RV Overview

Type A motorhomes look much like a bus, with a flat front end and a large rectangular body. Generally, these are high-end vehicles that feature the ultimate in luxury and command the highest prices. Lengths range from 21 to 45 feet. The vast majority of Type A motorhomes are built on commercial chassis.

Type A motorhomes can be powered by gasoline or diesel engines. Larger, heavier motorhomes typically have diesel engines, because they provide more power and better fuel efficiency. Diesel engines are long lasting but are a bit more expensive to maintain. A diesel pusher with a raised-rail chassis, air brakes, and air-ride suspension will deliver a much better ride and have more basement cargo space than a smaller gas-powered motorhome — but at a much higher cost.

A smaller front-engine gas-powered Type A motorhome can be easier for a shade-tree mechanic to maintain. Such motorhomes generally are equipped with leaf-spring suspensions and hydraulic brakes.

The benefits of a Type A motorhome include living space — the most of any motorized RV. The living area is easily accessible from the cockpit. Setting up at a campsite is easy. If so equipped, slideouts can be extended and leveling jacks can be lowered from the comfort of the coach interior, which is nice during inclement weather. Negatives include higher fuel costs, the need for a special driver’s license in some states, and the anxiety some people may feel when driving a large vehicle.

At the opposite end of the motorhome spectrum are Type Bs. They are basically passenger vans that have been converted for use as a motorhome, with a raised roof offering more headroom. Type Bs have fewer amenities because of their size. Generally, they are equipped with a small refrigerator, a water heater, a sink, and a sleeping space, and most have bathroom facilities. They range in size from 16 to 22 feet. The compact size makes them easier to drive, and they offer better fuel economy than their larger siblings. They can travel and park anywhere, so a towed vehicle is not needed for sight-seeing or shopping. Type Bs are best suited for use by one or two people. They can be diesel- or gas-powered.

A slightly larger motorhome, which some manufacturers refer to as a B-plus, is growing in popularity. Such motorhomes are a bit taller and have additional space in a cab-over section, typically used as a sleeping berth or as an entertainment center. B-plus motorhomes often are built on stretched frames, so it’s not unusual to see vehicles as long as 30 feet. Some B-plus motorhomes are capable of sleeping up to four people.

Sometimes known as mini-motorhomes, these vehicles are built on cutaway chassis. The chassis includes the front cab of a van or a pickup truck. Behind the cab, open frame rails are stretched to accommodate coaches of various lengths. The motorhome manufacturer then builds the coach on the frame rails and blends it to the cab. The most popular chassis currently are the Ford E-350 and E-450 series, and other brands and models are used as well. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis has become popular recently in smaller motorhomes (Type Bs and Cs) because of its compact and fuel-efficient diesel engine.

Type Cs are easily recognized by their large cab-over section, which typically is used as sleeping space but may instead be devoted to an entertainment center or additional storage. Many Type C motorhomes have slideouts and feature the latest amenities. The lighter chassis of a Type C limits the weight of a towed vehicle, so that is a consideration. Typically, Type Cs have been popular entry-level motorhomes for families who need sleeping space, although there has been a recent shift toward Type A motorhomes with bunk-bed floor plans. A Type C is smaller and drives more like a large van, which some people prefer. But cockpit areas can be cramped and hard to access from the motorhome’s interior, especially for tall people. And there’s much less basement storage than in a Type A. But given that a Type C is less expensive, it may be your best choice, depending on your budget.

A Super C is a Type C motorhome built on a medium-duty truck chassis, such as one supplied by Freightliner or International. Current models are powered by diesel engines. Super Cs are larger than a regular Type C and have a higher towing capacity. More expansive basement compartments provide plenty of cargo space, which typically is lacking in smaller, gasoline-powered Type Cs.

A Super C offers an excellent driving experience thanks to its extended front axle (compared to a Type A coach’s forward-cab design). The trade-off is that the Super C offers less interior room than a Type A. Super C coaches range from entry-level 32-foot units up to 45-foot, 600-horsepower luxury motorhomes. One popular variation is the toy hauler, which includes a large rear garage for hauling motorcycles, ATVs, or other cargo. Some Type A and C motorhomes also come equipped as toy haulers.

A number of current Type A motorhome owners began RVing with folding camping trailers, commonly known as pop-up campers. The pop-up is a small, lightweight trailer that collapses for easy towing and raises to become a camper. At a campsite, the hard-shell roof is elevated with jacks, and the canvas tent sides unfurl to enclose the RV. Sleeping berths, typically found at each end of the trailer, slide out to provide extra space. The canvas sides don’t provide much insulation, so the pop-up can be hot in summer and chilly on cool days or nights, although a small propane heater is provided. Most pop-ups have a small sink and cooktop, and some do come with bathroom facilities, but other amenities are few.

