Best RV Class Types & Which RV Is Right For Me?

Location: 5400 Fort Campbell Blvd Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Travel Trailer

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Travel Trailer Toy Hauler

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Are you interested in buying an RV, but don’t know where to start?  

You are in the right place.  

We crafted this article to help you identify the different class types and the benefits of each.  

Quick technical note on weight:

RV’s have a specific weight rating that you need to know as it specifically pertains to how much your vehicle can tow. View your vehicle’s weight rating prior to looking for RV’s as it will tell you which RV class type you can start shopping in.  

GVW: Gross Vehicle Weight:  This is the actual weight of your RV and vehicle fully loaded with everything: passengers, cargo, and fluids (fresh, gray, and black water etc).  

UVW: Unloaded Vehicle Weight: This is the weight of the RV when it is shipped from the factory. It will typically include a full tank of gas or propane and engine liquids. 

A travel trailer is a self-contained unit that can be towed by vehicle and used for traveling with the family or full time RVing.

It is typically equipped with living accommodations, such as beds, a kitchenette, and a toilet.

The first trailers were built in the late 1800s to transport goods. In the early 1900s they became popular for recreational use, and today they are used primarily for recreational purposes.

Size (Length & Width): Travel trailers are typically smaller than other RV class types like fifth wheels and motorhomes. They range between 10 feet to above 40 feet. 

Weight: Travel trailers on the low side can have a dry weight of 1,300lbs and a gross weight of 2,200lbs and can be as heavy as 13,860 GVW.  

Pricing: Travel trailers can be cheaper compared to Fifth Wheels and Motorhomes. The pricing on a new Travel Trailer can range from $10,000 and head well north of $100,000.

Options - In addition to the typical travel trailer camper layout, you can also find a different style called a Travel Trailer Toy Hauler. 

Benefits: 

They are also much better for the environment because they use less gas and take up less space.

A new travel trailer can be a great investment for RV owners. It can provide more space to store your belongings, as well as upgrade the living area for the whole family.

However, there are some drawbacks to owning a new travel trailer: it is more expensive upfront, and it will have less resale value than an older trailer.

The positives of owning a new travel trailer outweigh the negatives, though, and every RV owner should consider upgrading their current model with one!

This type of recreational vehicle is also known as a "fifth wheel" or "gooseneck" because it looks like a large fifth gear that attaches to the hitch in the bed of the truck.

They are often used for long-term stays in one location or for vacations. Fifth wheels are sometimes called "camper trailers."

Fifth wheels come in all shapes and sizes, but they’re typically bigger than other RV’s such as slide in campers and most travel trailers. They also have more amenities than other trailers due to the spaciousness of their design.

Size (Length ): Fifth wheels range in size from 25’ to 45’ long. 

Weight: On average, fifth wheels can weigh anywhere from 7,000 lbs to 20,000 lbs empty.  

Pricing: The pricing on new fifth wheels range anywhere from $25,000 to over $100,000. This is a wide range due to the wide range of accommodations, features and how luxurious you would like it to be. 

Benefits Of Fifth Wheels: 

Cons Of A Fifth Wheel: 

In addition to their unique layout and exterior style, some fifth wheels are made as Toy Haulers. This option allows you the ability to open the back end of the camper and store items such as motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs among others. 

If you plan on taking your family on a long trip, then a fifth wheel RV could be a good option.

A slide in camper is an RV type that “Slides” in the bed of your truck. There are two different styles of slide-in campers: A hard sided slide in and a pop-up slide-in camper. 

Size: Can range from 10 to 15’

Weight: Dry weight from 900 lbs to 1,900 lbs. 

Price Range: $5,000 to over $60,000

Benefits of a Truck Camper: 

Cons of a Truck Camper: 

Overall, the truck camper is an amazing RV class type with lots of benefits. As you have read, it’s the easiest to drive and offers the best fuel efficiency. And, you can travel to more locations with this camper than any other class type. 

Motorhomes come in three different types: Class A, Class B and Class C.  

Class A motorhomes are the largest of all motorhomes. They are built on frames similar to a commercial truck chassis or commercial bus.  

Class A motorhomes are commonly used for full time RVing because of the benefits that they have. You can tow a vehicle behind them and they allow you all of the comforts of home wherever you travel.  

Class A Motorhome Weight:  

Class A motorhomes can average 13,000 lbs up to 30,000 lbs. The biggest difference between this RV type compared to all other class types is that you may be required to have a commercial drivers license.  

According to most DMV laws, you will not need a commercial drivers license if the vehicle is UNDER 26,000 lbs. 

As Class A motorhomes can reach over 26,000 lbs, you will need to check with your local DMV for requirements. Typically, a local RV dealership will know as well.  

Benefits of Class A Motorhomes: 

Cons of Class A: 

Called either a class B motorhome or camper van. These RVs look like a luxurious traditional van. They are the smallest of the motorhome classes and because of which, have numerous benefits and advantages. 

Class C motorhomes are the middle motorhome class type. They are larger than a van, but smaller than the Class A. They are known for proving quite a bit of space, but doing so affordably.  

One of the biggest benefits of owning a Class C motorhome is that the vehicle is build off of popular chasis like Ford. Which makes finding RV parts a LOT easier. 

They don’t require you to have a commercial drivers license, so anybody can drive them.

Purchasing a new RV is a big decision. There are many things to consider when purchasing one, such as the pricing, RV Financing, size, weight, type of RV and what you plan to do with it.

By reading the benefits that we listed above of each class type, you should be able to get a good idea of which class type you would like to take a look at. 

So then what?

The best way to narrow down what is the best is to go to a couple local RV Shows and walk around numerous RV’s to see what you like. Talk to the salesman about the pros and cons of each. 

I hope this helps, if you have any questions please feel free to give us a call or write your comment below. We’d love to hear from you. 

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Travel Trailer

Fifth Wheel

Travel Trailer Toy Hauler

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