Class A RV Motorhomes: Why You Should Reject Class C RVs
I was discussing with some salespeople in the dealerships about the trends of the users. Which RV types are returned from buyers or which generate them “buyer remorse”. They said that usually, people with class C RVs will come to change it for a class A RV, after a few months, even paying the documentation fee and the registration again.
I was surprised because I think that class C RVs are great and are the best option for a family with a single kid. To this, these salespeople in the dealerships generally answered me something like this: “Well, not so sure. These families finally come after some months and say that the kid will have more space to play in a class A RV. They pay the difference in price, the conveyance fee, the registration, the plates, everything and they switch“.
First of all, before you switch from class C to class A motorhomes, you should first rent a class A RV, during a time period of no less than a weekend, and see if it suits your requirements.
To rent an RV, I will recommend you to use Outdoorsy because they have more RVs to search from because you can search by floorplan, and also because the local search by state or city is very accurate.
In this article, I will explain what is a class A RV, so you can skip the next paragraph if you already know this, and after this, I will go through each of the pros and cons of these motorhomes.
What Is A Class A RV And What Is Not?
As all the class A, B and C RVs are generically called motorhomes, in opposition to towable RVs such as the fifth wheel, pop up campers and travel trailers, I want first to do a quick distinction between these classes of motorhomes for sale before we describe the advantages of a class A RV models.
Your home on wheels come in two primary forms, first is a kind of trailer that has to be towed by truck or vehicle (like a travel trailer, a teardrop camper, a hybrid, a pop-up camper, and a fifth wheel) and the second variant has an engine built-in (as the class C RVs, Class B RVs and the class A RV). Each variation has its positives and negatives, its pros and cons.
When we talk about the motorhome, we are necessarily discussing the home on wheels with a dedicated engine built-in. It means that you cannot use the vehicle for other purposes, apart from RVing.
This comes at higher costs and some disadvantages in terms of flexibility, but it comes at much higher comfort as compared to the trailer option or the fifth wheel option. It is an RV that is always ready to go, with minimum preparations required. No worries about towing capacity or weight analysis. Motorhomes for sale of this kind, are the ones we discuss in this article, the large RVs with a built-in engine.
Class A RV Pros And Cons
Class A RV Models Can Accommodate More Passengers
These motorhomes for sale come fully equipped with luxurious features and comforts. They can fit 6,8, or even 10 people in some cases with their sleeping bags. Many of the Class A motorhomes for sale have their own separate master bedroom with sofas and dining sets that convert into beds. There are even some of these that include bunk beds in addition to the master bedroom. Their kitchens are well-built and also include large bathrooms.
Automatic Leveling
Automatic leveling is not the same as a stabilizer jack. Almost all class R RV models manufactured since 2019 have already a built-in automatic leveling system.
Instead, class B RVs rarely have. You will see that the Airstream Atlas has automatic stabilizers already as a standard feature. A stabilizer jack is not the same as an automatic leveling system but gets the Atlas well leveled.
For class B RVs you have an aftermarket solution for Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis from Equalizer Solutions that have an automatic four-point leveling system that does not require any frame alteration such as cutting, drilling, or welding. Any frame alteration will void the Mercedes Benz warranty, provided by this manufacturer.
For class C RVs, you have some RV manufacturers like Jayco that incorporated their automatic leveling system in a model like the Jayco Greyhawk.
These are exceptions because there is not too much space in the underbody to accommodate these systems without altering the structural frame of the class B or class C RV.
Without an installed aftermarket solution you will have to stabilize the RV manually using the trick I explained here with the cordless drill. Anyway it is too much time spent. Automatic leveling systems are a good benefit from the class A RV models.
Aerodynamics Comparison
Whereas a class A RV is very tall and has a flat front, the class A RV has the bunk above the cabin of the driver, called also alcove. Both shapes generate a huge air resistance and dragging and are bad in terms of aerodynamics. The consequence is the fuel consumption.
More Space In The Cabin For the Driver: The Doghouse
Of course that a class C RV driver´s cabin is as wide as in a class A RV. Nevertheless, you have actually less space in a Class C RV due to the space occupied generally by the engine cover, known in the RV industry terminology as a doghouse.
However, we must consider that diesel “pushers” do not have a doghouse, so this will not apply to those many Diesel models out there.
This also means that it is easier to move from the driving cabin to the living quarters just spinning the seat in a class A RV.
Large Capacity In Freshwater and Wastewater Tanks
Thanks to the larger underbody framework of the class A RV, the three tanks are larger in these models.
This is better if you do boondock or if you do not have available an RV dump station. It also allows you to have fresh water for more time. It is an important advantage for the class A RV models.
Air Conditioning
There are normally two RV AC units in class A RV models: one for heating and another one for cooling. This is enough for winter and for summer. Not a clear advantage for class A motorhomes here, as I found air conditioning in class C RVs quite well too.
Smooth Driving
Driving a Class A RV “feels” quite smoother in the road than the class C RV. That is what I feel and it is my own personal opinion.
Structural Framework Of The Class A RV
The shell of the class A RV is based on a long truck chassis. It is one single structure. Class C RVs instead have a chassis and no bed in the back. The bed is added during the manufacturing process. This means that the structural framework of a class A RV is superior.
Leakage In Class C RVs
There are problems reported in forums and by RV owners in campsites about leakage in the alcove or cabin-over area of the camper. They have to remove the molding and seal again using caulk. A good idea is to use a marine sealant model 5200 from 3M.
