Luxury Class-A Motorhome (Diesel)

Class A Motorhome Overview

The Class A motorhome, also commonly referred to as the conventional motorhome, is the largest, most luxurious of the motorized RVs -- a virtual "home-away from-home" on wheels, fully loaded and equipped for short trips, lengthy vacations and fulltiming. The Class A is entirely constructed on a bare, specially designed motor vehicle chassis.

Size: 21 to 40 feet

Cost: Average: $130,483

         Range: Prices vary greatly from as low as from $50,000 to $900,000

Sleeps:Up to 10 people (depending on model)

Features

Class A motorhomes are spacious and available with every conceivable luxury found in RVs today including basement storage, washer/dryers, satellite dishes, VCRs, back-up cameras, hydraulic leveling, security systems, and even hot tubs.

Another feature found on today's Class A motorhomes is the slideout. At the touch of a button, the slideout moves a portion of the RVs exterior wall outward as much as 3 1/2 feet to enlarge the living, dining, sleeping or even kitchen area. When extended, the slideout protrudes beyond the normal outside walls of the RV, like an addition on a conventional home.

A properly loaded Class A motorhome provides an incredibly smooth and stable ride for pleasurable long distance driving. Any experienced driver can take the wheel, and no special license is required.

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 one is traveling. Passengers can enjoy reading, watching TV, snacking, playing video games or napping, and using the bathroom is readily available.

Many RVers tow an automobile on the rear of large RVs to use for short side trips once they've reached their destination.

Standard Class-A Motorhome (Gas)

Also commonly referred to as the van camper, the Class B motorhome is a panel-truck that has been customized to include temporary sleeping, eating and bathroom facilities.

Size: 16 to 21 feet

Cost: Average:$57,146

         Range:Most available from $37,500 to $71,000

Sleeps: Up to 4 people

Features

The Class B is most economical, versatile and maneuverable of the motorized RVs. The van camper is easily loaded and readied for any travel occassion and doubles as a second family vehicle or as a carpool for commuters.

It is makes a fine towing vehicle and often used in tandem with a camping trailer -- especially with one that is not equipped with full bathroom facilities.

The Class B motorhome is narrower than other RVs because it utilizes the space within the existing van body. However, most are equipped with a raised roof, and sometimes dropped floors providing full stand-up room.

The Class B motorhome is narrower than other RVs because it utilizes the space within the existing van body. However, most are equipped with a raised roof, and sometimes dropped floors providing full stand-up room.

With their compact size and many amenities, van campers can provide comfortable living space and essentials for couples and young families

Travel Trailer

What is a Travel Trailer

A unit designed to be towed by a car, van or pickup by means of a bumper or frame hitch, the travel trailer provides all the comforts of home and is perfectly adaptable for weekend getaways, family vacations, and fulltiming.

Size: 12 - 35 feet.

Cost: (without tow vehicle) Average:$15,336

         Range:Most available from $9,000 - $76,000

Sleeps:Up to eight people (depending on model)

Features

As with all towables, unit can be detached at your destination, freeing up towing vehicle for short trips and excursions, running errands and other conventional uses.

Travel trailers are available with all the conveniences of home for sleeping, showering, cooking, dining, and relaxing . Without floorspace needed for the driver's cab, travel trailers offer a wide, flexible variety of floor plans.

A feature found on many of today's travel trailers is the slide-out. At the touch of a button, the slideout moves a portion of the RVs exterior wall outward as much as 3 1/2 feet to enlarge the living, dining, sleeping or even kitchen area. When extended, the slideout protrudes beyond the normal outside walls of the RV, like an addition on a conventional home.

Today's market offers a large selection of suitable tow vehicles. Travel trailers can be towed by most full-size and many midsize family automobiles, SUVs, vans or other truck-based vehicles (consult your dealer for specifications).

Telescoping travel trailers offer improved fuel economy. They can be lowered to cartop level for travel, eliminating the gasoline consuming wind drag. These units can also be lowered for storage in a garage or carport.

New lightweight travel trailers have recently been introduced, designed light enough to be towed by most six-cylinder family vehicles. This lightweight version of towable travel trailers retain all the modern conveniences of the traditional vehicles and some even offer special features like the slideout. Typically, lightweight towables are under 26 feet, weigh less than 4,000 pounds and retail from about $8,000 to $14,000.

Pop-Up Camper Trailer

Tent Trailer Overview

A lightweight unit with sides that collapse for towing and storage, the Pop-Up Camper – Tent Trailer combines the experience of open-air tent camping with sleeping comforts, basic conveniences and weather protection found in other RVs.

Size: 15 to 23 feet (when opened)

Cost: (without tow vehicle) Average:$5,483

         Range:Most available from $3,500 to $18,000

Sleeps:Up to eight people (depending on model)

Features

Low price appeals to many first-timers as a perfect, inexpensive entry unit into RVing.

Light weight allows for towing by most motorized vehicles, even some small compact cars. Also allows unit to be unhitched from vehicle and maneuvered by hand into tight spots.

Compact size and collapsible sides allow for quick set up at your destination and easy storage between uses.

When set up, folding camping trailers provide kitchen, dining and sleeping facilities.

The living space in a folding camping trailer is amazingly spacious with many modern home conveniences and amenities such as stoves, refrigerators and showers available depending on the model. Some even include a slideout section which creates additional open floor space in the center of the unit.

Truck Camper

Overview

A unit loaded onto, or affixed to, the bed or chassis of a pickup, the truck camper is popular for backroad journeys, accessing remote locales and family recreational camping.

Size: 18 to 21 feet

Cost: (without tow vehicle) Average:$14,308

         Range:Most available from $3,300-$25,000

Sleeps:Up to six people (depending on model)

Features

With the boom in pickup sales, adding a camper is an easy, economical way for many first-timers to begin RVing.

Truck campers combine the best benefits of the self-contained motorhome with those of a towable trailer.

Compact size makes the truck camper a versatile, manageable and convenient RV for local travel to and from the campsite.

At home or at the final travel destination, the camping unit can be detached and set on its own jacks allowing pickup truck to be used separately.

Truck campers are made in a wide array of sizes with floor plans that provide a variety of options such as toilets, showers, kitchen facilities, air-conditioners and pop-up roofs.

Traditionally built for efficient use of space, maximizing living and storage areas has not been a priority for truck camper buyers. However, with today's manufacturers offering a wide range of floor plans and options such as extended cabovers, truck campers can be more spacious than ever before.