Forum Discussion
DrewE
Feb 19, 2015Explorer III
Is your budget $11,000 or $110,000? There seems to be a typo one way or the other in your first post, and it will make a vast difference on what you can find that suits your needs.
For $11,000, I wouldn't worry too much about A vs. C and instead concentrate on finding the unit in the best condition I could, particularly with respect to structural soundness (no leaks, etc.) and drivetrain. At that price point you're going to have an older RV, and the appliances and probably the interior bits are going to have some wear, and you need to expect there to be some maintenance bumps along the way. (Any RV is going to require ongoing maintenance, of course.)
For $110,000, you can get something that's new or nearly new, and have all sorts of options.
I don't find that driving my 32'-ish class C (a 1998 Coachmen Santara) is troublesome at all. On the highway, it's not unwieldy, at least no more than a class A would be. Maneuvering in tight quarters does require care, particularly when doing so alone (lots of getting out and looking and moving a bit and repeating if things are tight), but normal driving is not bad at all. For getting in and out and looking, the driver's door is a distinct advantage over the side door on a typical class A. I'm not sure there's really much difference overall. Some class A's (particularly larger diesel pushers with air bags) do have much more comfortable suspension setups for travel, and rear engine class A's are much quieter than class C's or front engine class A's, but those are probably more vehicle than what you're considering and start being too big to get into remote campsites easily.
The larger windshield, while often a benefit, can be a liability when the sun is bright and in your eyes. The overhang of a typical class C is very effective as a sort of cap visor, and keeps the windshield remarkably free of rain as well. It's not as though you have a lot of chance to really gawk at the scenery while driving an RV; you need to pay attention mostly to the road ahead. When parked, of course, having that big picture window in front is often a fantastic thing.
I wholeheartedly agree with Ron&Lynne that it would be well worth renting a motorhome for a week to see what it's like and get an idea of some things to look for and some to avoid.
For $11,000, I wouldn't worry too much about A vs. C and instead concentrate on finding the unit in the best condition I could, particularly with respect to structural soundness (no leaks, etc.) and drivetrain. At that price point you're going to have an older RV, and the appliances and probably the interior bits are going to have some wear, and you need to expect there to be some maintenance bumps along the way. (Any RV is going to require ongoing maintenance, of course.)
For $110,000, you can get something that's new or nearly new, and have all sorts of options.
I don't find that driving my 32'-ish class C (a 1998 Coachmen Santara) is troublesome at all. On the highway, it's not unwieldy, at least no more than a class A would be. Maneuvering in tight quarters does require care, particularly when doing so alone (lots of getting out and looking and moving a bit and repeating if things are tight), but normal driving is not bad at all. For getting in and out and looking, the driver's door is a distinct advantage over the side door on a typical class A. I'm not sure there's really much difference overall. Some class A's (particularly larger diesel pushers with air bags) do have much more comfortable suspension setups for travel, and rear engine class A's are much quieter than class C's or front engine class A's, but those are probably more vehicle than what you're considering and start being too big to get into remote campsites easily.
The larger windshield, while often a benefit, can be a liability when the sun is bright and in your eyes. The overhang of a typical class C is very effective as a sort of cap visor, and keeps the windshield remarkably free of rain as well. It's not as though you have a lot of chance to really gawk at the scenery while driving an RV; you need to pay attention mostly to the road ahead. When parked, of course, having that big picture window in front is often a fantastic thing.
I wholeheartedly agree with Ron&Lynne that it would be well worth renting a motorhome for a week to see what it's like and get an idea of some things to look for and some to avoid.
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