This frequent defect, of course, does not happen to appear in any class A RV.
Laundry Facilities
If you are interested in having a washer and a dryer or a combo of both in a single appliance, then there is an advantage for class A RV category here.
However, I think you do not need any dryer or washer in your RV. It allows you to have leakage and water damage issues. You have Laundromats everywhere and you can use the laundry facilities in the RV park.
In my opinion, this is not an advantage of a class A RV, because it is a feature that you do not need at all.
Smarter Floorplan: Driver Cabin And Living Quarters
The great advantage here for a class A RV. It is not only that the floorplan is larger in a class A RV. It is that the floorplan is also smarter.
The driver spins his seat and he is already part of the living quarters of the class A RV with his own chair.
In class C RV, there is a stronger division between the driver cabin and the rest of the living space. Here the driver is in a lower layer and separated from the rest of the living space by a wall.
Once you have parked and you leave the driver cabin, all this space is lost, while in a class A RV, the driver seat and the passenger seat just spin and this space becomes a living space until the departure.
Visibility For The Driver
The cabin over the driver´s seat, called alcove, is limiting the vision in the class C RV. Likewise, in a Class C RV, the shell of the living quarters is wider than the driver cabin.
There are a few class C RVs that do not have this large cab-over bunk, so this inconvenience will not apply to them.
Visibility is much limited in a Class C RV. In a class A RV, you are completely surrounded by windows. This enhances your driving experience and is a pro of the class A RV.
Depreciation
I have not found any difference in the slope of the depreciation curve between class A RV models and the class C RVs. RVs, in general, maintain a high residual value and no important differences in the comparison of the depreciation rate.
Length Of A Class A RV
You can see the difference in a Class A motorhome by the large size as some are as large as 45 feet such as the longest one that is the so-called “eleMMent RV”. However, the majority of these class A RVs are a bit less than 40´ long. With this length, they may be allowed to enter in most of the RV campsites.
On the other hand, class C RVs will have maximums of about 35´ and will also fit very well on all RV parks.
A Class A RV Is More Suitable To All Seasons
There are travel trailers that are completely all seasons like the Arctic Fox, there are Forest River models with extreme weather packages, and there are class C RVs quite good for the four seasons.
However, I see that only class A RV models have the waste valves and water lines and water pipelines embedded in an insulated cabinet. Instead, class A RVs and class B RVs have the water lines, namely the valves for dumping and the pipes of the water lines in the exterior, below the vehicle. Even if nowadays pipelines are built with more resistant materials, this is far from insulation and class C RVs cannot be completely all-seasons campers if they have this feature.
Motorhomes For Sale: Pros and Cons
Having a motorhome, what is here mostly a class A RV has many pros and cons. We have defined here the advantages and disadvantages of having a motorhome, instead of another type of recreational vehicles such as a travel trailer, a pop-up camper, or a fifth wheel, for example.
If you are not sure which form of mobile accommodation is right for you, you can also rent a travel trailer, a camper, or different RV types. You rent it for several weeks and reproduce the usage that the recreational vehicle will have for you. This will help you to decide. I do always that, I rent for several weeks the RV type I am interested in, then we know what to buy.
Buying a motorhome is always associated with high costs. Real bargain offers are not frequently found on the market. If the investment is worthwhile, then you should use the vehicle regularly – at least once a year. If you do not intend to, then it is worthwhile to rent a used motorhome. Then, after you decide, you can go with any of the motorhomes for sale in the marketplace, if a motorhome or class A RV is the right choice for you.
Why A Class A RV Is Better Than A Class C RV: Conclusions
A motorhome (class A RV, here we use them also as synonyms) is easier to drive: There is easier handling of the motorhome as it is all a single unit and you should not worry about the hitch, the towing capacity, or the camper weight at all.
A motorhome does not require an external power supply: It is not only easier to maneuver, but in most cases does not rely on an external power supply. In addition, freshwater and wastewater tanks are often integrated.
A team of cars and RVs is often more difficult to maneuver as if you have a pickup vehicle towing a popup camper. You just have to handle one vehicle, the motorhome.
These are the largest motorhomes for sale and they are built on a large chassis usually a truck or bus and the most economical of these vehicles on the road in terms of efficiency, runs on an 8-10 mile per gallon. These motorhomes for sale can range between $ 75,000 and up and are deemed as the most lavish of them all. They usually have more features and comforts than many first-class homes. Some Class A RVs are actually RV remodels, are bus conversions created for private use as homemade motorhomes.
Motorhome life is all about traveling freedom; it is about being at home while away from home. It is the way of carrying all the homely comfort with yourself and being independent of location. Simply speaking it is camping at a much comfortable and grander scale.
Camping is a good option at a certain age, but for family people or those who love the comfort and have the means to afford it, the motorhome is the way forward.
Motorhomes for sale of class A, are the best RVs money can buy; it is much more than a camping van. If camping van is a boat, then a motorhome is a luxury yacht that cruises on land. Old fashioned camping van, which is still loved by some adventure lovers is about carrying all the camping items in a truck and then unfolding them on the spot.
While motorhome, as the name says, has all the facilities on the wheels. There is not much to do after parking the vehicle. An ideal motorhome has bedroom, kitchen, automatic leveling, washroom, and even storage space. It has everything that you may expect in a home. Since buying a motorhome is quite like buying a furnished flat (a flat that can also move), thus choosing it is not easy. In fact, a considerable amount of choices of motorhomes for sale, only makes the task more difficult.
