Class B vs Class C Motorhome: Which to Buy Used
The Class B van and the Class C cab-over coach are the two motorhomes most first-time buyers compare. One drives like a car and the other sleeps like an apartment. Here is how to choose.
By Joey Bouza, Founder, US RV Connection · Updated October 19, 2026
A Class B is a camper van: a cargo van converted into a motorhome, with the living space inside the original van body. A Class C is a coach built on a cutaway van or truck chassis, with a wider body behind the cab and usually a bunk over it. Both are sold to the same first-time buyers, often at overlapping prices, and they deliver very different experiences. This guide lays out the trade-offs and what each is asking on the used market today.
Side by side
| Class B | Class C | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A converted van; living space inside the van body | A coach body on a cutaway chassis, with a cab-over bunk |
| Length | Roughly 17 to 24 feet | Roughly 21 to 35 feet; some larger Super C models on truck chassis |
| Driving and parking | Like a large van; fits most parking spaces and many garages | Like a small truck; needs RV or oversize parking |
| Sleeping | Usually two, sometimes up to four with a pop-top or a rear bed conversion | Four to eight depending on floorplan; families fit |
| Bathroom and kitchen | Compact; often a wet bath | Full dry bath and a real kitchen in most floorplans |
| Storage and tanks | Small | Larger, with exterior bays |
| Fuel | Better | Worse |
| Towing a car | Rarely needed; the van is the car | Common; many owners flat-tow a small car |
| Price used | Often higher for the length, because vans are expensive to build out | More living space per dollar |
Who each one suits
- Class B: couples and solo travelers who move often, visit cities, want to drive it daily, and value stealth and simplicity over space.
- Class C: families, longer stays, buyers who want a dry bath and a proper bed without converting the dinette every night, and anyone who needs to carry more gear.
- Both: buyers who want a self-contained unit without the length of a Class A. If a Class A is on the list too, our Class A guides cover the step up.
The question that settles most Class B versus Class C decisions is how you will use it on an ordinary Tuesday. If it needs to go to the grocery store and park in the driveway, that is a Class B. If it needs to sleep the kids and the dog, that is a Class C.
Depreciation and resale
Class B vans have held value unusually well in recent years because demand from van-life buyers outran supply, and because the underlying Mercedes-Benz, Ford and Ram vans are desirable vehicles in their own right. Class C coaches depreciate more like conventional motorhomes. The live age table below shows how prices step down by year across the site; the brand guides show it for specific builders.
What each is asking right now
| Type | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class A motorhome | $87,795 | $7,000 | $259,850 | 109 |
| Class B camper van | $96,437 | $34,900 | $184,985 | 42 |
| Class C motorhome | $83,818 | $23,777 | $399,995 | 120 |
| Travel trailer | $27,778 | $3,995 | $139,495 | 1855 |
| Fifth wheel | $62,430 | $3,995 | $176,794 | 456 |
| Toy hauler | $39,636 | $9,988 | $244,632 | 164 |
| Other (pop-ups, truck campers, park models) | $54,900 | $4,999 | $147,500 | 235 |
| Model years | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 and newer | $39,202 | $7,000 | $399,995 | 1892 |
| 2020–2023 | $27,777 | $4,999 | $219,795 | 557 |
| 2015–2019 | $26,995 | $6,495 | $259,850 | 365 |
| 2010–2014 | $19,995 | $5,988 | $129,860 | 124 |
| 2000–2009 | $29,998 | $3,995 | $194,899 | 39 |
Inspecting either
- Chassis service history and mileage. Both ride on a commercial van or truck drivetrain; treat it as a high-mileage vehicle purchase.
- On a Class C, the cab-over bunk and the front cap seams, the classic leak point. Press the mattress platform and look for staining.
- On a Class B, the roof penetrations for vents, fans and solar, and the conversion wiring behind panels, which varies in quality between upfitters.
- Every system on shore power, battery and generator or propane: furnace, water heater, refrigerator, air conditioner and inverter.
- Tires by date code, not tread. Motorhome tires age out first.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a Class B and a Class C motorhome?
- A Class B is a converted van with the living space inside the van body. A Class C is a coach body built on a cutaway chassis, wider than the cab, usually with a bunk over it. The C has more space; the B drives and parks like a van.
- Is a Class B or Class C cheaper?
- Per foot, a Class C usually gives more space for the money. Class B vans often ask more for their length because the conversion is expensive and demand has been strong. See the live type medians on this page.
- Which holds value better?
- Class B vans have held value unusually well in recent years. Class C coaches depreciate more like conventional motorhomes. The age table above shows the current curve.
- Can a Class B sleep four?
- Some can, with a pop-top roof or a rear bed plus a converted dinette. Most are built for two.
- Do Class C motorhomes have a real bathroom?
- Most have a dry bath with a separate shower, which is one of the main reasons buyers choose a C over a B.
- What chassis are Class B vans built on?
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit and Ram ProMaster are the common ones in the US.
- What is a Super C?
- A Class C built on a heavier truck chassis, often diesel, with more towing capacity and length than a van-based C.
- Should I buy a Class B or Class C for full-time living?
- Most full-timers choose a Class C or larger for storage, tank capacity and a dry bath. Solo full-timers who move constantly often choose a B.
About the author
Joey Bouza — Founder, US RV Connection
Working musician and founder of Prospects International, a marketing firm that runs lead and appointment campaigns for dealers across the country.
Prices and counts in our guides come from live listings on this site and are recalculated hourly. Where we quote industry-typical figures (transport, inspection, roof reseal, tire and appliance quotes) we say so, and we never publish a number we haven't measured or sourced.