Here you are - ready for new and exciting family adventures! There is one last item on your list: finding the best RV for your family and it hits you. Did you even know there were that many kinds of RV's? You are now browsing options of vans, trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, Class A's, Class B's, Class C's.... And if you look further, you're seeing off-road vehicles, teardrops, tents, bus conversions, destination trailers, Super C's, roof tents, semi-truck trailers, and more.
If that's not enough, you realize the length of your RV is just as important. You start to wonder, does my family need 20 feet, 30 feet, 40 feet or more? It's a lot of information to absorb, I know. I was right there with you before our family of five set on our full-time RVing adventure. My husband and I sat there, baffled at all the vocabulary we did not understand, totally unsure of what we would need to travel comfortably for 15 months with three children. We watched hours of RV reviews on YouTube, visited all sorts of units at the dealership, connected with other RVing families on Instagram, and even visited some friends who were traveling to get a sense of what life on the road really looked like.
Guest Post and Photography by Laura Georgieff
After nearly a year on the road, and after having purchased a fifth wheel, then trading it in for a Class A, we are giving you the complete download on how to pick the best RV for your family. But keep in mind - it is YOUR family! What works for you is different than what works for me, and is based on your needs, desires, traveling style, family size, and personal situation. Let's take a look at what each unit offers, its pros and cons, and who we think it would be good for!
Vans / Class B's - Click Here to Browse Inventory
A van (also known as Class B) is a little larger, and quite a bit taller than a large mini-van. Think of it as a large utility vehicle. It sometimes has a raised roof above the driver's cabin to sleep two kids and generally does not expand to the side. A van is typically around 20ft long, which is a great size to give you the most options for camping in campgrounds and national parks. It is a smaller unit inside, so you need to feel comfortable with spending time in a tighter space and most of your days outdoors. You will also be converting the dinette into a bed at night and needing to pack all things each time you are leaving camp, since you will likely not be pulling another vehicle.
You will love having your own shower, which is usually shared with the toilet seat and a small sink, a small cooktop to prepare your meals, and have all of your things easily accessible while driving.
Class B Pros:
* Small enough to camp pretty much anywhere
* Requires very little battery power, making boon docking very easy
* Kitchen / bathroom available on driving days
* Super easy to maneuver and great for boondocking
* Only one engine to maintain
Class B Cons:
* Tighter space
* Need to convert into bed daily
* Small storage capacity
* No tow vehicle, you will be moving the whole unit each time you move
Class B Vans are Ideal for:
* Small families with up to 2two kids (make sure it has a pop up to sleep more)
* Adventure seekers loving to boondock
* National park lovers
* Those willing to trade in luxury for nature time
Travel Trailer - Click Here to Browse Inventory
The travel trailers are your entry-level camping unit, and a great way test out camping if you are totally new to it. They are usually cheaper than fifth wheels and motorhomes, while giving you space and a good sense for what life on the road feels like. We love travel trailers for those traveling slower and spending one to two weeks in each spot. They offer basic amenities and can sleep large families, without compromising on space, kitchen appliances, TVs, etc. You will find many models with a bunkhouse sleeping up to four children, as well as a bedroom for the parents. Additionally, the dinette and/or couch will convert into a bed for guests, grand parents, friends, or extra kids.
Travel Trailer Pros:
* Typically the most affordable of all RV types
* Great entry-level unit/full-time
* Available in all sizes to accommodate different family sizes
* Lighter to tow and easier on your gas consumption
Travel Trailer Cons:
* Need to own a vehicle capable of towing the trailer when loaded
* More manual work to set up camp
* Not the quickest to set up and pack up to leave
Travel Trailers are Ideal for:
* The weekend or vacation explorers
* Large or small families
* Smaller budgets
* Families traveling slowly and spending one to two weeks in each place
Fifth Wheel - Click Here for Inventory
A fifth wheel is that interesting-looking trailer that hooks inside the bed of a pick up truck. You have surely seen them traveling down the highway. They are typically larger units up to 45 feet and give you some extra space since a part of it hangs above your truck bed. We love fifth wheels for families. They are designed like a tiny house and very smart with space utilization! We actually full-timed in a fifth wheel for nine months prior to switching over to a Class A, and I definitely miss the design. Fifth wheels are wonderful for larger families. They give everyone their own space and come with mid-range amenities. It is not unusual to see an electric fireplace, reclining seats, a kitchen island, king-size bedroom, central vacuum, a full oven and convection microwave, and tons of pass-through storage for all of the extras a family needs to truck along.
