If you are looking for a comfortable vacation vehicle that comes furnished with everything and is easy to drive, your best choice would be a motorhome. There are so many things to love about RVs. For instance, they can carry many people at a time and give you the freedom to go wherever you want at any time. Not to mention, with everything all covered in one convenient location, you don’t have to worry about hotel rooms or plane tickets again.

However, with all the choices available to choose from including classes A, B, and C, how do you know which is the right option for you? Where do you even begin?

In this guide, we take a look at the two most popular classes of motorhomes in the RV world- Class A and Class C to help make your selection process a tad easier. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages but we will start by going over their main differences.

Key Differences To Note:

1. Size

The first major distinction between Class A and Class C motorhomes is the size. Built on an existing commercial truck or bus chassis, Class As are considered to be the largest motorhomes. In fact, most range in size from 21 feet to 45 feet. As such, they are exceptionally spacious with far more storage space and can accommodate up to ten people. Some Class A’s even provide slide outs to allow for more living space. However, the size of a typical Class A can be intimidating for first time RV owners.

Class C motorhomes, on the other hand, are built on large van or truck chassis with an attached cab section making them relatively smaller than Class As. They typically range in size from 21 feet to a whopping 35 feet. However, despite being smaller than Class A models, they provide enough storage and sleeping space for a couple or for families of four to eight people. Best of all, this model offers additional sleeping area above the cabin.

2. Driving

Motorhomes are designed to be easy to drive. However, considering the difference in size between A and class C models, there is a slight difference in how they drive. For instance, because of the large size of Class A motorhomes, maneuvering them through narrow roads and tight corners can quite cumbersome – not to mention the struggle of finding a perfect parking spot. However, if you’re patient and willing to learn, driving this RV model can turn out to be one of the most rewarding and pleasurable experiences you’ll ever undertake.

Class Cs, on the other hand, are easier to navigate especially on roads that are too narrow for Class As. In addition, parking the vehicle and finding camping spots is also not a problem thanks to its medium size. Nevertheless, with both models, you will need to practice things like highway driving and reversing prior to taking them on a long trip. This is because neither of the two performs exactly like a normal car.

3. Fuel Efficiency

With a bigger engine, heavier frame and large capacity, Class A motorhomes are generally costly to fuel. However, this might not be too much of a concern especially if you plan to use the vehicle for just weekend getaways within your state. Class C models, on the other hand, offer better fuel economy because of their smaller size. Fuel can still be a bit expensive when driving a C around though not as costly as that of an A model.

4. Amenities

Although the types of amenities available in both Class A and C differ depending on the manufacturer, Class A is considered to have more amenities than its counterpart because of its large size. It has nearly every amenity your home could possibly have including a king-size bed, master bedroom suite, full bath facilities, laundry machines, full-size fridge, and much more. Therefore, if luxury and an interior that resembles a home are what you’re after, a model A motorhome would be the perfect option for you.
As far as C models are concerned, they offer many of the same amenities as Class As including ample storage space and sleeping area. Like the Category As, they come fully equipped with all the basic amenities like a living room area, queen beds, kitchen, and bathrooms. However, only a few models have washers and dryers.

5. Price

The price difference between these two classes of motorhomes can be substantial. As you might imagine, category A vehicles are quite expensive depending on the brand and the level of luxury you opt for. The price can range from as low as $50,000 to $500,000 although you can always find a used model at a much cheaper price.

Combining the best features of As and Bs, model C motorhomes are relatively affordable. Their prices range from $45,000 to $200,000 depending on the floor plans, state of the vehicle and manufacturer. As such, they are a perfect option for people on a budget.

6. Maintenance

In addition to the higher initial costs of Class As, they are generally more expensive to maintain, repair and insure compared to their counterparts. With this particular motorhome, the engine is located partially in the doghouse and in front which makes repairs a nightmare. As such, most mechanics will hardly want to work on a category A model.

With Class Cs, the maintenance costs tend to be a bit higher but not as high as those of a Class A. This is partly because spare parts are relatively cheaper and finding a mechanic is easy. In fact, aside from RV specialists, any Ford dealer can repair your category C model because everything is easily accessible and looks familiar.

7. Safety

Both Class A and C motorhomes are designed with safety in mind. For instance, most Class A models utilize a sturdy fiberglass roof and up to eight seat belts for safety. How C models are safer especially when it comes to front impact accidents. This is because they have a large crash box in front designed to take the impact in case of an accident. In addition, they have airbags just like normal cars do, up to six seat belts and multiple entrances/exits compared to their category A counterparts.

Similarities Between These Two Classes:

Despite the many differences between these two motorhomes, they also share some similarities. To start with, both models are available in gasoline and diesel engine options. In addition, like the Class A, Class C models can tow a small car for day trips or running errands while camping. This allows you to explore the city with so much ease. As if that’s not enough, the two motorhomes offer a lot of sleeping and storage although Class A is exceptionally more spacious.

Class A Motorhome Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Boasts a kitchen that can rival that of traditional houses
  • Large with luxurious and comfortable living areas
  • Packs a lot of amenities
  • Perfect for people with large families
  • Can be used year-round
  • Some models have slide outs for extra space
  • Allows easy access to the kitchen, living areas and washroom while on the road

Cons

  • Expensive to buy, fuel, repair and insure
  • Not easy to maneuver
  • Accessing the engine is not easy

Class C Motorhome Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Easy to maneuver on the road because of its small size
  • Comes with all basic amenities
  • More affordable with better fuel economy
  • Easy for the driver to see what is directly in front of the vehicle
  • Offers a more natural driving feel for first time RVers
  • Has extra sleeping or storage area above driver’s cabin
  • Provides amazing family friendly floor plans
  • Servicing the motorhome is a breeze (both scheduled and emergency)

Cons

  • Limited exterior storage compared to Class As
  • Moving between driving and living areas can be a hassle

Conclusion

Overall, both of these motorhomes can be a pleasure to live in and drive. However, there are so many reasons to choose a Class C model including affordability and fuel efficiency. In fact, most first time RV families end up buying Class Cs. That said, if you prefer a life of luxury on the road, the best choice would be a Class A motorhome – any day!