I'm looking at several possibilities to purchase a used motorhome. I plan to take a 3000 mile trip this spring. I'd like to stay at $10,000 and under and buy something this winter. I have a couple of questions.
1) Is there much difference in gas mileage between an A and a C?
2) At what mileage does the engine and transmisson typically start needing work. I realize that it's based on maintainence.
1997 Forest River Sierra 30rkss 5th wheel
2000 Ford F250 XLT,7.3 diesel 4x4, long bed, 158" wheel base, super cab, 6 speed manual transmission, 4wd manual hubs,
2004 Toyota Prius Hybrid WA License VOLTWGN
I all has to do with several factors.
1. Weight - the heavery the more it cost.
2. Year and model of engine.
3. Driving habbits.
I've had "C"s get less then my present "A". But for the most part, a small "C" will get 1 to 5 MPG better. Some supper "C" are at the end of power band, so tend to suck down the juice pretty good.
My present rig, a F-53 with a weight of 18,000 lbs loaded runs 9 - 11 MPG depending on the wind, and hills. and how heavy my foot is that day.
I rarely go over 65 and tend to hang around 60/62. JM2C Bill
We had a 1988 Type B MH 17' that weighed 8,800#'s. Ford 350 chassis with 460 and TT towing package. Even after adding a Gear Vendors OD unit we never averaged much over 9 MPG.
Unfortunately I don't remember what our '97 Type C 29' MH got. (Ford 460)
Our '98 Santara 35' double slide 460 with Banks got about 5.5 to 6.5 mpg.
Our 2000 39' DSDP on FL chassis with CAT 3126 I never worried about much, at that time I made enough that it didn't matter!!
Our present 41' DSDP on Spartan Chassis gets 7-8 MPG.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'08 Honda Civic/dolly
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
NRA Benefactor Life Member
FMCA f47302s, Life Member: Good Sam, Newmar DP Owners Group
51st yr of RV'ing
Well, it expensive either way you go. Either the gas will kill your wallet, or the repair bills will also, or both. Why don't you just keep what you already have. Your not going to get even close to what you are getting right now. As far as your price range goes, $10,000 dollars is going to buy you someone elses problems. Why do you think they got rid of it, if it was such a good RV? Think about that one for a while. I know people do trade up, but your average person will keep what they have, if they are happy with it, and is free of problems. If you are serious, about getting one, please spend what ever it costs, and have a real Mech take a look at it, and check it out. And make sure, that you have him run a compression test on the motor. From what I have seen, a Class C or a Class A in that price range, isn't even worth looking at. Better up your price range quite a bit, if you really want something that will last for a while, before it nickles and dimes you to death. Good Luck. Happy Camping, Dan & Jill
1997 Ford F-250, H.D. Extended-Cab, Short Bed, 7.3 PSD, K&N Air Filter, 5000 lbs air bags w/on board compressor w/guage, SuperChips Tuner/Programer. 1996 Nash 24fter 5er, 15K "Lil" Rocker Hitch w/BedSaver, Twin EU2000i Gen's W/Kit. Nam-Vet, 33 Months.
harrisg>>> I see on your profile you have a diesel truck and FW, do you still have it, if so and you are going on a 3000+ trip soon your best fuel mpg will be with that set up over a class C or A, however a motorhome is funner to travel in over pulling, done both and prefer my small class C over a TT or FW, but gas mpg is not always as good unless you get a diesel motorhome in a small package like 23-27 ft, do stay with a newer motorhome with fuel inject and overdrive trans, my 79 Dodge rv with just a 3 speed and upgraded fuel inject only gets 8-9 mpg at 65+ mph and 10 mpg at 55 mph and its only 23 ft long.
* This post was
edited 10/19/07 03:02pm by timmac *
Here's our experience to answer your first question. We have a 33' 2000 class A Landau that gets just barely over 10 mpg. On our recent trip to AK we rented a 2008 22' class C - it got just about .1 mpg less
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