Advice on a Class C sizes..... 26' or 31'

If on a tight budget with a family of four, look at an affordable Coachman Freelander 22QB or equivalent. They are not tiny but work well enough in getting around in state & federal parks & other such lands without a tow vehicle. Sleeping & travel accommodations are great for Mom & Dad and two teenagers.

If no kids, just 2 adults, I suggest something like we have. A little smaller yet, still we tow to be even more mobile at our destinations.

If you are not worried about mobility so much, go bigger.

I can't comment on boat launching other than....the longer the rear over-hang is, the harder it will be. A short rig with a 170" wheel base will be better.

Teens can usually sleep in the overhead or on convertible dinette. Adults sleep best in a rear bedroom with RV queen bed. Teens will probably lose interest in camping/touring after a time. We prefer spending daytime outdoors under awning.
You can take a tent for extra kids in safe places. A 27 footer with/without a slide should work for you. You may want to bring bicycles on a hitch rack.

Someone in a campground said that Class A motor homes, no matter how big, are best suited for 2 but you didn't say Class A or C. When we were looking we were also looking for that size range. Our must-haves were a standing walk-a-round bed, couch and dinette. We found that can't get all 3 in 26 ft. but you can with 30 or maybe 29. We found a 30 ft. Class C with 2 slides (bed cross wise in rear) and it works out really well. I would prefer 2 to 3 ft. shorter with 2 slides which are out there and might give up the dinette. But even a 25 footer is too big to drive around sightseeing without towing a vehicle.

Sorry. You did say Class C.

We did have a 24' class C with a corner bed and no couch. Hated it, too hard to get in the bed, let alone make it. We traded it for a 26' Thor Chateau with walk around bed in a slide, sofa, dinette and cover cab bunk. So much better for us.

IMHO length makes less of a difference in maneuverability than one would think at first. Yes, a longer class C does have a somewhat worse turning radius (though none are in any way superior) and does occasionally require more care in parking or buying gas, but in my experience it's less of a concern than the vehicle width or height. I personally would rather have a little longer RV with a handier layout than a shorter one for maneuverability, other things being equal.

If I were to launch a boat with my motorhome, I think I would get a front-mount hitch for that process. I also would have to get a boat and a trailer first....

Just curious if those with 2 adults and 2 teens, and a dog...found a 26' too small over time. Like I said.....trying to get input from those that have done this before and hopefully get the correct RV the first time.

Never owned a C, but have owned TTs, 5ers, and a Class A. Wife likes to crochet (relaxing for her) inside/outside after we've done our sight-seeing, boating and playing, and I like to fish/boat (my way to relax).

Inside space is important. Did not like the corner Full size beds for reasons described...too hard getting into/out of, and extra work to make bed.

Couch and dinette.....Would like to have the dinette free from being a bed so we can use it in the morning without have to wake up one of our kids.

Is there a 26'-27' that has a couch, dinette, and rear walk around queen?

Budget is $35K.....used in the years 2002-2005 seem to be what I am finding for these models at this price. RV trader and CL are where I have been looking.

I had the same problem as you in finding something in my budget range and floor plan,looking at RV Trader and CL plus others that is why I looked at the Rental Market. This may not be your cup of tea but it is worth a look.

This one may be an option,altho it is up north they may have something at the Santa Fe Springs location,you might give them a call. Ask for Darylin Fragoso,she knows about the Rental Thread she may be able to help you out. Good Luck.

On edit: I see that you are in the Inland Empire,there is the same one at the San Bernardo location This One

Hi,

26 feet is the ideal ratio of length to wheel base (assuming 176") which makes the RV easy to handle in regards to tail swing and road tracking.

Rigs advertised as 26 feet long may actually be one foot longer, bumper to bumper. Our Tioga 26Q is 27 feet long. A 27 foot rig may seem too small over time if your tolerance wears thin. Motorhomes do not have all the comforts of homes unless you own a 40+ foot behemoth. Making and unmaking a dinette bed can become a bother after a couple of weeks on the road. The dog can usually find a place to curl up, maybe in Ma's crocheting chair. We set up a large collapsible crate for our two dogs for daytime. If you've tent camped a lot, you'll appreciate limited time camping/touring a medium-length Class C rig.