What is "Class" in motorhomes?

[MDHobbs]

What determines the "class" of a motorhome? I thought my Chinook was a "C" but have been told several times it is a "B".

[markopolo]

I don't know the "official" source or governing body for RV Class or Type distinctions. The descriptions are the same or similar across many sites though.

Descriptions:

Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ional_vehicles

GoRVing http://gorving.ca/motorhomes/

Newmar http://www.newmarcorp.com/blog/posts...s-c-motorhomes

My understanding, as it applies to B's & B+ & small C's, is that a Class B starts off as a van and it is converted to a motorhome. B+'s & C's start off as a cab and chassis vehicle and the motorhome portion is added.

I don't know if Chinook ever made a Class B campervan. I've only ever seen Chinooks that are small Class C's.

[MDHobbs]

Thank you very much. Very helpful information.

[Caped Crusader]

Go RVing, is RIVA's consumer site, and RIVA sets what defines the Type/Class of RV.
A Chinook is a Class C, built on a truck chassis, or cut-away.
Also, I believe the Vin, will have a C, B, or A in it to designate the type of chassis.

[wincrasher]

RIVA's definition is the only one that matters, as they are the governing body for the industry. What any one manufacture decides to classify is basically irrelevant, as are the stickers they seem to want to paste on their sides.

[bikerbill]

Caped Crusader, I don't think you really mean the VIN number. The VIN is what belongs with the chassis manufacturer: i.e. Mercedes, etc. The RV manufacturer number "may" have an identifying letter. My recently traded Airstream Interstate was Airtream Mfg #1B9HUWH2.......

[wincrasher]

Just checked my VIN# - no B in it.

[Caped Crusader]

I did mean the Vin, but now different manufactures use different nos. to show Chassis type.
Chassis type denotes Class of RV. (Van, Truck, Bus)

Position 4,5,6,7,8.
"Here you can find out the vehicle model, engine type, body style and things like that. Each vehicle maker uses different codes for this so go to the Automobile Manufacturer for your vehicle to get the codes."

Source: http://researchmaniacs.com/VIN/VIN-Decoder.html

[booster]

Originally Posted by Caped Crusader

I did mean the Vin, but now different manufactures use different nos. to show Chassis type.
Chassis type denotes Class of RV. (Van, Truck, Bus)

Position 4,5,6,7,8.
"Here you can find out the vehicle model, engine type, body style and things like that. Each vehicle maker uses different codes for this so go to the Automobile Manufacturer for your vehicle to get the codes."

Source: http://researchmaniacs.com/VIN/VIN-Decoder.html

I can't say for other brands, but Roadtrek uses the VIN from the van for the motorhome, and you use it for the registration. It says absolutely nothing about whether or not it is a van, A, B, or C RV as they wouldn't know what it was going to be when the van was built.

[Caped Crusader]

I believe the Vin no. will tell what type of chassis the RV is built on. Van, cut-away, etc. My point is for RV's like the La Sharo which gets confused as what it is a B or a C. The Vin will tell that it is a Van chassis, same thing with the Rialta, the Vin will tell if it is built on a Truck chassis, which it is, and makes it a Class C.

[Brad1998RD]

Actually the Rialta is built on a van chassis..
It is a class C as it is made on just a cab chassis cutaway.
With the Auto manufacturers vin it doesn't classify the RV as a certain class. They are not built specifically just for the RV industry. So you won't see a Class designation in them. The vin will notate the type of chassis it is being Cutaway (with cab) a van or just a stripped chassis .

[Eric Swenson]

I thought "class" in an RV was a great dinner of home made pasta with a fresh picked saled and a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon along side of it.