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RV Type Pros & Cons

This checklist provides the pros and cons of the major recreational vehicle categories. Scroll down or click on the categories below to jump to that section:

Class A Motor Home Pro Con
check box Easy to drive on highway. •
check box Spacious, open floor plans suitable for fulltimers. •
check box Elevated driver position provides a good view of the road ahead. •
check box Driving and living compartments are connected. No need to get out of the RV during stops. Living area accessible even while moving. •
check box Most storage space of all RV types. •
check box Can tow vehicle behind or support a carrying platform on hitch. •
check box Most expensive of all RV types. •
check box The RV Consumer Group rates Class A's as having more structural problems and safety issues in crashes, especially those with slides. •
check box Larger models can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. •
check box Driving compartment being part of the living space does not appeal to some people, feeling like they are always in a vehicle. •
check box Most are too large to drive around town; alternate local transportation required. •
check box Elevated driver position and width of the vehicle make it difficult to judge clearance on the right side. •
check box Top clearance can be a problem under low branches and structures. Problem compounded if carrying items on roof such as canoes. •
check box Requires large storage area when not in use. •
Class B Motor Home Pro Con
check box Least expensive motorized RV to own and operate. •
check box Easy to drive on highway and around town. This RV is constructed from a van, so it is just as easy to drive. •
check box Driving and living compartments are connected. No need to get out of the RV during stops. Living area accessible even while moving. •
check box It can be used as local transportation. •
check box Can tow a small trailer or support a carrying platform on hitch. •
check box Can be used as a second family car when not traveling. •
check box Requires no special storage when not in use. Fits in standard driveway and lower models may fit in the garage. •
check box Can reach less accessible camping sites that are too tight for large RV's. •
check box Limited space practical only for short trips. •
Class C Motor Home Pro Con
check box Easy to drive, similar to a large moving truck. •
check box Driving and living compartments are connected. No need to get out of the RV during stops. Living area accessible even while moving. •
check box The RV consumer Group generally considers the Class C a safer motor home than the Class A because of the cockpit construction. •
check box Can tow vehicle behind or support a carrying platform on hitch. •
check box Smaller windshield and curtain separating cockpit makes unit easier to heat and cool than a Class A. •
check box Largest models can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. •
check box Some models may be too large to drive around town; alternate local transportation may be required. •
check box Requires large storage area when not in use. •
check box Even the largest models may not satisfy the fulltimers' need for space. •
Fifth Wheel Trailer Pro Con
check box Easier and safer to tow than travel trailers, but requires more caution and skill than motor homes. •
check box Easier to back up than travel trailers. •
check box Spacious, open floor plans suitable for fulltimers. •
check box Provides more interior space per length foot than motor homes because it does not contain driving and engine compartments. •
check box Most storage space of all trailer type RV's. •
check box Tow vehicle doubles as local transportation. •
check box Requires a truck with fifth wheel hitch in bed. •
check box Large trailers require large, medium duty trucks. •
check box Driving and living compartments are separate. Living area inaccessible while moving. •
check box Generally cannot tow vehicle behind trailer. •
check box Larger models can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces •
check box On tall models top clearance can be a problem under low branches and structures. Problem compounded if carrying items on roof such as canoes. •
check box Most models require large storage area when not in use. •
Travel Trailer Pro Con
check box Spacious, open floor plans suitable for a variety of uses, including snowbirding. •
check box Provides more interior space per length foot than motor homes because it does not contain driving and engine compartments. •
check box Tow vehicle doubles as local transportation. •
check box Lower profile allows easier entry than a fifth wheel trailer. •
check box Lower profile allows roof storage of items such as canoes, with less concern for top clearance. •
check box Can be towed with a variety of vehicles fitted with a standard ball hitch and rated for the trailer weight. •
check box Least stable on the road of all RV types. Requires the most skill to tow and back up. •
check box Large trailers require large trucks. •
check box Less storage than fifth wheel trailers because it lacks a raised section. •
check box Driving and living compartments are separate. Living area inaccessible while moving. •
check box Generally cannot tow vehicle behind trailer. •
check box Larger models can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. •
check box Larger models require large storage area when not in use. •
Slide-In Truck Camper Pro Con
check box One of the least expensive RV's. •
check box Mounts in the bed of most full size trucks with minimal modifications. •
check box Easy to drive on highway and around town. This RV is attached to the bed of a truck, so it is just as easy to drive. •
check box Truck doubles as local transportation. •
check box Can tow a small trailer or support a carrying platform on hitch. •
check box Truck can be used as a family or work vehicle when not traveling. •
check box Requires no special storage when not in use. Fits in standard driveway or back yard. •
check box Can reach less accessible camping sites that are too tight for large RV's. When attached to an off-road truck, it can reach camping sites that no other RV's can. •
check box Road handling can be an issue when mounted on a truck with light suspension. •
check box Limited space practical only for short trips. •
check box Driving and living compartments are separate. Living area inaccessible while moving. •
Pop-Up & Fold-Down Trailer Pro Con
check box One of the least expensive RV's. •
check box Very light weight. Can be towed behind light vehicles such as small trucks, SUV's, vans, and large sedans. •
check box Tow vehicle doubles as local transportation. •
check box No concern for top clearance because trailer folds lower than the tow vehicle. •
check box Requires no special storage when not in use. Fits in standard driveway or back yard. •
check box Can reach less accessible camping sites that are too tight for large RV's. •
check box Limited space practical only for very short trips. •
check box Living area is closed up during transportation and is inaccessible even during rest stops. •
check box Non-existent or limited insulation makes this type uncomfortable in cold weather. •
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Changin' Gears (http://ChanginGears.com)

