Class A vs Class C drivability - newbie

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MaryKayT

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Oct 7, 2013
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My husband and I are doing our homework, and plan to FT after he retires in 2-3 years. I have so many questions. The first being the drivability difference between a Class C and a Class A.
My husband currently has a "mindblock" on this topic. He thinks the Class C's will be better to drive. On the other hand. since neither of us have any experience with either, I feel driving a 31 ft Class A can not be much harder than driving a 31ft Super C. From stuff I have read, here and elsewhere, an A might even be easier. Unless I can find good info on this, he refuses to even look at class A's.

Of course, the 2nd question is diesel vs. gas.

Having attended our first real RV show this past weekend, I found that not many C's have floor plans I like.

This is now leading to possibly discussing TT's and 5th's, but I like the idea of driving inside.

Any and all input will be welcome.

With so many questions, it's a good thing we have 2-3 years to decide.  :)
 
Make certain that you test drive the Class A...I bought a Fleetwood Bounder a year ago and sold it a couple of weeks ago because I did not like driving the big Class A. Don't let anyone tell you that it is not different. The cab forward sitting over or in front of the steer tires is very different. We are now looking at the Class C coaches.

Although the Bounder handled very well and I got to be quite proficient I never got comfortable and I believe life is too short to do anything that causes undo stress, when it can be avoided.
 
I have had two "C" and now an "A". And I would say if you are considering a 31' that the only choice would be an "A". There is way to much rear over hang on a class C on anything over 27 or 28 feet. Now an A is different for sure as you can see much better being higher and much larger windshields. The ride is about the same as most in the size you said would put you in about the same location over the front wheels. Go class C at 28' or less and class A for anything else IMHO! The diesel question always comes up, but in the size you said you would be limited in choices and not really have any advantage at all, I would say diesel in anything over 34' and gas below that number.
 
    Many will say the A and C are the same as to driving - but I totally disagree. However, my opinion applies to shorter C's versus any length A. My first trek in an RV was the rental of a 24' Class C. I had been driving a van with my business and was very pleased that it was almost the exact same experience. After one trip around the block I was ready to head down the highway and a great long weekend RVing for the first time.

But once you go beyond 24' the driving experience changes. The overhang is greater, most are top heavy, and are a bear to drive in any kind of wind. Not sure of the Super C's -- but why waste all that space up front. Note for example, how much living space is there from the back of the driver seat to the front bumper in an A vs. a C. In an A, the driver and co pilot seats can swivel and become part of the living area.

Another item - one of the main things one does in an RV is look out the windows at the wonderful places  you travel to. In a C, you must bend over to see out the front window - whereas in an A, the front window is a picture window of where you are parked.

I now drive and am very content with a 34' Class A. The driving is as easy as the 24' Class C I first rented years ago though more thought is given to my size. I have much more storage - and I always try to park so I can enjoy the view out of my front window (without having to bend over).

Have attached a pic I took several years back while attending the RV Forum Quartzsite rally on the Arizona desert. Note the room in my Class A with a slide and the surrounding view. I rest my case . . .  :)

 

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We've had three Cs (18', 22', 30') and two As (34', 40') and no trailers.  For fulltiming especially you would want an A.  There's more space, not as much overhang, easier to drive if you get one that is "solid", and just more pleasant overall.  We loved all five of them but the As are much better for fulltiming because you have to take so much "stuff" with you and they have better storage.  Personally I'd rather drive an A any time.  I LOVE driving ours!

May I say that you seem to be putting the cart before the horse at this stage.  You really need to attend a number of RV shows and then take some test drives before making the C vs. A decision.  Renting one of each might help.  Also, floor plan is the number one priority.  Remember this will be your home and if you don't like the interior you won't be happy in it, regardless of what's under the hood.  If you can afford diesel you'll probably like it best.  Many fulltimers on this RV Forum have started out with a gas A and then traded up to a diesel A.  Some prefer trailers of one type or another.  If your aim is to see the country I think you'll be happier with a motorhome but I'm sure you'll hear from people with other opinions.  The important thing is to keep an open mind and not make any choice too early.  Make lists of what you like and dislike about various styles.  The list will undoubtedly change as you talk to more people about their rigs and what they consider as pros and cons.  For example, you might think "feature A" is wonderful until you talk to someone and find out there are more negatives than positives about that particular feature.  Those of us who have RV'd for many years have some definite opinions about what's good and what's bad about today's RVs.  Listen and learn!  And have fun too because that's really what it's all about.

ArdraF
 
I am another one solidly in the class A camp. I have owned two class Cs, three class Bs and three class As. I have been full timing the last ten years and no way would I even consider going back to a class C. They are nice for weekend warriors but for full timing nothing beats a class A. They are easier for me to drive, they have more room and in general they are better built. But as others have stated you really need to go test drive a few of each type and decide for yourself.

