Class A Motorhomes
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Class A Motorhomes |
The Class A motorhome, also commonly referred to as the conventional motorhome, is the largest, most luxurious of the motorized RVs -- a virtual "home-away-from-home" on wheels, fully loaded and equipped for short trips, lengthy vacations and fulltiming. The Class A is entirely constructed on a bare, specially designed motor vehicle chassis.
Size: 21 to 40 feet.
Cost:
- Average: $81,400
- Range: Prices vary greatly from as low as $50,000 to $500,000 new (some custom units sell for more than $1 million), $8,000 to $200,000 used, depending on make, size, amenities, age and wear and tear. (The high-end units costing hundreds of thousands of dollars tend to depreciate quickly and significantly, so if you can afford the price, it might be worth while to shop around for a used unit.)
Sleeps: Up to 10 people (depending on model)
Advantages:
- Class A motorhomes are spacious and available with every conceivable luxury found in RVs today including basement storage, washer/dryers, satellite dishes, VCRs, back-up cameras, hydraulic leveling, security systems, and even hot tubs.
- Another feature found on today's Class A motorhomes is the slideout. At the touch of a button, the slideout moves a portion of the RV's exterior wall outward as much as 3 1/2 feet to enlarge the living, dining, sleeping or even kitchen area. When extended, the slideout protrudes beyond the normal outside walls of the RV, like an addition on a conventional home.
- A properly loaded Class A motorhome provides a smooth ride for pleasurable long distance driving. Any experienced driver can take the wheel, and no special license is required.
- The Class A is an ideal vehicle for all-around family travel as the full living quarters, and all systems, are easily accessible and functional the entire time one is traveling. Passengers can enjoy reading, watching TV, snacking, playing video games or napping, and using the bathroom is readily available. Note: Passengers should be seated and secured by seat belts whenever the vehicle is in motion.
- Many RVers tow an automobile on the rear of large RVs to use for short side trips once they've reached their destination.
Disadvantages:
- If you don't have a motorhome parking space next to your home, you may need to rent storage space, especially if local ordinances prevent you from parking it on the street (of course, this isn't a consideration for fulltimers).
- If you plan to do a lot of traveling, especially for extended periods, you may need to purchase a vehicle to tow behind your Class A so that you can park your rig at a campground and use the smaller vehicle for sightseeing. Of course, this is an additional expense.
- Inexperienced drives are often intimidated by the size of most Class As.
Choose this Type RV If:
- You plan to do a lot of RVing;
- You will either fulltime, have a large family or a lot of friends you want to bring along on your trip;
- You or our your spouse/partner are big and need lots of space;
- You want all of the amenities and luxury;
- You can afford the initial purchase price, plus added fuel expenses;
- You are confident you can handle a full-sized RV.
