Class A or Super C

[Steve S]

Hello Everyone,

Trying to decide on a Class A or Super C. Any and all input is appreciated.

[Camper_bob]

It's a somewhat personal decision IMHO. Personally, I would go with a Super C.

A significant reason for that involves safety (which is one of the reasons I went with a Class C as opposed to an A when I was choosing my current rig). With a Super C, you have a real chassis out in front of you with crumple zones, and potentially air bags as well. In a Class A, you have fiberglass, glass, maybe a little metal. In a front-end collision, I would take the safety attributes of a Super C over an A every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Then there's the hauling and towing capacity variance. Super C is going to have A LOT more towing and cargo capacity than a gas Class A (not talking about a pusher, that's a whole different ball of wax).

Also, most Super C chassis these days are equipped with a diesel engine, which is a nice advantage in a lot of circumstances. It also has its disadvantages though. This somewhat depends on how much you will use it, and what you'll use it for, and where you'll use it. Going through the mountains, I'd choose a diesel Super C over a class A. Using quite frequently (not sitting in storage as much), I put the advantage to Super C. Towing a trailer or heavy toad; advantage Super C.

Super C rigs tend to handle better than Class A rigs "out of the gate". You can modify and improve Class A chassis to handle well, but the Super C is "more" ready to go right when you pick it up.

And there are floor plan considerations as well.

Personally, I intend for our current Ford chassis Class C to last us until we purchase our "retirement" rig. If I were shopping that rig today, my 2 categories would be Super C or 5th wheel towed by a diesel truck. We intend to use the HECK out of our RV in retirement. But that's 15 years away, so who knows what the world will look like then...

If budget had allowed, I'd have been in a Super C 3 years ago when we purchased our Greyhawk.

[Steve S]

Bob,

Thanks for taking the time to write your comments. I share a lot of the same point of views as you. Especially the safety issue.

[SloPoke]

Check out these discussions:
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...s-a-72108.html

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...s-a-44415.html

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...r-c-29951.html

[craigav]

I don't have either so... take my thoughts with a grain of salt. However, given the choice I would prefer a Super C as you are getting the chassis and cab from a truck company that specializes in them. I would have to verify, but just from looking I would have to believe that the Super C's are better built mechanically speaking and stronger overall, likely will last longer as well... but what do I know so my comment is simply an opinion. lol ~CA

[asolarrv]

We have decided on a used class C or a truck conversion, and will probably buy in the next 6-9 months. We believe there will be a lot of buyers remorse in people who bought last year in the beginning of this pandemic.

In our opinion the class As have more room than the Super C or truck conversion but there is one benefit to the Super C and truck conversion. That benefit is the maintenance and availability of service centers.

We owned a small Class A that was actually pretty maintenance free. However, the few times it did need maintenance proved to be an issue. There are not that many RV repair shops in my area. The wait to get in was long. When I learned the Super Cs and truck conversions were very welcome at any truck repair center on the Interstates, my interest peaked. When I looked very close at larger class As, both diesel pushers and front engines, the access and space to the engine was limited. When I compared that access to the much more accessible engine compartments of the Super Cs and truck conversions, I was sold.

[craigav]

On another related thought, I would rather be in a Super C than a Class A if I was ever involved in a bad accident. Similar with my Class C, the cockpits are more rigidly safety tested and therefore a safer cockpit to be in vs a Class A.

[Steve S]

Thanks for both of your responses. Appreciate you taking the time

[DonC757]

Class A’s have so much more usable interior room and way bigger basements. I like to take stuff with me when we camp-the tiny thin basements on most class C’s would never work for us. I drool over the full pass-through basements on diesel Class A’s. Also, far better visibility for everyone inside when driving an A. I’ll take an A over a C anytime. RVs have very low accident rates - that’s why they are so cheap to insure compared to a car.

[RPR]

What ever fits your life style. Traveled a lot on trips with my wife’s sister and brother in law in their Class A. It fits their life style great. They have two dogs. They spend a lot of time inside so with a couple traveling with them room is important. We bought our 2018 Class C Jayco Greyhawk 31DS three years ago. Perfect for us. We spend very little time in it at a campground. We can get into places that a Class A can not due to the length restrictions at some campgrounds.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by DonC757

Class A’s have so much more usable interior room and way bigger basements. I like to take stuff with me when we camp-the tiny thin basements on most class C’s would never work for us. I drool over the full pass-through basements on diesel Class A’s. Also, far better visibility for everyone inside when driving an A. I’ll take an A over a C anytime. RVs have very low accident rates - that’s why they are so cheap to insure compared to a car.

One issue that is mentioned in evaluations of A’s over C’s is crash survivability in the two. There is nothing in an A to stop what comes at you in a head on or near head on. They generally rate low in that category.

[EA37TS]

The original;l question was Class A or Super C. There is a lot more difference in a Class A compared to a Class C than there is to a Super C when you talk about interior space and exterior storage.