Here is a quick and easy guide on the different types of RVs you see out on the road. Fun Town RV has provided pictures of brands we carry so you can see all different types out there. There are many different styles to choose from that will fit all your camping and traveling needs!
First Steps Research
Campers come in all sizes that can suit every buyer’s need, but research and thought need to go into what you buy. You have many questions to figure out that would meet your requirements before investing in an RV. Here are some questions to consider when researching:
- How many people would you be traveling with?
- Do you need to upgrade your car for your new RV?
- Do you want full-time living or a weekend getaway?
- Do you prefer new or used?
The first step in researching RVs is understanding the different types. There are several types of RVs out there that will fit your needs. Campers can range in size and weight from as small as seven feet to as large as 45 feet, and that’s before you add the length of your towing vehicle. You’ll find the RV that best fits your needs by how you will be living and working with the space. Below will be listed some of the RV types that Fun Town RV carries that will help you understand more about the RVs we sell.
Here are the ranges of weights and lengths of the different RV Types we carry; these lengths and weights are before the added length of the towing vehicle and added weight of supplies to the RV. Please refer to our dry weight section and your towing vehicle section for more information.
Fifth wheel:
- Length: 25 – 45 Ft.
- Dry Weight: 5.5K – 20K Lbs.
Fifth Wheels have amenities you see at home: a big pantry, massive bedroom, washer-dryer prep, and more. Fifth Wheels are great for full-time living with their spacious living spaces. The amenities you see in some of these RVs are bigger refrigerators and kitchens compared to smaller campers. You might look for other features if you plan to live in an RV full time, like washer-dryer hookups and more storage options.
In fifth wheels, you should pay attention to how many people you intend on bringing on the road. If you plan on bringing your kids, you might want to consider a bunkhouse floor plan. Fifth wheels commonly come with a bunkhouse. There is a range of floorplans that you can come to expect with a fifth wheel. Fifth Wheels are ready to take on any of your needs that need to meet when you choose your next RV.
Travel trailer:
- Length: 13 – 40 Ft.
- Dry Weight: 1.2K – 10K Lbs
Travel Trailers for all experience levels. Campers vary in length and weight; many floor plans to choose from, and you’ll always be able to find the perfect travel trailer.
Travel Trailers range from couple’s coaches to bunkhouses. Couple’s coaches tend to be smaller in length due to not needing the extra size for the bunkhouse; the trailers are great lightweight models for a quick weekend getaway. Travel Trailer floor plans have seen with either a bunkhouse, rear living or rear kitchen, or rear bath. Bunkhouses tend to take up the whole back end or split the space with the bathroom; the bunk beds are double or single. Rear living and Rear Kitchen tend to be in couple’s coach since there would be no room for a bunkhouse; this also applies to rear bath travel trailers.
Toy Hauler
Travel Trailer
- Length: 14 – 38 Ft.
- Dry Weight: 1.8K – 11K Lbs.
Toy Hauler Travel Trailers are a smaller option to haul all of your off-roading toys. You’ll be able to load up and head out for exciting adventures with all your off-roading toys! These toy haulers are great for people wanting to be out all day and have a roof over their heads. The garage in most models is part of the main living area in travel trailers; some models have a separate garage available. The garage offers a large booth dinette that can be raised or transformed into another sleeping area.
Toy Haulers are built with front bedroom floor plans so the garage can be in the back for easy access. The living room can be shifted around to make room for your vehicles or move back in place once you are ready to relax for the night. Spacious living spaces that toy hauler travel trailers provide are great for families because of how much room you can spread out with your family in one of them. You’ll be able to bring your mountain bikes and accessories, motocross equipment, and even your four-wheelers! RV brands designed their Toy Hauler Travel Trailers living areas to have the most space possible for you to pull in your off-roading vehicle and set out for the next adventure.
Fifth Wheel
- Length: 36 – 46 Ft.
- Weight:10K – 16.5K Lbs.
Fifth Wheel Toy Haulers are ready to head out on the next off-road adventure. Fifth Wheel garages can hold all of your off-roading toys or even a small car. Fifth Wheels have designated garages that are separated from the living areas. A few models don’t have the same garage as an average toy hauler, but you have bigger interior spaces like separated living and kitchen spaces. Models with floor plans like that won’t be able to fit a car but can accommodate your mountain bikes or dirt bikes or even more storage for long-term RV living and traveling!
The living areas of Toy Hauler Fifth Wheels might be more condensed to make room for the garage. They combine the living and kitchen areas into one space with a good-sized bedroom and garage. The garage is designed as a dining, living, or sleeping arrangement. Even though it might be smaller in the living spaces overall, they expect you to open up your garage and use the patio space as an outdoor living space. Fun Town RV have seen RV parking in areas that might not have much outdoor space due to the RV; they get to use that Patio to their advantage.
Motorhome
Class A
- Length: 25 – 45 Ft.
- Weight: 16K – 30K Lbs.
