RV Types by Use

By April 19, 2017 April 21st, 2017 Resources

RV Types by Use

One of the most important questions to answer is “How am I going to use the RV?”.  Usually you want breakdown use based on the following:

  • How often do you plan to take trips?
  • How long are the trips 1 week, 2 weeks, month, year, full-time?
  • How active am I?
  • How confident am I driving or towing a large RV?
  • Whats my budget?

Budget is the last one because understanding what you want to use it for is much more important than focusing on the budget. Its pointless to buy an RV that fits your budget but does not fit your need.

I try to narrow down the scope to these categories:

  • Vacationer – Spend 2 to 3 weeks per year
  • Full Time – Permanently live in the RV
  • Semi Retired – RV Trips every other weekend

Vacationer

Those in this category typically are looking to buy this type of RV:

  • Travel Trailer
  • Tear drop
  • Pop-Up camper
  • Truck Camper

Full Time

This in the full time category will usually have a higher budget. The difference between buying a towable RV versus a Motorhome will be usually age, number of people staying, length of stays. The RV’s most suited for full-time living are below:

  • Fifth Wheel
  • Toy Hauler
  • Motorhome
  • Class B
  • Class C
  • Super C
  • Bus Conversion
  • *Four Season / Polar / Extreme weather package

Semi-Retired

This is the avid hunter, near retirement age person, single person family who takes frequent RV / Camping trips. These usually already have a truck and these RV’s work well for this use:

  • Fifth Wheel
  • Toy Hauler
  • Travel Trailer
  • Class C
  • Motorhome
  • *Four Season / Polar / Extreme weather package

Cold Weather Packages

Please note that the Four Season / Polar / Extreme weather package that is listed on RV’ are not all created equal. If you will be RV’ing in a cold climate then you will need to have an RV that can handle the cold. RV’s with a true cold weather package will have the following

  • Underbelly will be sealed up
  • Double pane windows
  • High R Rating in sidewalls and slides
  • No exposed valves for holding tanks (all will be closed up in underbelly)
  • Underbelly will be heated by furnace or auxiliary heating source
  • Electric tank heaters
  • No exposed plumbing under slides

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