In search of a small Class C

It might be hard for that price, but if you can find an ex-rental Magestic 19G that may be just the ticket. I'd take one over a Toyota any day, simply because the Toyotas are getting pretty old by now and are not known for having any excess power at all.

Phoenix Cruiser has a very good reputation for quality, too, and would be well worth keeping an eye out for.

For what it's worth, I have a 32' class C, and in actual driving on the road the length is pretty much a non-issue. The width (and to a somewhat lesser extent, the height) are much more obvious constraints. Of course, when parking or maneuvering in gas stations or similar tight places, the length does come into play more; I need two standard parking spaces end-to-end, and a block of four if available is more comfortable.

The Rialta typically has less than 1,000 pounds of Net Carry Capacity. This maximum weight must include all factory installed options, all persons inside the vehicle, all their belongings, all food and other related items, LP gas, fresh water, any water in either holding tanks, and the tongue weight of any towed vehicle.

Not much wiggle room for stuff, and we like to bring stuff with us.

look at craigslist AWAY from your location. There were several such rigs in the local craigslist this week. A new looking old toyota and some other small rigs.

Look at the tucson craigslist.

https://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/d/1994-toyota-warrior-brand-new/6697227713.html

here's another:

https://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/d/toyota-dolphin-38k/6678983588.html

plus you get to get away to check out what ya find. Maybe try and find someone willing to look at for ya 1st. There are other C's listed old and newer.

one last time:

https://tucson.craigslist.org/search/rva?query=rialta
a litle more than 10K but along lines of what you are searching for:

https://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/d/2003-carri-go-class-23ft-low/6695176918.html

leisure travel vans. www.leisurevans.com ours has been great . ain,t no staples in my rv. also phoenix crusier spelling might be off on the last one. ours has the small diesel seen 20mpg lot of times.

Thank you for all the comments.

That was one of the issues with the Rialta, plus it seems like there are a whole lot of issues, especially transmission temps, not to mention that the engine is a bear to work on in terms of no room to get at anything. And the few parts that are available are expensive.

Toyotas are promising. The one showing in the Tuscon ad is a scam, BTW, it's all over Craigslist here too (not the Dolphin).

I think price is going to be the issue so looking to see what's available other than the three I know of.

Oops, duplicate post

A Coachman Starflyte or Dynamax Starflyte should be added to your list, especially given your $10,000 price limit. Coachman started Starflyte production around 1997, later taken over by Dynamax, the last model year around 2005. They were built very well. The earliest Coachman versions will be most affordable. They were offered in 3 or more different floorplans. My personal favorite model is the rear corner double bed with forward mini-dinette.

Here is a Starflyte. It fits in a regular parking spot with an acceptable amount of overhang, making it work. Any longer would be too much.

OMG that looks perfect, and sweet! Thank you

dgdubya wrote:
OMG that looks perfect, and sweet! Thank you

My brother and his wife own a 1998 model year. They "Love" their Starflyte. Starflytes seem to be put together very well. His E350 version is holding up very well considering it is now 20 years old and left outside all the time.

One thing you will want to add if not added already, is a heavy duty rear stabilizer bar. There is no rear bar at all on the E350 version. The bar will run around $250 plus $100 labor to install it.....well worth the $350. If pursing a Starflyte, hopefully the one you find has a heavy duty rear stabilizer bar added already.

My brother and I bought a heavy duty rear Helwig stabilizer bar, found cheap on the internet. We installed it together with common tools. Nothing weird or especially difficult

Given the age of the E350 front stabilizer bar and it's end link bushings that wear out easily, I would also recommend replacing the stock, weak front bar with a heavy duty Helwig bar. My brother is letting his front bar ride. I could not convince him to upgrade it to a heavy duty Helwig. He says the rig handles fine with just the heavy duty rear Helwig bar.

14 years full time experience and I have owned 3 Toyotas. Join the TMC Toyota Motorhome Club on Facebook (or Toyota Motorhome.org on the web) to learn more about them. Mine is 25 years old and is as new as they get, but I don't hesitate to drive cross country. Knowledge is is power when it comes to buying one of these.