The unit we owned had an actual office with a desk and my husband had hung his double monitors to the wall, for a fun office on the road. We loved the wifi antenna and the kids having separate sleeping areas, giving them privacy to sleep as we could still enjoy our living room after bedtime.
Fifth Wheel Pros:
* Very smart and efficient space
* Can accommodate up to six with minimal bed making + guests or extra kids when converting dinettes and/or couches into beds
* Lots of cargo storage, as well as indoor storage
* Many floorpans to choose from
* Good stability on the road
* Easy to maneuver when towing with powerful-enough truck
Fifth Wheel Cons:
* Need a large and powerful truck with towing capabilities for fully-loaded unit (i.e., recommend Ram 3500, Ford F350, etc.)
* Watch for loaded weight as fifth wheels are easy to overload
* Tow vehicle is large and becomes your car while at destination
Fifth Wheel's are Ideal for:
* The full-timing family
* Large families
* People working from the road
* Those looking for a "home" on the road with few compromises
Toy Hauler - Click Here to Browse Inventory
We have seen so many families traveling in a toy hauler since hitting the road full-time. A toy hauler is shaped like a fifth wheel, attaching to the back of your pick up truck. The main difference is that it has a garage. You can easily spot them on the road - look for the flat back and two or three axles to sustain the weight. So why do families love them? It's the garage space! Many families use the garage space as a kids area. It usually comes with a large table, ideal for homeschooling. That table converts into a double bed, and another double bed lowers from the ceiling, transforming the garage into a bedroom for four or more. In reality, we see many families completely renovating their toy haulers. Some choose to transform their master bedroom into the kids room and the garage into their master. Others turn the garage into really cute bunk rooms.
We love that toy haulers generally have two bathrooms and that it fits so many with a flexible floorpan. We often see a smaller car, or an ATV, bikes, and more toys, come out of the toy hauler as RVers pull in to their campsite. We also love that the garage door can be raised into a deck, adding several feet of living space. If this is the route you are taking, I suggest purchasing a soft enclosure for the deck, to turn it into an extra room!
Toy Hauler Pros:
* Functional space
* Usually two bathrooms
* Ideal for traveling with toys
* Added square footage with back deck
* Good stability on the road
* Easy to maneuver when towing with powerful-enough truck
Toy Hauler Cons:
* Kitchen and living room areas feel smaller and darker
* Usually no table in the kitchen/living room
* Requires a little work and creativity to turn the garage into a cozy space
* Need a large and powerful truck with towing capabilities for fully-loaded unit (i.e., recommend Ram 3500, Ford F350, etc.)
* Tow vehicle is large and becomes your car while at destination
Toy Haulers are Ideal for:
* Large families
* Families with older children / teens
* The full-timing family
* Those hauling toys (i.e., ATVs, dirt bikes, small cars, etc.)
Class A's - Click Here to Browse Inventory
Class A's are the bus-looking RV's. They are also commonly called motorhomes. You will notice them with their large flat windshields, and usually towing a smaller vehicle behind them. We started our full-time RV travels with a fifth wheel and moved onto a Class A seven months down the road. We could never imagine going back to a fifth wheel, though there are definitely a few aspects we miss. However, traveling in a Class A is of utmost comfort and ideal for families, especially when putting in lots of miles and moving often.
