On the search for the perfect RV? Are you not so sure what’s good and what’s not for the places you’ll be staying? Sometimes going with the popular flow is a great indicator of what works the best and sometimes even most economical.
However, depending on what type of class you are interested, there are more popular options in that category.
Typically, the most popular motorhome lengths for Class A are about 33ft, Class B is about 20ft, Class C 28 ft, and 5th wheels have a popular length of 32, 34, and 36 feet. Travel Trailers range from 20-40ft. Depending on the RV class, there are different popular lengths and style for each category.
This is kind of a loaded question to find the most popular RV lengths, however, in each category, you will be able to find the size that most people are happy with. Because this does require a little bit of background for each category, we will be diving into the different classes of RVs so you can find what’s not only popular but what is best for you.
There is also the danger of “going with the crowd.” Sometimes for your personal camping needs and places that you go, getting what’s popular is not always best. Rest assured that this guide will point you in the right direction, so you can make the most informed choice.
What Lengths are Most Popular?
If you were to google the above question, most sites will give you a general sizing guide for RVs that are available. The issue with this is that each class, brand and really RV can vary in length. Not even to mention the trial of width and slide outs. It can get confusing, but a great rule is to pick a class of RV you are interested in and go from there.
If you’ve got an idea of what kind of RV you want but you’re not sure if it’s compatible with national parks or trailer parks, this post will help you out. Let’s take a look at the classes one at a time. Even if you are on the fence on what RV to buy, this will help you make a choice.
Class A
Ah, A’s in the American school system are the best. It can be found that in the Class A section of RVs the same could be said. The pros and cons for this one are something to definitely weigh in at.
Class A motorhomes are the most popular RV you can buy because of its superior features and quality. I recently saw a posting for a 2 million dollar Class A motorhome. These things are definitely the luxury center for the camper world.
You will find that these RVs range in length anywhere from 29ft- 45ft. That’s a pretty big gap in sizing. As 29ft is the size of a slightly larger passenger van. It does sleep 6-8 people and has all the perks of home inside with showers and kitchens etc. It is nice with this design to not worry about towing or correct compression brakes as everything is already built-in.
However, a drawback with Class A’s is that they are pretty hard to maneuver as they are the largest size of the motor home you can get and they are the most expensive. You will always be traveling in style and comfort if you choose to go with this option, but these are good factors to be aware of when on the search.
For Class A motorhomes, the most popular lengths can really be seen in the highest sold specific motorhome. This is because each motorhome is pretty unique. Below is a comprehensive table about popular class A models and their lengths.
| Newmar Essex | 45 feet |
| Thor Palazzo | 34-38 feet |
| Winnebago Grand Tour | 42-46ft |
| Forest River Berkshire | 38-42 ft |
Of course, there are a lot more factors than just length that makes these motorhomes some of the best selling ones around. As we can see from this chart that even in the most popular class A motorhomes, there is a wide range of sizes. The type of floor plan that you want, especially in high luxury motorhomes like this is a large factor.
A lot of the Class A Motorhomes that you will find can be customized on the inside and depending on what you want in it, will determine that company’s ability to give you a certain size and price range.
The customization is really nice especially since a lot of RV owners enjoy RVs as a “hobby expenditure.” Just meaning this is something you can put your fun money into. However, because this machine is so large, it is really hard to maneuver. So unless you are able to and feel comfortable with driving such a large machine, it may not be the best fit for you.
Class B
This is one of the smallest and cheapest options for a motorhome that you can buy. It lacks a little bit of storage and just space in general. It is a camper van. The back is where you keep your bed and other essential RV goods, so definitely a lot different than class A.
This is best for just one or two people. It is highly mobile since it is the same size as regular passenger vans. It is also really fuel-efficient compared to other models, so if your an adventurist on a budget and going with your BFF, this is a great match for you.
| Winnebago Grand Tour | 18-22ft |
| Airstream Interstate Grand Tour | 22-26ft |
| Hymer Akiv | 18-22ft |
| Coachmen Galleria | 24ft |
Nice, compact and very mobile. The lengths of these are definitely more conservative and so you’ll be able to find a lot of ease for whatever campground or RV park you go to. The nice thing about having a smaller RV is that you sometimes pay fewer fees for accommodating your vehicle.
Class B+
These trailers have become so popular in its style that they have become their own category like teardrop trailers. They look a lot like B class trailers but the plus on the end of this class makes them a bit different. B+ type trailers are bigger and still pretty maneuverable.
As B+ class trailers are still pretty new, popularity in just a few styles hasn’t been developed yet, however, they are just a little bit bigger than a class B. In the video above, it describes the bonuses and features of these trailers. Typically you can find class B+ trailers to range about 18-28ft.
If you’re looking at just popularity in general and even in length these are definitely the way to go. You can’t really go wrong with this model because they are a good middle ground for RVs. Whether you’re a first time RV owner or are looking to downsize, this is probably the best fit out there for you.
Class C
The average range for this class of trailers is about 30-33ft. Now, this is a lot tighter of a range, however, some types of RVs do get up to about 40ft. The great thing about class C’s is that they aren’t too big or too small for your adventuring needs. Definitely, a “Goldilocks” approved camper.
It has a lot of the same luxuries as a class A without the costs. Well, that is if you do a few cash-saving tips. I have seen instances where people will timeshare their RV with other family or friends to lighten the costs of a motorhome and also to just keep up with it.
