19.5 vs 22.5 Wheels on Class A Gasser

[lundy]

In 2011 I had my choice of spending $2700 for the larger chassis with 22.5 tires. I stuck with the smaller chassis and the 19.5 tires. Due to poor handling, I spent the savings with the standard build on chassis upgrades (trac bar, sway bars, safety steer). Would I have had the same handling issues with the larger chassis?

[Hikerdogs]

Speaking from our experience I can say the ride and handling of a vehicle equipped with 22.5" tires is far superior to that of one equipped with 19.5" tires.

We've had 2 Winnebago Adventurers. A 2001 Adventurer 32V on a 20,500 lb. Ford chassis (208" wheelbase) with 19.5" tires, and a 2013 Adventurer 32H on a 22,000 lb. Ford chassis (228" wheelbase) with 22.5" tires. They both weighed in at about 19,700 lbs., and both pulled the same 2004 Jeep Wrangler.

The only appreciable difference is the larger weight capacity and more powerful engine of the newer one. They both have similar overall lengths the older one being 32' 11", and the newer being 33' 3".

There are possible undisclosed differences like different suspension components and characteristics I'm not aware of, but they are essentially the same coaches.

The ride on the newer one is unquestionably smoother, there is no wandering or being pushed around by the wind or trucks, and my expectations are that the tires will get more mileage before needing to be replaced. In our case we never replaced tires due to age. The first motorhome went over 100,000 miles in 12+ years. The tires were replaced only due to wear. The new one has only a little over 26,000 miles. The tire condition and tread depth are still the same as new.