Forum Discussion

LM3's avatar
LM3
Explorer
Sep 25, 2020

Thinking about buying a class c

I am retired and thinking about buying a class c for my wife and me.How old can I consider? What should I look for? Do not want a real big one.

27 Replies

  • The condition of the RV is more important than the age.
  • When I was looking to get back in to the RV world after selling my Class A,I looked at the used market,and with a budget it seemed to be futile,to find one in decent shape.

    My search led me to the Rental Market Here you can find used, well maintained RVs that are priced well under the new price.

    There are more than 125 forum members here that have been very happy with their choice.

    It is another tool to use while looking for that RV.

    Good Luck.
  • Number 1 thing is to decide on a budget. Be sure to include enough for taxes and registration. Also allow for critical things after you need it, such as tires, or appliance replacement. You will also want to have some funds for general setup, such as dishes, bedding, etc.

    Number 2 thing is that it have no water leaks. Go over it with a fine-tooth comb.

    Number 3 thing is that you and your wife are going to be happy in it.

    *Are you agile and willing to use the over-cab bunk? Does one or both of you get up a lot at night? Consider bed access. Consider that you might split your sleeping arrangements, if that is something that will make life simpler.

    *Does it have a comfortable place for both of you to sit? Consider if you are computer users or TV watchers or hobbyists. You want a spot to do all of that and a standard dinette is probably not going to be comfortable for 2 people to do things. Maybe look for a sofa, or a setup where you could readily replace the dinette with a loveseat or twin recliners.

    *Are you people who can travel light or do you have to bring the kitchen sink? Take into consideration the inside storage.

    For 2 people IMHO the best floor plan is going to have a slide-out so you don't fall over each other all the time while trying to cook, eat, and move around in the RV. That gets really annoying. I do not have a slide but I am mostly by myself.

    There are lots of tips for pre-buying inspection checklists. Do your reading and learn about what to look for.

    Decide on your parameters and set up alerts on RVTrader. Be willing to wait a while to get exactly what you want.
  • When we were looking-had decided to get a Chevy chassis-bigger front foot/leg well, no heat emitting from the engine/trans. to the passenger seating area. Wanted to get slightly used-figured the previous owner had gotten the wrinkles ironed out and much better price. Wanted a gas-V8 engine-stove had to have an oven + the microwave, wanted cross ventilation in upper sleeping area/sliding windows. Ended up with a 2017 450Chevy chassis(bought it in 2018) with 6700 miles on it(still under Factory Warranty)-V8 6.0 gas engine, Forest River Forester 2251SLE-24ft. Perfect for myself, wife and dog. My wife can and will drive it. Small enough so we can take it everywhere-don't need a toad. If needed we use Uber or rent a car.
  • RENT two Class Cs. Medium size, small size and go camping. This will help you decide on size, drivability etc. You may not want a “real big one” but after three days of rain and staying inside...you may.
  • of course I have a preference. Winnebago View, 24 feet long, easy to drive, preat diesel engine.

    Check out the various floor plans to see which suits you.