RV camping is one of the best ways to see the country. You get all the comforts of home with all the health benefits and fun of the great outdoors!
But there are over a dozen types of RVs you can choose — everything from micro campers like teardrop trailers to massive luxury Class As and Fifth Wheels. Not to mention all the different brands of each type. In today’s article, we’re going to shine a light on which RV you should rent, based on your specific needs. We’ll share the best RVs for families, couples, solo travelers, and more — all based on the different perks.
Ready, set, let’s dive in!
All the types of RVs & who they’re best for (an overview)
There are roughly 10 main types of RVs, including:
- Classic Tow-Behind Travel Trailers
- Fifth Wheels
- Toy Haulers
- Class A
- Class B
- Class C
- Camper Vans
- Truck Camper
- Teardrop Trailers
- Pop Up Campers (aka “Fold Downs”)
Below, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each, as well as an idea of who they would be best suited for.
Classic Tow-Behind Travel Trailers
Best For: Anyone with a suitable truck to tow the required gross weight of the trailer. These come in all shapes, sizes, and layouts, so you really can find one for any situation.
First up on our list if the classic travel trailer. With 1 in 5 RVs on the road being a conventional travel trailer, these are the most popular choice among RVers, followed by Class As and Fifth Wheels.
These come as small as 8 feet and as large as 40 feet, with more combinations of layouts than you can imagine. But, of course, you need a truck or suitable vehicle to be able to tow them.
One of the coolest camping trailers you can rent are Airstreams (pictured below). They’re all-metal exterior makes them look futuristic, and they often have the best amenities compared to other brands.
Moving right along!
Fifth Wheels
Best For: Those with a big truck that can haul these massive campers. Typically, these are for anyone who wants luxury and the most space an RV can possibly offer.
Fifth Wheels attach directly into the bed of your pickup truck rather than being towed attached to the rear hitch. This helps reduce sway while driving and also give more control when turning.
These monster rigs often have more amenities than any other kind of RV. Depending on the model, many include a built-in washer and dryer, fireplace, kitchen with an island, multiple bedrooms, residential refrigerator, dish washer, and residential dining table and chair, among other upgrades.
Toy Haulers
Best For: Anyone who wants to bring along extra “toys” on their camping trip, such as ATVs or dirt bikes. Most usually also have enough room for 2 to 4 people.
Toy haulers can be fifth wheels or travel trailers, but what makes them different is their built-in “garage” area with room for ATVs, dirtbikes, motorcycles, snowmobiles, or anything you want to put back there!
Keep in mind that these extra toys also add significant weight to your rig, so you need a pretty hefty truck to tow everything! Always double-check your tow vehicles maximum gross weight tow capability and never go over that weight.
Class A
Best For: Anyone who wants the maximum space an RV can bring while being able to drive with a panoramic view of the road and any scenery on your trip. These are great for big families.
Unlike a fifth wheel, a Class A RV is actually a motorhome, meaning you drive it instead of towing it. There’s a built-in engine. This has it’s pros and cons — namely, it means you don’t need a separate vehicle nor do you need to hook up and detach every time you want to camp.
However, it also means that unless you tow a vehicle behind you, you won’t have a smaller vehicle to take to the grocery store or to get around the local area easily.
If you’re just looking to have a great spot to stay camping and there’s a grocery store at the campground you’re staying at, a Class A provides luxury, room, and ease of use.
Class B
Best For: Solo travelers or couples who want something simple and easy to drive.
Class B motorhomes are the smallest class of driveable RVs (next to campervans, which are basically the same thing). This gives you the best gas mileage and the ability to fit in nearly any campground and even in some parking lots.
These RVs are great for boondocking and stealth camping (camping in a parking lot or other public area). It’s also easy to take them to the store or to local attractions like hiking trails as they fit just fine in a normal sized parking spot.
Class C
Best For: Nearly anyone! As long as you don’t mind not having an extra vehicle, you can find a Class C to fit just about any situation.
Class C motorhomes are the middle child between Class A and Class B. Not sure why they skipped a letter then went back, but that’s how it is!
Class Cs are weird because they come in many sizes. Some are almost as small as a Class B motorhome while others are the size of a Class A or Fifth Wheel.
Like travel trailers, Class Cs can be a good fit for nearly anyone. They come in many different shapes, sizes, amenities and layouts.
Camper Vans
Best For: Solo travelers or couples who want something extremely simple and easy to drive, and don’t mind not having a bathroom or a proper stove/oven combination.
Camper vans are very similar to Class Bs, however most of them don’t come with bathrooms or many kitchen amenities. In fact, many just have a microwave and mini fridge.
If you’re just looking for the absolute simplest, easiest way to travel on a budget with no frills, camper vans are the way to go!
Truck Camper
Best For: Solo travelers or couples who want something extremely simple and easy to drive, and don’t mind not having a bathroom or a proper stove/oven combination.
Truck Campers are often even more bare bones than camper vans (since you’re losing some of the cab space and they’re usually not as long or wide).
Choosing between a camper van and a truck camper is more of a question of what’s available than which has the better amenities. Sometimes truck campers have more, sometimes camper vans do — it just depends on the rentals available near you!
Teardrop Trailers
Best For: Solo travelers or couples looking for a towable tent with some extra storage, and perhaps an outdoor kitchen.
Teardrop trailers have the benefits of a small camper van with the added bonus of being able to detach from your vehicle. They’re often very small (4 to 6 feet) with only the bare essentials.
Some are literally just a room with a bed and some cabinets for storage!
Nearly any vehicle can tow these since they’re so light. And they can often go off-roading and fit in some interesting places (many are designed specifically for off-roading, with more rugged tires.).
Pop Up Campers (AKA “Fold Downs”)
Best For: Couples or small families looking for the most possible space but don’t have a heavy-duty tow vehicle.
Last but not least, we have pop up camper trailer rentals! Also called “fold downs” or “folding campers,” they give you the most space for the least weight, since the pop up walls are made out of fabric rather than sheet metal or fiberglass.
Keep in mind that this also means you’re more exposed to the elements. If it’s hot outside, it’ll be harder to keep cool, and vice-versa. Also, if it’s extremely windy or rainy, you’ll hear and feel all of it! That’s true with all RVs, but more so with pop ups.
Parting words of advice
Now you should have a better understanding of what all the different types of RVs are and which are the best to rent based on your situation.
Here’s my advice: Think about what you want, then choose the RV that most closely matches that.
- Need luxury? Grab a Class B on a Mercedes Chassis or a sweet Class A or Fifth Wheel.
- Want space on a budget? Get a bigger travel trailer or Class C.
- Just want the basics and don’t mind being a bit cramped? Get a teardrop trailer or camper van.
The first question is: Do you want to be able to drive to the grocery store, local attractions, hikes, etc? If so, you’ll need a tow vehicle or sacrifice on space.
Next up, think: do you need a bathroom? If so, limit your search to only those that include a full bathroom.
You can use these filters and many more when browsing Outdoorsy’s RV rentals. Don’t hesitate to contact their customer success team if you have any questions and they’ll get it answered for you right away!
