What you need to know - The Inside Scoop on Motorhomes

Motor Homes, also referred to as RVs or recreational vehicles, have greatly increased in popularity in recent years and are an excellent way to experience comfortable road travel. A favorite of frequent travelers as well as retirees and families, motorhomes include all the amenities of home with interiors ranging from the economical to the elaborate. Most motor homes feature comfy sleeping quarters, dining areas or kitchenettes, and bathrooms and functional living areas, which makes them complete mini-homes on wheels.

There are numerous manufacturers that produce three different basic models of motor homes to choose from, as well as three different types of engines. The engine of a motor home can be either a front-based one that uses regular gas, a rear-based engine that uses diesel fuel or it can be one that’s referred to as a bus conversion engine. A bus conversion is a special type of diesel engine designed for driving thousands of miles per week over long periods of time. This type is the most expensive of the three in terms of initial cost and maintenance, but the diesel engine is more durable, has considerably better fuel economy than their gas-based counterparts and are the best choice if the motor home will be used to tow other vehicles.

The Class A motor home is the largest size of recreational vehicles and resembles a large bus but with the chassis of a truck. This size is popular with those who plan on spending a lot of time in their RV as they can have every comfort of home, or even more. Described as a one bedroom apartment on wheels, the Class A RV offers open, spacious floor plans and can include every modern convenience imaginable including dishwashers, microwave ovens, washers and dryers, and even stained glass windows and ceramic tile floors.

However, the Class A is not without its drawbacks. As the largest and most elaborate of the RVs, this class is of course, the most expensive, with some sporting sticker prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. But a decent used Class A motorhome can usually be found for below the hundred thousand dollar mark or so. Another downside to this size motorhome is that most are simply too big to drive around town or to maneuver into parking spaces, making them best suited for highway driving. This size also requires a considerably larger storage area when the vehicle is not in use and the cost of gas can be significant with many getting as low as five to eight miles per gallon.

Van campers, also known as Class B motorhomes, are basically small RVs created from a standard conversion or mini van and usually feature a raised roof. These motorhomes are the least expensive of the three types of RVs to own and operate, and are generally also the easiest to drive around town as well as on the highway. The Class B is popular because it’s useful for campgrounds where larger motorhomes aren’t allowed due to space constraints. This size is also capable of towing small trailers or platforms for boats or bikes, another feature that is attractive to campers and weekend travelers.

The Class B provides a comfortable ride and requires no special storage area when not in use. Many people even use theirs as a second vehicle storing it right in the driveway, and lower models can also be kept in a regular garage. A drawback to the Class B motorhome is that some people find that they don’t provide quite enough space for more than a few travelers and are therefore best suited for shorter trips.

The Class C type of motor home is often called a mini motor home and is comparable in size to a rental or moving truck. A distinguishing feature of this type of RV is the bunk or extra sleeping quarters which is located over the cab portion of the vehicle. This class is large enough so that it’s capable of towing a vehicle or trailer but still easy enough to drive. Although bigger than the Class B, many full-timers find even the largest of this type of RV still doesn’t provide enough space for daily living. Larger models of this class may also be too big to easily drive around town and may require a special storage area.

A “full-timer,” which is the term used to describe someone who lives in their motor home year-round, is just one of the many different RV lifestyles that are popular today. This way of life is attracting more and more people who wish to experience life on the open road on a permanent basis. Full-timers may choose to remain in one location for extended periods of time or they may move around from one destination to the next with no set schedule in mind.

Many full-timers are retired and do many of the same things other retired people do, except the full-timer has the freedom of relocating and traveling at any time they wish. Those who permanently live in their RV often have a smaller mode of transportation referred to as a “toad”, which is the vehicle being towed behind the RV that is used for travel around town.

The “snowbird” type of RV traveler is one who enjoys the moderate summers of the north and the warmer winters that are common in the south. This type of motorhome enthusiast spends an entire season traveling with their RV and moves on to warmer climates or returns home after winter has passed. Snowbirds also often use toads as other means of transportation, particularly those using the larger classes of motorhomes.

The “vacationer” or “weekender” is one who uses their RV on an occasional basis for weekend camping adventures or for short trips. Class B motor homes, which are able to be used in just about any campground, are the most commonly used size by the weekender. Regardless of the size or type of amenities, motor homes can be the ideal way to see the country, travel in style, take a much-needed vacation or to simply see the world in a unique way.