Class A: luxury RVs that are great for groups to go head out and enjoy the countryside with the comforts of home. These RVs are long and spacious; they are the typical RV Motorhome you imagine when some say Motorhome.
Motorhomes are meant for long-term living and traveling. Class As will have a huge kitchen, big bedrooms, and a spacious living area. These RVs typically have household features: a washer-dryer hookup, a massive fridge, and much more! They can pull the car behind them, park your RV and go off exploring the area independently from your RV. These RVs can range from one full bath to two full bathrooms for long-term travel. Motorhomes can have additional sleeping areas in the main living space as well. They can easily add three to four extra sleeping spots to your motorhome. Some motorhome floorplans come with bunkhouses that sleep two people; you could easily sleep up to six comfortably there! You’ll have to research which one fits you best, but when you find the right one, you’ll be able to bring your whole family out on your next adventure!
Class B
- Length: 17 – 24 Ft.
- Weight: 6K – 11K Lbs.
Want to try Van Life but not ready for that much downsizing? Class B is the best fit for you. It’s between Class A and C; Class B’s are known for their smaller size. They are not as big as the motorhomes, but it makes up for you not paying more in gas.
In B’s, the living and sleeping area are combined. They transform and fold out when you need them, then easily collapse back when you’re done for the night. Class B’s are great to go head out and explore the U.S. They are similar to renovated vans but have way more features! They’ll be able to have a bathroom and kitchen; most vans don’t have those built-in since they are smaller compared to Class Bs. A Class B takes out all the hassle of remodeling a van; it’ll be ready to hit the road as soon as you get your new motorhome!
Class C
- Length: 21-41 Ft.
- Weight: 12K – 20K Lbs.
These motorhomes are different from the other ones. They tend to have more defined living spaces and are not as compact as B’s. Class C’s are more likely to have slide-outs that allow you more room to hit the road more comfortably. They are a little more cumbersome when parking at a store when you need to restock your supplies. They’ll have defined rooms you won’t have to worry about making your bed every night after a long day of driving.
These motorhomes are great for couples or small families who want to live long-term in an RV. They have kitchens, full bathrooms, and a great bedroom! You will never have to worry about being uncomfortable with the comforts. These are great for couples who want to go cross country traveling in the U.S while avoiding airports.
Folding Pop-Up Camper
- Length: 8 – 16 Ft.
- Weight: 600 – 4.5K Lbs.
Want to get off the ground but still be a part of nature? Check out folding pop-ups: a tent on wheels! These are great for campers who want to go out year-round but don’t want to be on the wet and cold ground. These trailers will have the basics you’ll need: storage, griddle, optional showers and travel toilet, and so much more!
Pop-Up Campers are great if you want to get off the grid and enjoy the outdoors. Pop-Ups are low maintenance, so you won’t have to worry about anything breaking down while you are out traveling. Folding Pop-Ups are more accessible because they can be towed by many more vehicles, and you won’t have to worry about upgrading your car.
Off-Road
- Length: 8 – 15 Ft.
- Weight: 600 – 6K Lbs.
Off-Road trailers are great for people who want a roof over their head while off-grid. These units can take any rough terrain you throw at them, built with reinforced materials that will be ready to hit every bump and kick up fabric from your car. These are hauled by smaller towing vehicles. These RVs are secure to keep all your hiking material together, built with several compartments that can be locked and easily accessible from the exterior.
These all-terrain vehicles are ready to take any weather. If you want an adventure, try out Fun Town RV’s Off-Road Trailers; these campers are built lightweight and durable. Experience Campers should look into these trailers. They provide small kitchenettes and bathrooms, perfect for easing roughing it off-grid. They are similar to folding pop-up campers, but these are ready to handle all four seasons. It can take on any torrential weather you are presented with at the campsite.
Destination Trailer
- Length: 36 – 43 Ft.
- Weight: 10K – 13K Lbs.
Are you looking into escaping the winter months? Destination Trailers are great RVs to look at; these trailers have all the household amenities that would want for long-term living. Some of them are washer-dryer hookups, residential fridges, oversized bedrooms, and a wine fridge and bar set up! Destination Trailers don’t move like other RVs; they are perfect to park on a piece of land as a guest house or travel to for long periods.
Destination trailers are typically one bedroom with possible extra sleep space like a loft above the main bedroom. These loft spaces can double as sleeping or storage space, which is great for RVs since there is limited storage space. They are great if you want to downsize your life or escape for the season; they have substantial living spaces, a great bathroom and bedroom, and a fantastic residential kitchen setup. Since these trailers are longer than the average RV, you can expect more household utilities would be available for installation like washer-dryers, ample fridge options, optional dishwasher hookups, and more! Destination Trailers offer larger areas like big bathrooms, which would allow dual vanity, more oversized showers, and easier maneuverability in the bathroom. Destination Trailer’s large wall slides to allow for wider RVs great for long-term living. Many brands’s also added slides to the bedroom to give you massive bedroom space—the washer and dryer are located in the bedroom on some floorplans.
