Is A Class A Motorhome Right For You?

What You Should Know About Class A RVs

1. Why did you choose your specific Class A motorhome?

   We briefly discussed other RV types before buying our 2015 Entegra Aspire 44B but quickly realized that a Class A motorhome would be perfect for us. Having a Class A motorhome means that, while on the road, I can get up and move around as needed (provided I'm not the one driving). It also means we have access to drinks and snacks en route to our next stop, so we don't need to pack up coolers, computers, phones, and charging cables every time we change locations. Our captain's seats swivel, converting our driving area into part of our living space. Some other features that we love are the bath and a half, a television that directly opposes our couch, a residential-sized refrigerator, drawer stack that pulls out to provide more counter space in the kitchen, a huge pantry, a king-sized bed, and a washer and dryer. — Anne Klumpp / Retired Couple / Entegra Aspire

2. Did you have any concerns about buying a motorhome? If so, what were they and how did you address them?

   One of our biggest concerns was having enough space. When we moved out of our house, we decided to fit everything we would need into an SUV. This way, we knew we’d have ample space in the RV to fit everything. From there, we only bought a few additional, essential items. Another concern was overall noise and comfort while driving. We had an extra suspension system installed at the factory before we picked up the RV, which helped make the ride extremely smooth. The quality and insulation in our motorhome is excellent, so the noise in the cab area is minimal and we can easily carry on with a normal conversation. Our last concern had to do with the size of the kitchen. Tiffany loves to cook, and she has learned to get creative in the smaller space. It took some practice, but now she can cook just about anything that she did in our sticks and bricks. Don’t be afraid to use the convection microwave—it works just like an oven, only smaller. — Michael & Tiffany Dunagan / Extended Travel  Couple / Tiffin Open Road

3. What are some of your favorite hobbies and activities, and how does your Class A motorhome fit these?

   We love to visit national parks and go hiking. Since a lot of these parks and hiking spots are in more remote places, we went with a diesel engine. This has allowed us to drive steep roads and mountain passes without concern. And while we’re often too big to stay inside national parks, we have no trouble finding places to camp just outside the park. Plus, our whole family loves to bike so we can easily bike to and from places! We have a large bike rack on the back of our Tiffin that holds all five bicycles. And when we get to the campground, the bikes come down and off we go. — Laura Georgieff / Extended Travel Family / Tiffin Phaeton

4. How do you find adequate places to park and camp with your motorhome?

   We typically use RV LIFE Trip Wizard to plan our routes and find campgrounds to stay in. This website is great because it offers many ways to filter results, including "big-rig friendly." From here, I check individual park websites to get an idea of costs and to see if there are any size restrictions. If we know we want to boondock, we like to use Campendium. Many boondockers have shared information about free camping on this platform. But regardless if we are going to a truck stop, an RV park or boondocking, I'm a huge fan of using satellite and street views on Google maps. Not only can you plan for where you might be able to park, but you can also look for potential issues with trees and tight turns. If you’re thinking about boondocking in a motorhome, we recommend using Google maps, arriving early and in the daylight (and preferably not on Saturday of a holiday weekend), scouting out the area when you get there using your towed vehicle or bike, and always having a backup plan in case the spot doesn’t work out.  — Anne Klumpp / Retired Couple / Entegra Aspire

5. What is your advice for driving a large Class A motorhome, especially if you need to tow a vehicle?

   We had never driven an RV before we bought our Tiffin, so it was a bit scary for us. But our biggest piece of advice is to go slowly and don’t worry about what other drivers think. We practiced turning, backing up and parking in a large, open parking lot. We frequently got out of the RV to look around and gauge how much space we had. We also learned to call campgrounds ahead of time and ask for the best directions for arrival. We weren’t afraid to tell them that we were RV newbies and asked which campsites were the easiest to park in. The first few campsites we reserved were all pull-through sites, which allowed us to get a feel for the rig and setting up without having to worry about backing up or backing in. —Michael & Tiffany Dunagan / Extended Travel Couple / Tiffin Open Road

6. What advice would you give someone who is considering buying a Class A motorhome?

   Make sure you test drive a Class A motorhome before you buy one. Spend as much time as you can at different dealerships, and walk through a variety of models and layouts. Try to picture yourself owning one. And if you’re looking at other RV types, make sure you factor in the cost of a tow vehicle when comparing value. Some people buy brand new towable RVs, only to realize they also need to buy a tow vehicle that can pull it. But with a Class A motorhome, you don’t need to add on the price of an additional tow vehicle. Plus, the amenities inside many Class As are nicer than some homes and apartments. Think instant water heaters, heated floors, convection cooking, and dishwashers. In my opinion, Class A RVs offer the smoothest ride there is—you’ll never want to go back to non-air suspension! The quality of life that our motorhome gives us is truly unmatched. — Laura Georgieff / Extended Travel  Family / Tiffin Phaeton