In an era where fuel efficiency and the open road are in conflict, the RV lifestyle is still cruising the American highways almost 10 million strong. For those that want that “King of The Road” experience, Class A RVs under 30 feet are finding that mileage balance for the road nobles.
Small class A motorhomes are a very versatile motorcoach that appeals to all audiences looking for the perfect drivable RV. Young couples, small families, and empty nesters find them deceivably roomy. Entry-level campers, weekenders, and even full-timers love the idea of having an RV that’s easy to drive.
There are amazing motorhomes 30 feet and under in the 2020 market worth exploring. They have features that are just as good as their 35-40 foot counterparts and are budget-friendly. The best Class A RV brands have quality construction sharing core parts with more expensive motorhomes on the market.
Choosing a Short A Over a Class C
When shopping for the perfect motorhome, people can spin into the endless debate between the best class C motorhomes or the shortest class A RVs. They’re relatively the same size, and each has its benefits. Before you pull out that quarter and decide on a coin flip, here are some solid advantages of RVs under 30 feet.
- Smoother Ride: Suspension technology, like Jayco’s JRide or Newmar’s Comfort Drive, assist with the overall comfort level of the traveling experience. Rocking, shaking, and other issues due to road conditions are absorbed by the suspension. Other technologies allow for easier turning and backing up.
- More Comfortable Driver’s Area: In class A motorhomes, you’ll have a big panoramic windshield and sit above most of the traffic. The captain’s chair is designed with the best materials that support your back and other joints. Class C cockpits are mostly designed by the car manufacturers with RV maker additions.
- Storage Bays: The exterior storage bays are designed below the RV’s interior floor, so you’ll have more of them. Your utility bay will be completely enclosed to avoid road damage and cold weather concerns. Many of them will be pass-through to store long items.
- Better Living Space: Class A amenities are generally closer to residential sizes. Many of the best class A RVs of 2020 have washer and dryer connections that come as standard features. It’s also easier to access the living area from the pilot area in class A motorhomes than a class C.
- Better/longer Boondocking: Many class C motorhomes don’t come with jacks as a standard feature. Most Class A’s now have auto-leveling and bigger holding tanks. This allows you to dry camp longer and keep your motorcoach stable.
Comparing the Specs
There are nine Class A motorhomes we’re going to show you. The Fleetwood Flair and the Holiday Rambler Admiral are going to be presented together since they’re the same RV. We’re also going to present the Thor Axis and Vegas together as well for the same reason.
All of these motorcoaches are on the Ford F-53 chassis and have the 6.8 liter Triton V10 engine. This engine has 320 horsepower and 460 torque. The Thor is an exception with the Ford E-350/450 chassis, which is apart of Ford’s van line.
Common and Standout Features
You’ll see some common features in all of these motorhomes. They may be small in length, yet the manufacturers make every inch count from the ceiling to the floor to make the camping experience as comfortable as possible. Similiar features include:
- Bunk beds above the driver’s area
- Outside entertainment centers with LED TVs
- Power awnings
- Slideouts
- Rear and side view cameras
- Dashboard work stations on the co-pilot side
- Privacy curtains or doors that separate the living room from the bedroom
1. Fleetwood Flair 28A/Holiday Rambler 28A
- Length: 29.3 feet
- Weight: 16,000 pounds
- Towing Capacity: 8,000 pounds
- Electricity Load: 50 amps
- Fresh Water: 50 gallons
- Grey Tank: 37 gallons
- Black Tank: 37 gallons
- Propane: 14 pounds
- Fuel Tank: 80 gallons
- Water Heater: 6 gallons
- Seats With Belts: 6
- Sleeps: 7
- Master Bed Size: King
- MSRP: Flair- $115,041/ Admiral- $166,202
The parent company, REV Group, have made Fleetwood and Holiday Rambler similar. Their relationship is akin to Hyundai’s relationship with Kia. Kia’s vehicles are structurally the same as Hyundai’s but have upgraded features.
The 28A in both lines feature comfortable pilot seats that are wider than average for a gasser class A. The driver will find the cockpit unobstructed since there isn’t an armrest, cup holder, or controls on the wall frame to their left. To keep the walk space open, the kitchen counter is in a diagonal configuration, which maximizes counter space without impeding the center walkway.