Recreational vehicle information for RV camping and the RV lifestyle

See Also

Getting Started

RV Types Intro

RV Amenities

RV Manufacturers

RV Type Pros & Cons

This checklist provides the pros and cons of the major recreational vehicle categories. Scroll down or click on the categories below to jump to that section:

Class A Motor Home Pro Con
check box Easy to drive on highway. •
check box Spacious, open floor plans suitable for fulltimers. •
check box Elevated driver position provides a good view of the road ahead. •
check box Driving and living compartments are connected. No need to get out of the RV during stops. Living area accessible even while moving. •
check box Most storage space of all RV types. •
check box Can tow vehicle behind or support a carrying platform on hitch. •
check box Most expensive of all RV types. •
check box The RV Consumer Group rates Class A's as having more structural problems and safety issues in crashes, especially those with slides. •
check box Larger models can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. •
check box Driving compartment being part of the living space does not appeal to some people, feeling like they are always in a vehicle. •
check box Most are too large to drive around town; alternate local transportation required. •
check box Elevated driver position and width of the vehicle make it difficult to judge clearance on the right side. •
check box Top clearance can be a problem under low branches and structures. Problem compounded if carrying items on roof such as canoes. •
check box Requires large storage area when not in use. •
Class B Motor Home Pro Con
check box Least expensive motorized RV to own and operate. •
check box Easy to drive on highway and around town. This RV is constructed from a van, so it is just as easy to drive. •
check box Driving and living compartments are connected. No need to get out of the RV during stops. Living area accessible even while moving. •
check box It can be used as local transportation. •
check box Can tow a small trailer or support a carrying platform on hitch. •
check box Can be used as a second family car when not traveling. •
check box Requires no special storage when not in use. Fits in standard driveway and lower models may fit in the garage. •
check box Can reach less accessible camping sites that are too tight for large RV's. •
check box Limited space practical only for short trips. •
Class C Motor Home Pro Con
check box Easy to drive, similar to a large moving truck. •
check box Driving and living compartments are connected. No need to get out of the RV during stops. Living area accessible even while moving. •
check box The RV consumer Group generally considers the Class C a safer motor home than the Class A because of the cockpit construction. •
check box Can tow vehicle behind or support a carrying platform on hitch. •
check box Smaller windshield and curtain separating cockpit makes unit easier to heat and cool than a Class A. •
check box Largest models can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. •
check box Some models may be too large to drive around town; alternate local transportation may be required. •
check box Requires large storage area when not in use. •
check box Even the largest models may not satisfy the fulltimers' need for space. •
Fifth Wheel Trailer Pro Con
check box Easier and safer to tow than travel trailers, but requires more caution and skill than motor homes. •
check box Easier to back up than travel trailers. •
check box Spacious, open floor plans suitable for fulltimers. •
check box Provides more interior space per length foot than motor homes because it does not contain driving and engine compartments. •
check box Most storage space of all trailer type RV's. •
check box Tow vehicle doubles as local transportation. •
check box Requires a truck with fifth wheel hitch in bed. •
check box Large trailers require large, medium duty trucks. •
check box Driving and living compartments are separate. Living area inaccessible while moving. •
check box Generally cannot tow vehicle behind trailer. •
check box Larger models can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces •
check box On tall models top clearance can be a problem under low branches and structures. Problem compounded if carrying items on roof such as canoes. •
check box Most models require large storage area when not in use. •
Travel Trailer Pro Con
check box Spacious, open floor plans suitable for a variety of uses, including snowbirding. •
check box Provides more interior space per length foot than motor homes because it does not contain driving and engine compartments. •
check box Tow vehicle doubles as local transportation. •
check box Lower profile allows easier entry than a fifth wheel trailer. •
check box Lower profile allows roof storage of items such as canoes, with less concern for top clearance. •
check box Can be towed with a variety of vehicles fitted with a standard ball hitch and rated for the trailer weight. •
check box Least stable on the road of all RV types. Requires the most skill to tow and back up. •
check box Large trailers require large trucks. •
check box Less storage than fifth wheel trailers because it lacks a raised section. •
check box Driving and living compartments are separate. Living area inaccessible while moving. •
check box Generally cannot tow vehicle behind trailer. •
check box Larger models can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. •
check box Larger models require large storage area when not in use. •
Slide-In Truck Camper Pro Con
check box One of the least expensive RV's. •
check box Mounts in the bed of most full size trucks with minimal modifications. •
check box Easy to drive on highway and around town. This RV is attached to the bed of a truck, so it is just as easy to drive. •
check box Truck doubles as local transportation. •
check box Can tow a small trailer or support a carrying platform on hitch. •
check box Truck can be used as a family or work vehicle when not traveling. •
check box Requires no special storage when not in use. Fits in standard driveway or back yard. •
check box Can reach less accessible camping sites that are too tight for large RV's. When attached to an off-road truck, it can reach camping sites that no other RV's can. •
check box Road handling can be an issue when mounted on a truck with light suspension. •
check box Limited space practical only for short trips. •
check box Driving and living compartments are separate. Living area inaccessible while moving. •
Pop-Up & Fold-Down Trailer Pro Con
check box One of the least expensive RV's. •
check box Very light weight. Can be towed behind light vehicles such as small trucks, SUV's, vans, and large sedans. •
check box Tow vehicle doubles as local transportation. •
check box No concern for top clearance because trailer folds lower than the tow vehicle. •
check box Requires no special storage when not in use. Fits in standard driveway or back yard. •
check box Can reach less accessible camping sites that are too tight for large RV's. •
check box Limited space practical only for very short trips. •
check box Living area is closed up during transportation and is inaccessible even during rest stops. •
check box Non-existent or limited insulation makes this type uncomfortable in cold weather. •

See our complete list of RV checklists at http://ChanginGears.com