Sleeping Arrangements: How to Figure Out How Many you Need
When choosing your RV, a good rule of thumb is to remember who will be coming with you. If you are expecting your whole family to come, a bunkhouse would be a wise choice to look at. Fifth wheels, toy hauler fifth wheels, and destination trailers are more likely to have loft space. Loft spaces can sleep two to three if there is one loft space. Bunkhouse and Loft spaces are ideal storage spaces. Sometimes Double bed Bunkhouses in travel trailers have storage options under the beds for kayaks or container bins that are great for storing all your camping supplies!
Look at the specs for an RV; RV dealers will say the most an RV can sleep. To figure out your sleeping arrangements, you’ll want to determine how many people would be actively staying in the RV. RVs will rest comfortably for two less than the maximum number of sleeping spaces available. For example, if it says sleeping four to six, it would mean more than four people would sleep comfortably. The lower number refers to actual beds that would be available; the higher number would be for sleeping on a fold-out couch or on the booth dinette that transforms into a bed for the night. Bigger Travel Trailers can easily sleep six to eight people; most people would think only fifth wheels can sleep that many but travel trailers can easily do that. The average RV goes up by two occupants; remember that those extra two might be sleeping on the fold-out couch or booth/U-shaped dinette in the main living area. Below are the typical occupant and floor plans that work when looking for an RV:
- 2 – 4: Couple’s coach floor plan + living area
- 4 – 6: Front bedroom + bunk beds + living areas
- 6 – 8: Front bedroom + bunkhouse + living areas
- 8+: Front bedroom + bunkhouse + possible loft space + living areas
All RV types have a range of sleeping accommodations you must consider when researching. If there will be many people in one RV, then that also needs to be thought about with how everyday life will interact. If it’s just you and your partner, you’ll probably be OK with just one bathroom that is attached or that you have to walk through to access your room, but if you have kids, you don’t want to be woken up in the middle of the night bathroom break if that’s the only bathroom. There are options in floor plans where the main full bathroom is in the bedroom, but there might be a half bath attached to the bunkhouse or the living space with easy access. Floorplans expecting many people to sleep and live generally mean the sleep 6+ floor plans are more likely to have a bath and a half to two full bathrooms.
Some questions to ask yourself regarding sleeping accommodations:
- How many people will be traveling with you?
- If you live long-term in your RV, how will you function in the RV?
Towing Capacity and Towing Vehicles
When figuring out your RV, do you have to find your vehicle’s towing capacity? Bigger the RV, the more towing strength you need. Fun Town RV has a towing guide current to as recently as 2021 models. The RV weight is the dry weight, meaning it doesn’t have all your supplies yet. Depending on what you are storing in your RV, it could mean that you are adding 200 pounds to even the weight of a car by figuring out what you expect to bring before buying your RV. This only applies to Towable RVs; some motorhomes can tow a vehicle behind them, but you should figure out their towing capacity before getting stuck somewhere.
If you are upgrading to a bigger RV, you should assume your current car isn’t going to work. You have to research the towing capacity threshold for the different weight classes of RVs. Your towing vehicle manufacturer can help confirm if your current vehicle can tow your preferred RV. In recent ads from truck dealers showcasing their heavy-duty trucks, they show that their trucks are pulling Toy Hauler Fifth Wheels; this shows they are ready to tow even more extra weight.
For Example, recent Sierra Heavy Duty:
There are several types of hitches, and we can help you figure out the best option for your RV. When figuring out what is the best way to tow your RV, Fun Town RV will help you figure out the best hitch for you.
Budgets: What makes Sense to You
When deciding which type of RV works best for you, does a smaller entry-level one work better for your first one? At Fun Town RV, we have several great entry-level RVs: Gulf Stream Kingsport Ultra Lite 248BH (picture: right) and Heartland Trail Runner 261JM are great travel trailers for first-time RVers with families. Other great ones would be Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf 287BH and Crossroads RV Cruiser Aire CR32BH (picture: below) for fifth wheels. Some great couple’s coach models are suitable for entry-level RVs that are affordable and spacious. Even some tiny couple’s coaches campers are great for any single person or couple out there!
If you plan to be often traveling or living long-term in your RV, it might be worth investing in a new RV due to having low upkeep at the beginning plus the manufacturer warranty that comes with the camper. The manufacturing warranty help covers any issues that didn’t show during an inspection, but after being used, it came about. A new trailer will automatically return on investment if you start traveling immediately. What about a used option? Used options go fast; sometimes, you can find a current model year used unit, but they go fast. Used Units might already have maintenance due to the unit age and parts.
If you are looking for your next RV but want some tips on what to look for? Check in to Fun Town RV’s blog we’ll have more blogs on what to look for or understand RVs better! Come in to your local Fun Town RV or contact us today; we at Fun Town RV are excited to help you find your next RV of your dreams!
