Hello everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster. Not sure where to post this but I need some advice. Family of five, 3 kiddos (ages 13, 10, 7) and love to RV. Started out with an 88 Bounder that we purchased with another family to see if RV'ing was right for us and it became immediately apparent that our family was meant for life on the road. Sold the Bounder for a 28' travel trailer, then eventually moved on to a 36' fifth wheel.
Sold the fifth wheel about 4 years ago because I decided to go back to school full time to obtain my masters. In addition, I was working 2 full time jobs which involved a bit of traveling. Anyways, things are calming down a bit and would like to get back to what's most important: family time. After much thought, past experience, and research, it was decided that a class c would best fit our families needs. We rented several models and narrowed it down to a few models/styles.
Well, just found out that my father in law has decided to sell his 36' Sportcoach with 2 slides and Cummins 300 diesel. It's in great shape but not sure if it would be an ideal fit for us. We were looking at between 26 - 28' class c, utilizing the overhead bunk, dinette, and couch for the kiddos to sleep on. With the a, two kids would have to share the dinette and one on the couch. Overall space would be better in the a, better gas mileage, and towing a toad would be easier? Thought was that the class c would be easier to get into some of the older parks and overall cost of ownership would be lower? A used class c would be cheaper but supposedly, we would be getting the "family" discount with the a. Either way, we would be paying cash so that would be a moot point.
Thanks in advance for the advice!
05' Coachman Cross Country 354 MBS
Beautiful wife, 3 wonderful children, and 1 fat beagle
Not sure but once heard a Class A owner say that no matter how big a Class A is, they are really best for just 2. Our son has a 36 ft. Class A with 2 teens and it is OK but having to transform the couch into a bed every night isn't ideal. They just couldn't find a used Class C they wanted. Actually, I'm not sure any RV is really going to be comfortable for very long with a family the size of yours but good luck.
We recently traveled with three teens in a class C, and really had no troubles. It was cramped at time, but not overly so. That being said, a bigger class A would have been far more comfortable. If I had the choice, the class A would win hands down. In the long run, seems to me that any perceived savings you might have in the class C would be trumped by the space and comfort of the class A you described.
Class C has the queen bunk in front. You can get a Class A with 2 bathrooms. Class A tends to have more storage.
I've had both. I still go to RV shows and look at the new Cs with double slides and think they would make a good next MH.
It really depends on finding the BEST floorplan to meet your family needs.
Happy Trails.
Just remember the kids will grow up and be gone. Buy what you like best.
1990 GEORGIE BOY 28' 454 4BBL, TURBO 400 TRANS, Thorley Headers B&M trans cooler. Auto meter hooked to output of trans. Flowmaster mufflers recurved distributor Still Keepin on Truckin((((Was 7.5mpg Now 8.75mpg ))))
..With 3 kids, a Class C with the bunk up front, and 2 more bunks in the back across from the bathroom would work well. That way, everyone would have their own 'space', and there would be no making sofas and dinettes into beds.
Only thing is, with 5 of you in a class C, its going to get crowded. Could have weight and storage space concerns, too.
You might be better off looking for a Class A that has bunks. Only problem there is, most Class As that have bunks only have (at most) 2 of them, so you're still going to have at least one of your children sleeping on a sofa or dinette.
If you could find a Class A with the 2 'hallway' bunks, AND has a pull-down bunk over the cab, that'd be perfect. Not sure if anyone makes one like that, though?
'Brian in Michigan' makes an excellent point, also, and is one of the reasons we chose an A over the C.
Will & Angela
2 children that love camping, Stephen & Allison
2012 FR Georgetown 351DS on F53 (V10) Chassis Our Rig
Welcome to RV.net! We travel with four kids in an older Class A (no slide outs) and love every minute of it. At 37 feet I have not found a park yet that we can't get into. I think you would love the extra space you would have in the Sportcoach verses the Class C. Don't worry about the bedding situation for the kids - their young and will enjoy it regardless of they bed down. And if they don't care for their sleeping buddy then offer them a tent!
We bed two kids on the fold-out sofa and the other bed down on pads on the kitchen floor (we don't have the dinette) - we fold and store the dinning chairs and they throw sleeping bags on the pads on the floor. Its the experience they always remember! Our kids are 16, 19, 22, & 24 and still traveling with us when school allows.
Your kids will love the travel regardless of which motorhome you choose so choose which personally fits you the best.
Enjoy!
Jeff, Leslie & 4 wonderful kids
2000 Allegro Bus (37,000 miles)
1994 Fleetwood Southwind (212,000 miles and going strong!)
F-53 Chassis, F-460 (Original and nothing special!)
22' MacGregor, Hobie 16, Sunfishes
we have a 40ft 2 bath class a. both couches become beds and a queen in back. we never travel with less than 4 and have had as many as 6 adults for an extended vacation. we used a blow up bed in the kitchen that deflated every night. we would not trade our a for a c. i do believe the two bathrooms make a bigger deal than the bedding. in either the a or the c with more than 4, two sets must sleep together(unless you use a blowup bed and then the a is the only choice). so if the kids get along and the weather co-operates get what you like and can afford and you'll be happy
We are also a family of five, although the kids are a little younger (ages 3, 6, and 7). We had our C floor plan all picked out and were checking out a few models at a few dealerships when we discovered the Fleetwood Storm 32BH. It soon ended up in my rv.net signature. The biggest selling points were the cabover bunk that drops from the ceiling, the bunk beds in the hallway, and the roominess of the class A cockpit (I had a tight fit in the class C cabs as I'm 6'5" and need legroom to last on long trips).
Steve -- Murphy, TX
2011 Fleetwood Storm 32BH (2011 Ford F-53 V10)
2006 Honda Odyssey toad, Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar, BrakeBuddy, cute decorative lights in the shapes of peppers and RVs, one lovely wife, and three little kids
If you can get by with the class a for a few years, the kids will probably want to be in their own tent soon.
Parents who still don't know anything
Twin college graduates who know everything
One lazy Westie
2000 F350 DRW 7.3 PSD crew cab
2007 Jayco Eagle 291 RLTS
2003 Coleman Sedona towed by 99 4Runner for the "graduates"
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