What is the difference between a Class B+ and a C ?

hotbyte wrote:
Interesting side question...what is a large bus coach like a Prevost or even a skoolie? They start with a full body bus so are they class B? :) :) :)

A schoolie, or any other home-made conversion, does not necessarily fit any RVIA classification. Persons doing the conversion are not RVIA members, final product does not get RVIA certification.

The majority of motorcoach conversions are not done as RVs, rather for commercial purposes as entertainer or show crew transport, on-site entertainment venues, on-set housing for film production crews, etc. Those converted for sale as luxury RVs are usually marketed as Type A. Prevost builds a special chassis and shell for RVs (to accommodate slideouts and basement equipment) rather than their motorcoach.

hotbyte wrote:
Interesting side question...what is a large bus coach like a Prevost or even a skoolie? They start with a full body bus so are they class B? :) :) :)

Logically, I think they ought to be a class B. They are almost always grouped with class A's in practice, however, probably because they look more like class A's and the systems and furnishings are more typical of a class A than a class B (i.e. a dry bath, larger holding tanks, dedicated bedroom, that sort of thing).

Interesting side question...what is a large bus coach like a Prevost or even a skoolie? They start with a full body bus so are they class B? :) :) :)

Clarifying With Pictures

A class "A" starts with a "stripped" chassis like this.


A class "A" diesel pusher starts with a stripped chassis like this.
Note the engine is in the back.


A class "B" starts with an enclosed van like this.
The RV manufacture often extends the roof upward. I am not sure if the RV manufacture can purchase the van without the steel roof.


A class "C" (also a B+) starts with a "cut-away" chassis like this.


The cut-away chassis has no rear wall to provide walk-through capability.
Shown here with seats, many instead are purchased with a cheap plastic disposable driver seat for lot driving only. The RV manufactures will then install seats that match the rest of the RV's interior. RV manufactures buy the "RV-specific" package which lacks floor covering and outside mirrors, but includes attractive front chrome grill-work, power windows and door locks. It also includes two different antennas, a shorter one for an obstructive cab-over bed over-hang. Options can be a more capable alternator, keyless entry, and a radio. I am sure I left out some things, but you get the idea.

A B+ is a C; Gulfstream started calling their no-bunk C's B+ and it stuck.

A B is a van conversion.

RV Industry Association defined these RV types (not "classes") somewhat arbitrarily, but marketing guys at manufacturers created more "classes" such as B+ and SuperC. There are assorted recreational vehicles that don't fit any of RVIA classes (e.g. road-show crew coaches, toterhomes and sleeper-cab tractors), but then their manufacturers are not RVIA members and don't really care about RVIA classifications.

DrewE wrote:
...I always thought a bus conversion should logically be called a class B, but nobody asked my opinion when they were formulating the classes.

I’ve thought the same!

The reason they don’t call them C’s is that most novices associate Class C’s with the over the cab bunk area, even tough many of these areas actually contain entertainment equipment and/or storage.

Customer would come in predisposed NOT want a C period, no matter what it looked like, so “they” came up with the B+ designation. At best it should be described as a C- (A C Class minus the overhead) but nobody would buy a product with a minus in the designation.

Over the years there has existed either confusion or purposeful misinformation on the part of sales people and then customers about A,B,C motorhomes. To this day the old Winnebago Rialta is frequently advertised as a Class B, when it is a C.

A class B (without the plus) is a stock van with an RV built inside it, possibly with a raised roof...what you were thinking was a B+.

B+, as hotbyte wrote, is a marketing term rather than an officially defined standard. Generally it means a smaller, often upscale, class C without a cabover bunk. "Super-C" is another such term that generally refers to a class C built on a heavier chassis than the usual van chassis (though occasionally just means a bigger than average class C).

For completeness, a class A is built on a bare chassis or a custom/bus chassis. I always thought a bus conversion should logically be called a class B, but nobody asked my opinion when they were formulating the classes.

B+ is a salesman/marketing term that has come to mean a class C without the overcab bunk. They are class C since they begin life as a cab chassis (cab and open frame)