Rented a Class A...NEVER again.

[Bubtoofat]

We crossed over to the dark side temporarily.....or are truck campers the dark side? I forget. Spent 2 weeks in a "very popular brand" class A that we rented from a local dealer here in Michigan. My mom has always wanted to travel in a class A so we bit the bullet and shelled out lots of cash for a trip that was enlightening to say the least.

I get the feeling that my mother's expectations far exceeded the realities in this case. And my wife and I were actually looking at class A coaches at the last camper show since we plan on full timing when we retire. That ain't happening now. I'd rather have a TT or 5th wheel.

This was a 1 year old coach, Ford chassis, V-10, with 19,000 miles on the ODO.

Likes:

#1. We didn't have to exit the vehicle to get into the camper like we do with our TC.

#2. The coach had incredible fuel range. We never stopped between our home in Michigan, all the way to North Carolina. Even then we didn't really have to stop for gas. It still had 1/4 tank.

#3. GREAT views out that HUGE windshield. It was like an IMAX theater.

#4. HUGE holding tanks.

#5. Uh....did I mention that we didn't have to exit the vehicle to get into.... oh yes, I already did.

Well that pretty much sums it up.


Dislikes:

#1. Very noisy. Squeaks, rattles, banging, something in the undercarriage sounded like a dog barking with every bump, dash rattling and bouncing, steering wheel rattling and bouncing, slide out rattling and squawking, OYE! It was deafening. Plus, what sounded like a bad U-joint was making so much noise people would stop and stare at us slowly rolling by in the campgrounds.

#2. Stoopid big. It was worse than when we had our TT. VERY limited as to where we could take this beast. Maybe we are just used to our awesome TC that goes nearly anywhere.

#3. No gravity filling of the fresh water tank. You had to hook up the hose to a pressurized spigot and turn on the coach pump to fill the tank.

#4. The windshield washer reservoir was only 1/2 gallon despite there being enough room for a 5 gallon tank.

#5. The headlights were so bad I would have been better off with two candles taped to the front bumper. And the high beams were no better.

#6. The Ford V-10 dipstick had so much rust on it I was afraid to pull it out.

#7. The steering was terrible. It followed every little groove and rut in the road. Wandering has a whole new meaning for me now.

I could go on but I won't. All in all we had lots of fun in the Smoky Mountains and Pigeon Forge. And boy am I glad we tried one out before buying one. I feel like I dodged a bullet. We have a lot of laughs about it now that it's over.

My wife told the rental manager when we took it back that renting something like that should entice you into buying one. Then she told him that she would never even consider one now. He was very candid with us and said that we wouldn't believe how many people buy a class A and a year later trade it in on something else.

So just a word of advice. Try it before you buy it. Especially if the price tag is around $100,000. As for my wife and I? We'll stick with our TC for years to come. Who knows? Maybe full timing in a TC isn't so crazy.

Mike

[gbopp]

And, a question/answer posted by another forum member a few years ago.

Q. What is the difference between an ATV and a rental motorhome?

A. The rental motorhome can go anywhere.

That could be part of the problem. 🙂

[dahkota]

Hmmmm. IF mine was like that, I would probably give it up, too.
#1, our dishes rattle if we leave them dirty in the sink but otherwise, pretty quiet. Though I will admit on the Dalton Highway and other Alaska gravel roads, it did get a little loud.
#2, ours is 34'. With our jeep toad, we are about 50', shorter than our last truck/tt combo.
#3, we have a gravity fill.
#4-7, also not a problem on our rig.
I think it is more due to the rental you had than class As in general.

We put 18K miles on our Bounder in one year. And still love every minute of it. Okay, some of the Dalton sucked big time, but most of it was great.

[Ivylog]

I do not agree with any of your negatives and yes I have a gravity waterfill and yes I take my motorhome almost everywhere and I have the scratches on it to prove it. I could not half time in a truck camper much less full-time. A $1 million motorhome would be cheaper than the divorce from full timing in a truck camper.

[tony_lee]

I've got both, and it is just a matter of horses for courses - and of course having a reasonable version of both.

BTW BOTH have both gravity fill AND town water. Why would any RV manufacturer do otherwise.

[Old-Biscuit]

Leeblev wrote:
One very important thing to remember is that you RENTED A RENTAL COACH, NOT A NEW ONE. I am sure those things are beaten pretty badly because some renters attitude is "It isn't mine so I won't worry about it." Not only that, but the dealers don't always maintain them properly. (Steering, rattles, etc.)