Gas vs diesel is not really a matter of opinion, it is a question of the right tool for the right job. If you are going to be towing a car in the mountains out west then a diesel is the best way to go. Otherwise it is massive overkill.
 
I should add, in our search for a Class C motor home my wife and I will always be weekend warriors, with a 30 day or so each summer journey. If I were to be inclined to full time, I'd have forced myself to learn to enjoy the Class A...it was a great coach. I don't think I would ever consider full timing in anything but a Class A diesel (We live in the Western USA).

As a Part-Timer I have the choice of going to a Winnebago View 24G or the Chateau 28Z, because I too agree that the overhang on a Class C gets excessive quick after 28' and 28' is too short to full time in...In my inexperienced opinion.

 
My opinion; Class C is better if you have children so their bed can be left made! For full timing, Class A is vastly superior if you actually plan to live in it as opposed to just camping. More space, easier to drive, more comfortable, etc., etc.  ?

That said, some people like to camp!

Ernie
 
Another one in the Class A camp here.  I prefer the A's usable interior space as well as sitting up higher when driving and able to see further down the road.

Mike.
 
Class A is indeed different to drive than a C, but not more difficult. If anything, it is easier and more pleasant. Your husband should get over his resistance to a change in his driving technique, cause the A offers a number of advantages, especially in larger sizes. Others have already cited several of them, so I won't elaborate.
 
You should go drive several of each. Go to some of the dealers and test drive both. I test drove several class As before I bought mine. You might try some of the used lots to. One dealer took me on a test drive that started on the freeway but had me turned down a narrow 2 lane road. Did I say narrow. I soon realized "heck I can do this". Just take your time this isn't a race.
The most important thing is find the floor plan that works for you. You are talking about full time you will spend many more days setting than driving.
I also recommend buying used verses new as you can find some great units for lots less money than new.
Bill
 
One thing to be aware of during test drives - at low speeds a short wheelbase motorhome, especially a Class C, drives pretty much like a car.  You don't have to think too much about what you're doing when turning corners, going around curves, etc.  The used car RV salesman accompanying you on the test drive loves to point this out.

But driving at speed is another matter.  Here, the longer wheelbase is king.  In a short wheelbase motorhome, all that wall area behind the rear axle acts like a sail.  Any side winds or gusts from passing trucks pushes on that large overhang and leverage makes the rig teeter-totter around the rear axle, pushing first in one direction and making you counter-steer against it, then back the other way as the gust moves along the wall.  There are lots of devices you can buy that claim to help with the wander, but they're more band-aids than cure.

On a rig with a shorter overhang (i.e. a longer wheelbase), those forces are centered more between the front and rear axles.  Wind gusts may cause the motorhome to lean a bit, but not really change course to any extent.  Any sideways move is more of a drift - not the weaving, back and forth effect felt with a short wheelbase and long rear overhang.

That's why school buses tend to have short wheelbases and long overhangs, while Greyhound buses are the opposite.  The first spends most of it's time maneuvering around town - the latter spends most of it's time on the highway.

I spend far more time driving down the road than maneuvering into campgrounds, so I much prefer the longer wheelbase.  It's not that hard to get used to it.

And on that expansive, Class A windshield.  Keep in mind you'll have to clean it every time you fuel up.  That's a lot of glass to keep clean.  Especially avoid motorhomes with wrap-around front windshields - it should be a flat pane of glass, not one that curves around a corner.  I missed that on my present motorhome and those curved areas are nearly impossible to clean with a squeegee while you're standing under the windshield - you really need to be on a ladder so you can hold the squeegee vertically as it goes around the bend.
 
I missed that on my present motorhome and those curved areas are nearly impossible to clean with a squeegee while you're standing under the windshield - you really need to be on a ladder so you can hold the squeegee vertically as it goes around the bend.
Just an addendum: I carry a two-step ladder (or stool, if you prefer) that gets me just high enough to do that, even with the short squeegees provided at gas stations -- don't have to have the long ones such as they have at truck stops.
 
I started out with a class C, it was old but we wanted to see what I thought about it.  Didn't like it.  I couldn't see any thing out the front and the cab sticking out over my head made me feel claustrophobic.  I didn't keep it long and
we did a lot fixing it up.

Then I got a 29 ft gasser and it was ok, had slides but I had trouble with it drifting around.  Finally we got a really old
diesel pusher and I have been more then pleased.

I am one that travels only once or twice a year and will never be a full timer.  But I agree with the rest, better visibility, more storage and you will need that full timing.  And one heavy enough is really good too, no diesels pushing you around or wind either. 

