Buying an RV is an extremely personal decision, particularly if you are planning to live in it full-time. There are so many potential options available and choices to make. Motorhome, fifth-wheel, travel trailer, truck camper, van, or something else entirely? New or used? Pay cash or finance? Then, once you narrow down the big things, there are a ton of smaller options to make choices about like length, floorplan, and amenities.
For my situation, I have decided that a small class A or class C motorhome is the best situation (preferably less than 27 feet). I have come to this decision after a lot of thought, and this post details some of my decision factors. Just in case you are new to RVing, though, I am going to start with a quick description of the differences between RV types. If you are an experienced RVer, feel free to skip past this part.
Travel Trailers
A travel trailer is the most basic type of RV. It is basically a box that has wheels and requires a tow vehicle to pull it down the road. The trailer is attached to the tow vehicle via a hitch that extends beyond the vehicle’s bumper. Of course, they come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiniest and most basic to the seriously lengthy and luxurious. They also come in many different floor plans. They tend to be the least expensive of the RV types, and often are a great choice for people just looking to get started in RVing.
In addition to the basic trailer, there are various subcategories including pop-up trailers, A-frames, and teardrops. Pop-up trailers generally have sections that come up or out of the trailer when it is parked to expand the living space with a tent-like material. A-frames are made to fold down when being transported, and then expand up into a pyramid shape when parked. Teardrops are aerodynamic trailers in a teardrop shape. They have generally been quite small, with room for only a bed inside and potentially a kitchen in the back that can only be accessed from outside. However, they have been growing in both size and popularity due to their vintage look.
Fifth Wheels
A fifth wheel is another pull behind RV type. Fifth wheels are differentiated from travel trailers because of the hitch structure that attaches them into the bed of the truck. This hitch configuration means that fifth wheels are generally easier to tow and more maneuverable than trailers. They tend to be quite long and are usually laid out almost like an apartment with a separate bedroom area. They are also very popular with families that have kids because of the possibility of multiple bedrooms and even bathrooms inside. This is the type of RV that my friends over at NeverStopAdventuring have chosen.
Truck Campers
A truck camper is pretty much in a league all its own. It isn’t a pull behind RV but still requires a vehicle to move it around. It is a structure that fits in the bed of a truck and generally has a sleeping area that goes up over the cab of the truck. These RVs are usually small, but also still have the basic amenities required for a trip. Recently, RV manufacturers have started making them much larger with slide-outs to expand the space. Some even have multiple slide-outs! However, the larger they become, the larger the truck required to carry them around. Once the camper has a slide-out or two, it usually requires a full-size dually truck to carry it. That’s the same size truck that is required to pull around a 40-foot fifth wheel!
Motorhomes (and Vans)
A motorhome is defined by the motor being physically located within the RV itself. They don’t require any type of extra vehicle to move them around, although some people choose to tow a small car behind them (often called a ‘toad’) in order to avoid driving the motorhome to every location at which they want to sightsee. Motorhomes come in three different varieties: class A, B, and C.
Class A
Class A motorhomes generally look the most like a bus. They come in various lengths, but generally not much shorter than 26 feet. They can cost anywhere from less than $100,000 to well into the millions. These are also the type of RVs that you generally see superstar musicians riding around in!
Class B
Class B motorhomes are basically vans. They are usually pretty short (less than 24 feet long). They come in various levels of luxury, and also price ranges. Some of the more luxurious models have all the amenities of home (except perhaps a standalone shower) and cost upwards of $100,000. Then there are others that basically just have a bed and a kitchen area of some sort. Many people also make their own Class B camper vans by converting a regular van to add some of the comforts of home.
Class C
Class C motorhomes are usually most recognizable by the bump-out that extends out over the cab of the driving area. This area is generally used either for a bunk area or extra storage. These RVs again vary widely in size, length, and luxury.
This quick overview really just scratched the surface of the different types of RVs, to give some context to my choice. There are many nuances to the above categories and a lot of people who have written about this in much more detail. I didn’t even mention some of the other subcategories (like toy haulers). I would definitely recommend further research if you are curious or trying to decide on a type for yourself!
