Original Content from Go RVing. Used with permission.
TOWABLE RVS
Towable RVs mount on or are towed by another vehicle to be moved from place to place. Designed to be more lightweight than ever, even family sedans can tow RVs.
Towable RVs must be mounted on or towed by a motorized vehicle to be moved from place to place. Some towables are small and light enough to be towed by the family car, while others require an SUV or pickup truck. Always verify your vehicle’s towing capability and allow for the added weight of personal belongings loaded on board.
Conventional Travel Trailer
Conventional Travel Trailers offer a wide range of floor plans, sizes and conveniences.
Features
- Smaller models can be towed by mid-size vehicles, including the family car, minivan, SUV or pickup truck equipped with a hitch. It is important to match the loaded weight of the RV to the towing capacity of the tow vehicle. Consult your dealer or owner’s manual for details and have the tow hitch professionally installed.
- Lightweight composite models are designed specifically for towing behind many six-cylinder family vehicles.
- At the campground, easily detach from the tow vehicle to use the vehicle for errands and sightseeing.
- Travel Trailers boast all the conveniences of home, including kitchen, dining, bathroom, entertainment and storage.
- Slideouts in some models move the RV wall outward up to three feet at the touch of a button, to create larger living areas once the travel trailer is set up in a campsite.
Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailer
The Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailer can have the same amenities as the Conventional Travel Trailer, but is constructed with a raised forward section that provides a spacious bi-level floor plan. These models are designed to be towed by a pickup truck equipped with a device known as a fifth-wheel hitch.
Features
- Equipped with all the conveniences of home, including sleeping, showering, dining, cooking, entertainment and storage, many manufacturers also offer luxury models that are very spacious and elegantly furnished.
- There can be as many as four slideouts in some models, which move the RV wall outward up to three feet at the touch of a button to create larger living areas.
- Fifth-wheels often have a large picture window at the rear for panoramic views.
- At the campground, easily detach from the tow vehicle, freeing the vehicle for errands and sightseeing.
- Lightweight models have been designed specifically to allow the use of smaller trucks with less towing capacity.
- It is important to match the loaded weight of the RV to the towing capacity of the tow vehicle. Consult your dealer or owner’s manual for details and have the tow hitch professionally installed.
*In several states, additional non-commercial driver’s licensing may be required for fifth-wheel travel trailers that exceed certain weight thresholds. Check with your local department of motor vehicles for specifics.
Expandable Travel Trailer
A cross between a hard-sided Travel Trailer and a Folding Camping Trailer, the Expandable Travel Trailer ends pull out to offer more sleeping room. Expandable units are lighter than the Conventional Travel Trailer and often more affordable.
Features
- Smaller models can be towed by mid-size vehicles: either the family car, minivan, SUV or pickup truck. Check with your dealer for your vehicle’s tow limits.
- Lightweight versions have been designed specifically for towing behind many six-cylinder family vehicles. It is important to match the loaded weight of the RV to the towing capacity of the tow vehicle. Always check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for towing weight restrictions and have your tow package professionally installed.
- At the campground, easily detach from the tow vehicle to use the vehicle for errands and sightseeing.
- A generous amount of living space makes kitchen, dining, bathroom and sleeping areas standard, with additional amenities available depending upon size.
Truck Camper
The Truck Camper is a portable unit designed to be loaded onto, or affixed to, the bed or chassis of a pickup truck. The slide-in units are easily loaded and unloaded from the bed of the truck, freeing the truck’s bumper to tow boats, ATVs and other trailers.
Features
- Pickup truck owners find Truck Campers to be an easy, economical option for camping getaways.
- The compact size makes them easy for travel on rough or windy roads.
- Outdoor sportsmen find them handy for fully equipped base camps in remote locations.
- The detachable camping unit allows the pickup truck to be used separately at the destination.
- Small space still offers a range of floor plans that maximize living area. Many models also have slideouts, which move the RV wall outward up to three feet at the touch of a button to create larger living areas.
- Amenities include toilets, showers, kitchen facilities and storage.
Sport Utility RV
The Sport Utility RV, or SURV, is for the active family who wants to take motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs or other motorized toys on the road. Available as a motorhome or towable unit, the rear end of the SURV drops down, forming a ramp for access into a “garage” area where motorized toys can be safely stored; the living quarters are separated by a wall.
Features
- All the conveniences of home, including kitchen, dining, bathroom, entertainment and storage.
- Slideouts in some models, which move the RV wall outward up to three feet at the touch of a button to create larger living areas.
Folding Camping Trailer
Also known as pop-ups and tent trailers, Folding Camping Trailers are great for outdoor lovers who enjoy sleeping in a tent without sleeping on the ground. The Folding Camping Trailer stows away for easy, lightweight towing. With canvas sides that extend to reveal queen-sized beds, it’s easy to have a fresh-air experience with all the comforts of an RV.
Features
- Folding Camping Trailers appeal to budget-conscious consumers looking for a roomy towable RV.
- The lighter weight allows for towing behind many typical family vehicles, including some small cars. It is important to match the loaded weight of the RV to the towing capacity of the tow vehicle. Always check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for towing weight restrictions and have your tow package professionally installed.
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver when closed, Folding Camping Trailers are a snap to unhitch from the tow vehicle, freeing the vehicle for errands and sightseeing.
- The compact size allows for easy storage as well as quick and simple setup.
