Well, all I can say is it's exhausting. It seems the demand is HIGH for short class c's with V10s on a 450 chassis. I even reduced our criteria and was looking at E350s. At least in the western US. Soooo, maybe I should expand my search to include short class A's (27 foot or less). We haven't driven a class A yet so I'd like some input before I start combing ads everywhere. I found an Itasca 26.6' and a flair 25'. Both have Chevy 454s. Wanted a V10 but don't think these were made with one. Will those pull off on dirt roads far enough to boondock. We are not looking to spend time in a lot of campgrounds, maybe occasionally. We love to just get on the back hiways and sightsee. Lots of mountain driving. Very few motels or eating places, hence the idea for an rv. Will a class A hold up to this? I couldn't find any info on the flair 25' chassis (454)for weights. Did find a little on the Itasca. Both have a rear bedroom we would have to "renovate" to put a larger than queen mattress in.
Most of you seem to have had both types of rv. What did you like or not like for boondocking.
thanks,
BlueFeather
I'm assuming you're thinking used? Lazy Daze makes an excellent small Class C for boondocking: Solar panels, big holding tanks, 450 chassis, V-10 (standard on the 27', optional for the 24'). I like my BF, too, but for boondocking, LD has it beat. Lazy Daze I do love my V-10!
2000 Born Free 24RB Class C
6.8L Ford V-10 Engine, E450 Chassis
2002 Honda CR-V toad
Roadmaster Sterling A/T towbar
VIP braking system
Eddyline Merlin kayak
I can't imagine a short 'A', being any more fragile than short 'c'. Perhaps a bit less Ground Clearance? But with a MH, you're not gong to get too far off the road without endangering the undercarriage on either one. For 'off road' they make speciality MHs and Truck Campers,w 4x4 suspension and clearance.
I think that you'll come to understand this more clearly, the first time you head 'off road' and it starts to get a bit rough. Ouch! The repairs mount quickly if/when you get a bit careless. Heck forget 'off road', the first time you pull into a driveway or gas station and drag the tail, it becomes very apparent.
RVs are like getting married. You may find 'The One',,, but most don't. So you keep trading.
Hoppe
2011 Dodge 1500 C'boy Caddy
2000 Jayco C 28' Ford chassis w V-10 E450
Doghouse 36' or so Trophy Classic TT
I am in a similar boat. Nobody in this part of Texas is selling shorter E450 Cs, except for a Sunseeker LE with the bed that splits in half on a Chevy 3500 van.
As for a short class A, I would take a gander at a Winnebago Via, although no place nearby me has them in stock (the Kerrville place has one on order.) The Via seems to be well made, although I worry about CCC because that is a lot of rig on a Sprinter based chassis. The fit and finish looks good though.
Most likely, I'll just wind up with a Sprinter based C. The resale value of those in this area is a lot better than the E-450s, and the gas mileage is a big sell point. Of course the downside is that it has so little CCC relative to a E450 based vehicle, and that a diesel generator is an expensive option. (A LP gas generator won't cut it for me, due to boondocking where finding propane is extremely hard to find.)
If all things were equal, I'd take a C over an A because Cs tend to have more places that can service the cab and chassis, while As tend to have to be fixed up at relatively few RV dealerships.
As for boondocking, it depends what I am doing. Since I'm going on relatively easy terrain where 4WD isn't that big a deal, the Sprinter chassis is just fine. If it were, I'd be looking at a Phoenix Cruiser with a 4x4 conversion that can handle rougher terrain.
After I do buy a MH, one of the first things I'm doing is slapping on some good 24 volt solar panels, a MPPT controller, and an inverter (if the rig doesn't already have one.) This way, with enough sunlight, the batteries can be topped off, and I can leave the heater on 40 degrees so the tanks don't freeze while I'm away.
Good info for sure. We are looking at used since our budget is less than 20K. I'm not thinking of taking one 4 wheelin but wanted to get off the highway for some sleep time and a meal. Just wondering how a class A would handle a little bit a dirt. Sounds like I might just have to keep looking for a C.
RVs are like getting married. You may find 'The One',,, but most don't. So you keep trading. That was funny! Been married to a wonderful man for 41 years so guess I did find "the one" in that category.
Looking new or used? We just purchased a Class C, Winnebago Aspect, Model 26A,
2008 from Lazy Days in Seffner, FL. (I believe LD also has a place out in AZ?)
Great floor plan (for us) and Ford E450. But it is low and I will have to be extra careful with towing the frog. But I don't think I would want to take it off road.
If you're willing to look outside of AZ, there are several used 24 and a few 22' Class C's in Washington state right now on Craig's list in the $15,000-20,00 range with the V10.
Also, you might check with Cruise America RV in Mesa, AZ they had a 24' 2006 on the E450 chassis as of 2 wks ago, I believe it had 88,000 on it.
We drove to Salt Lake City to find our 24 on the E450 with the V10 since they had none closer to us in WA state.
BlackFyre Farms-Belgian Tervuren,Laekenois & Arabian Horses make me
Bellingham, WA USA
applik wrote: Good info for sure. We are looking at used since our budget is less than 20K. I'm not thinking of taking one 4 wheelin but wanted to get off the highway for some sleep time and a meal. Just wondering how a class A would handle a little bit a dirt. Sounds like I might just have to keep looking for a C.
RVs are like getting married. You may find 'The One',,, but most don't. So you keep trading. That was funny! Been married to a wonderful man for 41 years so guess I did find "the one" in that category.
I saw you dancing out the ocean
Running fast along the sand
A spirit born of earth and water
Fire flying from your hands
In the instant that you love someone
In the second that the hammer hits
Reality runs up your spine
And the pieces finally fit
And all I ever needed was the one
Like freedom fields where wild horses run
When stars collide like you and I
No shadows block the sun
You're all I've ever needed
Baby you're the one
There are caravans we follow
Drunken nights in dark hotels
When chances breathe between the silence
Where sex and love no longer gel
For each man in his time is Cain
Until he walks along the beach
And sees his future in the water
A long lost heart within his reach
I feel your pain on looking for a Class C I did the same thing for a long time and ended up buying a rental,which worked out for me because of price and what my plans were for its use.I wrote about it HERE they also have Class A's
But onto your Question,about a small Class A. I owned one for 15 years and did 95 percent of our camping Boondocking in the deserts of Calif. and Mexico. All off road,sometimes way off.
In our group we all had Class A's mine was a Winnabego 26 ft.The others were Bounders and one was a Flair all were between 24 and 27 feet long.We found that the Class A was a bit more sturdier and had a little more ground clearance being that they were all made on a truck frame and had larger tires and wheels.Where as the Class C that one guy had was lower and of corse as all class C were on a lighter duty chassis.
All of them had the 454 chevy motors,not real good on gas but ours were older the newer ones have better trannys and get beter mileage. But would pull anything we decided to take to the desert or dunes to play on.
If I were to go back to that type of camping I would most likely look for a good used small Class A.
With your type of camping that you have planned I think it is dooable and as one that has been there, go for the rear bed it is nice to have one ready when you are.
Hope this helps and happy hunting.
2006 TIOGA 26Q CHEVY 6.0 VORTEC Recycled El Monte RV Rental
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