by During your search for the perfect RV you may have ran across a few Class C motorhomes. Like any other RV there are pros an cons for each, for us the pros far outweighed the cons for our family of five, having the ability to have our children comfortably spread around the RV while driving was a major plus for us.
Class C motorhomes range from 16 feet all the up to 34 feet in length but typically you see the rolling around at lengths of 26-32 feet.
Their design is much different than that of a Class B or the big mighty Class A RVs. This class is typically made on a heavy duty truck frame like a Ford 350 or 450 sub-frame.
In this class your options start to open up to more comfortable and enhanced options like the choice between a gas V8 or V10, to a Diesel powerplant. Most Class C motorhomes are sat in a dually configuration with dual rear wheels and are typically rear wheel drive, you can however find 4X4 options if you plan on going off road. In this class you start to see much larger living spaces and a plethora of floor plans available to you. The most popular floor plans would be a bunkhouse layout that is designed to offer the most sleeping quarters for people with large families or want to have the ability to host many people during their trip. We opted for a more open floor plan where the living space is much larger, but beds would need to be converted from the couch, dinette, and using the above cab sleeping areas.
Characteristics of a Class C Motorhome
Size
When deciding on the perfect RV size is a major factor for just about anyone. Class C RVs have a much larger size than a Class B but not typically as large as a Class A. With the larger size comes the weight of the vehicle, personally I welcomed the added weight it really did help with a smoother ride. Many Class C motorhomes weigh over 10,000 lbs depending on length and number of slides.
The material of the living area is mostly comprised of fiberglass and wood, some of the more high end models can have a metal shell like the driving section of the vehicle.
A class C also generally has more room for passengers and more sleeping options than a class A does. This is especially important for large families going on road trips where extra guests won’t be able to just sleep outside in a tent.
Shape
Class C motorhomes can be easily recognizable by their popular “over cab” design although there are other options available this design is most likely the most widely recognizable.
The cab over design can have multiple uses such as added storage or sleeping quarters.
Options
When it comes to options the sky is the limit, you can have just about anything you want in a Class C RV. Options include but are not limited to:
- Multiple water storage tanks
- Blindspot monitors
- Automatic leveling system
- Multiple slide outs
- Outdoor entertainment with outside TVs
- Always on rear camera
- And much much more
With all the options available you can find the one that fits you and your needs perfectly
Water Storage
In the smaller Class B motorhomes water is at a premium with holding tanks typically under 20 gallons, but in a Class C the average tank size is 40-65 gallons of fresh water, and an average of 25 gallons of black water storage and 25 gallons of grey water storage. With the larger tanks you can extend your stay when boondocking in particular.
Slides
Even with the much larger living space in a Class C some can be equipped with one large slide that measures the entire length of the RV or can have multiple slide outs to maximize space. below is an example of the living space with a living room slide open.
Towing power
With a larger engine and enhanced suspension Class C RVs typically can tow 3,500 lbs with a gas engine and well over 8,000 lbs with a diesel engine. The downside to a Class C is you cant just unhook a truck and drive it around like in a standard towable RV, but you have the ability to tow along the family sedan so you can have more freedoms at your destination.
If you aren’t sure how to find out what you can tow, take a look at “How much can I tow” for an in depth detail on towing ratings and how to understand them
Ride Quality
Lets face it, an RV drives like an RV its not a crazy quiet ride like in your family car and there will be squeaks and rattles as you drive down the road. Some models can be equipped with air ride rear suspension to not only help level the rig while driving but can be customized to have a smoother ride. There were two options I was insistent on when purchasing our RV one was the automatic leveling system (highly recommended!) and air ride suspension.
Visibility
During our 3 month cross country trip I did notice that you do have a lack of visibility while traveling down the road. Since there really isn’t a rear window to look out of, maneuvering on a freeway can get a bit tricky, just make sure your tow mirrors are properly set so you can see all sides of your vehicle “Better Rving” has a great video on YouTube that really goes into detail on how to set your mirrors (see video below)
Our Sunseeker came equipped with a tow camera that is always on so I can see whats behind me at all times, I didn’t know it when we bought it, but this is one of those things I’m glad we have.
Price and upkeep
New class C motorhomes can range widely from 50k to well into the 6 digit range for the more high end models.
Upkeep isnt much different than your typical trailer type of RV, just has the added maintenance needs of a vehicle.
Simple maintenance needs like:
- Oil changes every 5,000 miles
- Fluid checks and changes every 30,000 miles
- General vehicle upkeep.
Class C motorhomes also tend to have engines that are easier to work on. This applies to mechanics and even DIYers. In fact, you can buy gasoline powered class C motorhomes and you won’t see much difference between their engines and the engines you’d find on your truck.
The wooden frame is also easier to work on for DIYers. If you need to fix the living area of your Class C motorhome you won’t have to learn how to work with metal as you would with a class A motorhome.
Conclusion
As an owner of a Class C Motorhome I have to say that it is a perfect fit for our family, we are able to travel the country without having 3 kids crammed in the back of a truck, like you would in a towable RV. Being able to pull over and make lunch without having to pull everyone out and setting up a quick camp was also a major plus.
When choosing what the best RV for you is you have to consider how you plan on using it, if you want something small and easy to move then a Class B motorhome may be best for you, if you know you want a trailer then maybe a pop up or a travel trailer may be better suited for you.
When we first started going out in our RV I have to admit we were hesitant and not quite sure what to expect, but once we felt the freedom of the open road we were hooked and wondered, “why didn’t we do this sooner.”
Go out and find your adventure.
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