This type of model is extremely popular since some of the perks include a full kitchen, a cab-over bed, and sleeps 4-6 people pretty comfortably. If you even needed more space, the Class Cs are also built to tow other vehicles. Below is a quick guide to some popular Class C RVs with their associated lengths.
| Winnebago Minnie Winnie | 22-26ft |
| Thor Motor Coach Quantum | 30-34ft |
| Jayco Greyhawk Prestige | 30-34ft |
| Tiffin Wayfarer | 25-27 ft |
One of the biggest pluses with this particular class is that for what you get with this style of camper, it doesn’t need to be towed. It is a vehicle on its own and can sleep up to eight people.
Plus it is super affordable. Some would even argue the pricing with the class B styles– and with good reason. Just as fuel-efficient, but is the price range you can afford on your own. See ya later timeshares!
There are a lot more factors than just length when seeing if a motor home is a right fit for you. You have to keep in mind how much your motorhome will weight and even its width. Sometimes it’s a little too much to have those slideouts if you go to a trailer park.
5th Wheels
With 5th wheels, they have a lot of pros with them thee length on these is interesting because these are actually towed behind vehicles, but are one of the most stable motor homes to tow. They hook up in the back of a truck bed and have very little sway.
You can also get 5th wheels in a motorized version which is really nice. So if you loved the perks and sizing of the other classes that we had listed above, then you won’t have to compromise on this.
The most popular lengths for these are the 32, 34, and 36 feet. This has a lot to do with floor plans and cost that you want to invest in one of these bad boys. Below you’ll see some classic 5th wheel styles.
| Redwood RV Redwood | 36-41ft |
| DRV Luxury Suites | 34-44ft |
| Coachmen Chaparral | 33-41ft |
| Forest River Cardinal | 34-41ft |
5th wheels are really unique in style and levels actually. A lot of 5th wheels have steps in them so that they don’t have to be crazy long to fit everything inside. If you’re retired and looking for one level or an easy to get into the vehicle, this one might get old.
However, while there aren’t a lot of steps, just remember that they are there so you don’t fall off them or trip!
Travel Trailers
The last type of RV lengths to check out are the travel trailers available. We will take a look at a small sampling of the most popular ones in this category, even though like Motor homes and 5th Wheels, the sizing varies.
How you should measure travel trailers, or at least how the rest of the world measures them is from the bumper of the trailer to the tip of the trailer hitch. Some might think you should measure just what the floor plan has, but you would be missing a good few feet.
This may also affect your reservation spots at camping sights as for most of them you have to state how long your trailer or RV is.
But back to the original comments about Travel Trailers. Below is a quick comprehensive list about what lengths are out there.
| Travel Trailer Type | Length (ft) |
| 2020 keystone Passport | 32 ft 11 in. |
| 2019 Heartland Mallard | 30 ft 4 in. |
| 2019 Outdoors RV Creek Side | 25 ft 7in. |
| 2019 Keystone Springdale | 32 ft 1 in. |
| 2019 Coleman Lantern | 32 ft 8 in. |
From just a small sampling above of some great new models, the biggest thing that will affect the length of the trailer will be the floor plan with that trailer.
Because of the popularity of travel trailers, there is no shortage of reviews, makes and models for you to choose from. With the amount of variety you have, you will most likely see a common range in the high 20s and low to mid-30s in feet.
So, What is best for me? Questions to Ask Yourself
Popularity shouldn’t be the only thing you look at though it is a really great indicator for general perks. Sometimes a certain RV listed was popular because of its specific floor plan and the length was a good plus.
A good tip for the wise is to also make a list of features that you want in your sweet new ride. These features will help you determine not only lengths to consider, but also categories and models to look at.
Here are some more insightful questions that will help you figure out the desired length of your RV and what your qualifications you should be looking for when purchasing an RV.
- What’s my budget?
- How long of trips do I plan to take?
- How many people will be traveling with me?
- How much weight can my vehicle tow?
- How much storage space is needed for my RV?
Having these questions on the back of your mind allows for common mistakes to be avoided. It also helps you find your perfect fit, so you will be much happier with the results when shopping.
Just addressing the questions individually, these are why we chose these questions to help you. First question, “what’s my budget?” Keep in mind that sometimes the longer the motorhome, the more expensive it will be.
Secondly, it is good to know how long you will be needing your trailer for. The class B trailers and even the B+ usually don’t have space or the capability to have a mini-fridge in it, so you can’t keep food or other resources in your RV for very long.
Or take a shower. For me, that’s a must when I go camping is to have access to sanitation. If you are going to be gone for a while I’d stay with class A, C or 5th wheel options.
How many are traveling with me? Sometimes when we are young we don’t mind squishing into the car with our siblings, however, after a few days, it gets old. The more passengers you have, the more you are going to want a little bit more space to accommodate them.
Recently, I wrote an article about adding a sleeping spot if you don’t usually have lots of people traveling with you. Here’s a link to get creative. 7 Simple Ways to Add an Extra Sleeping Spot to Your RV
Now the amount of weight your vehicle can tow is also a good thing to know, but luckily most Motor homes are fitted with the capacity to easily tow its self. The only caution is to not overload your RV, but it would be pretty difficult to hit your weight-bearing maximum.
And lastly, if you need a lot of storage space, keep that in mind for the more minimalist type of trailers. Some trips you may need a lot of gear and others not so much, so be observant for what you may need.
