A vs C HELP

[fishhogg]

We are retired in good health and ready to make the plunge! Having a hard time deciding on the right Motorhome. We will use the Motorhome in the winter in the (Lower 48") snow birds and bring it home to Alaska in the summer. We have found the floor plan and make in both the A's and the C's. Time frame 2 months in the fall and 3-4 months in the winter before returning north. My question to you is will we be more comfortable in a class A or C? Driving is not a problem as I drove commercial 43 years. Thanks for your thoughts. :h

[Gjac]

The previous posters all gave you good advice. The reasons that swayed me away from the C to an A were better suspension(more HD chassis), more storage(full basement rather than the small cutout doors),larger FW tanks,more living space inside. For the type of camping that you described I think a 32-34 ft Class A is ideal.

[dahkota]

Ivylog wrote:

Post above has some very good advice and I wonder if they wish they had gone bigger than. 33' for FT?

No. We are quite happy with the 33'. Had we gone one size up, we would have an extra 1/2 bath (seems all As 33-36' have a bath and a 1/2). I don't want to clean two toilets and since there are only 2 of us, one works well.

Also with the 33C, which is 34', we find we fit better in quite a few more parks - many we have stayed at have maximum length of 35' due to roads to get into them (we prefer state/fed parks).

At least in the Bounder line, our 34' and the next size up 36' have the same 22K chassis. With the smaller size rig on the same chassis, we have greater cargo capacity - we can carry more stuff. Not that we need it - we still have a ton of empty space. But, psychologically, I feel better with the cushion.

Honestly, I can't conceive of what the larger amount of space would be used for. We have a living room that seats 4, a dining room that seats 4, the passenger seat acts as an office (with a desk), the bedroom sleeps 2. The best part is the outdoor living space - it is immense and changes when we want.

Though it would be nice to have room for a canoe... 🙂

[rgatijnet1]

From what I have seen, many C's do not come with levelers, that are controlled from the driver's seat. Also from my own experience, it is a lot harder for the passenger to get to the back of the coach while driving down the road. She likes to get up and grab something to eat or drink or to use the toilet while we are on a smooth straight highway.
The view out the windshield is much better in the A and the higher driving position is better to keep an eye on other traffic. To each is own. Just drive both and decide what works the best for you.

[KarenS144]

We're on our 3rd (and according to DH, LAST motorhome). We've had a B+ and are enjoying our 2nd Class A. We liked our 24' B+ for short close to home trips but with 2 boxers and more stuff for longer trips, we were really cramped.

Motorhome #2 was a 29' Georgetown gasser with 2 slides. We thought we had the PERFECT coach for us and we did make 2 long (month +) trips and lots of shorter trips. The front seats aren't squashed under a bed so that area becomes part of the living area and...WOW! ...does that make a difference. The main complaint we had was handling. Wind, trucks & uneven roads made for a lot of white knuckles and tired drivers.

#3 is a new to us Newmar Ventana DP. We've not yet made any long trips in it but it's just under 35' long so we think we'll be able to find places to camp in state & national parks as well as other public lands fairly easily. We usually don't stay in "RV Resorts" except to dump, take on fresh water & do laundry. It handles much better than the G'town & has "Comfort Drive" to make steering even easier.

Consider what type of "camping" you're going to do. If you'll be without hookups for any length of time, you should consider tank capacities. Are you going to stay in one place for several weeks or keep moving around? Will you have a toad? Another option is an all electric coach which I first thought was not going to work for us but our Ventana is and we love it.

There are so many different options that I'm sure you will find the perfect coach! Keep us posted.

[Ivylog]

Since there is not a C (not a super C) big enough you do not need diesel. The problem is in less than two years you will be buying a much much bigger A which will be less expensive than a divorce. You will be starting out with twice the husband on 1/2 the income in 1/20 th the space. Good luck.
Post above has some very good advice and I wonder if they wish they had gone bigger than. 33' for FT?

[dahkota]

We recently purchased a class A, after going through some of the mental gymnastics you are now doing. We really wanted a C - smaller in size, more truck-like, easier to service. After looking for a few months, we inevitably purchased an A.

We are fulltiming and found the differences between a C and an A favored the A:
Cargo capacity - this was a huge factor. We didn't want anything with less than 3500 lbs. of capacity. We even found quite a few As with very low CC (one had 1200 lbs.) but as a whole, As carry more than Cs.
Cargo access: As have larger access spaces for larger cargo than most Cs. After having had a tt with small cargo doors where half the stuff had to be dragged out to get to what we needed, we wanted easy access in our outside bays.
Fresh Water Capacity: most As have larger fresh water tanks. We boondock and dry camp a lot. 35G was not going to cut it.
Fuel Capacity: As carry 70 gallons or more. Cs carry @ 50G or less. Stopping for fuel all the time is time consuming and stressful.
Front cab: In As, the front cab is part of the living space. In most Cs, you practically have to climb out. The space is more confining and a waste when one is parked.
Tow Capacity: Typically the tow capacities are 5Klbs. in an A, greater if one gets a diesel. Most Cs have 3500 lbs.

