Travel Destinations

How did Class B RVs get their name? We don’t know because there’s nothing about them that deserves a ‘B’ ranking. Set up as a luxury van, Class B RVs are as easy to drive around town as they are on the highway. They can be parked more easily off back-country roads than a Class A RV and still offer the conveniences of sleeping, cooking and relaxing in the vehicle.

Class B RVs and essentially pimped out vans. They are extended through a panel system to create room for all the basic living essentials. From simple to lavish, Class B RVs have a kitchen, bathroom, recreational area and bedroom built in. Designed for couples, most models offer great travel space for two, however the roomier designs let you bring another couple or the kids for the ride.

Class B RVs are often looked at as the money savers of RVs. Because they are more streamlined than a traditional RV, their gas mileage is decreased, running at 18mpg. The ability to use Class B RVs as both a get-away vehicle as well as a car for running errands in town makes this a great choice for those who can only afford one family vehicle but want a way to head out on longer vacations as well.

When traveling with more than one person, everyone is generally on a different schedule for restroom stops and hunger pangs. All of this is solved with the built in bathroom and kitchen. Kids won’t be begging for a restroom stop five minutes after you’ve pulled out of the restaurant. It cuts travel time down and keeps everyone happy.

Class B RVs measure 16-21 feet from bumper to bumper. Their size makes them easy to park in the busiest streets and easy to navigate through jam-packed events. They also work well when you’re heading to baseball and football games, concerts or a beachside vacation.

Buying a Class B RV won’t break the bank. The starting price of around $30,000 is a lot cheaper than trying to buy a new car and paying for hotel and airfare for ten years of family vacations. It’s an investment that will reward you with fond memories and adventures you can create through spur of the moment decisions to stop at unknown places, or a well planned itinerary that takes you exactly where you want to go and when. Used vehicles can also be a great investment, just be sure to have them checked out thoroughly first.

One of the benefits of owning an RV is that it meets the requirements for a second home tax break. Most tax programs are set up to help you with this, as are accountants and tax accounting specialists. Financing deals allow you to spread out payments over 15 years, so the Class B RV becomes no bigger an investment than a luxury car.

Because Class B RVs are really extended vans, they come with all the comforts of driving a car. Power steering and cruise control are standard features that make you feel like you’re in a car not an RV.

We give Class B RVs as Class A ranking. As far as we’re concerned, Class B RVs are the best vehicle on the road for an around-town car and on-the-road adventure vehicle. They are easy to maneuver, have better gas mileage than a Class A RV and will be taking you where you want to go for years to come.

Contributed by Jim Tolar. For more information on RVs or the RVing lifestyle, visit Beaudry RV, recognized leader in the RV industry.