We love that all of our things are accessible while on the road. Homeschooling the kids while driving - check. Pulling out a quick snack at a rest stop - check. Bathroom breaks while driving - check. Playing a Netflix movie for the kids on a long drive - check. Our Class A has also revolutionized our boondocking game. The batteries are strong enough to last us a couple of days before starting the generator, which can keep us going for days without having to hookup. Lastly, the quality of the finishes is unparalleled. Because we purchased a Diesel engine, the chassis is able to withstand more weight and our motorhome has tile flooring, floor heating, actual wood trims, and upgrades like instant water heater, extra counter space, and more.
Our time spent on the road also got upgraded with the air suspension, versus the hard drive in a truck. It is all so much more comfortable, though the driving experience was easier in the truck + fifth wheel combo. Lastly, you will need to purchase a small vehicle to tow, since taking your Class A to the grocery will prove cumbersome. While that increases your initial investment, it is neat to drive something smaller, that fits in regular parking spots at the store! Yes, we do miss the closing bedroom/office, since we now have a child sleeping in the living room, but we wouldn't trade our Class A for any other camper types!
Class A Pros:
* Very comfortable drive with air suspensions
* Kids have space to do homework or play / draw / read / rest while driving
* On-board generator makes boon docking easy
* Travel days made easy with everything on hand
* Shorter height than fifth wheels / toy haulers
* Upgrades in materials and quality
* Very quick setting up and packing up on travel days
* Ability to tow a smaller vehicle, making driving at destination easier and cheaper
* Huge gas tank (~100 gallons) for hours of uninterrupted driving
Class A Cons:
* Slightly more tiring driving experience for the driver
* Floor plan not ideal for larger families
* Lack of bunkhouse models in Diesel engines
* Slightly shallower cargo space for storage
* Need to purchase a small vehicle to tow
Class A's are Ideal for:
* The full-timing family
* Those moving every few days and traveling quickly
* Putting in lots of miles and having long driving days (diesel engines)
* Boondockers
* Those enjoying higher end finishes
Class C - Click Here for Inventory
Class C's are quite a bit smaller than Class A's and a little bit bigger than Class C's, making it a little bit of an A and B smoothie. The are more mobile than a Class A, since they are smaller and react more like a car. While some Class C's have small slide outs, many don't, and the space inside is fairly small - think somewhere between the vans and a small Class A. Boondocking is super easy with a Class C since everything runs on your batteries. Most Class C's come with 12V refrigerators and most everything will run on your car batteries. We spent a month in a Class C, road tripping through Australia, and never had to spend a dime on a campground or hook ups. We were totally self sufficient, which was amazing. We found that a Class C is the perfect balance between indoor space, comfort, flexibility, convenience, and ideal for traveling for shorter amounts of time as a family.
Class C Pros:
* Easy to pack and go
* Simple to drive and maneuver with minimum experience
* Better gas mileage than other RV types
* Don't have to tow a vehicle
* Easy to boondock/camp without hook ups
Class C Cons:
* Less space and intimacy
* Generally no bedroom with door
* Generally need to convert dinette into a bed
* Smaller gas tank mean more frequent stops
Class C's are Ideal for:
* Smaller families with young children (two to three small kiddos)
* The weekend and vacation campers
* Road tripping
I hope this guide helps you make sense of the different types of RVs and options for your family. RVing and roadt ripping with kids is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever live. It brings so much joy to all and allows families to make incredible memories, grow closer together, and learn as they go.
Picking the right equipment is incredibly important and will make all of the difference once you hit the road. Make sure everyone is comfortable with your choice of RV and happy with heir little private corner. Do not hesitate to make it look more like you and each child. We let the two kids sleeping in the bunk, pick a stick-and-peel wallpaper to make that little space their own, and they've been loving it. It may seem like very little, but it made those few square feet feel like home for them. With the right set up, you will be ready for new and exciting adventures, and I am so excited to see where this all takes you!
Bio
Laura is a full-time RVing mom of three. After traveling around the world, Laura and her family started touring the U.S. in their fifth wheel, before settling on a Tiffin Phaeton Class A found at La Mesa RV. They are chasing the national parks and you can follow their adventures on Instagram and on their family travel blog.
