The available designs of today’s RV fleet are as diverse as any automobile line. The best of them are on display at Crowder RV Center. From towable folding camping trailers to 35-foot motorhomes, it is all here for you to see.

Many floor plans and a wide variety of features are also available. Becoming familiar with all your options will help you make the best RV choice for you and your family.

Towable RVs

A towable RV is designed to be towed by a separate vehicle—a car, van, SUV, pickup truck or a conversion vehicle. Towing allows travelers the flexibility to unhitch the trailer at a campsite and then use the towing vehicle for sightseeing or running errands. The four types of towable RVs do not require a permanent on-site hook-up.

Motorized RVs

A motorized RV, or motorhome, is a recreational camping and travel vehicle built on or as part of a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis. There are three types of motorhomes: A, B, and C. Many models can easily tow the family car. All the comforts of home—dining, kitchen, sleeping and bathroom facilities—are conveniently accessible in these RVs.

Class A Motorhomes

The Class A motorhome is entirely constructed on a bare, specially designed motor vehicle chassis. Properly loaded it provides a very smooth and stable ride. Any experienced driver can take the wheel. No special license is required for all but the very largest models, which may require a test to operate in some states. Many RVers tow an automobile to use for short side trips once they've reached their destination.

Size: 21 to 45 feet.
Cost: Prices range from $50,000 to $500,000, with an average retail value of $117,500.

Typical Features

• Sleeps up to six people (depending on model)
• Available with every conceivable luxury, including state-of-the-art appliances and entertainment systems and push-button slideout sections. Many also include basement storage, a satellite dish, a back-up camera, hydraulic leveling and a security system.

Class B Motorhomes

Also commonly referred to as the van camper, the type B motorhome is a customized cargo van. It is highly economical, versatile and maneuverable. The type B motorhome also makes a fine towing vehicle.
Size: 16 to 21 feet
Cost: Prices range from $35,000 to $65,000, with an average retail value of $56,520.

Typical Features:

• Sleeps up to four people (depending upon model).
• Provides sleeping, kitchen and bathroom facilities. Most have electric and water hook-ups, fresh water storage and a top extension for added headroom.
• Doubles as a second family vehicle.

Class C Motorhomes

The type C motorhome, also called the mini-motorhome, provides the conveniences of a type A motorhome in a scaled-down version and at a lower price. The type C is built on an automotive manufactured van frame with an attached cab-over section for added sleeping room, which makes it especially popular with families.

Size: 20 to 32 feet
Cost: Prices range from $45,000 to $75,000, with an average retail value of $56,770.

Typical Features:

• Sleeps up to 8 people (depending upon model).
• Equipped with full sleeping, dining, kitchen and bathroom facilities. Many have a slideout section.
• Many provide a sleeping bunk atop the cab in addition to a bedroom in the back. When not in use, this overhead compartment can be used as a storage area.

Folding Campers

This lightweight unit can be towed by many SUVs and, in some cases, by family cars. (Check with your auto dealer for specific towing capacity.) When unhitched, smaller units can be maneuvered by hand into tight spots. Its compact size and collapsible sides allow for quick setup at your destination as well as easy storage between uses. This inexpensive unit has proven to be the ideal RV for many first-timers.

Size: 15 to 23 feet (when opened) 8 to 15 feet (when closed)
Cost: Prices range from $3,600 to $11,600. The average retail value of a folding camping trailer is $5,230.

Typical Features:

• Sleeps up to eight people (depending on model)

• Combines the experience of open-air tent camping with the comforts, conveniences, and weather protection found in other RVs

• Provides sleeping, dining, bathroom (toilet and shower) and kitchen (stove and refrigerator) facilities. Some include a slideout section that creates additional floor space in the center of the unit.

For a safe towing system, make sure you have the proper hitch, tire inflation and anti-sway devices. And for the best trailer/tow vehicle match, consider these factors:

• engine horsepower

• transmission and axle capacity

• cooling equipment

• suspension

• springs and shocks

• power brakes

• power steering

Your auto dealer can tell you more about the towing capacity of your particular vehicle.

Fifth Wheel Trailers

Designed for towing by pickups equipped with a special hitch, these bi-level units provide terrific living space. As with all towables, the fifth-wheel travel trailer can be detached at your destination, freeing up the towing vehicle for local travel.

Size: 21 to 40 feet.
Cost: Prices range from $12,800 to $97,000, with an average retail value of $23,790.

Typical Features:

• Sleeps up to eight people (depending on model)
• Provides sleeping, dining, bathroom and kitchen facilities along with electric and water systems. Many include one or more push-button slideout sections.
• Offers a second level living or sleeping area over the truck bed, which allows for even greater space on the main floor. Many have large picture windows at the rear for panoramic views.

Travel Trailers

Trailer Travel trailers can be towed by certain cars, SUVs, vans and pickups. (New lightweight travel trailers have recently been introduced that are light enough to be towed by six-cylinder vehicles.) Travel trailers attach to the towing vehicle with a bumper or frame hitch. They also can be detached for convenient local travel to and from the campsite.

Size: 12 to 35 feet.
Cost: Prices range from $9,500 to $63,000, with an average retail value of $14,700.

Typical Features:

• Sleeps up to eight people (depending on model)
• Provides sleeping, dining, bathroom and kitchen facilities along with electric and water systems. Many include push-button slideout sections for greater living space.

Truck Campers

After loading this economical unit onto the bed or chassis of your pickup truck, you're ready to travel the back roads to remote camping areas. (Check your pickup's gross weight vehicle restraints before attaching a truck camper.) Once there, you can detach the camper and set it on its own jacks in order to use the pickup separately. A truck camper provides the benefits of a self-contained motorhome and a towable trailer. It's a great way for many first-timers to begin RVing.

Size: 18 to 21 feet
Cost: Prices range from $4,500 to $21,900, with an average retail value of $13,380.

Typical Features:

• Sleeps up to six people (depending on model)

• Provides a variety of floor plans and options, such as bathrooms, kitchens, air-conditioners, extended cabovers and pop-up roofs.