 2007 Winnebago Outlook 31C that has a dinette (convertible to a bed), sofa (convertible to a bed), and a walk around queen bed in the rear. The sofa and dinette are in the single slide. I bought it new and it has been a solid performer.

We have a 2005 Itasca (Winnebago) on a 216" wheelbase ford E450. Pulls well, has all the handling extras on and it drives very well. It does have a short frame extension but its both bolted and welded on. Its not going anywhere. The 31C model floor plan is exactly what you asked for, 1 slide. Large storage bins can carry a lot and easily get you over weight! We also pull 2000 lbs and get around 7.5 - 8 MPG depending on the road we're on.

Dave

moisheh wrote:
Any handling problems? Thanks

Yes but fixable on the big Fords.

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,40337.0.html

It still will be a high profile vehicle but handles MUCH better after this fix. Cost me about $300.

I have a 28" Winnebago, ~2007 with ~40K miles and am happy with it.
It DID take about $2K in misc repairs, most of which was a set of tires. I paid about %26K to a private party in Florida......where there is a GLUT of used RVs on the market.

Thanks Tom. We will need something larger than a Sprinter. I want a floorplan that has both a dinette, sofa and rear Queen. I am finding many for sale but most are either off brand or cheaply made. I do like the Tiogas and have owned many Fleetwood motorhomes. Although the cabinetry is lacking they are usually made to a decent standard. I also saw online an 08 BT Cruiser. Nice looking unit but I see lots of owner complaints. I will wait to see one and form my own opinion Yesterday I saw a Bigfoot online and it looks good. But very high priced. I am just in the beginning stage in my search.

Moisheh

Ford made E-450 chassis in 158" and 176" wheelbase, E-350 in those same two lengths plus the 138" wheelbase of the van; that one has a smaller fuel tank.

A few RV manufacturers not making long C's would fit their floorplans to one of the OEM wheelbases. Most manufacturers buy one of the standard sizes (most often the 158") and "stretch" the wheelbase to their needs, e.g. mine has a 190" wheelbase, came from Ford as 158".

Almost all extend the rear of the frame to carry a longer house, and thus have a long overhang. This is almost necessary to get the proper weight distribution for the dual-rear-wheel chassis. Most other applications of this chassis carry more of their load over the rear axle, but a RV tend to carry more of the load forward, with more of an empty box to the rear, to create living space.

A few manufacturers once extended the house beyond the OEM frame (it helped create a larger rear storage space) but this practice pretty much ceased by 2004 as Ford toughened standards for upbuilder modifications to the E-series chassis. The "garage" models I was seeing at shows in 2004-2005 were all on Chevy chassis, and the body extensions for the garage were no more than two feet.

For this era, if what you want is a more compact C/B+ with minimal overhang, I suggest looking for the Isata touring coaches made by Dynamax, or the Trailwagon models from Chinook RV. These emphasized mobility rather than interior space, were typically 26 feet or less on the 176" chassis or a modestly stretched chassis.

I don't know about wide-body B's, except that being built from a E-250/350 van rather than a cutaway, they won't be stretched, and rear extensions are minimal.

If you will consider other platforms, look at C's built on the Sprinter cutaway, e.g. Winnebago's View/Navion showed up about the beginning of your time window. Daimler did not permit frame stretching or extension, and bodies could not be built very far past the end of the frame. Thus they will all about the same size, with less overhang than most other C's, but not less than the Isata, because Daimler supplied a fairly long frame aft of the axle.

What is a Super B?
My Aspect 2008 is on a Ford E450 chassis.

V10/2 Valve engine (the 3 valve V10 not used in the E450)
5 spd trans with Tow Haul