| Class AThe Class A RV is the most prestigious of all | | | | mounted and the windows will need a windshield |
| the RVs on the market. The advantages to this RV | | | | cover to provide privacy for the occupants and to |
| are that there is always a market when you get | | | | keep the cab cool. |
| ready to sell and there are many used models to | | | | Travel Trailer |
| choose from when buying. The newer Class A's are | | | | The advantages of the travel trailer are many. The |
| very safe vehicles, your family can even move | | | | travel trailer provides a single level floor plan as |
| around in the vehicle while you are driving. Class A's | | | | compared to the fifth wheel's upper level bedroom. If |
| are easy to finance & insure and they have | | | | you are using a truck to tow the RV then you have |
| good repair records. This type of RV makes it very | | | | not forfeited the use of the truck bed as you do |
| easy to "boon dock" (park anywhere without | | | | with the fifth wheel. Some of the smaller, light weight |
| electrical hook-ups). You just pull up to wherever you | | | | models can be towed by a large car or van. The |
| want to go and have dinner that was prepared while | | | | travel trailer costs much less that the motorized RVs. |
| you drove or just go to sleep. You never have to | | | | This is especially important if you need to have |
| get out of your RV to set up because you are | | | | repairs done on the RV. In this case you can leave |
| self-sufficient. | | | | the RV to be repaired and still have the use of your |
| The greatest disadvantages to the Class A are that | | | | truck or van. In addition when you pull into your |
| they are also the most expensive. Many of the new | | | | vacation spot and set up for your stay, you have |
| Class A's get less than 7 mpg and the older ones | | | | the truck or van to move about and visit other |
| may not even get more than 5 mpg. Every time you | | | | destinations. |
| want to go somewhere you must break everything | | | | The disadvantages for these RVs come from driving |
| down unless you have towed a vehicle, but that | | | | the travel trailer. The larger travel trailers have quite |
| makes your vehicle harder to drive and more difficult | | | | a bit of sway and handling problems. These are the |
| to steer. Many people find the Class A RVs | | | | most difficult to steer, drive, and brake of all the RV |
| impossible to back up and intimidating to drive. When | | | | types. Slow and cautious driving is recommended. |
| major repairs are needed on the road, you are | | | | Trailers of any type (fifth wheel or travel trailer) do |
| forced into a hotel until your "home" and your | | | | not have the luxurious look of the motor coach. |
| "transportation" is repaired. | | | | Toy HaulerThe toy hauler was designed for families |
| Class BThe Class B RV is sometimes referred to as a | | | | and sports enthusiasts. There is a large cargo room in |
| conversion van. Because they are basically a truck, | | | | the rear that allows you to take your bicycles, |
| parts are easy to find and most mechanics can do | | | | motorcycles, snowmobiles, jet skis, or other outdoor |
| the repairs. They are the easiest to drive, park, or fit | | | | recreational vehicles to places like the desert, forest, |
| into off-road locations that are impossible to get to | | | | or boondocks. It is like carrying your garage with you. |
| with the larger RVs. The Class B offers great gas | | | | The garage of your toy hauler can be also used to |
| mileage as compared to the other RVs, and they are | | | | house extra beds for larger families or your guests. |
| fast on the road. | | | | You can even add a toy hauler screen to provide a |
| The Class B is the most expensive per square foot | | | | shaded area that keeps out the mosquitoes and all |
| and has very tiny storage compartments. They are | | | | other insects. |
| best for one person but two could possibly handle a | | | | Something to consider if you are thinking about |
| weekend together - more that a weekend might | | | | purchasing a toy hauler is if you have a vehicle that |
| cause serious damage to your relationship. Some of | | | | can pull the weight of the combined RV and toy |
| the replacement appliances are hard to find because | | | | hauler with a full garage. The weight of the RV and |
| they were made for small accommodations. When it | | | | all of your toys will require the largest eight-cylinder |
| comes to staying in a campground, you will probably | | | | or a heavy duty 250 or even a Cummings diesel. |
| pay the same as a motor coach would for the same | | | | Fifth WheelThe fifth wheel costs less than the |
| space. The front window will require a windshield | | | | motorized RVs as far as the square footage is |
| cover to provide privacy & to reflect the UV | | | | concerned. Some people like the split level floor plan |
| rays. | | | | that is caused by the hitch set-up. The newer fifth |
| Class CThe Class C RV is a recreational vehicle built | | | | wheels have multiple slide outs. These slide out |
| on the frame of a van or truck. The advantages to | | | | extend the square footage which will allow you to |
| this type of RV are that it is usually easier to get | | | | stay in one location for many weeks without wanting |
| parts and repair work done. They offer the family | | | | to kill on another. The 5th wheel's raised neck section |
| the same conveniences of the Class A RV as far as | | | | (called the goose-neck) connects over the bed of |
| the living space while being more economically priced | | | | the tow vehicle to the fifth-wheel hitch. This hitch |
| than the Class A. They usually have better sleeping | | | | design reduces the overall length of the vehicle and |
| for families with an overhead sleeper with a queen | | | | because a large majority of the weight is over the |
| size mattress. They are ideal for long camping trips | | | | rear axle of the truck, it improves the traction and |
| with large families. The Class C does not intimidate | | | | handling of both vehicles. In the event the trailer |
| the driver like a Class A since it is more like driving a | | | | needs repairs, the 5th wheel trailer can be left at the |
| truck or van than a bus. As a used vehicle they are | | | | repair shop while you still have the use of your truck. |
| often easy to find and can be purchased at a | | | | In addition when you arrive at your destination and |
| reasonably cheap price. They are especially well-kept | | | | have set up for your stay, you have a truck that |
| if the owner has purchased a RV cover to protect | | | | can take you wherever your dreams take you. This |
| the exterior. | | | | is much easier than driving a huge motor home to go |
| The disadvantages of the Class C are that their price | | | | to a nearby grocery store for a few items. |
| seems to depreciate faster than their big brother, | | | | There are a few disadvantages to the fifth wheel. |
| the Class A, and the storage space is considerably | | | | One is that the 5th wheel rides higher than the travel |
| smaller than the Class A. They do not have the | | | | trailer so it tends to be blown around a little on the |
| luxury look of the Class A as they will always be | | | | highways and in severe storms. The fifth wheel hitch |
| more of a camper than a coach. The front windows | | | | limits the use of the truck bed for hauling large items |
| in the cab sometimes leak where the overhead are is | | | | and a fifth wheel cannot be hauled by a car or van. |