The Different RV Classes
From: Jeff Radich
Now that you have
answered several key questions, including “towed or self-propelled” and “gas or
diesel,” the next step, choosing which class is best for you, should be a
little easier. However, it is perfectly okay to change your mind, as you learn
more about the world of recreation vehicles, much like I did when I went from
wanting a Fifth Wheel to a Class A,.
Class A
motorhomes are the largest and most expensive of the recreational vehicles.
According to my online survey, nearly one-third (31%) of you who are looking
for an RV want to buy a Class A and nearly two-thirds (60.1%) of you want that
Class A to be gas as opposed to diesel.
There are many
reasons why the Class A motorhome is so popular. One is size. These
homes-on-wheels can run from 28-45 feet long, with an average height of 9-10
feet. The standard width is 8 feet, not counting slide-outs.
The Class A is an
ideal vehicle for all-around family travel, as the full living quarters and all
systems are easily accessible and functional the entire time you are traveling.
Passengers can read, watch TV, snack, play video games, nap, use the bathroom,
and more while on the road. What’s fun for us is to have access to the TV for
the kids while we’re moving down the road.
Technical
features, like bigger batteries, large water and holding tanks, a generous
propane supply, and an on-board generator make these units especially good for
"dry" camping, where hookups are not available.
Most Class A
manufacturers offer at least one model with a diesel engine, but they also come
with a higher price tag. So which engine is better?
This is largely a
matter of personal choice. I chose diesel, and I have been very satisfied with
it, especially on long trips when the power and mileage are major factors. A
good rule of thumb is to consider a diesel engine for any RV greater than 35
feet in length. This is doubly true if your driving adventures take you through
hilly terrain, where a rear-mounted diesel engine’s extra power comes in handy,
giving extra push to the rear wheels.
Today’s diesel
engines are quieter, harder working, and more efficient than ever before. Plus,
diesel engines require less routine maintenance (no tune-ups or spark plug
changes). When work is required, however, it does cost more, and not every shop
is equipped to work on a diesel.
Often referred to
as a “mansion-on-wheels,” the bus conversion is the biggest, most stable, most
customizable rig possible, You can order a bus unit with everything from a
center-island cook top, granite or marble countertops, and a gas range to a round,
king-sized bed and a full-sized Jacuzzi spa tub. No physical luxury is out of
the question. Of course, the price tag is outrageous.
Built as a
luxurious RV on a bus chassis, bus conversions offer a stability that allows
safe travel in windy and wet conditions. The tall profile also allows for true
“basement storage,” since the storage area was built into the chassis to carry
luggage.
The Class C
motorhome, sometimes referred to as a mini-motorhome, provides the conveniences
of a larger motorhome in a scaled-down version at a lower price.
The standard
width is 8 feet (the same as the Class A), although wide-body designs are
available at up to 8.5 feet across. The driver’s compartment is similar to that
of a truck, with an overhead sleeping or storage area atop the cab. Some models
also have a bedroom in the back. From the front, it looks like an extended van
or truck with a big box containing the living quarters.
It is smaller
than the Class A, but it has ample living space and privacy. Equipped with the
full sleeping, kitchen, dining, and bathroom facilities found in a conventional
motorhome, passengers are free to eat, watch TV, play games, take a nap, and
use the bathroom. Because of its scaled-down size, the Class C is intended
mainly for “weekend travelers,” although it can be suited to the full-timer.
Travel trailers
come in a variety of sizes, from small bedrooms-on-wheels to the equivalent of
large apartments with all the amenities. While the smaller units are great for camping,
the larger models provide all the comforts of home and are adaptable for
weekend travelers, family vacationers, or full-timers.
Travel Trailers
are large trailers towed completely behind a tow vehicle. They are hitched to
the back of the tow vehicle, which can be anything that has enough power to
pull the trailer. As with all towables, the unit can be detached at your
destination, freeing up the towing vehicle for short trips and excursions,
errands, and other conventional uses.
These two-level
units can provide the greatest living space of all towable RVs. Their unique
bi-level design places the spacious master bedroom atop the truck bed,
providing more room for family activities in the living section of the unit.
Many Fifth Wheels have large picture windows at the rear offering panoramic
views.
Fifth Wheels
range in length from 21 to over 40 feet, measured from the tip of the front
extension to the rear bumper. Two-thirds of all Fifth Wheels built today have
at least one slideout to enlarge the living, dining, sleeping, or kitchen area.
Typically more luxurious than its Travel Trailer cousin, the Fifth Wheel comes
equipped with all the comforts of home and is adaptable for weekend travelers,
family vacations or full-timers.
While Travel
Trailers hitch to the back of a car, van, or truck, Fifth Wheels mount to a
special device in the bed of a pickup truck. As with all towables, the unit can
be detached at your destination, freeing up the towing vehicle for short trips
and excursions or running errands.
Jeff Radich is a
professional research writer and active RV enthusiast. |
