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I saw a 26' class A for sale today and am wondering what the basic differences are between a 26' A and a 26' C, besides the obvious shape differences. Is one easier to handle than the other, more reliable, better gas mileage, easier parking, etc, etc??? Any thoughts?

Barbie

One difference is how many people they sleep - Cs tend to sleep lots more people than As. As have better visibility while driving, or so many people say. Some A's allow the driver and passenger seats to turn around to make more seatin in the living area and they alsousually only have doors up in the driving compartment. Hope this helps.

A's often has more storage areas. So much depends on what level of C or A...some are entry level and others are very fancy or full of extra's pr just made with more detail. Really recommend that you find that RV show near you and wander around and imagine "you" living inside the spaces..... Sized of bathroom are not equal as well as other areas. Some individuals want/need more counter areas in the kitchen for their cook...as opposed to me who says "what cooking?" And even within the same "Class" the floor plan can make so much difference. Think about what type of camping you want to be able to do. Boondocking works betherr with tanks that can support you. Big long and/or tall rigs are more difficult to park in older state parks and national parks some time........The sites either are not large/long enough or wide enough to maneuver. And then there are the over head tree branched ready to reach out and grab you.......

An important difference for me was the width of the cab compartment. The driver is sitting in a different spot in an A, so it takes a bit of getting used to in order to judge the vehicle properly. Sitting in a C is just like driving a pick-up truck. Most A's are actually wider than C's, too. That little difference is quite noticeable when you go through narrow highway lanes with those cement barriers on both sides! Anyone who has been the passenger in an A knows the feeling of sucking in and leaning to the left because you feel so close to the edge!

If storage space is important, you can find a little or a lot in both classes. There are models with quite a bit of storage and others with practically none. As for length - the theory is "the back end will follow the front". The fun part comes when you are backing into a narrow campsite or from a single lane campground road. The longer the rig, the more you wish it folded in the middle! Wide turns - big tractor trailers have that sign on them for good reason! I've had both (and a TT). I liked the A's especially for long term use - more elbow room, more drawers and closets, quieter and smoother ride etc. but I love the C I have now for ease of handling and judging, never having a problem fitting on a site, yet I still have a ton of storage space. I don't know if I would like to live in her, but Beth's doing it in a "C" and a few others are in "B"s and they manage just fine. They just don't haul along extra chairs, folding table, spare extension cords, hoses, connectors, etc. like I do.

Just look, look, look at everything and decide what's best for you.

Okay, just know from the beginning that I am a partisan (note what I drive).

There are the obvious physical differences that others have pointed out. A Class C is a house built on a chassis designed for one of those delivery box trucks. An A has a chassis and suspension designed for the vehicle and weight carried. Any kind of wind (crosswind OR passing semi) would make my "C" rock and try to blow me into the next lane ("HOLY $#!+!!!"). In my A, a semi can roar past and I'll look over and say, "oh." I can be in a strong crosswind and hardly notice it. Again, it's about the chassis and suspension.

When I drove my "C," I had a foot of "house" hanging off of either side and I was sitting down low (like a pickup, as someone said) with a mass of RV above my head. I never really could judge my width or height. In my A I sit up high, can see the traffic far in the distance and have that beautiful big window to take in the world. I can look back and see the sidewalls of my A all the way back. I can feel where I am in the lane better. In my A I have a rear-view camera, so I can back and change lanes with more confidence and safety. Everyone should have one.

And (this is just me) I feel safer from intruders in my "A." In my "C," I knew that a slim-jim was all someone needed to jimmy open one of the cab doors. I have a dead-bolt in the door of my "A" and NO ONE is coming in if I don't want him to.

If you are choosing between rigs with slides / no slides ... choose the slides -- especially in the bedroom. The difference there is wardrobe space. In my "C" (no slides) I had two skinny little closets on either side of the bed. With my slide in the "A," I have a nice-sized closet and LARGE drawers. Just because I'm camping (HAHAHHAHAAAAA) doesn't mean I have to dress like it when I go into town ... or (wonder of wonders!) have a DATE.

Anyway, that's my take.

OK, I didn't like the A's and ended up with my 30' class C. I DID NOT like the huge cab area - felt like I had the whole road. The cab of my C feels and drives like a truck and my AC cools me comfortably whilst the A's have those extra fans facing the driver and passenger. The overhead on my C shields me from the sun while driving unless its setting which also keeps the cab cooler. A lot of the A's don't have a door by the driver and that makes me feel closed in. Af for jimmying the doors in a C, I doubt anyone is going to break in while you're in it and altho the door of the A may have a deadbolt the windows are easy picking. As for storage I have a lot of outside storage but not all C's do. Its strictly a matter of preference. As Tina said, find a show and look, look, look. Sit in the driver's seat (one A I sat in had the gas pedal offset to the right and was REALLY uncomfortable), lay on the bed, sit on the sofa, pretend to cook in the kitchen, sit on the potty, etc, etc. I kept going to look at my on the dealer's lot so much they said they were going to start charging me rent. I supposedly can sleep more people than an A my size BUT some of them have to be either children or short people. With my side mirrors I can see my entire length on each side, too.

BarbaraRose, all good points by users of the A & C RVs. I would state again to attend the RV shows and sit in as many RVs as possible and decide which type best suits you and how you plan to use it. Then go to a dealer and test drive that unit. Another point would be CCC, cargo carrying capacity. I don't think it is as evident on the A's, but some larger C's have very little. 800 lbs sound like a lot, but you have to realize that that is the weight BEFORE fluids (gas, water, etc.) food, gear and people. When added together, it gets used up quickly and the last thing you want to be is overweight. It's bad enough when we humans are. So much to think about and look at, but so much fun at the same time. Linda

OutandAbout wrote:BarbaraRose, all good points by users of the A & C RVs. I would state again to attend the RV shows and sit in as many RVs as possible and decide which type best suits you and how you plan to use it. Then go to a dealer and test drive that unit. Another point would be CCC, cargo carrying capacity. I don't think it is as evident on the A's, but some larger C's have very little. 800 lbs sound like a lot, but you have to realize that that is the weight BEFORE fluids (gas, water, etc.) food, gear and people. When added together, it gets used up quickly and the last thing you want to be is overweight. It's bad enough when we humans are. So much to think about and look at, but so much fun at the same time. Linda

I found a different definition of Cargo Carrying Capacity: The CCC is an RV's carrying capacity in pounds measured AFTER loading with full fuel, potable water and propane and 154 pounds times the number of sleeping positions.

Weights used to be a real issue with rigs. Many rigs stated weights BEFORE basics like the microwave, the AC and the awning. It was totally a crap shoot. In recent years legislation has mandated that it be realistic and accurate. You can usually find the weight statement on a decal inside one of the kitchen cabinet doors. They are supposed to be done for each individual unit. Whether towing or driving - being aware of weight is critical - and all those darned 'liquids' weigh a TON! Well, not quite literally, but darned near!

You guys are all so knowledgable!! I get such good and interesting advice and perspectives from everyone! I am learning a lot here and have a lot to think about as I look around. I will try to get to the RV show this weekend if I can get off work early one day. They don't have many used A's or C's tho, mostly TT's (at least on their web site), but those would still be fun and interesting to look at too. The big show at the Convention Center in Mpls is the second week of February and I will for sure go to that one.

Barbie