24 - 26 Foot Class C Comparable to "Coach House"?

[gregdennis53]

Greetings

Wife and I have camped for many years with friends in our Truck Campers. Now the other couple is buying a Coach House 24-26 foot rig based on a Mercedes chassis. Coach House is building it now, but I think the price is about $180,000. My wife and I are interested in a Class C but we are not willing to spend $180K on a Coach House. Interested in ideas on what we might buy that might be somewhat comparable in a 24 - 26 foot Class C (We don't need the floor safe or ultra luxury features of a Coach House) but we would still like a high quality unit (perhaps comparable to "Big Foot" in the Truck Camper world???).

I don't want to listen to my friends brag about their camper for the next 10 years, I want some bragging rights of my own.

Suggestions?

Thanks from a 12 year member of the site.

[ron_dittmer]

gregdennis53,

A comparable motorhome to a Coach House for 1/2 the cost, yet built real well with great quality will be a Phoenix Cruiser. If you insist on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis, then you are limited to two Phoenix Cruiser models as follows.

Most popular is the rear corner double bed Model 2350 seen here offered with a very nice optional slide out.
You can watch the guided video tour HERE.
The over-all length of the Sprinter chassis version is 24'-6".
The E350 chassis version is 23'-11" due to it's shorter chassis frontal area.


The other Sprinter choice is Model 2400, also offered with an optional slide out.

Both models are also built on the E-series. We ordered our Model 2350 Here without a slide out back in 2007. It is built on a 2007 E350-V10 chassis. Like most PC owners, we are still very happy with our decision.

[Bill_Lynch]

You might look into LAZY DAZE. They are very well built. Look at a 20 year old one to see how well they hold up.

Lazy Daze owners are very loyal and for good reason.

It would be worth your time to look before making your decision.

[bobojay5]

Leisure Travel with their Serenity & Unity models would be a good comparison to the CH's. A lot cheaper too. In very high demand. There's a Chevrolet chassis in their also to choose from.
The Winnebago View/Navion lines are one step down from the LT's, with lots of floorplan choices.
Phoenix Cruiser is an excellent Ford or Sprinter based class C. Sticking with the Ford chassis allows you to scoff at the high maintenance and lack of service facilities that the Sprinter RV's have.

[Desert_Captain]

Another vote for Nexus. Looked at the $80,000 winnebago's at Quartzite and they could not hold a candle to our Phantom 23P. For about $60,000 you can have a very nice Nexus with all of the bells and whistles customized just about any way you want.

We are at Joshua Tree NP enjoying ours.

[Ductape_Dave]

I also agree with magnusfide, Phoenix Cruiser.

[magnusfide]

Phoenix Cruisers have a stellar reputation and the new ones cost significantly less than a used CH. PCs also have a fiberglass shell for the body.
http://www.phoenixusarv.com/index.html

[Toot_Mc]

have you thought about a good used coach house? M wife and I down sizes last year from a Class a pusher and found a used 26' Coach house with only 17k miles. we have made several trip in it so far and we love it. had to get use to Gas engine again but the change was not that bad.

you can find the used ones pretty easy on internet. Many have low mileage. and are really just broke in good. we also get between 11 & 12 MPG mainly because of the streamlined design.

The body's on Coach house are made one piece and the paint jobs hold up real good because they have 4 coats of paint and 2 coats of clear coat.
all the used ones we looked at still looked new even though some were 5-6 years old. They are not pron to water leaks due to there one piece body shell design.

so you might check out used Gas coach house. I don't think you would regret it.

[rehoppe]

I'd have to agree with the 'stay put' and watch crowd.

Since you've been camping for a while, and you have to 'ask' as to 'what C' to buy, I'm gureesing that you've not been too taken with the idea previously. And/or, you camp where the Cs don't/can't, go???

Be careful where you jump, unless you have the funds to correct any errant purchases. lol (see my sig. below)

Good thing I'm a bit of a hound-dog. Or this hobby could have proven a Bit expensive!

[winnietrey]

Well you can brag about the fact, you are in the same campground as he is, having just as much fun and it did not cost you 180K.

[Islandman]

We have a 2005 Coach House that we purchased used from the factory, you should check out their inventory and other listings such as Craigslist, rvt.com, Camping World, etc. for older units. There's not much difference between a 8-10 year old Coach House and a new one except the used one is about half-price. Owners tend to take very good care of them since they are pricey, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs. We're happy with ours

[AndyW]

If you already have a solid truck, $20-30k will get you a NICE travel trailer with way more room than their Mercedes rig and just as nice of appliances, etc.

Not exactly an apples to apples comparison, but it's cheaper option that you certainly wouldn't have to be embarrassed about. And you know everyone is going to prefer sitting inside a dual slide trailer on rainy days than a 'mini-C' if that's what you are after.

[MobileBasset]

I will echo toedtoes. Stay with your TC for at least a season after the Coach House arrives and learn from your friend's experience. Then make a decision so you can be happy for the next 10 years. You can bypass the bragging by telling them you will be learning from their mistakes. Meanwhile you will be researching the options.

[Scottiemom]

You might look at Nexus. They have a variety of units and you can customize all you want. They sell direct from the factory. If you go to Elkhart, they will personally take you on a factory tour.

Dale

[toedtoes]

Unless you are unhappy with your TC, keep it.

When your friends complain because their $180K RV is at the shop for warranty work, you can just smile and say "oh, what a shame".

Seriously, I would never get a new RV for the bragging rights. And honestly, they're going to have far more enjoyment bragging about how their RV is so much better than the one you rush out to buy than how it's better than your TC.