So I went to an RV Show on Saturday . . .

and RV shows can really distract your mind from more important taskers - and cost you a lot of money in the long run! It also leads to a long post!

Background: Currently PUP camper. Love camping and committed to camping for available weekends, family vacations, and eventually retirement. Love our PUP but it's old and doesn't dry camp well and tired of fighting rain so it's time to move up.

Have F-150 with tow package but due to GCWR and TW, I'm limited to a TT roughly 5000 dry and 6500 loaded. Truck has 130k miles on it so it's in that in between land where I don't want to put undue stress towing but can easily get another 3-5 years life out of it as a daily drive. I could bump up to a F-250 next time but don't want to go to a F-350, much less dually.

So, here I am posting in the Class C forum. We walked the floor hard looking at everything I could realistically tow with my F-150 up to the most loaded Class A's in case we decide to go that route in retirement. We found a Forest River Surveyor and a Keystone Passport that are half ton towable with nice floor-plans.

I really like the outdoor kitchens which don't seem to exist on Class C's, at least not in the same way. None on the floor had an outdoor grill. But it just seemed like the Class C's have better constructed finishes and DW and I sure preferred the mattress upgrades in the C's. We camp to be outside and like National Parks that have small spots which also gears us to a decision between a 24'-26' TT or a 28'-30' Class C.

The two class C's we spend the most time with were a Thor Chateau and a Forest River Sunseeker with the Sunseeker the clear favorite for the family. We really liked the layout of the 3050S with couch and dinette across from each other an a nice kitchen layout which is important to us. It's on an E-450 chassis and has a tow rating of 7500 lbs and the GCVWR to support 7500 lbs. I've read about renting at destination and that will work sometimes but at the least, I'll need to tow a vehicle when we make military changes of station. From reading, it looks like the 7500# rating is new for 2014 and 2015 on the E-450.

I've read old threads here and at Forest River on the Sunseeker. Only real negative I've read is the 3050S has a large slide relative to the chassis and could be a water issue. I still need to wrap my head around proper roof maintenance but seems like Sunseeker is as good as any.

Anyone have a late model Sunseeker or Forester? I have the itch but I'm traditionally a used buyer so that means time. I have a pending move that I need to deal with first anyway. Any experience with Chateau? Is one better than other or simply floor-plan since both on E-450 chassis?

I've looked at 3 courses of actions.
1. Buying a used soon for under $30,000 at whatever floorplan is livable.
2. Waiting a couple years for the 2014/2015 models to get below $50k.
3. Keep saving and just buy new in 3-5 years and it will be the RV that takes us into retirement. The 3050S is big enough for our teenagers or to haul grandkids but not a huge waste of space of space on bunks that DW and I won't need in retirement. Will always have over cabin bunk, couch, and dinette if we have the grandkids. Not locked into that floor-plan but it is an example of something that fits our needs.

Class C

11 Replies

johnnyrv
Explorer
Apr 13, 2015
we looked at four winds, forest river and winnebago and chose four winds on interior quality. no problems in the five months of ownership.

i would wait till you retire to find what you really need and what your retirement income and costs will be.
fortytwo
Explorer
Apr 13, 2015
Heavy slides are not the problem. Inadequate strength in the slide mechanism is. Look at the beams supporting the slide. I've seen some that were so weak that you had to manually put props under the outside edge when extended.

Slides come in two flavors: hydraulic and electric. Both work; both fail, but not very often. Price of the coach is a good indication of the relative chance of failure. The big 5th wheels with 5 slides and the big motor homes with 4 slides or two full wall slides would not survive if slide failures were greater than rare. Of course these are also higher priced RV's.

Slides do add weight, and can reduce the structural integrity of the RV. More important on a MH than a trailer as you are riding in it. Some manufacturers do better than others on structural considerations. Generally the cockpit of a Class C or B+ is stronger than Class A's. Again, not a universal condition as some Class A manufacturers do it right and buld in "roll cage" design and strength. RV Consumer group at rv.org rates these, and other factors - mostly from manufacturer provided specs. Not perfect, but I found them well worth the price as another factor to consider when making an 80-100k purchase.
Markiemark32
Explorer
Apr 13, 2015
OutdoorPhotographer wrote:
bobojay5 wrote:
Another thing to consider is Thor and Forest River class C's are considered below the average for quality, so the depreciation will be higher than say a Phoenix Cruiser, Nexus RV or Winnebago in like sizes.
My suggestion is to wait and find something used in a couple years....

Thanks. Thor and Forest River is what was available at this show for Class C. Will see what I can find to see in person on the other brands.

Phoenix Cruiser – A whole different price range and availability limited…..

Nexus – Smaller manufacturer, a little higher price range, not widely available through dealers

I would rank Forest River with the Winnebago, on quality and over-all construction.

