Class C Motorhomes — Models, Layouts and Buying Advice

Class C motorhomes sit between camper vans and full-size Class A coaches. They’re big enough to live in for a week but small enough to park at a gas station without a panic attack. The cab-over bunk adds a sleeping area without adding length.

Here’s what to know before buying one.

Class C vs Class A vs Class B

Feature	Class B (Van)	Class C	Class A
Length	17-22 ft	22-33 ft	26-45 ft
Sleeps	2-3	4-8	4-8
Typical GVWR	8,500-11,000 lbs	12,000-18,000 lbs	16,000-30,000 lbs
Price (new)	$100K-$250K	$80K-$200K	$100K-$500K+
Drives like	A large van	A box truck	A bus
CDL required	No	No	No (under 26,001 lbs)
Gas mileage	15-20 MPG	8-14 MPG	6-10 MPG

Class C is the middle ground. More space than a van, easier to drive than a bus.

Best Class C Chassis Options

Every Class C starts with a chassis. The chassis determines how it drives, what it costs to maintain and how long the drivetrain lasts.

Ford E-450

The most common Class C chassis. Uses the 7.3L V8 (since 2020) or the older 6.8L Triton V10. The 7.3L is a massive improvement — more power, better fuel economy and proven durability.

• Engine: 7.3L Godzilla V8, 350 hp / 468 lb-ft
• Transmission: 10-speed automatic
• GVWR: 14,500 lbs
• Fuel: Regular unleaded
• Pros: Cheap parts, dealer network everywhere, reliable
• Cons: Drinks gas (8-12 MPG loaded), rides rough without aftermarket upgrades

Mercedes Sprinter (3500)

Premium chassis used by Winnebago (View/Navion), Coachmen (Prism) and Thor (Gemini). Drives like a tall van, not a truck. Diesel power with much better fuel economy.

• Engine: 3.0L V6 turbo diesel, 188 hp / 325 lb-ft
• Transmission: 7-speed automatic
• GVWR: 11,030 lbs
• Fuel: Diesel
• Pros: 14-18 MPG, car-like driving, compact turning radius
• Cons: Expensive maintenance ($150+ oil changes), DEF system issues, GVWR limits payload heavily

Chevy 4500 / 5500

Used by Jayco (Melbourne), Forest River (Sunseeker) and others. The 6.6L V8 is a workhorse with solid torque.

• Engine: 6.6L V8, 401 hp / 464 lb-ft
• Transmission: 6-speed Allison
• Pros: Strong engine, Allison transmission is bulletproof, good payload
• Cons: Fewer models available, fuel economy similar to Ford

Top Class C Models

Under $100K (New)

Thor Four Winds 22E — The entry point. 24 feet on a Ford E-450. Cab-over bunk, rear queen, small dinette. No slides. Easy to drive and park. Gets the job done without frills.

Coachmen Freelander 23FS — Similar size, adds a slide-out dinette for more interior space. Better kitchen than the Thor at a similar price.

$100K-$150K (New)

Thor Chateau 28Z — The family hauler. 30 feet with a full wall slide, bunks, rear queen and a separate bathroom. Sleeps 8. Ford E-450 chassis with the 7.3L V8.

Jayco Melbourne 24R — Chevy 4500 chassis. Murphy bed system means the rear living area converts from lounge to bedroom. Higher build quality than budget models.

$150K+ (New)

Winnebago View 24D — Mercedes Sprinter chassis. Compact at 25 feet but feels spacious with twin beds that convert to a king and a full wet bath. Best fuel economy in the class. This is the one people keep for 10+ years.

Winnebago Navion 24V — The View’s bigger sibling. Full dry bath, slide-out dinette and the same Sprinter chassis. Premium everything.

Class C Floor Plan Layouts

Rear Bedroom

The queen or king bed sits at the back of the coach behind a privacy door. Cab-over bunk up front for kids or storage. The most common layout. Works well for couples — you get a real bedroom door.

Bunk Layout

Bunk beds in the rear with a cab-over bunk up front. Sleeps the most people. Great for families with kids. Trade-off: less living space during the day since the bunks are always set up.

