Class C vs. Class A engine access...

[groundhogy]

Hi,
I'm new at this and have looked at several Class A and C motorhomes.
I initially thought the Cs would have the easy engine access, but upon inspection, the couple of Class Cs I looked at SEEMED to have more limited access that the As.

The Class A I saw had a larger access hatch in the driving area than the C.

Is this correct?

thankd,
groundhogy

[cowboy66]

We had a B+ Ford E 450 with the V10 was a great motor home
but was hard to get at things. But we had no problems with the engine or drive train.

[DaHose]

Ok, now you are making us all jealous cowboy. Super C is the schnitzel!

Fantastic point being made in the posts above. I do practically ALL my own vehicle maintenance and absolutely all my RV maintenance short of getting a smog certificate. Any auto parts store in the country can look up and get me any drivetrain part I need. I simply ask for parts to fit a 1983 Ford E350. I'm sure you can figure out what drivetrain and chassis your class A is built on and track down parts on the road, but having a vehicle build plate I can reference and mainstream parts suppliers everywhere in the nation is of HUGE comfort to me. As I said earlier, the only engine part that really is hard to get at is the header bolts. Access to the front of the engine is really good and even the top is pretty accessible. We were on our way out of town and the carb. went on the fritz. I got home, opened up the carb to the float bowls, re-assembled, figured out it was a vacuum advance problem and was back on the road within 2 hours. If you have a boat, you know what kind of access you are getting in a class A.

Jose

[cowboy66]

That is one reason we went to a super C Dynamax all standard Freightliner parts. Easy to get at.

[jillhop]

I'm no expert, but when my Ford E350-based Class C (Triton V10) needed ignition coils replaced, the work was also done from inside the coach (opened up the doghouse). So, for either a Class C or A, the work could be done in air conditioned comfort and required the mechanic to keep the area clean.

The argument that the more directly van-based class C's are more likely to be worked on by "regular" mechanics does seem persuasive, and a big advantage that I hadn't considered previously. Interesting discussion!

[Rick_Jay]

rockhillmanor wrote:
Example my friends had a leveler that would not come up on an A. No one locally wanted to touch it. ....

Just saying "IMHO" it is far easier to have repairs done on the road with a Class C.

Which Class C has the levelers installed by the chassis manufacturer and how does this argument support which has better engine access?

The neatness of the leveler installation will be determined by the quality and care of the coach builder, Class A or Class C.

To the OP, you're on the Class C forum, so you'll get a preference for Class C's in your replies. Over on the Class A forums, you'll get a preference for Class A.

Me? I have a class A gasser. No real problems with access. In fact, one advantage of the class A is most upper engine work can be done from inside. So, when it's hot outside, I can work inside in air conditioned comfort. I had to do this when the A/C compressor clutch froze up on me on the road. I had to get underneath for a couple of times to put on a new serpentine belt, but 80% of the job was done in the air conditioned interior of the motorhome.

The reason a lot of mechanics don't want to work on the class A, in my experience and opinion, is because they have to go inside the rig to do engine work, which means they have to put down all the protective floor coverings and be extra careful not to get anything greasy. They'd rather not deal with that. I don't think it's the mechanical aspect of the work that deters them from working on them.

~Rick

[rockhillmanor]

Juan Carlos wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
It is much harder to find someone to work on a Class A.

It is THE reason I choose a C. I traveled with my friends in A's and can't tell you how many times they were stranded because they could not find a repair shop to work on it. Leaving them (I.E Class A's) as victims to the manufacturer dealership ...

This seems like a touch of hyperbole. The Ford dealer may not be the cheapest in town, but they typically have well-qualified mechanics. If I were stranded somewhere unknown, I'd probably WANT to be at the local Ford Truck Center.

Just to get a sense of this, I called Horizon Ford in Seattle. The guy there said they can handle 90% of the problems they run into. Some issues do require cutting into the motorhome, where they'd have to send to you a motorhome place to do the cutting.

Let me clarify my post.

My statement about manufacturer dealership refered to >Class A 'Coach Dealerships'. not engine dealerships, 'coach builder' dealerships.

For the Class C I always hit the Ford Dealership first when possible.

Depending on the size of your C, the size of their bays and what type of work you need, they will refer you to their truck division, which where there is a Ford Dealership....there is a truck division close by that can take care of everything.

They have been very good to me each and every time I needed repairs. AND of course they know the Ford inside and out and have no problems getting parts asap. And I know I can find one in almost every town.

Example my friends had a leveler that would not come up on an A. No one locally wanted to touch it. I sat with that couple for 2 days after a sporting event was over waiting for the manuf to come out to repair it. They opened up the entire dash which looked nothing short of Houston we have a problem launching computer. It was unbelievable.
He pushed a bunch of buttons, redid some wires and rebooted the computer and the leveler came up. Which is why most repair shops don't want to take in an A.