Because of their size and weight, pop-ups can be pulled behind midsize cars or SUVs; a large truck isn’t required. Campgrounds in bear country may require hard-sided units and therefore may not allow pop-ups. Pop-ups require quite a bit of setup time, which is not much fun when it’s raining. But they are inexpensive and can be a great first step into the RV lifestyle.

Conventional travel trailers are the number-one selling category of RV. Sometimes referred to as “bumper pulls” (a term from the days when bumpers were sturdier), travel trailers require frame-mounted hitches on the tow vehicle.

The trailers range in size from super-compact, lightweight teardrop trailers to 40-foot-long triaxle units with toy hauler garages. Lightweight trailers can be towed behind midsize SUVs, but as a trailer’s size and amenities increase, so does the need for a larger tow vehicle, with 2500/3500-series trucks being the norm. Trailers can be constructed with aluminum siding over wood framing, fiberglass siding over aluminum framing, or even all-aluminum, such as seen in the silver Airstream trailers. Features range from minimal to luxurious, and prices range accordingly.

For someone with a capable tow vehicle, a travel trailer can be a great way to begin the RV experience at less cost than a motorized RV. A load-equalizing hitch is needed for the tow vehicle, and the trailer weight must be matched to the vehicle’s tow capacity, so research this thoroughly before buying an RV.

The expandable travel trailer is a hybrid of sorts. It’s a cross between a conventional travel trailer and a pop-up camper. It has hard sides, but the ends pull out to provide sleeping space typical of a pop-up camper. This allows it to be a bit lighter than a conventional travel trailer and a bit lower in price. Lengths range from 19 to 30 feet.

A fifth-wheel travel trailer, sometimes referred to as a fiver, is similar to a conventional travel trailer but utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mounted in the bed of a pickup truck. A stepped frame raises the nose of the trailer to clear the truck bed. Because the living area of a fifth-wheel overhangs the tow vehicle by several feet, the fifth-wheel has more usable space than a conventional travel trailer in a given campsite size. Fifth-wheels often are equipped with multiple slideouts that increase that space. However, because of the hitch, the truck bed can’t be filled with cargo when towing.

Fifth-wheels tow better than travel trailers. The design of fifth-wheels allows more weight to be carried by the truck, and weight distribution on the hitch is such that the RV is more stable. But fifth-wheels also are heavier than conventional travel trailers; therefore, most fifth-wheels require at least a three-quarter-ton 2500-series pickup truck or a 1-ton 3500-series truck.

A large fifth-wheel that’s quite popular is the triaxle toy hauler. In many such toy haulers, once cargo has been unloaded from the garage, the rear ramp can become a patio deck, complete with an overhead awning and fenced-in rails. The garage also can be used as a second bedroom.

Fifth-wheel floor plans vary widely. Typically, the raised front nose area is for sleeping quarters, and there is a large living room and a large rear window. Some units are as luxurious as high-end Type A motorhomes, but fifth-wheels take longer to set up and may require more time to park. Fifth-wheels are less expensive than motorhomes, but the cost of an adequately sized tow vehicle must be factored in.

A truck camper is a self-contained unit that slides into a pickup truck bed. The truck must be large enough to handle the weight and momentum of a tall RV. Most truck campers have minimal creature comforts beyond the ability to sleep and cook in them, although some models have sanitary facilities as well. Truck campers are popular among people who hunt and fish; they mount the camper into a four-wheel-drive truck and head off to remote locations. And, they can use the trailer hitch for towing a boat or a trailer full of camping supplies. A truck camper can be raised on jacks so the truck can be driven out from under it.

These rugged units are built onto various truck chassis and are designed to be go-anywhere vehicles. They’re not for the typical camper, but for those who need the capability they offer, they are indispensable.

Popular vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz Unimog can be equipped with six-wheel drive, but many units are rebuilt on domestic chassis. They include modified four-wheel-drive pickup chassis, Class 8 tandem-axle chassis, and even specialized military chassis. Expedition vehicles are designed for extreme off-road use, so they are self-sufficient and utilize vault toilets, as well as large solar panel arrays and battery banks.

Another category of motorized RV is the coach conversion, also known as a bus conversion. These luxury-class vehicles are built using bus shells manufactured by companies such as Prevost Car Inc. Buyers work with a conversion company, which purchases the shell and then outfits it to customer specifications. The process of purchasing a coach conversion is akin to building a custom home. The buyer is able to choose the floor plan, the interior décor, the appliances, the technology features, and all other accoutrements, as well as the exterior paint scheme.

Some coach conversions are do-it-yourself projects. Many owners of home-built conversions repurposed a transit bus or a school bus and gave it new life as a recreation vehicle. As with the company-converted vehicles, the possibilities are nearly endless.