The more I look, the more options I come up with. Initially we were of a mind that a 5er was the way to go for us. I wanted to maximize our living and storage space, but the units that interested us were all behemoths, and I wanted to keep the overall footprint somewhere between 32' & 34'.
So I decided against owning a large tow truck along with a smaller tag-along vehicle, and became interested in Class A diesel pushers. They're rather expensive. But lately, (in the course of my studies) I've been looking at various Class C configurations in the 34' neighborhood, and the one thing that most of them have in common is the cab-over bunk bed with a small TV. Since it will just be me and my wife, I would have no use whatsoever for this extra bed, especially since all of them also come with living room / dinette convertible sofas.
Anyway ... I was wondering if anyone has seen or owned a Class C that utilizes the overhead space above the cab strictly for storage. I know that you can use the bunk area for storage, but I'd really like more of a dedicated set-up with cabinets, shelves, drawers, etc.
Links and pics would be much appreciated.
-- Edited by Mark V on Saturday 15th of February 2014 11:50:43 AM
Bill and Linda said
11:56 AM Feb 15, 2014
A thought: Be careful putting shelves or cabinets in the front of a Class C and then filling them with potentially heavy contents. I’m not saying you will, but you could overload the front axle of the Class C.It just depends on the unit in question, how much cabinet weight (wood?) is installed and also the stuff those cabinets contain. Check it out. Might work out just great weight wise – might not.
Mark V said
12:04 PM Feb 15, 2014
The Class C's that I'm interested in are all pretty much HD units with 300+ hp diesels and 10,000 towing capacities (just in case;). These larger, heavier rigs, (as opposed to ones built on Ford or GM 3500 foundations) look to be able to carry the load up-front, but I would have to check further into it. I like the International rigs, and would be interested in a Freightliner too, if they're available.
Bill and Linda said
12:08 PM Feb 15, 2014
Mark V wrote:
The Class C's that I'm interested in are all pretty much HD units with 300+ hp diesels and 10,000 towing capacities (just in case;). These larger, heavier rigs, (as opposed to ones built on Ford or GM 3500 foundations) look to be able to carry the load up-front, but I would have to check further into it. I like the International rigs, and would be interested in a Freightliner too, if they're available.
Different conversation. Indeed they would.“Class C” covers a lot of vehicles from Econoline frames to, as you say, HDT based units.Not an issue with the latter.
Mark V said
02:23 PM Feb 15, 2014
As much as I personally, would like to go, "small" (24'?), I have to take my wife into consideration, and downsizing will be hard enough for her even if we moved into a smaller S&B, let alone an RV. So I'm looking to get as big as I can with the smallest footprint possible. This means slide-outs (multiple, if possible) along with optimal utilization of every square inch of space.
And from what I've been reading on this forum a smaller rig gives you more options, insofar as camp-sites and RV parks are concerned. I'm going to take my time, and factor in any and every variable, including initial cost, maintenance, depreciation, fuel consumption, ease of maneuverability, and self-sustainability for when we go boondocking.
One benefit of forums like this and blogs is that instead of using the "Trial & Error" method; purchasing 2 or 3 RV's before finding something that works for us, we can read about other people's experiences, and use the wisdom and knowledge of the thousands of folks who have already, "been there ... done that". I know it's not the same as first hand experience, but it's a huge, "leg up" compared to the way that newbies had to gather information prior to the internet.
-- Edited by Mark V on Saturday 15th of February 2014 02:34:14 PM
-- Edited by Mark V on Saturday 15th of February 2014 02:37:02 PM
Terry and Jo said
06:20 PM Feb 15, 2014
Mark,
I don't know what for sure you want, but Genecop may be helpful. They have a Super C model built on the Class 8 truck frames. I'm thinking it was on the forums here somewhere that he posted a bunch of photos of his rig, and if I remember right, his is a toy hauler. Also, he can tell you more about good Super C models.
Other "C's" that one could look at would be like the Nexus and others like them. Nexus RV apparently may be able to do both "regular" Class C's as well as Super C's.
