Top 7 Best Class C RVs Under 25 Feet

Sharing is caring!

Are you on the hunt for the best Class C RVs under 25 feet? We’ve rounded up seven to help you narrow down your search.

Class C RVs are the most common rental RV for good reason- they’re easy to drive even with no experience RVing. Therefore, class Cs make great RVs for beginner RVers.

Class Cs are also popular family RVs due to the extra over-cab sleeping area that allows you three separate sleeping areas in a relatively small RV.

If you’re looking for something with some of the nimbleness of a class B campervan, but with some of the comforts of a class A motorhome, you may find that the class C RV offers the best of both worlds. 

They’re generally still small enough that you don’t need a tow vehicle, which reduces your overall length and startup costs.

Class C RVs generally come in lengths from 22 feet to 40 feet. The bigger Cs are commonly called “Super Cs” and the smaller hybrids are called a “B+”. 

Today, we’re looking at standard class C RVs ranging from 22 to 25 feet, which are technically the “compact” class of Cs.

Is a Class C RV Right For You?

A class C RV might be right for you if you’re looking for an RV that’s easy to drive, fuel-efficient, or a good value for the money. 

Especially for compact class Cs, they’ll be about the easiest RV to drive other than a campervan. Their average fuel economy is 14-18 mpg (diesel versions could be slightly higher), which is more and more important with rising fuel costs.

And class Cs are often said to be the best bang for your buck, as they come with many nice amenities, but a smaller price tag compared to other motorized RVs.

You will pay more for a Class C than for some campervans, but you also get the extra square footage to justify it.

Let’s review our top seven best class C RVs under 25 feet, so you can get a sense of whether or not a class C RV will work for your camping needs.

Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22M or 22R

These two Minnie Winnie models are the only ones that come in under 25 feet, and the models are slightly different so let’s take a look at both of them.

Most notably, the 22R does not have any slide-outs and has smaller black and grey tanks (best for those who will visit RV parks and have hook-ups).

• Price: 22M – $126,000;  22R – $120,000
• Length: 22M – 24’ 5″, 22R – 23’ 10”
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Sleeps: 5 (both)
• Tanks: 22M: Fresh water: 40 gallons  Black Tank: 40 gallons  Grey Tank: 45 gallons
• Tanks: 22R: Fresh water: 40 gallons  Black Tank: 21 gallons  Grey Tank: 24 gallons
• Slides: 22M: 1 bedroom slide  22R: no slides
• Chassis: Ford E350 350-hp 7.3L V8
• Towing Capacity: 7,500 lbs (both)
• Warranty: Basic: 12 months, 15,000 miles (both)
  

Personally, I find the large tanks sizes on the 22M pretty attractive. For a couple out on the road, those thanks will hold more than enough to be off-grid for several days at a time.

This just opens up more opportunities to explore with more freedom and fewer worries, and I’m always a fan of that.

Winnebago Outlook 22C and 22E

In a slightly more affordable Winnebago model, the Outlook offers two floorplans under 25 feet- the 22C and 22E. 

The Outlook 22C model has one bedroom slide, similar to the Minnie Winnie 22M, and the Outlook 22E model has no slides, similar to the Minnie Winnie 22R.

• Price: starting at $92,000
• Length: 24’ 8” (both)
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Sleeps: 5 (both)
• Tanks: Both: Fresh water: 37 gallons  Black Tank: 41 gallons  Grey Tank: 41 gallons
• Slides: 22C: 1 bedroom slide  22E: no slides
• Chassis: Ford E350 350-hp 7.3L V8
• Towing Capacity: 7,500 lbs (both)
• Warranty: Basic: 12 months, 15,000 miles (both)

Once again, the tanks sizes here do not disappoint. Fresh and grey are only slightly smaller than our first Winnebago option, but nothing to sneeze at.

This will still certainly allow for as much adventure as you can manage.

Gulfstream BT Cruiser 5245

With a full side slide-out, this “compact” class C RV doesn’t feel small. The large slide-out creates visual space as well as floor space for moving about this RV comfortably. 

Gulfstream is the manufacturer of our 2004 motorhome and even today they’re still known for the tradition of hand-crafting their own cabinets and RV walls in-house. 

We appreciate this level of craftsmanship in our RV, and we’re sure you would in this Cruiser model, too.

• Price: starting at $107,000
• Length: 24’ 10”
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Sleeps: 5
• Tanks: Fresh water: 37 gallons  Black Tank: 38 gallons  Grey Tank: 38 gallons
• Slides: Full driver’s side slide (bedroom, closet, and dinette)
• Chassis: Ford E-350, 6.8L V-10 Engine
• Towing Capacity: 7,500 lbs
  

While the tanks sizes here are a bit smaller than our first two choices, they are not restrictive at all in terms of off-grid opportunities.

For a couple on the go, it’s still more than enough to manage average water usage.

For a family, it could become an issue after a few days depending on steps taken to minimize water consumption. (Who needs showers, right?)

Gulfstream Conquest 6237

The Conquest comes in a dozen floor plan options, but for the sake of comparison, we’ll look at the base model (6237), which is a bit more budget-friendly and makes a good family RV. 

The Gulfstream website calls the Conquest “affordable family fun” and “a good choice if you want to turn family vacations into travel adventures.”

