Buying a Motorhome ? It's All About Class

Many people rush into buying a motorhome, but this is not a good idea. For one thing, a motorhome is a major investment, second only to college tuition and housing. As you think about buying an RV, you should do a little homework because of the cost involved.

Learning about the nuts and bolts of maintaining and driving a motorhome is one of the best steps you can take while you decide whether or not you want to buy a motorhome.

Before going any farther, let's look at the first question you must answer: "Will I enjoy RV'ing enough to justify the cost of investing in a motorhome?" You need to discover the answer before putting any money down on an RV.

What's the best way to find out if owning a motorhome is what you really are cut out for? Here's a bit of sound advice --- rent one and take a vacation. By the time that vacation is over, you'll know if RV'ing is for you. Even if you only rent it for 4-7 days and take a short trip, you'll know whether or not you and your wife (if that is part of the equation) can handle driving and operating it, parking it, and whether or not it was as enjoyable an experience as it is cracked up to be.

Motorhomes come in three "classes" --- A, B, and C. Class A motorhomes are constructed in one of three ways. They can be constructed on a commercial bus chassis, a commercial truck chassis, or a chassis that has been specially designed for a motorhome. Class A motorhomes are also the largest sized vehicles of the three classes and can be 20-45 feet in length.

Depending on your budget, a Class A motorhome can be had for 50,000 dollars on the low end. If you have the ability to spend more, you can specialize your motorhome; be aware, though, that some customized RV's can raise the total to a million dollars. Even though many people will not go this route, it's good to realize the costs that can build up.

A Class B motorhome will most often be built on the chassis of a van. You might know that Class B RV's are usually converted vans which have undergone customization to lift the roof. You get a lot more head-room this way, and some folks can even stand upright in a Class B.

Class B's are usually designed for one or two people only and are great for a weekend up to a week in the outdoors. Prices have been known to be erratic on the Class B's but the average starting price is around $30,000

The Class C motorhomes are the final class we will consider. Usually, a Class C will be built on the chassis of a truck and the van will be joined with a cab section. This cab area can be based on either a truck or a van, with truck-based cabs leading the field.

The one characteristic that stands out about this class of RV is that they usually are constructed with a cab-over style in which one of the sleeping areas is placed. These motorhomes are oftentimes referred to as mini-motorhomes.

So that should give you a pretty good idea of the different types of motorhomes that are on the market. Good luck, and happy shopping.

About the Author

Keith Windlor knows much about motorhome sales and the details within it. Twenty years in the RV business credits him with expertise valuable to those who are buying a motorhome.

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