Terry
Mark V said
06:33 PM Feb 15, 2014
Thanks Terry:
I've looked at the Nexus line and they're sweet. Thor also makes a Super C that's a little cheaper, but comes with all the bells and whistles. I was thinking that since they do a lot of customizing in the RV business, I could probably get a manufacturer to option us a dedicated storage area in the cab-over berth. That is if I buy new, which is still a huge decision to be made. Then again ... who says that I couldn't get a used rig customized for a reasonable price?
bjoyce said
07:27 PM Feb 15, 2014
We have been out looking at Class C and B models with my mother-in-law.
We definitely saw many Class Cs with cab-over storage instead of a bed. But, we were not looking at Super C's. We were looking at 31' and shorter gas a Sprinter (Mercedes diesel) ones. But, you can look at shorter ones to get ideas on how you would customize that area.
Mark V said
08:39 PM Feb 15, 2014
Thanks Bill:
We can't wait until it thaws out a bit so we can go to a few RV shows and maybe visit a factory or two. They had the Chicago RV show here last month, but with the -20' temps, non-stop snow, and the attendant gridlock, we didn't feel like going. Also, it was inside and didn't have anywhere near the numbers or varieties of vehicles that you'd normally see at an outdoor facility.
Bill and Linda said
11:09 AM Feb 16, 2014
Terry and Jo wrote:
Mark,
I don't know what for sure you want, but Genecop may be helpful. They have a Super C model built on the Class 8 truck frames. I'm thinking it was on the forums here somewhere that he posted a bunch of photos of his rig, and if I remember right, his is a toy hauler. Also, he can tell you more about good Super C models.
Yep, that’s correct.A beautiful rig with a garage in the back for a Smart.Seen it in person and it’s really cool.Great resource.
Mark V said
11:27 AM Feb 16, 2014
Bill and Linda wrote:
Terry and Jo wrote:
Mark,
I don't know what for sure you want, but Genecop may be helpful. They have a Super C model built on the Class 8 truck frames. I'm thinking it was on the forums here somewhere that he posted a bunch of photos of his rig, and if I remember right, his is a toy hauler. Also, he can tell you more about good Super C models.
Yep, that’s correct.A beautiful rig with a garage in the back for a Smart.Seen it in person and it’s really cool.Great resource.
What's the make and model of this rig, and do you know it's overall length?
WestWardHo said
11:27 AM Feb 16, 2014
Mark,
We recently bought a good used (gas) 31 ft Class C for our "travel rig" and parked our big 5th wheel for now. So I am well equipped to give you the pros and cons. Ours C is a '98 so I'm sure the newer ones have more storage. Because we lived in our 5th wheel it was our home I am having difficulty adjusting to our C so we'll be selling it. (I know, I know...) As Jack Mayer has said several times, every foot of living space for full timers count when you're living in it. Especially for us women. But you know how and where you choose to camp. We were very happy with our almost 40 ft 5th wheel and haven't had an issue where to stay but we're not off the grid campers.
Ruth (NWEscapees) told me a friend of theirs hung a big net over the bunk for storage. If you have the bunk area open (slides out to big queen) it cuts off access to cab. We use ours for the "kitty apartment" and could add much more stored up there, depending upon the bunk slide open or closed.
Tubs with lids would work very well for storage there instead of built ins and would allow you to reconfigure later as you learned YOUR preferences. Might be a good short term solution until you found out your needs.
I like they way you are thinking and viewing all your options. How would you travel and explore an area if you're not towing.
Sherry
Bill and Linda said
11:40 AM Feb 16, 2014
Mark V wrote:
Bill and Linda wrote:
Terry and Jo wrote:
Mark,
I don't know what for sure you want, but Genecop may be helpful. They have a Super C model built on the Class 8 truck frames. I'm thinking it was on the forums here somewhere that he posted a bunch of photos of his rig, and if I remember right, his is a toy hauler. Also, he can tell you more about good Super C models.
