One of the first things that we need to do is give you an overview of the many different types of RVs out there, and provide you with some visuals so that when we talk about features and RV types, you can have a mental picture. It will help you visualize when we discuss them in future sections and lessons. We will separate the RVs into the two primary categories (Towable and Motorized), then give a brief description of each type within those categories.

Towables

• Pop-up (also known as tent trailers)
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  • Pop-up trailers are usually relatively small trailers that can fit in many garages. They are easy to transport because they are so small and aerodynamically efficient when folded up. When you arrive at your campsite, you open up the trailer and expand what is usually fabric material to dramatically increase the size of the trailer. In more recent years, we have seen hard sided pop up trailers. Most pop-up trailers are used for short trips and weekenders, but some will travel in them for longer periods. When collapsed, some will be as small as 10' long, but others might be 20' long double axle with a slide out room, or even have a cargo area for a motorized toy.
• Hybrid
  • Hybrid trailers are a mix of a pop-up or other expandable features with a more traditional hard sided trailer. This provides more of the storage capacities and ease of set up of a hard sided trailer, but provides extra space without a lot of extra weight by having a collapsible fabric extension.
• Travel trailers (teardrop, normal and airstream)
  • Also called caravans in some countries
    
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    • Hard sided travel trailers can vary dramatically in size from a 15' teardrop shaped trailer than can be towed by a small SUV, to a 40' long trailer with a toy hauler garage in the back requiring a big truck. Most commonly seen in the 20-30' length, with hard sided walls they will have more cupboards and storage, and will generally be better insulated than a trailer with fabric walls like in pop-ups. Some travel trailers have sections of walls that slide out to create a more roomy feel. Noteworthy, that when you see the length of a travel trailer (or pop-up and hybrid) that length will include the length of the 'A-frame' hitch area in front of the actual box that contains the living space. That area usually is about 3-4 feet, so if you have a 23' travel trailer, the inside will be a bit less than 20'
• 5th wheel (normal and toy-hauler)
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  • Fifth wheel trailers are very popular with full time RVers, but can of course be enjoyed by folks using them for shorter trips. Fifth wheel trailers get their name from how they attach/hitch to the tow vehicle in the bed of a truck with a special type of hitch, often similar to semi-trucks. You will definitely need a truck to tow a fifth wheel. They range from 25' - 45' in length and tend to feel very homey inside because of the taller ceilings and the floorplan/layouts offered. Many have sections of the walls that slide out to expand the living space when parked, and some have garage spaces for carrying large motorized toys and might even have elevated deck areas when set up at a campsite. Since the hitch is underneath the living area of the trailer, the length of a fifth wheel trailer is more true to living space. A 36' fifth wheel will actually be almost 36' of interior space.
• Park models
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  • Park models are mobile home type trailers that are intended to stay in a single location for extended periods, usually years at a time. They often have large sliding doors like stick and brick homes, and usually do not have water storage tanks because they are meant to be hooked up in a single location.

Motorized

• Class A Gas
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  • Class A motorhomes are the motorhomes that look like busses. Class A gas motorhomes are powered by gas engines and are therefore generally smaller and lighter than their diesel engined family members. They range from 26' to 38' long and are generally built on chassis ranging from 19,000 lbs to 26,0000 lbs gross vehicle carry capacity. Many newer gas class A motorhomes will have slide outs that can expand the living space when parked
  • In general, if there is an opening in the front of the motorhome to allow air to the radiator, it is a gas motorhome. There are a few front engine diesel class A motorhomes out there, and a very small percentage of gas pusher motorhomes out there, but most of the time, front engined class A motorhomes are gas powered.
• Class A Diesel (regular and tag)
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  • Class A motorhomes are the motorhomes that look like busses. Class A diesel motorhomes are usually powered by a diesel engine in the rear of the vehicle and are therefore called diesel pushers. They are generally larger, heavier, and more expensive than similar appearing class A gas powered motorhomes. They range from 28' to 45' long and are generally built on chassis ranging from 24,0000 lbs to 54,000 lbs gross vehicle carry capacity. Many newer class A motorhomes will have slide outs that can expand the living space when parked
  • If the motorhome has three axles, it is considered a 'tag' axle motorhome. The third axle helps carry the extra weight of large motorhomes and provides a smoother ride.
• Class B
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  • Class B motorhomes are generally a van conversion. They start with a van chassis and build in RV kitchen, bath and sleeping areas. They are very nimble RVs as they drive like normal vans, but their size will also limit the living space inside.
• Class B+
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  • • Class B+ are slightly larger van conversions that will have a higher roof line, and might be slightly wider than a normal class B, but are still built on a van chassis.
  • Class C
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  • Class C are a very popular type of RV and probably the most common motorized RV you'll see out on the road. Most of the rental RVs that you see with the rental company branding all over them are class C motorhomes. They start with a cab and frame of a truck or heavy duty van chassis, then build a wider and taller RV box behind and above the cab area. Class C RVs have a sleeping area above the driving/cab area of the RV. They range in length from just over 20 feet to around 31 feet in length. Newer model Class Cs will often also have slide outs to increase the living area.
• Class Super C
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  • As the name implies, a Super C, is a large C Class motorhome. It is built with the same principle as the regular C, but is built on a larger and heavier capacity chassis with more powerful engines and higher towing capacities.
• Truck Camper
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  • Truck campers are campers that slide into the bed of a truck. Some might be as basic as a shell, but we are mostly referring to the larger units that allow you to stand up in them and have kitchen, bath and sleeping areas. Some larger campers even have slide outs, but you will need a big truck for those. Some lighter weight versions have fabric areas of the walls that allow you to lift/pop-up the roof when set up (like the one pictured above). These also allow a lower height when traveling for better fuel economy and to allow you to drive into areas with lower height restrictions, for example if you were going off road in areas with trees.