Forum Discussion

36rascal's avatar
36rascal
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014

Convert a Class C to a Class B+?

Until I read the thread started by DeadeyeLefty I hadn't dared to post this as a possible mod. However if he can build an RV from scratch it might be as reasonable to do this kind of mod.
My wife and I are elderly and want to do some travelling economically. We can afford to go to motels for the most part and would probably stay overnight in the rig only if stuck on the road after dark. By day we'd have cooking facilities to save on meals, have a potty, etc.
The two of us would not need the cabover bed. My thought is to get a small rig that needs roof work, remove the cabover and lower the roof on the rest of the unit. The cabover would be replaced with a streamlined fairing which with the reduced height should improve fuel economy.
I'd appreciate feedback!
36rascal
  • JaxDad's avatar
    JaxDad
    Explorer III
    Oct 16, 2014
    Unless you're travelling very short distances, the fuel savings alone driving a car versus a Class C (even with the changes discussed) would more than pay for meals out, and likely the car you're driving too.

    BTW, unless you're a lot shorter than me, lowering the roof more than few inches would mean you could stand straight up.

    On a logistics side, I'd think anything more than slicing off a rotten cabover bunk would be incredibly difficult, time-consuming and spendy.
  • Harvey51's avatar
    Harvey51
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2014
    Curious, some of us eat out and sleep in while others do the opposite. I doubt if either justifies the cost of buying and keeping a motorhome. Only the satisfaction of having your little home with you wherever you go does.
  • Muddydogs's avatar
    Muddydogs
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2014
    If you are staying in motels why not get a car with 30+ mpg and a cooler in the trunk for sandwich fixings? The money you save on gas and the rig will more than pay for your meals.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2014
    I would suggest to buy a cargo or minivan and install a bed, a portapotty, and carry a camp stove.
  • johnwalkerpa1's avatar
    johnwalkerpa1
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2014
    36rascal wrote:
    Until I read the thread started by DeadeyeLefty I hadn't dared to post this as a possible mod. However if he can build an RV from scratch it might be as reasonable to do this kind of mod.
    My wife and I are elderly and want to do some travelling economically. We can afford to go to motels for the most part and would probably stay overnight in the rig only if stuck on the road after dark. By day we'd have cooking facilities to save on meals, have a potty, etc.
    The two of us would not need the cabover bed. My thought is to get a small rig that needs roof work, remove the cabover and lower the roof on the rest of the unit. The cabover would be replaced with a streamlined fairing which with the reduced height should improve fuel economy.
    I'd appreciate feedback!
    36rascal


    You could but its probably going to be cheaper to buy one that is already the way you want it. Of course there are not nearly as many used ones out there without the cabover bunk so it will take more searching.
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2014
    Sounds like for somewhere around $3,000 or more materials and labor you can save $100 a year in fuel.

    If you don't want to use the overhead bunk in a C for sleeping, use it for storage instead. Fuel savings will be negligible in your modification.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Oct 07, 2014
    Might be doable
    But shop around and you can find one ready built



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