You original question of Thor or Forest River, I would say Forest River due to fiberglass roof and fit and finish inside.

You all need to decide the type of traveling & camping:

Class C's easier to travel distances (able to move around as travel)
Class C's more investment (unless you are having to buy new tow vehicle, also)

Yes, RV shows can be a dangerous place to visit!

Markiemark:C
OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
Apr 13, 2015
bobojay5 wrote:
Another thing to consider is Thor and Forest River class C's are considered below the average for quality, so the depreciation will be higher than say a Phoenix Cruiser, Nexus RV or Winnebago in like sizes.
My suggestion is to wait and find something used in a couple years....

Thanks. Thor and Forest River is what was available at this show for Class C. Will see what I can find to see in person on the other brands.
OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
Apr 13, 2015
LakeN wrote:
As said, why not buy a nice used TT? Very easy to upgrade mattress. No worry about a tow car! A large heavy slide is more likely to have a malfunction than lighter slides.

I hear you - I agree buying a used TT a good choice and probably what I'll do. Good to know on the lighter slide. Part of this process is I've considered going away from a truck as a daily driver when it's time to replace it in a few years. That's where the decision comes in to buy another truck and stick to a TT or downsize the daily vehicle and switch to a Class C.

As long as I can find a good used TT that I won't take a bath on if I sell in 3 years. I expect depreciation but if I buy a five year old TT and sell as an 8 yr old TT it won't be near the awful curve of a new TT.

I only have a few years with the kids in the house so whatever I decide, it will be having a camper of some sort for family weekend trips and a summer trip. I'm glad the kids enjoy camping and want to keep them in the outdoors. My popup will work for short trips to local state parks when I can check the weather and decide accordingly. I won't sell it until I have a replacement.

- more time on rvtrader ahead . . .
bobojay5
Explorer
Apr 12, 2015
Another thing to consider is Thor and Forest River class C's are considered below the average for quality, so the depreciation will be higher than say a Phoenix Cruiser, Nexus RV or Winnebago in like sizes.
My suggestion is to wait and find something used in a couple years....
LakeN
Explorer
Apr 12, 2015
As said, why not buy a nice used TT? Very easy to upgrade mattress. No worry about a tow car! A large heavy slide is more likely to have a malfunction than lighter slides.
OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
Apr 12, 2015
I've thought about paying cash for a $10-15k TT to hold me over on COA #3. PUP is at the end of its life and I don't want to do another cross country with it. Also considering keeping PUP for local camping until next major relocation and renting a Class C next summer as a trial and to see if 24' or so is big enough. Buying new before kids are out of college is more financial risk than I'm comfortable with. We buy late model used cars and drive them 10 years. But it's not that hard to find a loaded F-150 Crew Cab with 50k Miles on it that has been well maintained - at least compared to finding a comparably good used motorhome.

For COA 3 and retirement, the depreciation hit won't be that big of a deal considering I can custom build exactly what I want and not be worried about being upside down or selling in a couple years. I just need to know that a Class C is the answer over camping options.
Hiker_01
Explorer
Apr 12, 2015
DW and I were/are in similar circumstances. I retired two years ago and we bought a popup because we wanted to do some camping and travel but immediate finances would not afford a motorhome. In the past two years, we have gone back and forth with Class C, travel trailer, 5th wheel and class A. After spending a lot of time in various different RV lots and looking on line, we have finally narrowed our search and are now just waiting for finances to come together. Waiting helped us to really determine our needs and our wants before we spent too much money.

Bottom line: COA #3 would be my recommendation
fireflock
Explorer
Apr 12, 2015
RV's are depreciating assets. The newer you buy and the more you spend, the more depreciation you'll lose along the way. Only you can decide if you can afford it. I look at it this way. If I coast into retirement with $x less, will I miss not having the money? If not, jump in and enjoy your kids while they're still around. You can't take the cash with you when you die.

Please think very hard before buying a large Class C motorhome. Most manufacturers built coaches that are borderline overloaded when they leave the factory - especially if you plan to carry a families worth of stuff.

We have 3 kids and a 26' Class C. We've spent way too much on it, but can afford it and would do it again. The kids had almost as much fun when we owned a pop-up and still ask to sleep in the tent at times. It's more about the places you go and the people you go with than the RV you sleep in.

For most families, with a 'normal' amount of vacation time, a RV is something you buy because you want to and you can afford it. It will never 'make sense' from a money perspective.

If I had a tow vehicle like yours, I'd be tempted to buy a used trailer that you can comfortably tow. Carefully buy something older and you can resell in a few years without much lost. It might not be as nice as a new Class C, but it will beat the Pop-up on rainy days for sure!