Yep, that’s correct.A beautiful rig with a garage in the back for a Smart.Seen it in person and it’s really cool.Great resource.
What's the make and model of this rig, and do you know it's overall length?
Just look up GENECOP in the List All Users Section and send him a PM.
Log in and go here and look down the list.He’s #4 (Sorry #4 in the list, not #2.)
-- Edited by Bill and Linda on Monday 17th of February 2014 08:00:12 AM
Mark V said
05:14 PM Feb 16, 2014
Thanks Bill and Linda!
Terry and Jo said
07:33 PM Feb 16, 2014
OK, Mark. I finally found the pictures of Gene's toy hauler. It is in the Toyhauler category over at RVPics. He has some thumbnail pictures, but when you click on the thumbnail, it takes you to his Photobucket account. When you get the picture of the toyhauler up larger, look above the image at Photobucket and you will see a button that says, "Slideshow." Click on that button to get a better viewing experience and control of seeing additional photos. I think you might be impressed.
I've rarely heard of someone complaining that they have too much space, but I've heard lots of people complain that they don't have enough. Some manufacturers seem to do a better job of using the available space than others, though, so it pays to check. We went with a 40' DP for the two of us and one indoor cat. We have cabinets all along the ceiling including on both sides of the bed and over the bed (no slides here). We will likely have some of that space empty, at least at first.
Mark V said
07:50 PM Feb 17, 2014
Terry and Jo wrote:
I finally found the pictures of Gene's toy hauler.
Thanks a lot Terry. I will definitely check them out.
The more I look, the more options I come up with. Initially we were of a mind that a 5er was the way to go for us. I wanted to maximize our living and storage space, but the units that interested us were all behemoths, and I wanted to keep the overall footprint somewhere between 32' & 34'.
So I decided against owning a large tow truck along with a smaller tag-along vehicle, and became interested in Class A diesel pushers. They're rather expensive. But lately, (in the course of my studies) I've been looking at various Class C configurations in the 34' neighborhood, and the one thing that most of them have in common is the cab-over bunk bed with a small TV. Since it will just be me and my wife, I would have no use whatsoever for this extra bed, especially since all of them also come with living room / dinette convertible sofas.
Anyway ... I was wondering if anyone has seen or owned a Class C that utilizes the overhead space above the cab strictly for storage. I know that you can use the bunk area for storage, but I'd really like more of a dedicated set-up with cabinets, shelves, drawers, etc.
Links and pics would be much appreciated.
-- Edited by Mark V on Saturday 15th of February 2014 11:50:43 AM
A thought: Be careful putting shelves or cabinets in the front of a Class C and then filling them with potentially heavy contents. I’m not saying you will, but you could overload the front axle of the Class C. It just depends on the unit in question, how much cabinet weight (wood?) is installed and also the stuff those cabinets contain. Check it out. Might work out just great weight wise – might not.
The Class C's that I'm interested in are all pretty much HD units with 300+ hp diesels and 10,000 towing capacities (just in case;). These larger, heavier rigs, (as opposed to ones built on Ford or GM 3500 foundations) look to be able to carry the load up-front, but I would have to check further into it. I like the International rigs, and would be interested in a Freightliner too, if they're available.
Different conversation. Indeed they would. “Class C” covers a lot of vehicles from Econoline frames to, as you say, HDT based units. Not an issue with the latter.
As much as I personally, would like to go, "small" (24'?), I have to take my wife into consideration, and downsizing will be hard enough for her even if we moved into a smaller S&B, let alone an RV. So I'm looking to get as big as I can with the smallest footprint possible. This means slide-outs (multiple, if possible) along with optimal utilization of every square inch of space.
And from what I've been reading on this forum a smaller rig gives you more options, insofar as camp-sites and RV parks are concerned. I'm going to take my time, and factor in any and every variable, including initial cost, maintenance, depreciation, fuel consumption, ease of maneuverability, and self-sustainability for when we go boondocking.
