Some people get confused with all the different names, styles and types of motorhome. This Motorhome Buyers guide article will guide you through the different types and give you examples of each.
Essentially most every motorhome is the same, in as much as they almost all have a bedroom, toilets, shower, kitchen and lounge etc. A large American RV will have a separate area for all of those places; a proper bedroom with a door, a separate shower and toilet along with a full-size kitchen, dining area and a lounge. The panel van has the same facilities, but all in the same space. The toilet becomes the shower, you eat in the lounge, then in the evening the lounge gets converted to a bedroom etc.
So what’s in a name?
A Class, B Class, C Class, RV, Campervan, Micro-van, Self Build, Coachbuilt, Panel Van Conversion etc. Watch the following video for a guide to the text that follows.
Types of motorhome a buyers guide.
The A Class Motorhome
A class vans come in all sizes. That giant American RV you saw was probably an A Class, the small Hymer motorhomes that are so popular here and on the continent is more likely to be an A Class than any other. Every motorhome, even A Class ones, are based upon an existing vehicle, such as a truck or van. This is then converted into a motorhome. All the bodywork on an A Class motorhome is built by the motorhome maker, they don’t use any of the original bodywork. They start with just the chassis and an engine, the result is a motorhome without compromise, in as much as the maker and produce the motorhome shell to any design shape they like. This means that A Class cabs can incorporate drop down beds, and they very often do. European A Class are normally around 2.2m wide down their whole length
Panel Van Conversions or B Class Motorhomes
Think of the classic courier delivery van; normally a high top so the delivery guy can stand up in the back. These make excellent vehicles to convert into motorhomes. Many see the panel van conversion as the ultimate motorhome. It offers all the comforts of home in a small package that will go anywhere. Some long wheelbase versions have facilities to rival much larger motorhomes, including full size shower and toilet. If you want to explore the highways and byways of Europe and beyond, then the Panel Van is ideal.
Campervans, Day-Vans, Micro Vans
Smaller panel van conversions don’t normally have toilets. They may have rising roofs or pop-top which are really only good for summer camping. Americans call this small camper a ‘day-van’ and this does describe it well. For getting away for weekends these are ideal; for longer periods you might struggle. That said, longer stays on campsites that have full facilities are of course possible. Some micro vans are actually a car conversion rather than a panel van.
The C Class
The C Class van keeps the original cab and has the living area bolted onto it. Normally this means that the cab area is redundant when stationary, but modern design is better in incorporating the front seats into the living area . The C Class is the most common motorhome in Europe by miles. The reasons for this is clear, they are great at what they do and they are affordable. An average C Class motorhome can take a whole family and their dog on holiday in style; with plenty of room for storage and sleeping. Most of the C Classes have a large overhead cab double bed, kids love these, parents love them too because and it gets the kids out of the way in the evening.
The Self Build
Some people are clever enough to build their own motorhomes. The majority of those motorhomes are fantastic, others not quite so. They are normally highly personalised vehicles and give their owners much enjoyment and satisfaction. There are lots of reasons for building your own motorhome. Some do it to save cash, others do it to have the ‘perfect’ motorhome and spend more than an ‘off the shelf’ motorhome might cost, this is especially so for those that want a go-anywhere motorhome for expeditions off the beaten track.
American Motorhomes
American motorhomes use the same ABC classifications as we do.
In America, all vehicles that you go ‘camping’ from a Trailer (caravan) to the most expensive A class are all called Recreational Vehicles RV’s Some RV’s have become popular in the UK. Large A Class motorhomes will have slide-outs that once, pitched up on site can almost double the living area. The largest will require you have taken a test to drive such heavy vehicles.
The Fiver
The fifth wheel, 5th wheel or ‘Fiver’ is a towable caravan that thinks it’s a motorhome. It connects to the towing vehicle directly above the rear axle by way of a special fifth wheel hitch; similar to that used by articulated trucks. This causes several feet of the connected trailer to hang over the towing vehicle, placing about 15% of the fivers weight on the rear axle of the truck. It is easier to manoeuvre than a regular caravan and unlike a caravan it is often equipped with onboard water and waste tanks.
A Video explaining the different types of motorhome