Class A Motorhome, the classiest of RVs
"A Vacation Home On Wheels"

The Class A Motorhome is
the "Top Dog" in the Motorized RV category.
They are literally houses on wheels and can have any
option you want (for a price). In this section we will describe what's available
and give you the pros and cons of the Class A.
The Class A RV is known by many names such as; Motor Home, Motorhome, Motor
Coach, Motorcoach, Coach, Bus or Rig. We are sure that there might be other
names out there, if we missed any, please
Contact Us and we'll add them in.
In this section we will discuss the following topics The Class A Sub-Types,
How a Class A is built.
Equipment that comes standard on a Class A.
Optional Equipment
Available, The Pros and Cons of a
Class A and finally a section with our personal recommendations on Clubs you
can join to get great discounts on
Camping.
For more great reading on RVing, Camping,
Outdoor Sports, and traveling through the US and Canada, visit The Everything About RVing Book Store
The Class A Motorhome Has Two Sub-Types
Bus Conversion
A passenger bus that is converted into a home
on wheels. They gut the bus interior and add all the amenities you can think
of to transform it into a livable space. Picture in your mind the classiest
hotel suite you ever stayed in and you've got a pretty good idea of what to
expect from a Bus Conversion.
It is by far the most expensive Class A
available. A new one can cost well over 1 million dollars. Quite a few
NASCAR drivers and musical entertainers use these to travel the country in
style to get to their races or concert appearances.
Your key to shopping for a bus conversion is;
"if you have to ask how much it costs, you probably can't afford it".
If these are too pricey for you, your
alternatives are to become a NASCAR driver, become a successful rock/country
star or move on and start looking at motor homes you can afford.
Diesel Puller
This a newer sub-category to the Class A
Motorhome group. The diesel puller does not look so much like a bus, but
more like a diesel truck. It has a truck front end.
In fact there is debate if this is a Class A
at all, some have said that these should be in the Class C group. We don't
have the time or desire to get involved in this debate, so we put them here.
How A Class A Motorhome Is Built
With the two exceptions above,
the Class A is built on a special chassis from truck manufacturers that are
designed exclusively for Motorhome use.
The bare chassis includes; the
engine (diesel or gas), fuel tank, frame, transmission, axle assemblies, wheels,
tires, braking system, instrument panel and steering assembly.
They also throw in a folding
chair so that the bare chassis can be safely driven to the Motorhome
manufacturer.
The Class A Motorhome manufacturer takes the bare frame and starts constructing
the house. They add the tanks for fresh water, grey water and black water (all
RVers have a love/hate relationship with the black water tank), they add the
floors, the walls, the room slides, the appliances and furniture. Once they
complete the interior they paint or coat the exterior.
The completed Class A Motorhome
can be anywhere from 25 to 45 feet long. The majority of the Motorhomes have one
to six room slides, that can be opened up while camping to add additional living
space.
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The Equipment That Comes Standard In A Class A Motorhome
Standard Equipment can include but is
not limited to:
R
Living room/ and Bedroom Furnishings
R 2 TVs (at least)
R Stove, Oven and/or Microwave
Convection Oven
R Water Heater
R Refrigerator
R Heating and Air Conditioning Units
R Generator (for electricity while roughing it in the
wild)
R Hydraulic or Electric Levelers
R Toilet, Shower and yes, even the
Kitchen Sink
R Holding and Storage Tanks
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Optional Equipment Can
Include, But Is Not Limited
(except by your wallet) To:
R Inside/Outside Home Theater System,
R Tile or Wood Heated Flooring
R Granite Countertops
R Dishwasher,
R Trash Compactor
R Wine Cooler
R Washer and Dryer
R Jacuzzi Tub
R Central Vacuum Cleaner
R GPS System
R Satellite TV System
R Satellite Internet System
R Automatic Awnings
R Automatic Leveling System
R Pool Table (OK we just
wanted to see if you were paying attention).
You also have a choice of either a gas or diesel engine (we
have dedicated a whole section of this site to this important option).
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Class A Motorhome PROS and CONS
PROS
J
The most luxurious of the motorized RV category. Remember the more luxurious it
is the more money you are going to spend.
J
Lots of living space, the more room slides you have the more space you have.
J
You can use all the facilities and appliances while going down the road (not
recommended if you are the driver).
J
Has the most optional equipment available. The more options you choose the more
money you will spend (are you starting to see a trend here).
J
A lot of available storage space (especially in the diesel versions)
J
Because of the height of a Class A Motorhome, you get a much better view of the
roadway and scenery.
J
The ride can be very smooth and quiet. (gas powered motor homes may be a bit
noisier because the engine is located in the front).
J
The Class A Motorhome is ideal for the person who is planning to be a full-time
(full timer) RVer .
J
Also a place to go if your in "the dog house" with your spouse (far more
comfortable than a couch) :-)
CONS
L
The most expensive type of recreational vehicle.
L
Once your camp is set up, it is not easy to use a Class A Motor
home for running errands and short site seeing trips. You either have to tow a
vehicle with you or use the local transportation for the area that you are in.
L
Fuel mileage can be anywhere from 6 to 10 miles per gallon (your fuel mileage
may vary). You must factor this in when considering which RV is right for you.
L
Not as maneuverable as your personal car or truck (this will become apparent to
you the first time you end up at the end of a dead end street and realize you
now have to back up for a mile).
L
When not in use a Class A Motorhome requires a large parking or storage area. If
you have a long driveway and regulations in your area allow RVs to be parked in
a residential driveway or street, you will be OK. If not, you will have to find
an RV storage lot near you (which means spending more of your hard earned
money).
L
Dependant on the length of your Motorhome, you will find that some campgrounds
and RV Parks will not accept an RV over 35 feet in length (as time goes on this
limitation is fading away).
L
Due to the higher profile of a Class A Motorhome, low branches and low bridges
are a concern. You need to know the exact height of your vehicle when traveling,
in particular on surface streets (otherwise you may end up with a new sunroof on
your coach).
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Hopefully, the above information will be helpful in steering you in the right
direction. If you have decided that a Class A Motorhome is the right type of RV
for you, you should now head over to the
Buying a RV section of this web site to get some more helpful hints.
If you are still not sure, continue browsing the other
Types of RVs that are available. One thing is for sure you will never regret
becoming an RVer regardless of the type of RV you choose.
If you have any questions or suggestions please
Contact Us and help make Everything-About-RVing.com better.
Thanks for stopping by and
Happy RVing.
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