“What type of RV should I rent?” and “How do I know which RV is the right one for me?” These are some of the questions that you might ask when you’re planning to rent an RV. Choosing an RV to rent can be overwhelming and taxing especially if you’re not familiar with the different types of RVs, what their differences are, what to look for when choosing, and what questions you need to ask. I own a variety of RVs and rented them out. Even my friends who own RVs have trusted me to rent out their RVs and I am going to share the very same information I use to help both my friends and our customers whenever they need help in choosing the best RV rentals in Minneapolis, Minnesota based on needs and preference.
The first thing you need to learn and understand is the different types and classes of Recreational Vehicles. You need to know what the differences are between motorhomes and towable RVs. You also have to know what the different classes of motorhomes are as well as the different types of towable RVs. I am also going to talk about the sizes and lengths of each type of RV and why they are important information that you have to know and consider when choosing which RV to rent.
Different Types and Classes of RV Rentals in Minneapolis, Minnesota
It’s time to get to know the different types of RV rentals in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and what their classifications are. You have two options when it comes to RVs; you have the motorhomes which are where you drive and sleep in the same space and then you have the towable RVs which, from the name itself, you have to tow with your truck or SUV.
The motorhomes or the drivable RVs are classified into three: There is class A, class B, and class C. Each class differs in length and size as well as the amenities that come along with them. These can weigh between 13,000 pounds to 31,000 pounds and can be around 20 feet to 45 in length. Towable Trailers are RVs that are towed by an SUV or a pickup truck. You do not drive and sleep in the same space on towable trailers, unlike motorhomes. There are many different types of Towable Trailers, some of which are: Travel trailers, Fifth wheels, Toy haulers, Pop-up trailers, and Cab Over Camper.
Motorhomes
Class A Motorhome
The Class A Motorhomes are the biggest and heaviest type of motorhome. These are bus-sized vehicles that weigh between 12,000 pounds to 30,000 pounds and can be around 20 feet to 40 plus feet in length. They have vertical front windshields and large windows. These types of motorhomes have plenty of storage space and have a lot of room for their interior as well as sleeping space. These can sleep the most number of people among all types of RVs and have the most luxurious amenities with a full kitchen, a living area, a bathroom, and an eating area.
Class A is ideal for all types of adventures whether it be short travels or long-distance and cross-country trips.
While the size and length of this motorhome give it its great advantage over the others, this same reason also has its downside. Because of its size, it is difficult to drive and maneuver for parking, and even finding a parking location that could fit this vehicle can be a challenge. The campsites you can choose to stay with these motorhomes are limited to flat campgrounds. You also could not bring this motorhome off-road.
Another drawback for this type of motorhome when it comes to its size is the special license to drive. RVs that weigh over 26,000 pounds require a special license to drive and the only type of RVs that weigh over 26,000 pounds are Class A motorhomes. However, there are still class A’s that weigh less than 26,000 so you can easily avoid this.
Sleep: 5-12 people
Average length: 20-45 feet
Rental Cost Per Night: $170 – $300
Class B Motorhome
Class B Motorhomes are also called camper vans as they are built on van chassis. These are the smallest out of the three classes and are the easiest to drive which is why a lot of people like to rent these types. These have raised rooms so they are tall enough for a standing room.
They are smaller so they sleep fewer people and the amenities are not as luxurious. They do fit all your essentials such as beds (maybe on the smaller size) and kitchen (mostly kitchenettes) with appliances. The larger models do offer bathrooms, lounge areas, and holding tanks with considerable water tanks to contain water for your daily needs.
Sleep: 1-5 people
Average length: 16-25 feet
Average Cost Per Night: $90-$210
Class C Motorhome
Class C motorhomes have the qualities of both Class A and Class B merged into one. These are built on a standard truck chassis which makes them smaller than the bus-sized class As and larger than the van-like class Bs. Because of their size, they can easily go to places where larger RVs like the Class A won’t fit while having more space and can sleep more people than the Class B. These types of motorhomes offer similar amenities to the Class A motorhomes but on a smaller and cheaper scale-like kitchen, bathrooms, and slideouts.
This is considered the ideal RV for first-timers and a great choice for Family or group campings.
Sleep: 2-8 people
Average length: 21-36 feet
Average Cost Per Night: $150 – $300
Towable Trailers
Travel Trailer
This type of towable RV is mounted on a trailer frame and is towed separately behind your truck or SUV, hence, the word “trailer”. It has a visible frame and bumper hitch at the front where it’s supposed to attach to your truck or SUV. Some of these require heavy-duty or high tow capacity trucks while there are also smaller ones that can be pulled by regular trucks or SUVs.
Instead of pulling the trailer all the time which can become a hassle, you can just set it up on your campsite or campground and then you can have small adventures during the day on your truck.
You can enjoy RV travel or the RV lifestyle with the comfort of a motorhome in the least expensive way.
Sleep: 2-12 people
Average length: 10-40 feet
Average Cost Per Night: $55- $200
Fifth Wheel
This is another type of towable RV that is larger than the others and also generally taller and heavier than other towable trailers. This is connected through a special hitch called a “jaw hitch” that is inside the bed of a truck. This makes it generally more stable while towing compared to a bumper hitch. If you do not have this specialized hitch, especially if you don’t tow large trailers with your truck, you don’t have to worry as you can actually arrange to have this delivered to your campsite for a considerable fee.