2. Jayco Alante 26X
- Length: 28.5 feet
- Weight: 16,000 pounds
- Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
- Electricity Load: 30 amps
- Fresh Water: 53 gallons
- Grey Tank: 40 gallons
- Black Tank: 32 gallons
- Propane: 16.5 pounds
- Fuel Tank: 80 gallons
- Water Heater: 6 gallons
- Seats With Belts: 6
- Sleeps: 8
- Master Bed Size: Short Queen
- MSRP: $127,966
The Jayco Alante offers a lot of top-quality amenities in this 28 and a half foot class A motorhome. You’ll see brand names like Moen on the kitchen faucet. They give you their JAYCOMMAND app that lets you set the jacks, control the lights, view your holding tank levels, and many other functions that most other manufactures would reserve for bigger RVs.
3. Winnebago Intent 28Y
- Length: 28.11 feet
- Weight: 18,000 pounds
- Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
- Electricity Load: 30 amps
- Fresh Water: 48 gallons
- Grey Tank: 45 gallons
- Black Tank: 31 gallons
- Propane: 39.76 pounds
- Fuel Tank: 80 gallons
- Water Heater: 6 gallons
- Seats With Belts: 5
- Sleeps: 5
- Master Bed Size: Short Queen
- MSRP: $122,619
For 2020, Winnebago offers Grey Sky as a new color option for the exterior on the Intent. The tailgate package offers an outdoor kitchen complete with a 32 inch LED TV. Winnie now offers a dog latch next to the entry door so your fur babies can safely enjoy the outdoor space with you and your two-legged family.
4. Coachmen Pursuit Precision 27DS
- Length: 28.9 feet
- Weight: 16,000 pounds
- Towing Capacity: 8,000 pounds
- Electricity Load: 30 amps
- Fresh Water: 50 gallons
- Grey Tank: 76 gallons
- Black Tank: 38 gallons
- Propane: 20 pounds
- Fuel Tank: 80 gallons
- Water Heater: 6 gallons
- Seats With Belts: 8
- Sleeps: 7
- Master Bed Size: King
- MSRP: $130,426
The Coachmen Pursuit 27DS is well thought out. The overhead storage cabinets above the king-size bed have ports for a CPAP machine. Your four-legged travel companions will enjoy the dog window by the co-pilot’s leg well to enjoy the journey. As you’re traveling, your co-pilot can work using the dashboard work station that has a USB charging station they can connect too.
5. Forest River FR3 30DS
- Length: 31.8 feet
- Weight: 18,000 pounds
- Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
- Electricity Load: 50 amps
- Fresh Water: 52 gallons
- Grey Tank: 42 gallons
- Black Tank: 42 gallons
- Propane: 24.5 pounds
- Fuel Tank: 80 gallons
- Water Heater: 6 gallons
- Seats With Belts: 8
- Sleeps: 8
- Master Bed Size: King
- MSRP: $139,867
This small 32 foot comes prepped with washer/dryer hookups as a standard feature. The dinette is in a semi U-shaped configuration for additional comfort on the dinette. You can tell Forest River’s engineers are conscious of real-world concerns by putting drain holes in their storage bays for easy cleaning.
6. Newmar Baystar Sport 2702
- Length: 27.11 feet
- Weight: 18,000 pounds
- Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
- Electricity Load: 30 amps
- Fresh Water: 70 gallons
- Grey Tank: 60 gallons
- Black Tank: 40 gallons
- Propane: 25 pounds
- Fuel Tank: 80 gallons
- Water Heater: 6 gallons
- Seats With Belts: 6
- Sleeps: 6
- Master Bed Size: Residential Queen
- MSRP: $121,674
Newmar’s Baystar Sport is great for all-weather camping since it’s one of the best-insulated class A motorhomes on the market. This Winnebago subsidiary even insulates the storage bay doors, holding tanks, and seals the underbelly. To maximize space, the kitchen is in an L-shape corner kitchen configuration.
7. Thor Axis/Vegas RUV 24.1
- Length: 24.1 feet
- Weight: 12,500 pounds
- Towing Capacity: 8,000 pounds
- Electricity Load: 30 amps
- Fresh Water: 42 gallons
- Grey Tank: 40 gallons
- Black Tank: 30 gallons
- Propane: 40.9 pounds
- Fuel Tank: 55 gallons
- Water Heater: Tankless
- Seats With Belts: 5
- Sleeps: 5
- Master Bed Size: 2 Twin beds
- MSRP: $116,925
The Thor Axis and Vegas are the same motorhomes. The differences are aesthetic exteriors and interior decors. They refer to these motorhomes as Recreational Utility Vehicles (RUV), since they are built on Ford van chassis. These class A motorhomes have dimensions and features that would interest class B plus buyers.
Like a class B, the two twin beds can convert to a king-size bed. For a smooth ride, the front suspension is independent of each other. The rear storage bay is extra large and can be accessed on either side and the rear hatch.