• Price: starting at $80,000
• Length: 24’
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Sleeps: 5
• Tanks: Fresh water: 37 gallons  Black Tank: 31 gallons  Grey Tank: 31 gallons
• Slides: No slides
• Chassis: Ford E350, 7.3L Premium V-8 Gas Engine
• Towing Capacity: 7,500 lbs
  

Does a smaller price tag equal smaller tanks? Well, in this case, yes.

Losing about 10 gallons of tank capacity is no laughing matter, so I can’t say I’m impressed with these numbers.

However, for the average person who spends far more nights at RV parks than boondocking, it will likely be a non-issue.

Thor Motor Coach Four Winds 22B

This Thor Motor Coach offers the highest towing capacity of all the small class Cs on this list. 

It also offers the widest dinette, a 76-inch “dream dinette,” where adult humans could actually sleep.

But the strange thing is, this RV only has 4 seatbelts and therefore is only rated to sleep 4 (even though it has a queen bed in the back, and an over-cab sleeping area, too). 

• Price: starting at $118,650
• Length: 24’ 1”
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Sleeps: 4 
• Tanks: Fresh water: 40 gallons  Black Tank: 29 gallons  Grey Tank: 25 gallons
• Slides: One bedroom slide-out
• Chassis: Ford (7.3L V8) or Chevrolet chassis (6.0 L V8)
• Towing Capacity: 8,000 lbs
  

In addition to this strange disconnect between bed capacity and seatbelts, the unexpectedly small tanks coupled with the higher price tag are a bit of a turn-off.

25 gallons of grey tank capacity just doesn’t strike us as adequate for many types of outings. I hope they upgrade those tanks on newer models.

Forest River Forester 2401B MBS

This model is technically five inches over the limit defined here, but we’ve included the Forester because it drives very much like a compact Class C and it’s a great RV.  

It’s also the only “Certified Green” RV on this list, and we wanted to include an eco-conscious option.

This RV is small enough that you don’t really need to tow a vehicle, but if you know you’ll want to tow, be aware of the limited 4,200 lbs towing capacity on this RV.

• Price: starting at $113,000
• Length: 25’ 5”
• Fuel: Diesel
• Sleeps: 4
• Tanks: Fresh water: 35 gallons  Black Tank: 32 gallons  Grey Tank: 32 gallons
• Slides: Full driver’s side slide-out (bed, storage, and dinette)
• Chassis: Mercedes Benz Sprinter
• Towing Capacity: 4,200 lbs
• Warranty: Basic: 12 months, 12,000 miles
  

While I think this is probably the most attractive-looking Class C of the bunch, the tank capacities coupled with the higher price tag give me pause.

Having said that, we have to keep in mind that this is a diesel engine on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis, so the higher price tag should be expected.

The overall longevity of the diesel engine should more than justify the cost.

NeXus RV Triumph 24T

Measuring exactly 25 feet, this NeXus RV model feels spacious due to the full-side slide-out.

Plus, it’s built in the RV capital of the US, Elkhart IN, with an “all steel- composite” construction.

NeXus says their construction is “up to 72% stronger for safer rides while using steel in the superstructure, minimizing potential water damage while maximizing thermal and sound insulation.”

• Price: starting at $120,000
• Length: 25’
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Sleeps: 5
• Tanks: Fresh water: 40 gallons  Black Tank: 28 gallons  Grey Tank: 28 gallons
• Slides: Full driver’s side slide-out (bed, storage, and dinette)
• Chassis: Ford 7.3L V8
• Towing Capacity: 7,500 lbs
  

While I do like the steel construction feature and the full driver’s slide-out for maximum space, I definitely feel they could have done much better on the black and grey tank capacity to match up with competitors and give buyers more options in their camping style.

But all in all a solid option with a strong V8 engine that you will probably want to take a closer look at.

Wrapping Things Up

Let’s do a quick recap and comparison of the compact class C RVs mentioned here.

All of these excellent options for a class C RV sleep either four or five people, fairly comparable across the board. 

And it seems the seatbelts are really more the limiting factor than available spaces to catch some shut-eye.  

They also all have approximately the same size freshwater carrying capacity, ranging from 35 to 40 gallons.  But the black and grey tank space ranges from 25 to 45 gallons. 

An extra 20 gallons of grey tank space might make a big difference in your ability to stay off-grid as long as you want. 

So if the off-grid style of camping known as boondocking is something you’d like to do with your small class C RV, consider these tank space differences.

If towing capacity is important to you, you’ll want to choose wisely as it ranges from 4,200 to 8,000 lbs just with the seven RVs on this list.

And there are both diesel and gasoline fuel options with class C RVs, so if that’s important to you, it may impact the RV manufacturer and models you have to choose from.

Which Class C RV Under 25 Feet Will You Choose?

We’ve heard RVers say that a class C is the most space possible in the shortest length of any type of RV. 

And the RVs on this list are certainly a good example of that, packing in quite a few amenities in 25 feet or less.

But did one model stand out to you? 

If we had to choose, it would be the Forest River Forester. 

We love the diesel engine, especially when you compare the price against these other class Cs and realize it really won’t cost you any extra for it. 

We also love the certified green build (it’s okay you can call us hippies).  And on an RV this size we wouldn’t be worried about the towing capacity. 

We hope this post helps you weigh the pros and cons of compact class C RVs and helps you find the one that’s right for you!

More RV Goodness

Here are a few more RVs you might want to take a look at:

• 7 Small Fifth Wheel Trailers
• Small Campers with Bathrooms
• Top Bunkhouse Travel Trailer Models
• 7 Retro Campers to Check Out

Sharing is caring!