Because these are considered the larger type of trailers, they actually provide similar luxury space and accommodations to that of a Class A motorhome for a cheaper price.
Sleeps: 2-10 people
Average length: 19-45 feet
Average Cost Per Night: $65- $160
Toy Hauler
This type is a towable RV that comes with a “garage” in the rear and a large ramp door for easier access. It is named this way because it allows you to carry or bring along with you your recreational toys or motorcycles. These are also known as sport utility recreational vehicles. Toy Haulers are most commonly Fifth Wheels or Travel Trailers but there are actually also some motorhomes that can also be toy haulers but these are a rare find to rent.
Toy Haulers usually have beds or seating areas that raise and lower or fold up in the garage area. This is to allow the storage of smaller recreational toys. These trailers or campers can have your basic or essential needs while some can have very luxurious accommodations. These towable trailers are mostly large and heavy which can become its downside as it can be difficult or challenging to drive and maneuver if you’re not used to driving large vehicles.
Sleep: 3-9 people
Average length: 20-45 feet
Average Cost Per Night: $85- $250
Pop-up Trailer
These are one of the smallest towable trailers that you can rent. Because they are small they are also lightweight which means you can just tow them with your car or even with motorhomes. These are folded or compact at around a 10 to 20-foot unit while you tow them and then it can “pop-up” or raise the roof to reach 8 feet and unfold the sides to reach 30 to 30 feet long once you’re at your campsite.
With this small and lightweight type trailer, you can easily find parking spots and maneuver around even off-road.
Sleep: 2-8 people
Average length: 15-25 feet
Average Cost Per Night: $45- $160
Cab-Over Camper
The Cab over camper is another type of towable trailer. These are also commonly called Truck Campers. This camper or trailer sits right inside the bed of a full-size or mid-size pickup truck so you won’t need a hitch to pull them with.
Truck campers have limited accommodation space and storage space but they are easy to maneuver and are able to reach campsites that are along less accessible roads. RV travelers with large trailers or large motorhomes have to pass up on parks, campgrounds, and other off-road camping sites because they do not have the accessibility that a Cab Over Camper or truck camper provides.
Sleep: 1-4 people
Average length: Can add 2-3 feet over the tailgate
Average Cost Per Night: $85 -$260
Tips for choosing the size of an RV to rent
As you have just learned from the information above, Motorhomes are generally 20 feet to 45 feet long. They are measured from the front bumper to the back bumper while Towable RVs, which are around 15 feet to 45 feet, are measured from the back bumper to the front of the trailer not including the hitch.
Here are a few tips to note when you’re renting your Recreational Vehicle.
Seat Belts
Obviously, you would only need seatbelts on motorhomes and not on trailers as you would not drive them. While not every state requires seat belts inside of a motorhome, you would still want to prioritize safety and make sure every member of the camping trip is safely buckled in, may it be family or friends,
RV Length
The larger the RV the more sleeping space you have for additional camping companions such as family or friends. If you’re not camping with a large group and still want to enjoy a spacious bed and not have to convert couches to sleep on, then the large motorhomes or trailers are for you.
Larger RVs offer a more homey comfort, and luxurious even. Most comes with large kitchens along with full-sized appliances sometimes with washers and dryers. The obvious downside of renting a large RV is also its large size. Longer RVs are more difficult and challenging to drive and parking spaces that allow for them are also limited which means your destinations or the campgrounds you can choose from are also limited.
The smaller RVs offer limited sleeping space as well as less grand amenities. However, that does not mean uncomfortable camping situations as you still have your essential needs. Choosing the smaller types of motorhomes or trailers can actually be safer and more comfortable for you or your family.
RV Size
Choosing an RV to rent based on size would depend on the number of family members or the number of people in your camping group.
If you’re a couple or only camping with one other person, you can rent an RV that’s 15 feet to 25 feet and already be comfortable like a Class B motorhome or a pop-up trailer. But that’s not a limit. You can rent any type of RV that you prefer.
If you’re traveling with around 3 or 5 other people, either with family or friends, you can rent 20 feet to 40 feet long RVs and you should be traveling in comfort. Again, this should not limit you from renting the largest and most luxurious RVs. However, it would not be ideal for you to rent smaller-sized RVs.
If you’re going full travel team mode with 6 or more people, then we recommend renting the larger type RVs that are 30 feet to 45 feet in length. With a large family or group, you’re going to need all that space and sleeping capacity in order to comfortably travel and enjoy your camping adventure.
Camper Delivery
If you’re planning on renting a Trailer or Camper, consider having it delivered. These are very helpful when you’re worried about driving a motorhome for the first time or using your car to tow, or if you do not have the type of truck required to tow. You can have your RV delivered to your campsite and arrive there ready to enjoy your camping moments. Some deliveries are free but delivery charges usually
There are companies that will deliver the RV and set it up at a campsite for you. Some deliveries are free but the regular delivery fee usually includes a flat fee plus an additional per-mile cost. They would average at around $50 to $100 for the first 50 to 100 miles and then an additional $2 per mile after that.
Summary
We have explained the different types of RVs, how they are different from each other, and why their differences matter. We hope that you learned from the information that we have shared with you and this help you with your RV renting decisions in the future, whether it is your first time or not.