RV stands for Recreational Vehicle, and Campervan and Motorhome are both types of RV!
Campervans are the most popular way to explore a country. These vans by Top RV gear offer comfortable living, convenient storage, and compact dimensions for driving through tight spaces. Campervans are easy to drive and provide their occupants with modern conveniences without sacrificing too much space. They are perfect for families, couples, or friends who want to get out of the city and inexpensively explore their surroundings.
Campervans come in many different styles, but they all offer the same basic features: a bed, storage space, cooking facilities, and sometimes even heating/AC. More advanced vans will have solar panels, water tanks, TVs, and DVD players.
Motorhomes are considered more luxurious than campervans. These vans offer several luxuries that you won’t find in a campervan. Some of these luxury features include showers, toilets, beds with mattresses, heating/AC, and sometimes even smaller fridges than your average campervan. Motorhomes are also larger, which means better views from the driver’s seat.
Campervans are more common in Europe. They usually offer only a bed and cooking facilities, but these are all you need for most tours around Europe or elsewhere. Many smaller companies will rent out campervans because they’re considered cheap – however, I would argue that they’re more about comfort than the price.
Luxury motorhomes are hardly found in Europe. This type of RV is mostly used by families or for tours of several weeks to several months. Renting a luxury motorhome for a one-week tour isn’t very practical; it will be too expensive, and you won’t benefit from all the luxury features.
Motorhomes are more common in America and Australia. These countries have a tradition of RVing, and they offer significantly larger roads for driving these large vehicles. Also, it is very common to leave your car behind and tour around with only an RV because there are so many places to visit – from campsites to national parks.
In the following sections, I will go over each type of RV in more detail and give some insight on where you can find them.
Is a motorhome the same as an RV?
The short answer would be ‘no.’ Campervans are also large RVs, but they offer different features than motorhomes. An RV is any vehicle with sleeping facilities for more than two people besides the driver’s seat. It can include campervans, motorhomes, and even cars with a mattress in the back – these types of cars are often called ‘car campers.’
What’s the difference between a motorhome and a campervan?
Campervans have more in common with cars than they do with motorhomes. Because of their smaller size, they have to abide by different rules when driving. For example, some countries limit the speed of campervans because they are slower than regular cars. Campervans are also smaller, which means that there will be less storage space.
One of the biggest differences between a campervan and a motorhome is the number of people they can accommodate. Campervans are usually built to sleep two adults comfortably, although some models can sleep up to four. On the other hand, motorhomes are usually built for two adults and two children (although some models can accommodate more).
Another difference between these types of RVs is the number of beds. Campervans usually only offer one bed, while motorhomes offer several. You will usually find at least one double bed in a motorhome, but some models can offer two or three beds to accommodate the number of people.
Also, campervans are more common in Europe, and they usually offer basic features – cooking facilities and storage space. Motorhomes aren’t as popular, and they provide several luxury features such as bigger beds, toilets, and showers.
Campervans are easier to drive than motorhomes. Since they aren’t as big, their turning radius is much better, and it’s easier for them to park. Furthermore, you will find more campervans on the streets of Europe than motorhomes – although this isn’t always the case if you look at tour companies with fleets of RVs. However, it would help if you kept in mind that campervans are limited to smaller roads and parking spots because they’re considered rather slow.
As the name implies, motorhomes are larger vehicles – meaning that they have a bigger turning radius and can fit through tighter spaces. It is especially useful in North America, where big motorhomes and RVs are more common. Also, they offer a lot of luxury features that campervans can’t compete with: bigger beds, toilets, and showers.
Since motorhomes are larger vehicles, it is very important to choose the right type before going out on the road. The number of passengers or bed size shouldn’t be the only factor determining which RV you choose. You should consider:
Where will you be driving? Will you go through big cities and tight spots or open roads and wide parking spaces? What type of road will you take – a highway or a country road? How many people do you have at your party? Do they mind sleeping in a small bed, and will they need enough storage space? How often do you plan on stopping your trip to rest or use the restroom?
If you go for an RV with too many beds or storage, you might find yourself crowded at night and not be able to take as many things with you. Also, if you don’t consider whether there will be enough storage space for your belongings, you might find yourself renting a bigger vehicle than what you need. On the other hand, if you go for an RV that doesn’t fit enough people or beds, your sleeping arrangements might become uncomfortable, and you won’t enjoy your trip as much.
Aside from the size difference between campervans and motorhomes, there isn’t a huge difference between the two. One is not better than the other, and it’s mostly a matter of personal preference. Nowadays, motorhomes have more luxury features, making them ideal for those who enjoy traveling in style, but if you prefer to save money on your trip or plan on going somewhere remote, then campervans are the right choice for you.
There is also a matter of price. Campervans are usually cheaper to buy, while motorhomes might be more expensive to purchase, but it’s where you get your money back when you rent them out. If you’re planning on renting an RV, it’s best to look at reviews from past customers and compare prices between different rental companies.
In short, campervans are small RVs that can fit two people comfortably, while motorhomes accommodate a larger number of people and have more luxury features.
