Class C full timing downsides

[jamesrv75]

Hi everyone, I've never been on any forum before so please forgive me if I am posting improperly and thanks in advance for all the advice.

I am full timing in a 33 foot travel trailer with my wife and have been thinking of switching to a Class C. My concern is that with a travel trailer you can more easily switch out of the trailer or the truck if there is some sort of problem. With the class C, if you the truck has a problem it makes things much more difficult as a full timer because it would have to go in the shop along with all your belongings. Are there good extended warranties that cover everything for as long as you own the RV? The other concern is regarding longevity of the truck on the class C and how difficult it is to maintain and or rebuild if you keep the RV for a long time. Any perspective to this matter is much appreciated! 🙂

[photobug]

we finally ditched the tt in favor of our C. Our C handled the 2 lane twisty roads of central california mountains with ease, wouldn't have like to tow the TT through it. we're trying a full time in a couple of months with electric bikes for hard to get places. I can park the c in 2 end to end parking spots, and even parallel park it. I found that trailers are best for point to point runs where you are staying a while in one place. Road trips are better in the C.

[Bordercollie]

If you have decent mobile repair services in your area, they can come to you a where parked for fixes of the house part of the Class C. For minor maintenance of truck part you can drive to a truck dealer service facility.

Class C's and most other RV's are not designed, equipped and insulated well for comfortable long term full timing in cold or hot climates.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

pauldub wrote:
Another upside is that you aren't stuck with having a truck for your daily driver. That's a huge advantange for us because it allows us to have a daily driver that we can take to rugged destinations. You may or may not have the same perspective.

That was primarily the reason we fell out-of-love with the added space a 5er offers. Using a massive truck as transportation kept us out of some quaint restaurants and little shops, where parking was at a premium.

[pauldub]

Another upside is that you aren't stuck with having a truck for your daily driver. That's a huge advantange for us because it allows us to have a daily driver that we can take to rugged destinations. You may or may not have the same perspective.

[tonyandkaren]

We've been fulltiming in a class C for over twenty years so we've had a few trips to the repair shop. Major repairs have involved motel stays. Minor repairs can usually done in a day but if not we have stayed in our RV in the lot.

[rockhillmanor]

Class C full timing downsides

There isn't any! :W

I went from a TT to a Class C and haven't looked back! I full time and after testing the waters I added a toad.

I personally feel a lot safer having the toad, as I always have a backup vehicle if the MH breaks down.

If I break down and I have a couple of times.....I just put the dogs in the car and throw the keys to the MH to the tow truck driver and tell him to call me when it's fixed. :B

Don't think you need to worry about being separated from you belongings. Most repairs rarely take more than a day, maybe 2 if you have to wait for a part. I just grab my shower bag, and second change of clothes with me and head for the nearest motel next to the repair shop.

[jamesrv75]

Thank you all for your input and experience, it is much appreciated! I'm starting to "C" the light. Keep it coming. 🙂

[DrewE]

The chassis used on class C's tend to be pretty reliable, and usually outlast the house part if cared for reasonably well. The E series chassis most commonly used for class C's is also used for many commercial vehicles like ambulances, shuttle busses, smallish box trucks, etc. and many of them (and the vans the chassis is derived from) last for at least a few hundred thousand miles. That's not to suggest that repairs or maintenance at a shop are never required, of course, and naturally that does involve your house going to the shop, and the workers there entering it and so forth. If the shop is reputable and the workers honest, that isn't a problem. Unfortunately, there are a few shops and workers that are less ethical than would be wanted...and many that are entirely upstanding.

I don't think anyone offers a lifetime extended warranty. On average, you'd be money ahead to not get the extended warranty, as the companies that offer them are charging more than they on average pay out (or they wouldn't be able to stay in business). Really they are more of a breakdown insurance policy than a true warranty.

[MobileBasset]

As a 3year veteran with only class C experience I am asking out of ignorance. If your truck breaks down on the road and must be towed, What becomes of trailer or 5er and all your belongings? Does your roadside assistance take it somewhere? And is it to your liking? Or is it left on the side of the road? And then you rent a vehicle if the repair takes overnight??
If your trailer needs shop repair you have your truck but not your belongings. Maybe you live in the trailer while it is being repaired??
With my C I have only had one chassis repair, immediately after delivery, which really was Winnebago's assembly problem (fuel line connection) and I waited while it was done - Chevy chassis, very reliable, easy to get repaired. Roadside assistance towed it to the Chevy dealer safe and sound.
If I need a shop repair on the coach I would have the same options as a trailer. I would certainly live in the vehicle until my turn came up at the repair shop and just drop it off when they were actually ready to do the work.
I don't see much difference.
My personal opinion on warrantees is no thanks. The one that came with the new vehicle took care of the start-up problem and I did not extend. I am self insured. The only reason I carry roadside assistance is to have access to the tow and repair shop connections so I get help finding services when I need them.

[pianotuna]

There may be a lot less storage space on a class C (I full time in mine).

[jamesrv75]

Thanks netjam, this is why I am posting this because I really don't have any bearing as to the real differences between 5er/TT and a C class in terms of problem situations. It just seems that with the vehicle added to the mix you may have the potential to be having to stay in hotels twice as much because you add vehicle repair on top of any repairs the RV may also have. I'm hoping I can get additional real world feedback from C class full timers to adjust my perspective. 🙂

[netjam]

Your grasp of potential loss of your home is a good one. That's why we originally started fulltime in a 5er. (C class on order now so go figure) Been out of our 5er for major repairs a few times staying in motels so while the 5ver/c class argument makes a lot of common sense, not sure there would be that much difference.