How to Find a Class C Motorhome Suitable For Full-Timing

A class C motorhome is one with a cut-away chassis. That is, it starts with a truck cab that has an extended bed. The house portion is then built on that bed. You can recognize a class C motorhome by the overhang over the cab.

A common misconception is that a class C isn't as good as class A motorhome. This is completely false! The class C motorhome is a different type of RV that suits different needs and it has an equivalent range of quality. My Glendale Royal Classic is a high-end model with several high-grade features, such as oak cabinetry, an aluminum-frame construction, and house-grade plumbing fixtures.

A class C motorhome can be diesel or gas, and ranges in length from 16' to 31'. Some Super Cs, built on a heavy-duty chassis and with a diesel engine, can go up to 40' or longer!

Because of the cab overhang, the class C motorhome has more usable space than a class A motorhome of the same length.

Some RVers use that overhang as a storage area, but even more use it for sleeping, freeing up the rest of the motorhome for daily living!

If you have a class C motorhome with a rear bedroom and are willing to sleep in the overhang loft, then you gain a full room that will allow you to pursue your hobbies, work, or take your family on the open road.

Imagine these possibilities:

-Parents can sleep in the overhang loft while the children sleep in the twin beds in the rear bedroom;

-Parents can enjoy the queen bed in the rear bedroom while the children share the overhang loft;

-A mobile worker (me!) can have a dedicated sleeping space, a home office with a door that shuts at the end of the day, and a living area for spending the evening or entertaining;

-An amateur photographer can forgo a proper bedroom for a dark room;

-Avid quilters or model makers will find plenty of room to pursue their hobbies if they are willing to climb a short few steps to get to bed.

For families and single RVers, the class C becomes an obvious choice, and it can be a compromise for a couple.

The big disadvantage with most class C motorhomes is that, length for length, they have less carrying capacity than does a class A motorhome.

Sometimes called the payload capacity or net carrying capacity, cargo carrying capacity is the maximum weight of fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers that can be added to an RV without exceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The generally accepted figure is that the average full-timer requires 1,000lbs of carrying capacity.

Because of their chassis types, most class C motorhomes allow at most 1,500lbs of carrying capacity, and some much, much less than that. Rigs that are similar in appearance might have very different amounts of carrying capacity depending on their construction, such as if one has slides or not.

The other disadvantage of most class C motorhomes is that they are not suitable for very cold weather operation. This is because few class C motorhomes have an enclosed underbelly with heated holding tanks or dual pane windows.

Class Cs almost all have a universal problem: the overhang area often develops leaks. Some class Cs are especially prone to this and others have design tweaks that mitigate damage or eliminate the problem altogether. In the case of my motorhome, the aluminum frame did not wick moisture throughout the overhang, containing the leak to one easily fixable area (it really wasn't as bad as it looks!).

Finally, there is the stigma of owning a class C motorhome because there is the misconception that people buy a class C because they cannot afford a class A. The truth is that a high-end class C motorhome can cost more than an entry-level gas class A!

When shopping for a class C motorhome suitable for full-timing, keep in mind the reasons why you want a class C as well as their disadvantages. This makes it very easy to find a good unit that will be a comfortable full-timing home.

First, carrying capacity. The longer the class C, the less carrying capacity it will have. 31' models, while delightfully spacious, usually have very little carrying capacity, but there is the odd unit that has more than enough carrying capacity for a single person. Slides also drastically reduce a unit's carrying capacity. If you are willing to go with a slightly older unit that has no slides, you may gain hundreds of pounds of carrying capacity for the loss of a few square feet.

If you want to operate your class C motorhome in a cold climate, you will need to find a manufacturer that offers an arctic or polar package. Many Canadian class C motorhome manufacturers factor cold-weather operation into their construction. Another possibility is to add heating pads to the holding tanks and to apply insulating film to single-pane windows.

There is only one way to completely eliminate the risk of a leak in the overhang of a class C motorhome: by choosing a unit that has a solid fiberglass end cap instead of one that has seams. Such units are rare. The next thing to do is to choose a higher end class C that has an aluminum tubular construction instead of a wooden frame. This way, a leak would not wick the water through the entirety of the overhang, requiring a full replacement.

Finally, there is no way to deal with misconceptions about class C motorhomes, so you need to bask in the knowledge that you know something others don't know. It is easy to spot a high quality rig. Look for some of these features:

-full body paint on the exterior;
-residential-grade plumbing fixtures;
-solid wood flooring, cabinetry, and doors;
-larger capacity refrigerators and ovens.

Focus on finding a class C motorhome with good bones and then add extras rather than paying top dollar for a lower quality unit that has a lot of bells and whistles.

Motorhome manufacturers come and go, so it's important to remember that a quality used unit in great shape can be better value than a brand new unit from a lower end manufacturer.

Here is a list of some of the best class manufacturers, past and present:

-Lazy Daze is arguably the best class C manufacturer on the market today. Sadly, it is impossible to import their motorhomes into Canada!

-Thankfully Canadians have Triple E, still under operation today. They make a variety of very high quality motorhomes.

-Born Free is another great class C manufacturer that is not available to Canadians.

-Glendale RV, a Canadian manufacturer, has regrettably gone out of business, but produced some of the best class C motorhomes every produced in Canada with their Royal Class line. Used units are coveted and do not stay on the market for long! I full-time in a 31' model.

-Winnebago has a number of models suitable for full-timing. If I had not been able to purchase my Royal Classic I would most likely be full-timing in a Winnie Minnie.

If you're nervous about buying a used motorhome, check out the Used RV Buyer's Guide written by a seasoned RV tech who will help you find a great rig!