Class A vs Class C maintenance/repair costs?

[Aden949]

My wife and I are in the market for our first RV. We're torn between the two styles. I feel as though the class A is a better fit for our family but my concern is the increased costs to maintain and repair it vs a class C.

I've heard from some that maintenance costs are comparable but the repairs are much higher on class A.

Is this true? Are class A's significantly more when it comes to repairs? I'm sure make and models will vary but we're looking at two similarly priced vehicles. One A and one C. Both 2008, same mileage, and the same price.

Any insight you can provide would be much appreciated.

Sean

[ksg5000]

I don't think that the ongoing maintenance issues between gas C and A are significant enough to choose one vs the other. Both have their pros/cons depending on family size etc. I found that Class C worked better for us when kids were young but Class A better for adults.

[EdTheEdge]

IMHO keeping it simple will keep maintenance costs down. That's one of the reasons I bought an entry level class c. So far so good.

[azdryheat]

Ford dealerships will work on Class A gassers with the Ford chassis and Ford V-10.

[JimK-NY]

Yup, tires are a good example. I would never buy cheapie tires. For 19.5 rims, a medium grade tire will run in the range of $400. Regardless of mileage you need to do replacements at about 5 years.

[DrewE]

The house parts are the same (or at least from the same few makers), so repairs to the RV systems will generally be similar in cost regardless of whether it's a class C or a class A.

There are variations in chassis repair costs depending on the chassis. A large diesel pusher will have more expensive parts and generally cost more to repair when it breaks than an E series based class C, for sure. The Ford F53 wouldn't be a lot more expensive to repair generally, often nearly the same, with the main exception of tires given the larger wheels. The Ford and Chevy van chassis do have somewhat of an advantage in that zillions of the vans were made and used as work and passenger vans, so there's very robust aftermarket support for the chassis and many odds and ends that can be found in junkyards if needed.

Many garages (including many car dealerships) won't work on motorhomes. Many others will, particularly independent shops. Probably more would be able or willing to work on a van based chassis than at least some class A chassis.

Most of the maintenance and repair work is generally going to be house systems, and a lot of that is things that can be done by most any reasonably handy person.

[soren]

Optimistic Paranoid wrote:
Well, a couple of thoughts occur to me:

1: You should be able to get a Class C worked on anywhere they work on regular vans. A Class A probably needs to go to a place that works on big trucks.

2: Probably a lot more parts made for vans than for big trucks, so I could see how they could cost less. Maybe.

3: It's for sure that the tires are gonna be more money for a Class A than for a Class C. Price em yourself and see.

1.You would be shocked at how many places refuse to work on anything bigger than a standard roof van. It often would involve asking a mechanic to wrench on a vehicle in the driveway, which is inefficient and wastes time. This is because many shops lack the space, or lift capacity to deal with bigger vehicles. The shop I take my car to will not take anything bigger than a low roof, 15 passenger van. Good shops are busy enough that they really don't need the headaches of dealing with any RVS.

2. E class Ford van front chassis, and the occasional Chevy Class C are going to have reasonable part prices. In my experience, parts for my Ford F53 chassis, under my gas engine class A, can be pretty cheap also. When it comes to a Sprinter chassis, parts get real expensive. Seems that three pointed Mercedes star adds quite a premium.

3. Tires are highly dependent on size and brand. I just put 19.5" all around my class A. They are Sumitomos, and cost $213 each, from an online source. I could of also spent over $500/each on another option.

[Optimistic_Para]

Well, a couple of thoughts occur to me:

1: You should be able to get a Class C worked on anywhere they work on regular vans. A Class A probably needs to go to a place that works on big trucks.

2: Probably a lot more parts made for vans than for big trucks, so I could see how they could cost less. Maybe.

3: It's for sure that the tires are gonna be more money for a Class A than for a Class C. Price em yourself and see.

[garyemunson]

If the Class C is built on the Ford chassis, the front seat passenger will not have much legroom. Annoying since most RV travel is for long distances. The Chevy based Cs are much more comfortable up front. Class As cost more to get fixed mainly because they occupy more shop Real Estate than slightly smaller Cs. Both use pretty much the same running gear so parts costs are close to the same. Diesels are another story. Have a fat wallet ready when they need maintenance or repair. If you are a DIY person, gas Class As are FAR easier to maintain as they have lots of ground clearance and you can slide right under them to change oil and grease them without the need to jack them up. Very easy to inspect the underside. You will find Jiffy Lube $19.95 specials do not exist for Class As.

[azdryheat]

Buy cheap and you get cheap. Get a quality A or C and it, hopefully, will be a better built unit. Me? I'd get the A. More storage, bigger and more spacious than a C. One downside of a C is they (on a Ford chassis) have a huge turning radius.