We are considering moving from a B to a C. I would appreciate any others that had done that in recent years to share their reasons and how it worked out. The differences are obvious, of course, and personal preference and needs differ greatly among RVers. Also, when you traded, did you start towing (which is done very infrequently by those that have Bs)?

We went from a C to a B+ and do not tow. It is narrow enough that we can visit most places we want without a car. I would try some trips without a car to see if you feel you really need one. The few times we might need a car I think we would rent. We do have a scooter and a trailer and might take it a few places for fun.

PSW wrote:We are considering moving from a B to a C. I would appreciate any others that had done that in recent years to share their reasons and how it worked out. We recently sold our 2006 Sprinter based Class B Great West motorhome and bought a C (or B+) 22' BT Cruiser.While the BT Cruiser is the same length as the Sprinter B van, it is about 12 inches wider overall, and has a lot more room inside. The bathroom is larger, the kitchen is larger, there is a full size dinette (which converts to a bed), and a couch that also converts to a 6' 2" bed.I no longer bump my head going in and out, and the two of us can move around freely inside and feel like we have plenty of space and privacy.Going from the Sprinter diesel to the Ford V10 also was a big change. On the Sprinter, we usually got around 20mpg on diesel - which we paid an average of $3.90 a gallon.With the Ford V10 on the e350 platform, we get 11 to 12 mpg, and pay about 50 cents less per gallon.We end up paying more for fuel, but my wife says having the extra room inside is well worth the difference.Another thing - with the rear dual wheels, the BT Cruiser is a lot more stable on the road than the Sprinter - we are no longer affected by passing trucks or moderate side winds like we were in the Sprinter.And the Ford V10 is a lot quieter than the 5 cylinder diesel in the Sprinter. We can now carry on a normal conversation at highway speeds and not hear the motor.While we liked the looks of B motorhomes, they were just too tight inside for us to enjoy. Now that we have the BT Cruiser (which is sometimes referred to as a B+), we have the convenience of a small package with a lot more room inside.Bill

I went from a GWV Ford based B, to a small C on a Chevy platform, the LTV Libero. I wanted the space to live in it for half the year... a separate shower, a decent sized fridge, and a usable galley - and I didn't like the Ford handling.I didn't tow before and I don't tow now.

We went from a B+ (21' Chinook) to a small C (24.5') two years ago. The Chinook could be parked anywhere a dually pickup could park. The Navion cannot. With both we pulled a utility trailer sometimes. With the Navion we sometimes pull a small 4x4 toad.The Sprinter V6 must be a bunch quieter than the 5 cylinder and it's quieter than the 460 was and I don't have an engine in the cab with me. When I drove a V-10 C it was louder than the V6 too. The driving position of the Sprinter is much better than the Ford was. Stability is better than the Chinook was in winds. Later Sprinters must have been improved.

Our first RV was a B on the Sprinter chassis. We spent 3 monthes touring the Canadian Maritimes and New England. We loved touring but not the available space--too tight.We traded the B and purchased a Phoenix Cruiser 2350 on the Sprinter chassis in 2010. Liked the room but hated the corner bed. We did not tow with the 2350. That was in 2010.In 2011 traded the 2350 for a Phoenix Cruiser 2551 on the Ford chassis. The twin beds and more livable space fit our needs. We started towing a vehicle.Now that we have found that we REALLY enjoy touring and there is so much to see, we traded the 2551 for a 2013 Phoenix Cruiser 2910 (custom) and we tow a Honda Fit. It is much easier to tour with the Fit and leave the MH at the campsite--and more economical as well.We liked the MPG's with the Sprinters but liveable space outweighed the good mileage.

Who has switched from a Class B to a C? | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

Hokie_Camper
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
mda wrote:
Might be awhile before we see those Europen motorhomes as the Ford E-series plant in Avon Lake, Ohio, will continue making cutaways and stripped chassis through the rest of the decade, and will take over F-650 and F-750 production as that is brought up from a Navistar factory in Mexico. With what RV 's like to pack and tow along with them, I think we'll see more pickup truck based units with the F-550 and F-650 as the base.

I was talking to a salesman that I trust who works at a local Ford dealer. I asked him about the van changes and while he didn't say too much, your assessment seems to match what I can make out from what I've read and what he said. I guess like anything only time will tell.
1retired
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
I think we are going to venture back into the truck camper life.
The Arctic Fox 1150 is big - but we looked at one today and it is very nice. We can drive anywhere - park anywhere - and pull off the highway into small towns as we travel. We plan on going to lots of places we have never been - and want to be able to just explore.
Not planning on staying for a month anywhere - but with the 1150 we need a dually. So that is part of the equation too.

I know that when we were in our trailer we would have gone crazy having to pack everything back up just to go out to eat or to the store or for a drive. I just don't see any way around some sort of towing situation.
Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
1retired,
It's a whale of a lot easier to drive the toad up to the RV than it is to back a tow vehicle back to a TT. On level ground, I can move the Jeep toad a couple inches front or back by hand. And the tow bar can be shortened or lengthened 4 or 5 inches by hand for fine tuning.
burlmart
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
another mistype...I will learn
pnichols
Explorer II
Jul 05, 2013
We use a small C without a tow vehicle, so we have to break camp to visit/explore around where we're camped. Breaking camp is fairly fast, but the biggest hassle is constantly having to put away the leveling blocks and re-level when we return.

We find that very few campsites are level enough so we aren't irritated when walking around inside and sleeping. Even fairly pricey campgrounds seem to often have off-level concrete or blacktop parking pads. :(
mumkin
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
1retired wrote:
Do you hook and unhook the toad by yourself? How hard is that?

I have women friends who drive both A's and C's that do it all the time with no problem. The systems are pretty easy these days. That said, I have so little strength in my arms and hands that I am afraid to try it. :E
1retired
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
Jim Shoe wrote:
I'm a solo traveler, so my first RV was a Roadtrek 'B'. I didn't know how I was going to use it. Turns out that I'm more of a traveler than a camper. I tend to head for a destination and then stay for a week or two in a FHU campground and visit things in the area on a daily basis. So I traded for a 'C', pulling a toad. F/T bed, bathroom, dining table, couch and kitchen.
Nothing I couldn't do in a 'B', but I didn't enjoy switching the configuration back and forth and unplugging from the CG to go anyplace. Nothing wrong with the 'B', the 'C' just fit my needs better.

I also see that as a disadvantage to not pulling a toad. Constantly having to drive the rig everywhere when you want to stay in one place for a while. Do you hook and unhook the toad by yourself? How hard is that?
burlmart
Explorer
Jun 29, 2013
RobertRyan wrote:
burlmart wrote:
f its a space and not HOA issue, it might be that the flexible Ducato front drive chassis cab will lead to a B sized rig with two big slides that would not be possible in a van conversion.

These do come with two slides.

its hard to imagine that little cab can power such a big coach
Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Jun 29, 2013
I'm a solo traveler, so my first RV was a Roadtrek 'B'. I didn't know how I was going to use it. Turns out that I'm more of a traveler than a camper. I tend to head for a destination and then stay for a week or two in a FHU campground and visit things in the area on a daily basis. So I traded for a 'C', pulling a toad. F/T bed, bathroom, dining table, couch and kitchen.
Nothing I couldn't do in a 'B', but I didn't enjoy switching the configuration back and forth and unplugging from the CG to go anyplace. Nothing wrong with the 'B', the 'C' just fit my needs better.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jun 29, 2013
burlmart wrote:
f its a space and not HOA issue, it might be that the flexible Ducato front drive chassis cab will lead to a B sized rig with two big slides that would not be possible in a van conversion.

These do come with two slides.