BEST CAMPING RV’S & TRAVEL TRAILERS

Camping in an RV

One of my favorite past time’s is to take my family on camping trips. Some of my favorite spots are best for tent camping, and other camping spots are better for camping in an RV or Travel Trailer. As you start looking into buying a new RV or travel trailer, the first thing that you will notice is that there are a lot of different types, sizes, and styles of RV’s available on the market. The more you look, the more that you will find, and if you are like me, you will start digging for more information about possible accessories, and the different layout’s available to find the perfect one for you and your family. When I started looking for my first RV, I was quickly overwhelmed with all of the different choices available, in a good way. I did not realize that some things were even possible. I decided to begin my quest for picking the perfect RV was to create a list of everything that I felt was a must have for a new RV, in the price range that I wanted to spend. I then created a list of nice to have options that would bump me out of my price range. I wanted to try a few of my favorite models and styles, including the extra options that I was not sure was worth the extra cost, or if I would even want to add them. I then started planning some camping trips, and I decided to rent an RV of each type in order to give them a try before I decided to purchase the perfect RV for my family.

Types of RV’s and Trailers

• Travel Trailer • Fifth Wheel • Toyhauler • Pop Up Small Camper • Class A Gas Motorhome • Class A Diesel Motorhome • Class B Motorhome • Class C Motorhome Each of the different types of RV’s fit a specific need, purpose, or family size, depending on your family’s needs and preferences. I’ll go over each of the different types, and some of the details below that set them apart.

Travel Trailers

A Travel Trailer are perfect for up to 28 feet, and larger if you have special equipment to stabilize the trailer during hauling. This trailer connects to the back hitch of a truck from the tongue of the trailer. This trailer is great at the smaller sizes, the tow setup is less expensive, and doesn’t take up any room in the bed of your truck.

Fifth Wheel Travel Trailers

A Fifth Wheel trailer is almost a necessity for trailers over 28 feet in length. A fifth wheel trailer connect to your truck by a fifth wheel hitch that mounts in the bed of your truck. The fifth wheel hitch can add about $1500 to the overall cost of buying your trailer, if you don’t already have the hitch installed in the bed of your truck, so keep this in mind. The fifth wheel trailer is more stable during hauling as the weight of the trailer is distributed over the axle of your truck. Another advantage of a fifth wheel is that in some states (check your local laws) allow you to have passengers ride in the fifth wheel because it is more stable and less risk of losing control and getting in an accident. This is great for my family as it allows them to relax on the long rides to our camping destinations.

Toyhauler Travel Trailers

A toyhauler trailer is great if you have motorcycles, ATV’s, or UTV’s because these trailers are built with ramps and fold down or movable furniture that provides a space that allow you to put the motorcycle, ATV’s, UTV’s, bikes, or other items inside the rear of the trailer so you can bring them with you on your camping trip instead of having to haul two vehicles to bring all the toys on your trip.

Pop Up Tent Trailers

Pop Up Trailers are great due to their size. They are much more compact in that they fold or roll down into a compact size for storing and hauling, and when you get to your camping spot you roll them up and pop the front and back out to open up into a great sized camping trailer. These are perfect for smaller hauling vehicles, are much lighter, and very easy to haul.

Pop Up ATV UTV Tent Trailers

This is like the transformer of tent trailers that starts with a trailer to haul all of your gear and your toys, but once unloaded turns into a great hard floor tent that is up off the snow and muddy ground. For more information, visit our ATV UTV Tent Trailers page.

Small Camper Travel Trailers

Small campers are perfect for couple’s and small families. Sizes range from about ten feet, up to twenty feet. These shorter, lighter camping trailers are easier to haul, easy to setup, and easy to store.

Class A Motorhomes - Gas vs Diesel Engine

Class A motorhomes, or motorchoaches, are built with the same framing and construction as commercial trucks and buses. Once you make the decision to purchase a motorhome, your next decision is going to be gas or diesel. There are a few differences that will help you make the decision. We will go over a few of those differences below:

Motorhome Cost

Gas is cheaper when it comes to the cost of the trailers. The diesel engine motorhomes are a bit more expensive.

Motorhome Resale Value

Diesel motorhomes typically hold their resale values better.

Motorhome Gas Mileage

Diesel motorhomes typically get better gas mileage.

Motor Home Driveability

Diesel motorhomes have more torque at lower rpm’s which makes them more powerful and can handle the load better.

Motorhome Towing Capability

If you are thinking about towing a vehicle behind your motor home so that you have a smaller vehicle to drive around in once you get to your camping destination, the diesel engine is much more powerful and will be able to pull the load better. Class A Gas Motorhomes usually max out at around 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, while diesel engines can often pull 10,000-15,000 pounds. Quite a bit of difference.

Class B Motorhomes

Class B Motorhomes are built within within the dimensions of a customized van. Class B motorhomes are more expensive to make, but like the Class A motorhomes, you can tow a small vehicle for day trips while you are camping, instead of driving the motorhome around while you are on your trip. Class B motorhomes are smaller and more streamlined. They are also more fuel efficient than Class C motorhomes. They offer camping space best suited for small groups. Most Class B motorhomes do not offer slide outs yet, but they do still offer luxurious amenities like galley kitchens, beds and restrooms.

Class C Motorhomes

Class C Motorhomes are built on a truck or van chassis with an attached cab section. Making it extra convenient, you don’t have to have a separate large truck to hook your trailer up to and driving it down to your vacation spot.

RV & Travel Trailer Rentals

If you are still not sure which type of RV or Trailer is right for you, you can always rent an RV before you buy one, to make sure you get the one you like that works best for your family. Save up to 25% on your travel costs by booking and renting an RV through RVshare. Click here for RV and Travel Trailer Rentals. This saves you a lot of work and maintenance costs by not having to buy and pay taxes on an RV or trailer, you don’t have to have a place to store your RV, or pay for RV storage. About The Author Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website is an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the great outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way that they find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you to enjoy. We highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently receive free products from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and does not impact the purchase price of any products that you may purchase. The Best RV and Travel Trailer Camping Experience Awaits!