The downside? Size: 22 to 40 feet. Weight: 7, to 20, pounds. Details: Fifth wheel trailers are the largest trailers you can tow behind a vehicle. Fifth wheels offer all the space and comforts of a Class A RV — including slide outs, bathrooms, and even multiple bedrooms — but they also require a pickup truck with a specifically fitted hitch. This type of RV is best for someone who wants all the amenities of a large Class A, but wants to tow it and then store it when not in use.
Size: A few feet longer than your truck. Weight: 1, to 5, pounds. Details: Truck campers like the one pictured above are best for traveling off-the-grid for weeks, months, or even years. Four-wheel-drive capabilities and burly suspension mean that these campers can go anywhere but have limited storage and only the most basic amenities. There are also truck campers with more amenities meant for regular campground stays; these often use a rear door and can include an overhead sleeping cabin.
Options for truck campers include long and short beds, hard-side and pop up, as well as slide outs. Already a subscriber? Log in or link your magazine subscription. Account Profile.
Sign Out. This Class B Sportsmobile camper van sleeps a family of six and has plenty of storage for gear and food. Photo: Lucy Beaugard. Photo: Courtesy of Volkner Mobil. The size can be an issue for a driver who's not used to handling something so gigantic on the road, and you often must find RV parks and campgrounds that can handle a much larger rig. Class B motorhomes are the smallest motorhome type. They are also known as van campers and look like an oversized family van on the road.
Class B's are easy to park, use less fuel than Class A motorhomes, and make boondocking parking for free and dry camping easier for adventurers looking to travel off the beaten path. This is a blessing and a curse. Since Class B's are smaller, they are cheaper and easier to start with, especially when it comes to gas mileage and parking.
If you have a larger family or friends who want to travel with you, a Class B isn't going to get the job done when it comes to comfortable space to travel in.
Twin beds and sofa beds are common in these motorhomes. They look like a larger version of the van camper with an overhead cabin above the driver and passenger seats for extra sleeping or storage accommodations. Class C motorhomes give you more space than Class B motorhomes and come with all the luxuries you'd expect in a Class A motorhome. These types of motorhomes are perfect for couples or a group of friends looking to hit the road.
The affordability of the Class C motorhome makes it a popular option for those looking to get started in RVing without investing in a towing vehicle to hit the road.
This motorhome type also offers the cabin over the driver and passenger seats, giving you more storage or another sleeping space for travelers. Motorhomes aren't for everyone. When you start RVing, you may not be ready to invest in a self-propelled RV. Trailers offer a cheaper alternative to motorhomes, giving consumers a quicker way to break into the RVing lifestyle.
For those looking for more from their travel accommodations, motorhomes can offer them a way to be comfortable on and off the road that a trailer can't offer. Motorhomes will often be the most expensive option you can pick when it comes to getting started as an RVer. Class A motorhomes are the most massive coaches on the market and they run the gamut as far as extravagance goes. Ranging in size from 26 to 45 feet , they are built on a single chassis that may have more than two axles — heavier coaches will have three axles in total.
The maximum width of Class A motorhomes is around eight feet, though some states allow widths up to eight and a half feet. They weigh an impressive 13, to 30, pounds, which gives some indication of the range of possibilities of their interiors.
Class A motorhomes offer as many luxuries as the average house — and in many cases they can even surpass them! It is not uncommon for these coaches to sport a king-sized bed, two bathrooms, a washer and dryer, a large living area with sofas and reclining chairs, a dining table, a television, a fireplace and a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, microwave, oven, stovetop, refrigerator and freezer.
Many also contain slideouts. These devices, invented in by Mahlon Miller , are more of a space-creator than a space-saver. At the press of a button, a wall and part of the floor of an eight-foot-wide RV slide outward, creating extra square footage in seconds! Some Class A RVs will feature slideouts on opposite walls of the same room, allowing an eight-foot room to expand to nearly 15 feet wide.
Speaking of space, Class As are unparalleled in their cargo capacity. Because the floor of the living space is typically several feet above the chassis, much of the space underneath the camper is reserved for storage.
That means packing things like lawn chairs, sporting equipment, bicycles and outdoor rugs is no problem! The engine of a Class A motorhome can be either gasoline or diesel. Diesels typically have a higher resale value, more torque, a higher towing capacity and a longer lifespan.
Class A motorhomes are very popular with those who plan on spending a lot of time on the road, making them a popular choice for retirees and people with a mobile lifestyle.
They are also a common sight ferrying pop stars and larger touring acts around the country! Due to their size and weight, users quickly learn that these giants are not suitable for all travel destinations. If you do choose a Class A, be sure to make sure your route does not include any steep, potholed roads or sharp turns — more common on back roads.
Also, these may require more electrical amperage than some campground RV Sites offer, which is another detail to investigate before arrival. When you stay at a KOA RV Site, the amperage of a campsites electrical hookup amperages are clearly labeled for each site. While Class A motorhomes are self-contained and do not require towing, many people do choose to tow a car behind their motorhome.
Towing a car is an important consideration, because running errands is easier in a smaller vehicle — you will not want to pack up the entire coach simply to go do some local site-seeing! The main advantage of a Class A motorhome, as you may have guessed, is simply the amount of space it offers. Class A owners do not need to leave any of the conveniences of home behind.
However, the quality and comfort of a Class A motorhome vary along with its price tag. That is a fairly surprising price range — the most expensive motorhome may cost around times more than a basic model! Note that a Class A motorhome may require a special license to drive — read further down for more information on licensing requirements. Class A motorhomes, like any type of RV, have their pros and cons: Pros:.
What sets these little workhorses apart from regular vans is that they are well-equipped camping machines. Designers have poured much ingenuity into making spaces this size livable. Many of these vehicles borrow ideas from nautical technology to save space. They often include a marine shower toilet, which combines a shower, toilet and even a sink into one stall — which may seem a little different, but they work quite well!
The kitchen is quite a bit smaller than that of a Class A motorhome and generally houses only a sink, a small cooktop and minimal counter space. Class Bs often have creatively configured sleeping spaces, as well. While some Class Bs do have a queen-sized mattress in the rear, perhaps suspended over a cargo area, others feature folding sofas and futons to create beds.
One such idea employs a dining table with a bench on either side of it. The table drops down to the level of the two benches, and once you add a few cushions on top, it becomes a sleeping area large enough for one or two people.
Class Bs are best suited for users who have a smaller budget, need a smaller vehicle or want a mobile base for their outdoor camping activities. They are recommended for people who do not have time for many extended trips and for couples traveling without children. Although it is sometimes possible to sleep as many as six people in a Class B motorhome, it can quickly become cramped. Some have designed slideouts into their structures, but most do not offer them — simply put, the campervan is best for a maximum of two people unless you plan on having additional accommodations, such as a tent or cabin.
While Class B motorhomes take an obvious hit in creature comforts and spaciousness when compared to Class As, they compensate considerably in both charm and economy. Campervans fit in regular parking spaces, eat up far less fuel, cost less in tolls and are a fun way to miniaturize everyday life. A campervan can also travel to nearly all campgrounds, no matter how remote or rustic.
There are several other pros and cons to consider when it comes to Class B motorhomes:.
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