Class A Motorhome versus Class C Motorhome

Published: Thursday, July 26, 2007

Amidst our hectic daily lifestyle, short trips to places of natural beauty and quiet ambience are treats that most of us enjoy. Whether for short weekends or long vacations, for people who love spending their leisure hours traveling to different places, a recreational vehicle is one of the best investments to make. Considered in the past an exclusive privilege of the rich and elite, recreational vehicles have become, over time, more affordable and thereby, have come within the economic budget of almost all social classes. The modern day RV market is a $15.75 billion industry with number of RV owning households expected to grow by 8.5% by 2010. In order to suit the different requirements of different people, recreational vehicles are today manufactured in a variety of styles and structures among which travel trailers, fifth wheels, truck campers, tent trailers and Class A, class B and class C Motorhomes form some of the chief options.

Motorized and structured as compact, self-contained units, Motorhomes are, undoubtedly, some of the most useful and most popular of all recreational vehicles. In order to suit the budget, lifestyle and other preference factors of different individuals, Motorhomes are today designed as Class A, Class B and Class C units. Powered either by gasoline or diesel, Class A Motorhomes are some of the most luxurious and most expensive recreational vehicles you can opt for. In comparison, Class C Motorhomes are more affordable and more compact units specially structured to meet the needs of the budget traveler. While certain basic features are common for both Class A and Class C Motorhomes, each has certain distinct hallmarks of its own which should be kept in mind while making selection of either at a RV shop.

The basic difference between Class A and Class C Motorhomes is evident in their very structure and physical appearance. Whereas, Class A Motorhomes look like buses and have flat, vertical front ends, Class C Motorhomes are characterized by their cab over bunks and have a more truck-like structure. Most Class A Motorhomes range in length from 24 to 40 feet and can weigh anything between 15,000 and 30,000 pounds. Complete with elaborate living, dining and sleeping facilities, Class A Motorhomes provide you all comforts of home for suitable price rates. The bathrooms of Class A RVs are complete with shower and luxury bath facilities. If you want to enjoy home-made food even while on the move, the kitchens of Class A Motorhomes, fully equipped with the latest gadgets and appliances, enable you to do so with full convenience. Complete with air conditioning and heating systems, hot and cold water supplies, 100-125 volt electricity and dinettes and entertainment centers, Class A Motorhomes are designed to make your holiday travels as luxurious as possible. Capable of comfortably accommodating up to 8 people, Class A Motorhomes are available in a variety of floor plans and range in price from anything between $50,000 and $300,000. The most luxurious of all Class A Motorhomes and diesel pushers can cost you as high as $325,000 to over a million.

The biggest advantage Class C Motorhomes have over their Class A counterparts is their affordable cost. Usually ranging in size from 20 to 44 feet, Class C Motorhomes are comparatively lighter with weight ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 pounds. Because of their compact structure, with a cab –over unit that can be used both as an additional bedroom and storage area, Class C Motorhomes are perfect for small families going on short vacations. These recreational vehicles are also provided with comfortable kitchen, dining, bathrooms and living areas. Complete with entertainment facilities and air conditioning and heating facilities, no matter what time of the year you are planning to go for your family vacation, Class C Motorhomes will enable you to enjoy your trip to the fullest. In order to cater to a wide clientele, Class C Motorhomes are designed today in a variety of floorplans. If in some of these models, the dinette is not present, you will usually find sleeper couch and captain chairs in its place. Whereas, in Class A Motorhomes, the interior design is elaborately structured with spread out luxury furniture, in Class C Motorhomes, in order to maximize space utilization, multi purpose furniture are frequently used. Dinettes converting into double beds and vice versa exemplify the same. Whereas, Class A Motorhomes are characterized by their spacious structure and exclusive luxury facilities, Class C Motorhomes, because of their cab over structure, can accommodate a larger number of people. This plentitude of sleeping space is one of the main reasons why Class C Motorhomes are today one of the favorites of families on getaway weekends. Irrespective of whether you select a Class A or Class C Motorhome, both provide you slide out facilities, by means of which, you can expand the outer walls of the RV and thereby, increase the internal floor space. Another chief advantage that Class C Motorhomes enjoy over Class A recreational vehicles is their adaptability in terms of size. Many camping grounds and recreational parks today have specific limitations as far as entry of recreational vehicles in concerned. As Class C Motorhomes are comparatively smaller in dimensions, they can fit into most of these RV grounds. For this reason, you get to choose from a wider variety of vehicle models while purchasing Class C Motorhomes. However, one of the main factors to be kept in mind while going for a trip in a Class C Motorhome is that as they are structured on a truck frame, these vehicles have specific load bearing capacities. At the same time, if the Class C vehicle is too long, it becomes difficult to maneuver it while traveling on highways. For this reason, it is best to select a moderately sized vehicle and travel light while vacationing in Class C Motorhomes.

Before investing your money in purchasing a brand new Motorhome, it is often a good idea to rent different models and find out which one suits your lifestyle and living requirements best. Class C Motorhomes are available for rent in most cities today. By venturing to travel in one during your weekend getaway, you can easily get acquainted with the inner mechanisms of the vehicle and find out how well it suits you and your family’s needs.
 
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