The term recreational vehicle is an incredibly broad one that includes everything from $10,000 tent trailers to $700,000 motorhomes. There are trailers and fifth-wheels targeted for every price range, lifestyle, towing capacity and family size, coming in every shape, size and options package imaginable.
The one thing they all have in common is they provide people with a chance to get away, have an adventure and enjoy the great outdoors.
Whether you’re the president of a company and you’re out there in your big motorhome or you’ve got a regular travel trailer and you have a young family, it’s an adventure. It’s an investment in your family for some; it’s a way of life for others.
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Tent Trailers
A popular choice for young families and first-time RVers, tent trailers are fairly inexpensive, easy to tow and can comfortably fit a small family.
Standard sizes for tent-trailer boxes are eight, 10 and 12 feet, with eight-footers reaching 17 or 18 feet when extended and 12-foot models extending up to 22 feet. These trailers can usually sleep six to eight people comfortably, and many come equipped with fridges, forced-air furnaces and stoves.
A well-equipped eight-foot tent trailer will cost around $9,000, which along with a tow weight of roughly 1,000 to 2,000 pounds (450 to 900 kilograms), makes them a very affordable choice.
Lightweight Trailers
Higher fuel prices over the last couple years have sparked a resurgence in the popularity of lightweight trailers, with more and more being built for smaller vehicles.
Lightweight trailers tend to range from 13 to 18 feet in length, and weigh around 3,500 to 4,000 pounds (1,590 to 1,815 kilograms). They range from couple’s trailers to family-oriented styles that can comfortably sleep up to six.
By having a hard wall instead of tent ends, these lightweight trailers can expand the RV season as they can more easily handle the early spring or late fall snow.
They are also fairly inexpensive, starting around $15,000.
Hybrid Trailers
Hybrid trailers combine the hard walls of conventional trailers with tent ends to create more space and provide more options. They’re popular because they give RVers the convenience of a conventional trailer, and are longer and larger than the lightweights.
The big advantage of hybrid trailers is that while they are small enough to easily tow at 18 to 20 feet and under 5,000 pounds (2,270 kilograms), they can expand to 27 feet or more. They are usually priced somewhere in the low $20,000 range.
Deluxe Fifth-Wheels
RVers looking for a top-of-the-line fifth-wheel can spend anywhere from $90,000 to $150,000. These trailers have the best and the latest in entertainment, with large bathrooms, full kitchens and bedrooms that would feel at home in a luxury hotel.
While there isn’t quite the selection that there used to be in these top-end models, a number of high-end manufacturers still offer plenty of good choices.
Conventional Travel Trailers
These are the trailers that most people think of when they think of trailers. It’s one of the largest subsections of RVs, and includes models that run anywhere from 18 to 39 feet in length. At the 20-foot-and-over range, there is also a wide array of fifth-wheels available, opening even more options.
Conventional travel trailers can be very well-appointed with sizable kitchens, living and bedroom areas, and offer a range of options in building materials, accessories and dimensions. Well-appointed conventional travel trailers start at about $20,000 and go up from there, while a fifthwheel with comparable size and features will usually cost $4,000 to $5,000 more.
Mid-range Fifth-Wheels
Mid-range fifth wheels are designed more for the long-term traveller than the weekend camper. These RVs are usually in the 30-foot range, and cost anywhere from $50,000 to $70,000. They have multiple televisions, premium stereo systems, large beds and everything someone needs for four-season living.
These are also the trailers of choice for many snowbirds, or for people looking to take their time exploring the country. These larger fifth-wheels often contain multiple slides to provide increased space. While they are a standard eight-and-a-half-feet in width for travel, sliders on either side of the trailer can be extended to provide a surprising amount of floor space, turning a 35-foot trailer into a roomy travelling apartment.
Motorhomes
There are three classes of motorhomes: Class C motorhomes look a bit like a small home attached to the back of a truck or van. They generally have a sleeping compartment above the cab, and a living area located right behind the cab. Class B motorhomes are van conversions — they look like a van but have modified sleeping and living quarters inside.
Class B motorhomes are between $80,000 and $100,000, while a Class C ranges from $65,000 to $100,000.
Class A motorhomes are the larger bus-like vehicles. These can start as low as $85,000 and go well into the $700,000 range and beyond. They can stretch to as long as 45 feet and include multiple slides to provide a huge living space.
GiGi Stetler 