Murphy Bed

The rear bed folds up against the wall during the day, revealing a sofa or lounge area. Best of both worlds if you don’t want bunks eating up space. Found on the Jayco Melbourne and some Winnebago models.

Twin Beds

Two single beds in the rear with an aisle between them. Easy to get in and out of (no climbing over your partner). Popular on the Sprinter-chassis models. Many convert to a king by inserting a cushion between the twins.

How Wide Is a Class C?

Most Class C motorhomes are 96-102 inches (8-8.5 feet) wide — the same as a travel trailer. With mirrors extended, add another 18-24 inches per side.

Length matters more for drivability:

Length	Handling	Parking
22-24 ft	Drives like a large van	Fits most parking spots
25-28 ft	Manageable with practice	Need to seek out pull-throughs
29-33 ft	Box truck feel	Tight in gas stations, need RV spots

Sprinter-chassis models under 25 feet fit in standard parking spots and some covered parking garages. Ford-chassis models over 28 feet need truck stops and RV-friendly gas stations.

Four-Season Class C Options

If you camp year-round — or winter in Colorado and summer in Texas — you need genuine four-season construction. Not every “all-weather” package delivers.

What Makes a True Four-Season RV

• Insulation: R-7 or higher in walls, R-11+ in the floor and roof. Standard Class C rigs have R-3 to R-5 — fine for spring and fall but miserable in a 20°F night
• Enclosed and heated underbelly: Tanks and plumbing lines protected from freezing. Heated pads or duct work running under the floor
• Dual-pane windows: Single-pane windows sweat and ice over below freezing. Dual-pane cuts heat loss in half
• High-output furnace: 30,000+ BTU furnace for cold nights. Standard 20,000 BTU furnaces can’t keep up below 30°F in a poorly insulated coach
• Heated holding tanks: Tank heaters prevent gray and black water from freezing solid

Best Four-Season Class C Models

Winnebago View/Navion — Available with Winnebago’s “Arctic Package” which includes enclosed heated tanks, dual-pane windows and extra insulation. One of the few Class C rigs people actually take to Colorado in January.

Jayco Melbourne Prestige — Jayco’s JRIDE suspension plus the cold weather package with heated tanks and R-9 insulation. Chevy chassis handles mountain roads well.

Thor Quantum WS31 — Ford E-450 with the “Weather-Shield” package. Tank heaters, insulated compartments and heated mirrors. A budget option for four-season use.

Buying Used Class C — What to Check

Used Class C rigs are where the value is. A 3-year-old model with 15,000 miles sells for 40-50% less than new. Here’s what to inspect:

Exterior

• Roof: Rubber roof membranes crack and leak around edges, vents and AC units. Climb up there. Look for soft spots, discoloration and cracked sealant
• Cab-over area: The fiberglass cap where it meets the van cab is a common leak point. Check for water stains inside the cab-over bunk
• Sidewall delamination: Press on the fiberglass sidewalls. If they feel spongy or bubbly, water has gotten between the fiberglass and the framing. Walk away — delamination repair costs more than the rig is worth

Drivetrain

• Ford 6.8L V10 — Spark plug ejection is the known issue on pre-2020 models. Check if the plugs have been replaced with the updated inserts
• Ford 7.3L V8 — Very few known issues. Check oil level and color
• Sprinter diesel — Ask about DEF system service history. Check for the DPF warning light. Regens that don’t complete properly cost $3,000-5,000 to fix
• Transmission fluid — Should be red or light pink. Dark brown or burnt smell means the transmission has been overworked

Water Damage

Open every cabinet, check every ceiling corner and pull up carpet edges in slide-out areas. Water damage hides behind walls for years before it shows on the surface. A moisture meter ($30 from Amazon) is the best used RV purchase you’ll make.

Related Guides

• Truck Camper vs Travel Trailer
• Best Travel Trailers Under 5,000 lbs
• RV Insurance Guide
• Full-Time RV Living Cost
• Trailer Weight Chart