One benefit of forums like this and blogs is that instead of using the "Trial & Error" method; purchasing 2 or 3 RV's before finding something that works for us, we can read about other people's experiences, and use the wisdom and knowledge of the thousands of folks who have already, "been there ... done that". I know it's not the same as first hand experience, but it's a huge, "leg up" compared to the way that newbies had to gather information prior to the internet.
-- Edited by Mark V on Saturday 15th of February 2014 02:34:14 PM
-- Edited by Mark V on Saturday 15th of February 2014 02:37:02 PM
Mark,
I don't know what for sure you want, but Genecop may be helpful. They have a Super C model built on the Class 8 truck frames. I'm thinking it was on the forums here somewhere that he posted a bunch of photos of his rig, and if I remember right, his is a toy hauler. Also, he can tell you more about good Super C models.
Other "C's" that one could look at would be like the Nexus and others like them. Nexus RV apparently may be able to do both "regular" Class C's as well as Super C's.
Terry
Thanks Terry:
I've looked at the Nexus line and they're sweet. Thor also makes a Super C that's a little cheaper, but comes with all the bells and whistles. I was thinking that since they do a lot of customizing in the RV business, I could probably get a manufacturer to option us a dedicated storage area in the cab-over berth. That is if I buy new, which is still a huge decision to be made. Then again ... who says that I couldn't get a used rig customized for a reasonable price?
We definitely saw many Class Cs with cab-over storage instead of a bed. But, we were not looking at Super C's. We were looking at 31' and shorter gas a Sprinter (Mercedes diesel) ones. But, you can look at shorter ones to get ideas on how you would customize that area.
Thanks Bill:
We can't wait until it thaws out a bit so we can go to a few RV shows and maybe visit a factory or two. They had the Chicago RV show here last month, but with the -20' temps, non-stop snow, and the attendant gridlock, we didn't feel like going. Also, it was inside and didn't have anywhere near the numbers or varieties of vehicles that you'd normally see at an outdoor facility.
Yep, that’s correct. A beautiful rig with a garage in the back for a Smart. Seen it in person and it’s really cool. Great resource.
What's the make and model of this rig, and do you know it's overall length?
We recently bought a good used (gas) 31 ft Class C for our "travel rig" and parked our big 5th wheel for now. So I am well equipped to give you the pros and cons. Ours C is a '98 so I'm sure the newer ones have more storage. Because we lived in our 5th wheel it was our home I am having difficulty adjusting to our C so we'll be selling it. (I know, I know...) As Jack Mayer has said several times, every foot of living space for full timers count when you're living in it. Especially for us women. But you know how and where you choose to camp. We were very happy with our almost 40 ft 5th wheel and haven't had an issue where to stay but we're not off the grid campers.
Ruth (NWEscapees) told me a friend of theirs hung a big net over the bunk for storage. If you have the bunk area open (slides out to big queen) it cuts off access to cab. We use ours for the "kitty apartment" and could add much more stored up there, depending upon the bunk slide open or closed.
Tubs with lids would work very well for storage there instead of built ins and would allow you to reconfigure later as you learned YOUR preferences. Might be a good short term solution until you found out your needs.
I like they way you are thinking and viewing all your options. How would you travel and explore an area if you're not towing.
Sherry
Just look up GENECOP in the List All Users Section and send him a PM.
Log in and go here and look down the list. He’s #4 (Sorry #4 in the list, not #2.)
http://rv-dreams.activeboard.com/p/members/
-- Edited by Bill and Linda on Monday 17th of February 2014 08:00:12 AM
Thanks Bill and Linda!
OK, Mark. I finally found the pictures of Gene's toy hauler. It is in the Toyhauler category over at RVPics. He has some thumbnail pictures, but when you click on the thumbnail, it takes you to his Photobucket account. When you get the picture of the toyhauler up larger, look above the image at Photobucket and you will see a button that says, "Slideshow." Click on that button to get a better viewing experience and control of seeing additional photos. I think you might be impressed.
Genecop's Super C at RVPics
Terry