| RECREATIONAL VEHICLE CLASS TYPES DEFINED | | | | (SURV) and Ramp Trailer. Designed as part living |
| In North America, the term RECREATIONAL | | | | space - usually located in the front end of the vehicle |
| VEHICLE (or RV, as they are commonly known), | | | | - and part storage compartment in the rear, they are |
| generally refers to a dual purpose vehicle that can | | | | great for taking motorcycles, snowmobiles, |
| also be used as a temporary or full time home - | | | | watercraft, bicycles and the like on the road, and are |
| essentially, a MOTORHOME. | | | | a big hit with travelers who want to take their active |
| In Britain, on the other hand, common terms | | | | lifestyle with them on vacation. |
| describing vehicles classified as RVs in the US are | | | | Motorhome: The term originally referred to the |
| caravan, camper van and indeed, motorhome. In | | | | vehicle manufactured by the Winnebago company |
| other parts of the English speaking world, such as | | | | almost 50 years ago and still serves as a synonym |
| Australia and New Zealand, the term RV may be | | | | for vehicles produced by Winnebago Industries. |
| used to describe a sport utility vehicle (SUV) or 4X4. | | | | Now produced by many different manufacturers |
| A minimal RV typically contains beds, a table, food | | | | both in the US and abroad, the term "motorhome" |
| preparation and storage areas. Larger models come | | | | has come to refer to single unit recreational vehicles, |
| with full bathrooms, refrigerators, living areas, master | | | | as opposed to the towable type. |
| bedrooms and entertainment units. Some RVs are | | | | Motorhomes are usually divided into three separate |
| very elaborate, with satellite TV and Internet access, | | | | class types: |
| slide-out sections, and awnings; Most RVs can cost | | | | Class A Motorhomes |
| (new) from less than $10,000 to $500,000. Some of | | | | Constructed on either a coach or commercial truck |
| the more elaborate models can cost much more than | | | | chassis, Class A motorhomes are what people usually |
| that. | | | | think of when speaking of motorhomes. Practical in |
| As their name suggests, RVs are mainly used for | | | | wide open spaces, these are the slow, lumbering, |
| recreational purposes. RVs have varied uses - from | | | | gas-guzzling hogs that folks worry about getting |
| short vacations and camping trips to full-time living at | | | | stuck behind. They can, however, have a lot of class |
| various levels of comfort. RV travel is a burgeoning | | | | attached and are ideally suited to the serious, full-time |
| segment of the international travel industry, and | | | | RVer. |
| many RV rental firms - both large and small - rent | | | | Class B Motorhomes |
| vehicles in many cities around the world. | | | | Class Bs are built using a conventional van which has |
| Several classes of vehicle are generally classified as | | | | had a raised roof added or the back replaced by a |
| RVs: | | | | low-profile body. Modern Class B motorhomes have |
| Truck Camper: Usually used on pickup trucks, a truck | | | | progressed far since the early days of van |
| camper is a shell, usually made of fiberglass or | | | | conversions. |
| aluminum, mounted atop the truck's rear bed. It is | | | | You will find that today's Class B motorhome can be |
| generally large enough to be suitable for camping | | | | as fully appointed as many a full-sized motorhome. |
| purposes. | | | | They are also much easier to maneuver in urban |
| Pop-up Camping Trailer: This type of RV is a | | | | settings, and are much easier to use, especially for |
| lightweight trailer unit with collapsible sides, for quick | | | | drivers who are not accustomed to driving large |
| setup at the campsite and easy storage. The unit is | | | | vehicles. |
| suitable for towing by most vehicle types. | | | | Class B motorhomes are very popular as rental |
| Caravan (sometimes called Travel Trailer): This is a | | | | vehicles, especially in Europe. They are also popular |
| towable unit with rigid sides, designed to be towed | | | | with former full-time RV addicts who want to |
| by larger vehicles. | | | | continue RVing on occasion but don't want the |
| Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer: Designed to be towed by | | | | upkeep and expense of owning a large Class A |
| a pickup or medium duty truck with a special "Fifth | | | | motorhome, or for families with older children who |
| Wheel" hitch. | | | | need a dual purpose vehicle that gets more than just |
| Available in a range of comfort levels, this RV class | | | | weekend use. |
| usually has taller ceilings and slide-out walls. These are | | | | Class C Motorhomes |
| generally the most spacious of all RV models. Despite | | | | Class Cs are built on a truck chassis with and |
| their size, however, they are quite easy to handle. | | | | attached cab section. Class C motorhomes are |
| Other great Fifth Wheel features include many home | | | | intermediate in size, being larger than the Class B's, |
| conveniences such as bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen | | | | yet smaller than the Class A's. |
| and entertainment units. | | | | These midrange motorhomes offer many of the |
| One of the greatest features to me is the ability to | | | | advantages of bigger motorhomes, yet generally |
| detach the tow vehicle from the trailer. You can then | | | | take up less space and are easier to handle on some |
| park your trailer and use the truck for sightseeing, | | | | roads.They are easier to drive and maneuver than |
| shopping or basically whatever you please. | | | | the average Class A, and are essentially a |
| Toy Hauler: Toy hauler trailers are one of the hottest | | | | motorhome body stuck on a van chassis. |
| trends in RVing, and a total hoot to boot. Going | | | | GET MORE GREAT RV TRAVEL IDEAS AT |
| under several names, they are also known as Toy | | | | CamperTrails. |
| Box, Sport Utility Trailer (SUT), Sport Utility RV | | | | |