Driving differences between 25', 31' class C's.

[bobbyg123]

I'm a longtime travel trailer owner, and now that my boys have gotten older, I'm excited to step away from hitching & towing and move to a motorhome. My current F350 longbed and my 34' trailer makes me feel like I'm driving a semi. We do a lot of tailgating for sporting events, and trying to maneuver in crowded parking lots is too stressful for me anymore.

For those of you who have owned and driven different length class C campers, what key differences did you experience with regards to driving, parking, etc.? Like everyone, I'm trying to decide between a 25' - 31' camper, but I don't want to go so long where I'm running into the same problems with parking that I currently have with my TT.

Thoughts and feedback appreciated!!

[GrandMom97]

Our first rv was 29feet. Next one was 31ft. Current rv is 25ft.
Really liking the way it handles, takes turns, parking much better us than the longer ones.
In my driveway I am able to turn it around much easier than the other two.
This one handles right hand turns with out having to swing way out into left lane. There have been a few occasions we even managed a Uturn in this one.

[jspringator]

I went from an Excursion towing a 33' TT to a 27 foot Class A. It is a lot easier for me to handle than the TT and X. I don't tow a car; I use it to go everywhere. I can always find a way. Mine has a large overhang, so it does swing wide when turning. Mine is more than big enough for 2 people. Take a hard look at how much MH you really need. Don't get one too small, but don't get more than you truly need. Remember, kids don't camp with their parents much past age 16, so plan ahead. When my youngest goes with us, I set her up a big tent and stick an AC in it. Smaller is better and eaier to deal with, but not if it is too small to do what you want to do with it.

[Artum_Snowbird]

A lot of C's in that range will come on a E450 Ford Chassis. That usually means they all have the same maximum weight when fully loaded. When you start looking at the specs of various rigs, you will notice that the unladen weight goes up with length, and the carrying capacity goes down. If you plan on towing, the tongue weight of your trailer, and a full tank of water (usually under the back bed) can often put the back axle into overload for long C's with multiple slides. Definitely something to watch out for. Watch your wheelbase too. Manufacturers tend to use the same wheelbase for several feet of overall length. It is better to be on the shorter overall length of a wheelbase size, than at the maximum overall length for that wheelbase size.

[BFL13]

Our truck is 22 ft, with the 11ft camper on it was 25 ft, and our C is 28.5 ft.

Just the truck can be an issue for parking at the mall, etc. Have to really figure out your escape route, and can't even get in a lot of spots. With the camper on it even worse being longer and wider too.

The 28ft C is not any different. It seems like some clown will park right in front so you can't escape especially at gas stations that also have a store.

At Walmart, you just have to park on the back 40 like the other Rvs and bigger trucks do, so you can get out of there.

A longer C will swing its tail wider than a short one, so you have that to keep aware of, but a 25 does that. Since you are used to pulling a trailer, you will drive the C something the same way, going farther out and then cutting around tighter on turns.

[DrewE]

I've only really experienced driving my 32' class C, so I don't know that I can fully compare it to shorter units. That said, for driving down the road the length really doesn't enter into things much at all, mainly when overtaking another vehicle or merging and having to figure enough space in the lane to fit in. The width and height did take some getting used to. The not very tight minimum turning radius also takes some getting used to; large class C's tend to be especially poor in that particular area. Making a "normal" U turn is usually not practical; going around the block or something similar is nearly essential. (A three or more point turn can also work, but ties up traffic and just generally can be stressful with the needed precise backing up.)

For maneuvering in tight areas, of course a shorter unit is at least a little easier than a longer one, but I haven't had too much difficulty overall. It does take a bit of thinking ahead and of watching things carefully in mirrors and maybe getting out and looking one (or more) times.

In my opinion there isn't much difference in parking between a 25' unit and a 31' unit, though some seem to disagree. In either case you pretty much need two regular parking spaces end to end or several side by side, or else a nice broad area over grass or whatever at the edge of a parking lot to hang the back end over. I haven't found the latter to be an option most of the time, but usually it isn't a great problem in parking lots at stores or malls or whatever (at least in suburbia or rural areas) to find sufficient room unless the place is absolutely packed. There may be some more walking involved than if one were in a car, of course.

In short, my opinion is that unless you have specific limitations (such as the place where you keep your RV is only so big), there's not a lot of reason from a driving or maneuvering point of view to limit oneself to shortish class C's if longer ones would otherwise serve better.

[Dusty_R]

We had an '89 Mallard that we drove until '01, about 20 ft. Then went to a 24 ft. Itasca, didn't notice much difference. Now starting in '15, a 27ft. Itasca. Haven't had a problem, but it does feel a little longer.
We tow a 20ft. flat bed trailer behind it. Antique tractors and car, not all at once.

Dusty