By Wes Gunther

As an RV enthusiast, I follow several RV websites and groups on social media.  Every day, someone who is about to enter the RV community asks this question: “What type of RV should I buy?”    Everyday it is met with the same response: “Depends what you want?”    Let’s take a quick look at your basic RV styles and we will showcase some advantage or disadvantages of each. 

The Popup

Many RV enthusiast, myself included, began their RV journey with a popup.  They are affordable and easy to tow.  I was able to tow my first popup with my family minivan so I was able to begin RVing without any tow vehicle expense or upgrade.  

Popups do have some disadvantages which is why most people, myself included, end up upgrading to something else.   The popup is a pain to set up.  Cranking it up and pulling out the tent ends can be tiresome.  Then there is putting it away after the trip.  It seems like most of the time, the canvas was wet from rain or dew and when I got home I had to put it up again to let it dry out.  Then there is the storage issue.  Since most of the canvas, bedding, seating and kitchen have to fold down into the camper – that leaves very little room for storage.  I have found it somewhat frustrating when you can’t remember if something is packed in the kitchen cabinet but now that the popup is down, it is too hard to get to. 

The biggest reason my wife and I upgraded to a travel trailer is our dogs.  We could not leave out dogs in the popup without us.  It was not safe or secure. 

The Travel Trailer

The travel trailer is the largest segment of the RV options.   I live near “America’s Largest RV Show” in Hershey, PA and have attended every RV show they have held.  Most of the units on that vast parking lot are travel trailers. 

Travel trailers give you so many options.  From various lengths to ones with or without slide-outs, the options seem endless.  Most (not all) travel trailers require some type of a truck or SUV tow vehicle.  They are ideal for families as many of the travel trailers have bunks or dinettes or couches that sleep a number of people.   You will have your own bathroom and an indoor kitchen area.   These make travel trailers an upgrade over many popups. 

It seems too many people upgrade their travel trailer before they upgrade their tow vehicle and end up pushing their weight limits.  This can make for not only an unpleasant driving experience but an unsafe one as well.   Travel trailers can seem “bouncy” when they are set up.  Most people wish their travel trailer felt more stable. 

The Fifth Wheel

The Fifth Wheel is the RV of choice for the camper who is spending larger amounts of time in their RV.  Those that travel for weeks or months at a time; those that are living the full-time RV lifestyle; those that work on the road for construction companies, etc.   The Fifth Wheel RV is designed for more comfort and longer stays.  They are easier to tow – especially turning and backing up.  They feel more stable.  They have larger bedrooms and bathrooms than most travel trailers.  They often now have full size kitchen appliances and full size couches and fire places. 

The Fifth Wheel though requires a dedicated tow vehicle.  You must have an appropriate sized pickup truck with the installed fifth wheel hitch  No more SUV’s here which might make it more difficult for the large family with pets.  The fifth wheel RV is almost always much higher.  You have to be careful around bridges, tunnels, limbs, etc.   The fifth wheel will cost more (cost per square foot). 

The Class C RV

The Class C is a drivable RV.  No need for a tow vehicle here as this RV is all inclusive.   With a Class C it is easy to camp in non-traditional places (such as a Walmart parking lot).  It is easy for the family to travel as they have access to the kitchen and restroom along the way.  The Class C has a van-like driving cockpit which is easy to adjust to and not intimidating. 

The downside of a Class C is that it is a vehicle and as such is subject to your state’s registration and inspection requirements.   The Class C usually does not get driven often enough so it is common for the owner to encounter dead batteries, dry rot on the tires, mechanical issues, etc.  

I could not find any specific statistics to back this up – but it seems to me that the Class C is the category of RV that most often has leaks or water damage. 

Class A Motor homes

The Motorhome is the “cream of the crop” when it comes to the RV lifestyle.  If you look at touring bands, celebrities, Nascar drivers, etc., they all use Class A Motorhomes.   They are luxury living on wheels.  There are many, many levels to the Class A Motorhome.  This article does not have the space or time to delve into all of the options in a Class A type RV. 

The downside of a Class A – the cost!