Compare Rv Types

Excellent description and pro/con of Class A - Class B - Class C motorhome.

Succinct comparison of RV types - which type is good for which RV lifestyle.

  • 5th wheel separates driving and living unit (so you can repair them separately), is easier to drive (than class A or C with same length), but you cannot access living quarters (to make lunch, or quickly leave dangerous place) from cabin.
  • You may not be able to live in your "house" class A or C when repaired, and repair crew might steal stuff from you.
  • Toad from class A or C has better mileage on exploration trips than 5W tow truck.
  • Used Motor homes (A) were still expensive or showed the years of use and neglect. Small class C motor homes are heavy and with little reserve towing capacity for a toad.
  • Your truck has not only to tow the trailer, but also be able to stop it. Small pickup might be not enough.
  • A large Class A is shorter in overall length even if towing a toad usually than a trailer of 5th wheel of the same length towed by a truck.
  • Choosing RV - Evaluate your plans, expectations and lifestyle first.
  • comparing - selecting a trailer.
  • designing RV for FT single - 24", no slides
  • Pro/con: Class A - 5W
  • Take cost of fuel into consideration and your RV lifestyle:
  • Most Class A motorhomes get 5-8 mpg, with diesel-powered motohomes doing a little better. A Class C would be comparable, though a very small Class C would also better the mileage a larger one gets. 5th wheel and GMC Duramax, we get an average of 11 mpg towing, 18 mpg when not.
  • If you travel a lot of miles with your RV in a year, the truck and 5th wheel could be the best choice. However, if you travel a few hundred miles and then stay there for two or three weeks before moving again and use your toad most of the time, you'll save with a motorhome and a toad with good fuel economy.
  • Compare sizes Seems like 24-27 ft is max to drive without toad, fit to parks, and store stuff. Many parks and scenic byroads limit length to 24 ft.
  • 5th wheel is you get more useable space for the length. TT has least 5 feet of wasted space between the end of truck and the front of TT. That means larger campsites which are usually not available at state and national parks => pay more or boondock.
  • truck camper it takes a special kind of person to be 2,000 miles from home and run a 5,000 lb $30,000 truck camper 15’ up in the air on 4 skinny corner jacks and then back a $50,000 truck under it with 1” of clearance between wheel wells and ½” of clearance between the jacks.
  • Parts on the chassis portion of A's are far FAR more expensive than on C's. I looked for weeks trying to find a brake rotor for a 20 year old A. Any parts store has them for old C's.It is a major decision factor. It is also far harder to find places to work on A's. C's can go into many normal vehicle dealerships and service shops, in addition to truck shops.
  • Class A motorhomes, especially diesel pushers are expensive to maintain. The access to the engine is limited which requires more labor hours to fix anything. Major reason why we just sold our DP MH.
  • Pro/con: fifth wheel - Class A MH
  • One of the best things about these van conversions like the Tiger, Phoenix, Pleasure Way, etc. is the chassis and drive train remain pretty much 100% stock and were designed at the factory to carry the heavy weight. You routinely see these conversions with 150K+ miles on the original components and still going strong. In comparison, most Class A or C motorhomes are considered "high mileage" at 50K miles. The interiors are often cheaply built.
  • Toy hauler can be risky, especially TT: too much stuff in garage, too much weight swaying. 5W are bit better as TH. With TT, you need weight distribution hitch, and re-adjusting this hitch can be difficult if you are changing the load in your garage often.
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