Good luck in your search!

[Bumpyroad]

when I am in the driver's seat of a Class C I feel crammed in like in a van or pickup truck. not in a stratalounger like in a Class A.
bumpy

[timmac]

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Check out the undercarriage.


I would put a coolant filter on anything that is as expensive as a RV. I have one on my Bounder with 460" engine that I bought new in 97. I change the filter each fall, because after it plugs, the heater stops working. It is inline with the dash heater hose. Kit #FIL 4019 is the mount and 5/8" hose kit, and the FIL 4070 is the small filter. You can get larger ones, and ones with SCA's built in. Napa part numbers.


Fred.

I will have to say this is my 1st time hearing about a coolant filter on a gas motor, and why would I or anyone need one.

Yes I know diesels have them but why a gas.

[Golden_HVAC]

Check out the undercarriage.

Really! You will want the one with the best ground clearance! Getting into and out of gas stations without worry about rubbing is great, but also you need to make it deep down the gravel roads to the best fishing spots too!

A class A will probably have factory installed jacks. Most class C's do not due to their limited GVWR. Also if your plan is to collect rocks or something, the class A will have a higher cargo rating. Sometimes a class C will not be able to tow much more than 5,000 pounds, and usually not 'good' at that.

Most class C vans are built on the Ford 14,050 pound GVWR E-450 chassis. WHile most class A's are built with either a GMC or Ford gas engine and 18,000 - 22,000 GVWR, with a few using even higher 24,000 GVWR chassis. So you can see that class A has the great advantage.

There where class C based on the GMC Topkick truck chassis with a 8.1L gas or 6.6L diesel engine. IT had a 19,500 GVWR, and where made up until about 2007 or 2008? Sometimes called a "Super C" - that was the trademark name of one RV manufacture. So it can not be used by other manufactures.

International also built class C chassis with it's 6.4L diesel in it. I guess a LOT has been written about the 6.4L used in Ford trucks, and it is the same engine. Put a coolant water filter on it, and they are pretty reliable.

I would put a coolant filter on anything that is as expensive as a RV. I have one on my Bounder with 460" engine that I bought new in 97. I change the filter each fall, because after it plugs, the heater stops working. It is inline with the dash heater hose. Kit #FIL 4019 is the mount and 5/8" hose kit, and the FIL 4070 is the small filter. You can get larger ones, and ones with SCA's built in. Napa part numbers.

Good luck on your RV purchase!

From what I hear, if you take the Alaskan highway at 45 MPH in the gravel sections, you will not be blowing out the tires on potholes. It is those going 65 that hit a pot hole and have a blowout soon afterword.. . .

My buddy in Fairbanks bought his car in Florida, then drove it back to Seattle, where he had it shipped by sea to Anchorage. This way he would not tear it up on the alaskan highway. . .

Fred.

[timmac]

Class A motorhomes sit up higher and you get a great view going down the road, class C motorhomes have both driver and passenger doors and makes it eaiser when getting gas and such..

Its something you need to figure out, I like my class A, sitting up higher, better views, looks good compared to most class C, better storage on certain A's, taller ceilings, no over head bunk, etc, etc..

Will tell you this if your living with your spouse and a pet for over 2 months a year get 35ft or more with at least 2 slides, trust me, I have a 33ft with 2 slides and at times its small but I don't live in mine, just camp and travel.

[Mr_Mark1]

Well, it depends if a A or C is better. Your budget will make a difference. Do you want diesel or gas?

When I was doing my research (read about motorhomes for 7 yrs. before purchase), is that you should buy your third motorhome first. I read that bigger is better and that you should think seriously on how you want to use it. We wanted plenty of room. We rented three units before purchase... one class C and two 38 ft. class A's.

That gave us a good idea on what we wanted. So, in January of 2007, we ordered a new 2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42 ft. 4 slide unit. All leather furniture, tile floor, washer and dryer, all electric coach. After enjoying it for 7.5 yrs., we are moving up to our last coach that should last us 20 yrs.

We are not the type of campers that wanted State parks (size limits). We like regular RV parks, then we take our toad out for touring. We have been all over the country and have not had any problems except for a couple of low bridges in the east. Our coach is 12'11" and we came up to a couple of 12" bridges, we found a way around. Otherwise, smooth sailing!

MM.