Another thing to remember is that a Class "A" is mot an off-the-road or primitive campground vehicle. It is designed for RV Parks.
As to the water, since Class "A's" usually park (not always) in RV parks where water is available, they are designed for that. It would puzzle me if you wanted to put water into your camper from any source other than from a faucet because of the things you could pick up and get sick from.
I suggest that if you like the features of a class A, that you test drive a new one-not used.
Like anything you buy, if you don't address issues, they tend to pile up.

EXACTLY!!!!!

Just not fair to base your full opinion on a one time rental unit.

Based on cars I have rented I would never purchase same because of the same experience you encountered.
1 yr. old luxury car and based on it's condition, shakes/rattles, handling----no thanks except I realized it was a rental and FOLKS just beat then up

Go test drive NEW ones.......that is what they are on lots for :B
Check out the different ones....Class A, B & Cs

I do like the MHs---they have pros/cons
I also like TT & FW...pros/cons also

FOR us.....(ME!) FW had most pros for our 7 yrs. of full time travels

NOW......TC or small TT. Gotta sell FW 1st.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Bubtoofat wrote:
A salesman there tried to justify all the issues by saying that the rentals aren't as "well built" as the higher priced units of the same brand, HAHA. I told him that it's the same chassis, same engine, same transmission, same basic structure and that the only real differences are the options and amenities. He walked away in a huff.
Mike

Our beloved 28' Conquest Class C was destined to be a rental; and you're right. They leave off some of the gingerbread for rentals, but the structure is the same. Ours was awesome - gave us no problems for 10 years and drove nicely.

The biggest thing I miss is the ability to go potty without having to exit the vehicle first.

I should also add that if one OWNED the Class A, you'd pack things differently to stop some of the rattles; and things like a squeaky driveshaft would be attended-to. A simple re-alignment usually stops the wandering steering. The beauty of a TC is that it's being hauled on a vehicle that gets regular maintenance; plus you can't hear what's going on inside the thing....LOL!

[Kayteg1]

I think gasoline ClassA is the worse sample of RV
-death traps as I think all of them has 0 rollover rating
-gas guzzlers
-noisy
-heat coming from the engine under driver feet.
-V10 famous for plug spitting.
Would I go back to front engine coach, that would be Super C or nothing else.

[gbopp]

Bubtoofat wrote:


My wife told the rental manager when we took it back that renting something like that should entice you into buying one. Then she told him that she would never even consider one now. He was very candid with us and said that we wouldn't believe how many people buy a class A and a year later trade it in on something else.


Mike

And if you said you loved the Class A, he probably would have told you that everyone who rents wants to buy one. They love them.

[Vet_Man]

Maybe it is good that you tried out a class "A" it may not be for you.

[Kayteg1]

x2. I drove my 40' bus everywhere I wanted, including lot of beach camping in Mexico.
Sure quick stop for beer gets complicated, but as always in life, you can't have everything in single piece.
Most annoying in front engine Class A was that rear passengers were seating like in tunnel and not seeing much. In one coach I put bench over doghouse to have 4 belts in front row.

[Photomike]

A lot of your issues seem to be with the way it drives as opposed to the amenities and I think that many people will suffer with that to get the luxury. That being said a rental unit is not usually well maintained.

On the other hand a truck and camper that is paid for is sooooo much better than a 100,000 unit that you need to make payments on. I would love the ability to go from back to front without going outside and have seriously looked at a unit to do that. BUT with my truck and camper being paid for a little walk is not so bad :B and that $100,000 in savings will put a lot of gas in the truck and pay for a lot of campgrounds.

[kenbert]

Drive a Diesel Pusher and you will change you're mind.

[jimh406]

I can tell you that better Class As are very quiet. 2-5 aren't really applicable on better coaches. Also, Class As are available all of the way down to 25 ft now which eliminates 1.

[kerry4951]

They are not all that bad. My 38' diesel pusher was a dream to drive. But a lot more maintenance and I agree not nearly as handy to park and get to remote places. Rentals are usually abused or worn out units.

[Leeblev]

One very important thing to remember is that you RENTED A RENTAL COACH, NOT A NEW ONE. I am sure those things are beaten pretty badly because some renters attitude is "It isn't mine so I won't worry about it." Not only that, but the dealers don't always maintain them properly. (Steering, rattles, etc.)

Another thing to remember is that a Class "A" is mot an off-the-road or primitive campground vehicle. It is designed for RV Parks.
As to the water, since Class "A's" usually park (not always) in RV parks where water is available, they are designed for that. It would puzzle me if you wanted to put water into your camper from any source other than from a faucet because of the things you could pick up and get sick from.
I suggest that if you like the features of a class A, that you test drive a new one-not used.
Like anything you buy, if you don't address issues, they tend to pile up.