Motorhome vs Travel Trailer, Which is Better? (Full Comparison)

Last Updated on September 26, 2023 by

Camping is never complete when you don’t have the right RV for it. There are a number of motorhomes and travel trailers that are made for camping, no matter whether a small family or a large family wants to have one.

These RV campers have their own specific use and need in terms of camping and traveling. Motorhomes have their own engines to travel, but travel trailers are meant to be towed behind a truck or SUV.

Both of these camping vehicles offer great features that are suitable for travelers one way or another.

This is a complete motorhome vs travel trailer comparison in which we are going to show you the differences between motorhomes in contrast to travel trailers.

A motorhome is considered an RV that is a moving coach having its own engine. You get the same space for driving as well as for living purposes.

Motorhomes are mostly bigger than travel trailers, and they consume a lot of fuel due to their weight. They are categorized into Class A, B, and C.

Travel trailers are vehicles that are meant to be towed with a truck or SUV because they don’t have their own engine. It also provides a living area along with all the features of usefulness inside it.

Motorhomes and Travel Trailers

We are going to take this topic further with a separate description of each of them, along with the factors that differentiate them.

1. Travel Trailers

Travel trailers are towable campers without an engine. The greatest distinction between an RV and a trailer is that one is self-fueled while different should be towed. A person needs a suitable SUV or a vehicle that can pull along the size of the travel trailer he owns. These trailers can be parked or stored in a garage or a carport.

Inside these trailers, there is enormous space for living alongside a bedroom and a restroom. Various cabinets are available for storage, and there is also a kitchen for cooking your own food. There are windows that provide sunlight into the trailer so that your kids can enjoy the view from inside the trailer when you are towing it to a camping spot.

Travel trailers likewise have a wide range, with numerous models to browse, including pop-up campers, toy haulers, small-sized travel trailers, big fifth-wheel travel trailers, destination trailers, etc.

The greater benefit you get from them is that they are easy to maintain, and they give good mileage if you tow them with a suitable diesel truck or SUV.

2. Motorhomes

Motorhomes are classified into different categories, and each of them is explained below.

1. Class A Motorhome

Class A Motorhomes are big coaches having great inside space for a living of 8 – 10 person easily.

These coaches are equipped with a completely practical kitchen, and a standard washroom and they have different slide-outs to grow their inside space when stopped at a camping point.

These vehicles can be up to 45 feet in length or significantly longer.

These motorhomes incorporate a huge load of additional elements like outside diversion arrangements and an open-air kitchen.

These RVs make the ideal camper for enormous families or more modest gatherings who demand going in style and extravagance.

In case that you are searching for straightforwardness, then a Class A may be needless excess.

Here are the Best Class A RVs if you are looking for one. 

2. Class B Motorhome

Class B motorhomes are smaller compared to Class A motorhomes. Assuming that you anticipate being outside more often than not, having a couple of square feet of lounge room will not be anything to joke about to you.

These small RVs are rich in features and decent. Generally, the designs are crafted and augmented to give adequate space in innovative ways.

Most of these RVs will have a kitchenette and latrine area. You will also have a resting area to take a nap in your free time. These are ideal for a couple, and they are very cost-efficient as well.

These motorhomes don’t consume much fuel like the big class A motorhomes.

3. Class C Motorhome

Class C RVs are pretty cool with their design and shape, and they are a bit bigger than class B motorhomes.

They share most of the features like class A motorhomes but have smaller sizes than them.

Since they are incorporated into a normal pickup truck body, they will more often than not be in the center of fuel mileage as well.

Class C fuel utilization will quite often be superior to Class A RVs. You can view Class C RVs as considerably more reasonable, making them a family’s top choice.

Some manufacturers also provide upgrade packages for their campers which can enhance and improve the living standards even more.

Differences Between Motorhomes and Travel Trailers

1. Maintenance

There is a great difference in mechanical maintenance between these two. The travel trailers are easy to maintain since they don’t have any engine to drive from one spot to another; it typically requires less support than an RV.

You might feel open to taking care of business on your own truck, for example, changing the brakes, doing oil changes, and more, but you can’t do this with a motorhome.

For a motorhome to maintain, you will have additional expenses from paying an expert. However, both an RV and a trailer will require customary support and upkeep to remain in excellent condition.

But the travel trailers have a bit of the edge here.

2. Arrangement Differences

The layout of each RV can be different, whereas the basic features might be the same, like water connection, power, and sewer setup.

Setting up and managing a travel trailer in such a condition is more tricky as compared to a motorhome.

3. Repairing

It’s an important factor to notice that when you use such big RVs for camping, how well do they serve in terms of repairing and maintenance.

In case a trailer gets a fault and requires repairing, it can be adjusted on leveling jacks or placed on stands at a point while still offering a place for living.

On the contrary, the motorhomes require to be taken to a workshop in order to get fixed. You can move to any place if your motorhomes break down at any point.

The repairing cost for the travel trailer is less compared to these motorhomes.

4. Mileage

Gas mileage varies with each sort of RV. Most RVs don’t get good gas mileage because of their weight and all the features stacked in one place.

Travel trailers, on the other hand, are towed behind a pickup or an SUV, which consume less fuel as compared to a big motorcoach.

But if you are towing a big fifth-wheel travel trailer, then class B or Class C has better mileage for you.

5. Rough terrain Driving and Boondocking

Assuming you will go on rough terrain driving or boondocking, you will need an RV that can withstand such conditions.

Travel trailers have a better edge here because there are some models that are custom-made for rough terrain abilities. RVs are not suitable for such cases.

The ground clearance and other factors have a great impact on motorhomes, due to which they are not good for off-roading.

Moving on country roads and getting in and out of boondocking areas is a lot simpler with a more modest camper. Along these lines, you may drive a small RV which should be fine for your activities.

But for the most part, motorhomes are not considered to be taken to such places. A bigger RV will have bigger tanks and more surface regions for introducing sun-oriented power.

This permits you to boondock for longer.

6. Cost Difference

Travel trailers and motorhomes come under different price ranges. Usually, travel trailers can range between $5,000 to $40,000 and more depending upon the size and package you use.

Motorhomes are way more expensive than these travel trailers. Motorhomes normally start from $15,000 as basic small models and all the way up to $100,000 and even more depending upon the luxury and features that are included with it.

Motorhome vs Travel Trailer – Which one to Choose?

For the individuals who need to go through as minimal expenditure as could be expected, the travel trailer is the better decision. A travel trailer is more appropriate for the easygoing camper who just takes excursions during one season.

Notwithstanding, assuming you don’t claim your own vehicle to pull the trailer, you may be in an ideal situation with an RV.

While a few minivans can tow a trailer, you’ll presumably need to buy a truck as a rule. The expense of a truck and trailer consolidated could wind up costing more than the standard RV.

Assuming you intend to live in one for a lengthy timeframe, go with the RV.

Conclusion

This was a discussion on motorhome vs travel trailers in which we highlighted features of both of these RVs and their differences.

For more details, check the FAQ section.

FAQ