Good luck and enjoy.
 
I think the issue some have with the A is just the "mind job" of having that big windshield and feeling like you're driving something huge, whereas the C *feels* smaller. But, honestly, the A is better on functionality (unless you really want the overhead bed), and give it a little time and you'll be whipping it around like its nothing.
 
When the kids traveled with us we always had Class C's by Gulfstream. They were very good machines, but by the time we loaded them with supplies for a week or two, plus two kids and a dog we didn't have enough capacity left to tow a vehicle.
We live in farm country and grain elevators with scales are every where. Check the stickers with weight warnings that are scattered about, even in unusual places, our Gulfstream mfg. data and tire and weight stickers were on the back wall inside the cupboards. We weighed our RV's loaded including fresh water and decided not to tow. We had a bike rack on the back with four bicycles.
We have a Class A now, and I wish we still had a "C". I liked that nose sticking out in front of me. But, as my wife points out, we now have slide-outs and we are towing a Ford Ranger. Handling is much different! Ours is a gas machine with a "dog house" between the two front seats. You are sitting directly over the front wheels and over correction and over steering can actually be a hazard. It takes some getting used to.
We looked at "Super C's". You should too, before you buy!  Not too many companies make them but if you Google, "Super C", you'll find some really neat and roomy machines with interesting floor plans. "Super C's" can be as expensive as "A's", but you can still pop the hood and check your oil.
Jack
 
The big comparison here seems to be whether class A and C are the same to drive. I don?t understand why that is even a question. A Ford and a Dodge truck both drive differently, why would MH?s be any different. With the proper instruction you can learn to drive either one that suits your preference. IMO the most important thing is finding the floor plan you will love when inside 95% vs. the 5% of the time you will be driving. The question is really how much effort do you want to put into learning how to drive it?
I have never met a truck driver that was born with the ability to drive a 40? rig yet they and their wife?s do it on a regular basis. Our rig with trailer is well over 60?. There is a learning curve but don?t make it more than what it is. If you start out too small you will just buy your way up in a few years, just money right.
Diesel or gas is easy, never test drive a diesel if you want to stick with gas.
You are doing this correctly, asking before the purchase. Go slow, rent a few and try some out. Anything is cheaper than pulling the trigger on a MH purchase that you will not be happy with a year after you bring it home.
 
I've been driving a 28 foot Class C and living in it fulltime for over 3 years. I love it!  I often have a friend along for the ride too, plus my dog lives on the road in the wheel estate fulltime with me as well. He comes with a ton of junk, like a basket of toys, a bed, a quilt, a blankie, a drawer of doggy sweaters, cabinets of food and treats. Sheesh.. if I got rid of the dog I would have tons of storage...

I have no trouble seeing out the windshield. My RV has 14 windows total, so I can see lots when parked or when driving.

One HUGE consideration is the type of places you like to go to. I love remote campgrounds, mostly state and national ones.  Many of these are not yet set up for big huge Class A's or the spots are few and require advance planning and reservations to grab the handful available for mega rigs plus toads.  Many gorgeous campgrounds still have old twisty dirt roads built when camping rigs were a lot smaller and a 30 footer was considered huge.

Just recently I went careening around for a month without reservations.  I was able to get into numerous old state and federal parks taking just about any spot available because I am only 28 feet long with no toad. I can do tight curves and fit in odd shaped lots, I don't need a pull-through-only that many require when pulling a toad and only planning to stay a night or two.

Some people need a ton of junk to live in an RV, others can get by on a lot less. I have friends who did 100,000 miles in a camper van (small Class B)  before they decided to sell and settle down.

Since I don't tow a car, I am able to stop on a whim to sightsee or shop or picnic. Even when I got stuck at the bottom of a hill on a dead end single lane road that had turned to dirt, I was able to make a ridiculous 12 point turn and get back out again.

My Class C is a 1994 but it drives really smooth and easy. I wanted the extra double bunk that came over the cab, so I would have two doubles. This has proved very handy time and time again.

Also since I didn't want the hassle of a toad, a Class C made sense for me.

Just my two cents...

It's an art to live efficiently without a ton of junk, but I am comfy and cozy with plenty of diversions.
 
Class A, more carrying capacity, and more cargo capacity. Just as easy to drive. Diesel if budget allows.
I just went from only c class to test driving to buy an A Gas.
The handling is actually easier on an A...turning radius was way way better then super C or C..I was surprised as I though ide hate it or it would be scary.
Huge window and high up you feel in control and safe....I felt safer then I did in the C's I've travelled with.
Wouldn't go Deisel yet though ...must be a gas A for me.
 

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