The Class A Motorhome is The Classiest of RVs

Learn why the Class A Motorhome is the Classiest of RVs

The Class A Motorhome is the Classiest of RVs because 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 Motorhome.

The video below is a brief overview of what we cover in this article. When you are done watching this video you can scroll down and read some more detailed information. For even more great videos on RVs and the RV lifestyle you can visit the Everything About RVing YouTube Channel

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 Motorhome Types, how Class A is built. Equipment that comes standard on a Class A. Optional Equipment Available and finally The Pros and Cons of a Class A. 

The Class A Motorhome Has Two Sub-Types

Diesel Pusher 

Just like its name a Diesel Pusher like ours pictured at the top of this page are powered diesel engine located in the rear of the Motohome.

It is by far the most expensive Class A available. A new one costs several hundred thousand 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 diesel pusher 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.

Gas Class A Motorhome

These RVs are powered by a Gas engine located in the front of the motorhome. A new one can still be quite expensive depending on the manufacturer and model and the options you choose and yes, they can also cost over $100,000.

Quite a few new RVers opt to look for used Gas Powered Motorhomes. If you choose to purchase a used RV of any kind, it is important that you perform a Used RV Inspection before you buy it.

How a Class A Motorhome Is Built

A Class A motorhome 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. Most of the Motorhomes have one to six room slides, which can be opened while camping to add additional living space.

The Equipment That Comes Standard in a Class A Motorhome

Pictured Above: The interior of the Thor Venetian

Standard Equipment can include but is not limited to:

• Living room/ and Bedroom Furnishings
• 2 TVs (at least)
• Stove, Oven and/or Microwave Convection Oven
• Water Heater
• Refrigerator
• Heating and Air Conditioning Unit
• Generator
• Hydraulic or Electric Levelers
• Toilet, Shower and yes, even the Kitchen Sink
• Holding and Storage Tanks

Optional Equipment Can Include, But Is Not Limited 
(Except by your wallet) To:

• Inside/Outside Home Theater System
• Tile or Wood Heated Flooring
• Granite Countertops
• Dishwasher
• Trash Compactor
• Wine Cooler
• Washer and Dryer
• Jacuzzi Tub
• Central Vacuum Cleaner
• GPS System
• Satellite TV System
• Satellite Internet System
• Automatic Awnings
• Automatic Leveling System
• 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)

Class A Motorhome PROS and CONS

Before you learn about the Pros and Cons of a Class A Motorhome, you may want to watch the video below, to see what a Class A Motorhome has compared to a Class C Motorhome.

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PROS of a Class A Motorhome

J  The Class A Motorhome is 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 exceptionally 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 you're in "the doghouse" with your spouse (far more comfortable than a couch)

CONS of a Class A Motorhome

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 sightseeing 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 must 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  Dependent 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).

Conclusion

Now that you know why the Class A Motorhome is the classiest of RVs we hope that this 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.

Do you have any suggestions or comments on this topic? You can add them to this page by using the comments section located below.

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