Just saying "IMHO" it is far easier to have repairs done on the road with a Class C.

[Vacay_Wheels]

rockhillmanor wrote:
It is much harder to find someone to work on a Class A.

It is THE reason I choose a C. I traveled with my friends in A's and can't tell you how many times they were stranded because they could not find a repair shop to work on it. Leaving them as victims to the manufacturer dealership ...

This seems like a touch of hyperbole. The Ford dealer may not be the cheapest in town, but they typically have well-qualified mechanics. If I were stranded somewhere unknown, I'd probably WANT to be at the local Ford Truck Center.

Just to get a sense of this, I called Horizon Ford in Seattle. The guy there said they can handle 90% of the problems they run into. Some issues do require cutting into the motorhome, where they'd have to send to you a motorhome place to do the cutting.

[groundhogy]

Yes, as time goes on, I find that computers try to "help" way too much..
Often screwing me up.

[rockhillmanor]

Unless you are doing your own engine work and are proficient at it. ...

The major difference between the 2 is that with a Class C, which is nothing more than a standard van, you will be able to have repairs done practically anywhere you travel. From the chevy/ford dealerships to a small mom and pop auto repair. They have no problem working on a C.

It is much harder to find someone to work on a Class A.

It is THE reason I choose a C. I traveled with my friends in A's and can't tell you how many times they were stranded because they could not find a repair shop to work on it. Leaving them as victims to the manufacturer dealership and or worse CW with 200.00 an hour rates. 😞

Just saying. Sadly there is so much computer stuff on engines today that what most of know of repairing engines is outdated.

[DaHose]

I will add that in an extreme case, power train work on a front engine class A could mean pulling the engine out from inside the RV adding cost and potential damage.

A class C drivetrain can be dropped out the bottom like a standard truck or straight out the front by removing the front clip. However, I can attest to how much of a pain in the neck it is to get to the header bolts. Other than that, working on the engine and suspension has been relatively easy due to the high ground clearance.

Jose

[Dakzuki]

groundhogy wrote:
Hi,
I'm new at this and have looked at several Class A and C motorhomes.
I initially thought the Cs would have the easy engine access, but upon inspection, the couple of Class Cs I looked at SEEMED to have more limited access that the As.

The Class A I saw had a larger access hatch in the driving area than the C.

Is this correct?

thankd,
groundhogy

Depends on the van the C is based on. My 460 Ford class C was bad for access under the hood. My Sprinter based class C is awesome. Super easy access under the hood to everything I need to get to. There is so much room some folks have put the hydraulic pump unit for their levelers in there.

[ron_dittmer]

I should also mention that body parts for a van are far easier and cheaper to get than parts for a class A. Just try replacing a class A windshield anywhere in the USA in good time. Replacing many class A bumpers is horrid process because the bumper is molded as one part with the entire front of the rig all the way to the roof. This means you replace the entire front of the motor home. The wind shield would need to be removed, cleaned & prepared, and then set into the new front body panel. assuming a new panel is available. You'll be praying they prepared all surfaces properly, applied the right amount of sealant everywhere with no voids, and aligned everything properly during assembly. The back yard alternative is to bring in a guy who is good with fiberglass, not a "quality" practice.

With a class C, the entire frontal area is a regular everyday van with everyday parts available in a moment's notice, assembled and reassembled in everyday "industry standard" fashion.

Also consider the doors and windows in the van are automotive quality, solid, good hinges latches & locks, well sealed, crash worthy, very reliable. Not so with a class A. The driver's door if it has one is quite flimsy, best not to have one at all. In a class A, driver & passenger windows rattle and leak air. If not right away, then give them some time.

The better class A's address many such complaints, but then you'll be spending more on your "A" than your brick & mortar house.

I also should mention that the one piece bumper-&-body issue is common practice in the rear of many motor homes, including my own class B+. If I back into something, I too am faced with the same "wall removing" scenario. I wish I had a separate strong yet lightweight composit rear bumper with good brackets that extend flush to my spare tire cover.

This is my rig, bumper and rear wall is all the same piece.

[rcmiller32]

Having worked on both the Class A and Class C motorhomes, I like the class A better for servicing. But then again I have worked on ambulances and fire trucks both commercial and custom chassis. And all of them have some items that require standing on your head. Most newer units on Ford chassis will add the wiring harness to their own fuse boxes and batteries, or will tap in were Ford tells them to. This is part of the Ford requirements to built on their chassis. In past years yes they would just cut and tape.

[groundhogy]

... hmmm. those are persuasive arguments.