My hubby and I have owned 3 rigs in a matter of 5 years. As our life changed, so did our rig. We started our journey as full-time travelers with three kids in tow with the intention of staying on the road 6-12 months. About six months in, I asked my hubby how he was liking this new way of life in the RV as full-time travelers and he agreed he loved it. We started discussing what living on the road longer looked like and what other accommodations we would need or want to make our travels more feasible long-term.

Our RV’s:

How did we know what we needed or wanted? Let’s break that down and walk through a few things that might help you make the decision easier.



There are many factors that go into choosing the right rig for your clan. Whether you’re a couple or family who are weekending or full-time travelers, having the right rig for your purpose can make all the difference in functionality and enjoyment of the camping experience. A few questions to ask when looking at types of rigs:

What is the purpose?

Am I going to weekend, part-time, or full-time travel?

Who needs space?

Do you have pets or children? What are the needs of these individuals?

What are my vehicle considerations

Do you already own a vehicle you want to tow a rig with? Do you want to tow a vehicle behind a rig?

There are many places that rent rigs and I encourage you to look rent one before committing to any one rig. I love going to the RV shows, seeing all types of rigs, their designs, and functionality. Let’s walk through the types of rigs and some considerations for each:

·     Class A Motorhome

·     Class B Van

·     Class C

·     Travel Trailer

·     Fifth Wheel

·     Toy Hauler (Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer)

·     Bus

·     Truck Camper

A Class A is a bus-type vehicle and you can tow a vehicle behind it. Benefits of a Class A are many, including the ability to move around inside it while going down the road to grab that cup of coffee you didn’t get before rolling out of camp. Many people enjoy this type of RV because there’s no hitching up a truck to tow something and it’s easy to pack up and roll out. Another feature that’s nice for these rigs is the ability for diversity in layout and design options. Floor plans for this type of rig vary vastly between model, year, and manufacturer. Some models have a set of bunks while others have a variety of bed options that can be a great fit for families of 4-5 people (or more depending on the model.)

A Class B is a camper van. Camper vans are great for an individual or couple. I have also seen families with kids take these on adventures! These are great for weekending or for adventurers that want to go into a more rugged terrain or backroad camping. Small living space requires exceptional planning for layout and design, organization and storage. For the long-term traveler, these vans offer a low-profile way to cruise around, camp, and live in a small footprint.

A Class C is a driving rig with the “bump” on top of the driver’s seat where there is typically a sleeping area. They come in a variety of sizes with many accommodations. Some people want a larger or longer Class C for their family (and may tow a car.) Others want a smaller one that they just drive everywhere they go. This is a great option for many reasons. For people who don’t want to tow a camper with a truck, these are easy to learn how to maneuver and also offer a cozy space to weekend or long-term camp in. Above the cab is typically a bunk where kids often enjoy climbing up into for a sleeping nook. Depending on the layout, model, and needs of your clan, you may enjoy renting this type of rig or even enjoy part-time or full-time travel.

A Travel Trailer is a pull-behind trailer which can vary in length and design. Typically these rigs are marketed to sleep 2-8+ people depending on the layout. These RV’s offer the flexibility to pull with a smaller truck and a variety of sleeping options for couples or families.

For our family of five, we do not prefer to use the couch as a sleeping area, so we are always looking for dedicated beds or bunks for sleeping. We have three children and when we began our full-time travels, the children were ages 6-8-10. At the time, the kids wanted toys and needed floor space to play. We decided on a travel trailer with a bunk house to ensure they had the space they needed. This was a great choice for us at the time and we enjoyed the rig for the year we had it. The RV was roughly 7 years old at the time we purchased it, making it more affordable than a newer RV. It was the perfect space for everything we needed at the time. At the end of the day, we could close the door and I could sit in the living room and enjoy my evening tea.

Our third RV was a 5^th Wheel. At this time in our RV journey, we had transitioned from full-time travel to part time travel. Our kids were 10-12-14 and they don’t need the same floor space or type of space they needed four years ago. Our current rig has a small bunk house, a bath and a half, and the typical master bedroom and living room.

Many people enjoy a 5^th Wheel for the tall ceilings, variety of lengths and floorplans. Many models recently started offering more varieties of layouts for families. Whether the rig has one or two bathrooms really depends on the layout. Many manufacturers have a variety of floor plans, so knowing what you’re looking for is key. We wanted two toilets, so a bath and a half is perfect for us. We prefer a bathtub, but a shower can suffice. Our current rig has a bathtub/shower full bathroom and a half bath. We tend to boondock a lot (stay without water and electric hookups) so having the extra bathroom is helpful for us. We also have solar on this RV so that aids us in our daily use as well as long-term opportunity for where our adventures take us.

A Toy Hauler is most commonly a type of fifth wheel, but these days can also be found as a travel trailer. Either way it is an RV that can haul “toys” like 4-wheelers, motorcycles and more. In my family’s case, it housed our kids toys (books, games, and accessories.) Toy haulers can be many sizes but typically are in the 39-44 foot range. Many full-time travelers enjoy these because they use the garage space for an office or lounge area, master bedroom, or kids sleeping area. With many ways to use the space, Toy Haulers can be more expensive and also more desirable, depending on your use and mission on the road.

When we decided to stay on the road longer than our initial 6 to 12 months, we upgraded to a Toy Hauler. Our decision to upgrade to this rig was not taken lightly because it would also be a financial investment. This investment for us required a new truck (dually) and fifth wheel Toy Hauler. Our requirements for our new-to-us rig involved having space for the kids, play area for the kids, a table, two bathrooms, and enough cargo carrying capacity to allow our full-time lifestyle to be comfortable. We decided to go with a Toy Hauler, but under 40 feet long so we could go to the National Parks limited to rigs of 40 foot or less in length. We chose to renovate this rig, putting two kiddos in the bunk room, which allowed the beds to both go up and be out of the way and have space for video gaming and a carpet to play on the floor in the garage.

Some people love living in a Bus AKA Skoolie. Whether they are renovating the bus themselves or having it renovated for them, busses offer flexibility for custom layout and design. Busses offer a house with no slides. This does limit the inside space to feel large, but the layout is key to ensure it feels homey for your use. We have friends who have been on the road for many years who enjoy their custom home.

A Truck Camper is another option with a large variety of options. Once I had a neighbor who had designed the back of their truck to have a bed on the left and right and used it to travel to visit family, parking on the driveway. Other layouts I have seen have a detachable unit that is free-standing when separated. This allows the truck to be driven, leaving the rig part behind. There are many features to these rigs, so it really depends on your use.

After reading through this article, it’s natural to feel a little overwhelmed with the lingo and options. My best suggestion is to go to your local RV dealer and see what they look like in person. See what these RV’s look like and start to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. I always encourage people to consider a rental and take it to a local camp ground for the weekend to try it before you buy it.

Finding the right rig for you will absolutely aide you in your adventures to have a comfortable space to come home to. Having been both full-time and part-time travelers over the past five years, my clan has figured out what works best for us in each season of our adventures. Who knows, maybe my kids will even grow up to design their own RV’s!

Wherever the road takes you, may the adventures bring you joy and memories of a lifetime.


Signing off,
BG Barnstormer