Recreational Vehicles

Lesson 1: Let Me Introduce You To RVs

RVs that Travel Under Their Own Power

Part Three will cover those RV units that travel under their own power. They have motors built in and do not require another vehicle to tow them.

The first type is called a “CLASS C":

Also referred to as the mini-motorhome. These are easily recognizable due to having a front that looks like a van. You could say that they are vans with a box on the back. They are built on 1 or 1.5-ton truck frames. Cost is from $45,000 up to nearly $100,000.

Advantages: Of the motorhomes this is the easiest of them to drive, especially on those winding back roads or in town on narrow streets. The smaller “van” type front makes it feel more like a van than a full size motor home which can be quite intimidating at first. Much easier than trailers or fifth wheels to back into RV spaces.

Disadvantages: As with all motorhomes you can’t leave your home to go shopping or to work; you must have a separate vehicle for this unless you want to break camp every time you want a loaf of bread.

Next we move to a “CLASS B":

This is a true van with a raised roof and an extended rear. All of the amenities are put into these confined spaces; you have a fully self-contained motor home in the space of a van. Cost is from $$35,000 to $60,000.

Advantages: Most are fully self-contained, easy to drive, can replace that second car and also be used for camping on the weekends, tailgating at football games or in place of that motel room on the trip to see grandma. These units are easy to maintain, can be parked in your drive without your neighbors complaining too loudly.

Disadvantages: Limited space. When you think of these, think vans: they are very small. In most cases a taller person, six feet or over, would have to wear a hard hat. Seems like a lot of money for what use you will get out of them.

Next is the “CLASS A":

These are homes on wheels with a motor, hence the term motor homes. They are usually large - 30 to 45 feet - and they can be built on truck or bus frames. Cost is from $60,000 to "if you have to ask you can’t afford it."

Advantages: A home on wheels. Everything that you can find in a home you can find here. They are almost always fully self-contained, they have a lot of storage space, they have lots of living room, they are easy to set up and get ready to move. Like the fifth wheel these units are for the very serious camper or the family considering full timing.

Disadvantages: Cost, and you can’t park them just anywhere. They are big vehicles to drive. Although they are not hard to drive they do take a bit of getting used to.

There is one more class that we can talk about but most of us are not in this class. Think of a Greyhound bus. Now think motor home. Now put the two together and you have the true kings of the road. Most of the ones that I have seen have been Prevost Buses. They are true buses on the outside and motor homes on the inside. Most of these Motorhomes are very plush on the inside. It is hard to imagine actually living in one.

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