My RV Decision Factors
My future RV doesn’t have to be very big because I am planning this life just for myself, at least right now. I know that I don’t need a lot of space because I have rented a room in a larger house multiple times as an adult and basically lived out of that room. I also have always been a bit weird in that I like small spaces. They somehow feel very cozy to me, instead of confining. So, when I went to look for an RV, I wasn’t worried about it being too small. That being said, I also knew I was planning to live in it. So, I didn’t want something that didn’t have the full conveniences of home. My thoughts generally ran along the following categories.
Size (especially Length)
I always knew I didn’t want a behemoth of an RV, partly because I don’t need that much space and partly because I really didn’t want to learn how to drive or tow it. I did a lot of research about the size limitations across the country and decided something less than 27 feet was ideal. Generally, RVs of this size can fit almost anywhere. They can also usually fit into a single parking spot as long as there is room for a bit of overhang in the back. I also didn’t really want it to be too wide. I wanted to drive down the road without feeling like I was taking up the entire lane!
Type
I decided pretty early on that I didn’t want a towable RV, like a trailer or fifth wheel. Nothing wrong with them – they work very well for many people. But, I had spent time in both types and knew the amazing feeling that comes with arriving at a campsite, turning off the key, and immediately being at home. It’s very freeing to be able to stop somewhere and take a nap, make lunch, or go to the bathroom without leaving the vehicle! I also knew that the setup and takedown times for a towable are generally much longer. And, the process is a lot more involved. As a single woman, I knew I would be much more comfortable in a motorhome.
But then, the question became – which class of motorhome? I was drawn to class B models originally due to their size and nimble qualities. But, I quickly ruled them out due to their overall lack of some of the features of home. I was especially concerned about the lack of a separate shower in most of them. I just couldn’t see myself using a wet bath fulltime at this point in my life. My creature comforts are a little too important to me!
Class A vs. Class C
So, my search was narrowed down to class A and class C motorhomes. Both had their benefits and drawbacks. I looked at both types online and in person. However, I realized soon after driving a class A that I wouldn’t be comfortable driving something that wide and large feeling, even if it was technically only 26 or 27 feet (at least at this point in my life). Plus, I really felt like the extra couple of feet would make a difference. Class C motorhomes can be as short as 22 feet, while the shortest of class A’s are usually around 26.
Manufacturer
I read a lot about different RV manufacturers: the good and the bad. Winnebago was one of my favorites from the beginning. I had some experience with them already because my parents have a beautiful Winnebago Brave. I really enjoyed my trips with them in it, and it was in really good shape even though it was a few years old. That was important to me because I knew I wanted something that would last a while. I looked at other RV manufacturers, read reviews, and pondered a lot. But, I kept running into more and more people who owned and recommended Winnebago.
New vs. Used
I briefly considered buying new for a lot of the same reasons that people generally do: advanced features, warranty, cleanliness, etc. However, I knew that a new RV was out of my price range without a significant amount of debt. That was a huge deterrent for me. So, I decided to focus on used models. The more I read, the more I found out that buying used can actually be a time saver, as well. Apparently many new RVs require quite a bit of service in their first year or two. While it all should be covered under warranty and thus not cost much (if anything), it still requires a lot of time in the shop. That is definitely something I am happy to avoid. Although I know my future RV will require service, I hope to keep it to a minimum through my purchase decisions.
The Final Decision
So, after a lot (like a whole year’s worth) of researching, I believe that the best motorhome for me is the Winnebago View/Itasca Navion! I am currently spending my time stalking RVTrader and trying to figure out which one will be my future home! In case you are curious, my favorite model is the 23J/24J (depending on the year). I think it will be the best fit for my full-time life!
Questions, comments, or suggestions? Please leave a comment below! If you are wondering why I am so focused on buying an RV, check out my post about Why I am Pursuing Full-Time RV Life.