- Ample living space means kitchen, dining and sleeping areas are standard, with additional amenities available depending on size.
- Some Folding Camping Trailer models have slideouts that provide additional living space at the campground.
MOTORIZED RVS
Motorized RVs are vehicles designed as temporary living quarters for recreational camping, travel or seasonal use that are built on a motorized chassis.
Type A Motorhome
Type A or conventional motorhomes are constructed entirely on a specially designed motor vehicle chassis. Home-like amenities abound, and generally these motorhomes have kitchens, bathrooms, living areas with entertainment centers and centrally controlled heating and air conditioning.
Features
- Spacious and well-equipped, even the smaller, basic models are roomy and home-like.
- The larger, more luxurious models have many of the bells and whistles of a custom home.
- Designed with extensive storage capacity and often include basement storage areas.
- At a touch of a button, slideouts in some models move the RV wall outward up to three feet to create larger living areas. Many motorhome models include multiple slideouts.
- Many owners choose to tow a small vehicle for short side trips once the motorhome is parked.
*Any experienced driver can take the wheel. In several states, additional non-commercial driver’s licensing may be required for motorhomes that utilize air brakes or exceed certain weight thresholds. Check with your local department of motor vehicles for specifics.
Type B Motorhome
Commonly called van campers, Type B Motorhomes are built using automotive manufactured van or panel-truck shells. Van campers drive more like the family car, but offer the comforts and conveniences of home on the road.
Features
- Nimble and easy to drive, Type B Motorhomes are easy to park and maneuver, even in downtown settings.
- Home-like conveniences are standard, including bathroom, sleeping, dining and kitchen facilities as well as storage.
- Full stand-up room is achieved by raising the roof and sometimes by the use of dropped floors, for extra interior headroom.
Type C Motorhome
Type C Motorhomes are built on an automotive van frame with a wider body section attached to the original cab section. Many Type C Motorhomes are easily recognizable by the over-the-cab area that is often an optional sleeping area. Amenities are similar to those in conventional motorhomes.
Features
- Ample living space includes sleeping, kitchen, dining and bathroom facilities, as well as entertainment systems and storage.
- Slideouts in some models move the RV wall outward up to three feet at the touch of a button to create larger living areas.
- Owners can tow a small vehicle for short side trips once the motorhome is parked.
- The ability to easily move from the driving area or belted passenger seats to the living space when stopped along the way is the main reason owners say they chose a motorhome over a towable model.
SPECIALTY RVS
Specialty RVs are designed with very specific needs or amenities in mind. Various specialty RVs can be either motorized or towable.
Horse Trailers
Horse Trailers make traveling to equestrian events convenient, comforting and economical. Whether it’s an afternoon ride with one horse or a professional competition with several, an RV Horse Trailer will change the way you travel together.
Features
- Travel with the comforts of home, which saves money by cooking your own meals and sleeping in your own bed instead of staying in a hotel.
- Each RV Horse Trailer includes human conveniences such as kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and entertainment area, as well as secure stalls for each horse.
- Enjoy the peace of mind knowing that your horses are under your care and your watchful eye at all times.
- Generous storage means there’s plenty of space for feed and tack items as well as your gear, making preparation for competition seemingly effortless.
Ice Fish Houses
If the winter’s subfreezing temperatures make you dream of dropping a line in the ice, there’s no need to spend all your time in the elements. Fish Houses are a great way to stay sheltered from the cold and spend time with friends while you wait on your tip-ups.
Features
- Lightweight for easy maneuvering, Fish Houses can be towed onto the ice with an ATV.
- While some are very modest shelters providing bench seating and shelter from the elements, some Fish Houses come complete with heat, kitchens, bathrooms, beds and even satellite TV, making long days on the ice more pleasant and providing refuge for overnight stays near the lake. After a successful day on the ice, cook up the catch of the day on the stove while relaxing with friends.
RVs for the Disabled
Travel and outdoor enthusiasts with special physical needs are recapturing their mobility and enjoying time on the road in recreation vehicles. RVs are the ideal way for everyone to experience the open road in convenience, comfort and style. No worries at the end of the day about hotels that might not be able to meet individual needs. With everything you need in its place and at your fingertips, travel in your own familiar surroundings when you hit the road in an RV.
Features
A number of RV manufacturers offer factory modifications before delivery.
Besides standard RV home-like conveniences and amenities, accessible RV modifications can include:
- Wheelchair lifts or ramps for access
- Widened entrances and interior pathways
- Lower kitchen counters and cabinets
- Conveniently located controls
- Roll-in showers
- Roll-under sinks
PARK MODEL RVS
Park Model RVs are movable resort units designed exclusively for part-time recreational use.
Park Model RVs are unique units that provide temporary accommodations for recreation, camping or seasonal use. Park Model RVs are designed to look like a home, but they need to be hooked up to site electricity, sewer and water like any RV.
Features
- Park Model RVs are a great match for those who want to experience Seasonal Campingand enjoy staying in one campground/resort for an extended period of time.
- Seasonal Campingis when a campsite is rented for the full season, and the occupants treat it as if it were a vacation home that they can come and go to as frequently as they wish.
- Park Model RVs give Seasonal Campers extra space to spread out. Many Park Model RVs have a sleeping loft on a second level.
- While Park Model RVs are towable, with their large size, owners leave them at a resort to enjoy the Seasonal Campingexperience, but are able to move them when they want a change of scenery.