Motor Home Types – A Beginner Guide. Sounds simple enough, and frankly it is. However, knowing the nuances of the various classes is helpful. Why? Well, first off it will make you look really smart around the campfire or water cooler. And second, when you are ready to purchase, upgrade, or downsize, you will already have an idea of where you are going. So let’s begin.
Class A Motor Homes
Constructed on either a commercial truck chassis, a specially designed motor vehicle chassis, or a Commercial Bus chassis, a Class A motor home resembles a bus in design and has a flat or vertical front end and large windows.
In 1989, the addition of Slide-outs dramatically changed the industry because they allow a wider living area. This provided for the Class A’s being substitute homes for full-time RVers. The types of Class A’s are as follows:
Wide Body: This style Class A was built primarily in the 80’s and early 90’s. But when slide outs came in these Wide Body RV’s went out as well.
Gas Power: Most typical Class A with a front gas engine.
Diesel Pusher: A diesel pusher motor home is typically a Class A that is powered by a diesel engine mounted in the rear of the RV.
Bus Conversion: A commercial buses or school buses that has been converted into an RV. Highly customized with many luxury components, passenger bus conversions are typically the largest motor homes available.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Class A Motor Homes
As with all things, there are advantages and disadvantages. And the general misconceptions are that the Class A is harder to drive and that a special license is needed. In both cases this is generally false. Additionally, our rental customers would assume that a Class A slept more people. Again, false. So let’s take a look.
Advantages
- Class motor homes are the most luxurious and offer the most amenities (dual A/C, washer/dryer, ample storage, just to name a few)
- Slide-outs offer more space (generally more than one)
- Living quarters are easily accessible from cockpit (this is a big deal!)
- Better visibility for driving and viewing. You are sitting higher and therefore have a much better view of the road ahead as well as the scenery.
- Somewhat better stability in winds or passing big semis
Disadvantages
- Their size makes them hard to maneuver
- Poorer fuel economy due to their boxy shape.
- Special license or endorsement required in some jurisdictions.
- Can be intimidating to the novice RVer
- Generally less sleeping quarters
Class B Motor Home (Small Camper Van)
Built using a conventional van, either a raised roof has been added or the back replaced by a low-profile body (aka coach-built).
Depending on the motor home manufacturer and engine design, the Class B motor homes are built on several different chassis . Common chassis include the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter diesel, the Dodge Ram gas, the Chevrolet Express gas, and the Ford Transit gas and diesel.
Class B+ Motor Home
A recent invention, a class B+ motor home is a hybrid between a class B motor home and a Class C motor home. These are built on a truck or van chassis and usually include a “cab-over” section. They also include many amenities of class C motor home, including a refrigerator, stove, microwave, sofa/table. 
The bath area is also bigger, usually not a wet bath. Also, some of these motor homes include a full bedroom and will usually sleep 2-6 people.
Class C Motor Home
A Class C motor home is built on a truck platform with a forward engine and transmission connected to a rear axle that typically has dual-mounted rear wheels. Class C motor homes are typically powered by gasoline engines. Most Class C motor home types are characterized by a distinctive cab-over profile, containing either an upper sleeping area, a storage space, or a TV/entertainment section.
The original chassis is equipped from the truck factory to the manufacturer with an attached forward cab section that is van or conventional truck based (known as a cutaway chassis). In North America, the Ford E350 or E450 chassis are the most typical. While in prior times the Dodge & Chevrolet or GMC chassis were also used.
Super C Motor Home
The very large Super C Motor Homes are based on larger truck platforms such as the Ford F650 GMC and some even on the Freightliner XC chassis. However, they are still a Class C RV design.
All Class C motor homes often feature a towing hitch enabling the pulling of a light weight trailer or a small car or truck.
Toterhome – the Ultimate in Toy Hauler Motor Homes
An uncommon term indicating a motor home built around a semi truck chassis (such as a Freightliner). These motor home types allow the pulling of large and heavy trailers. 
The name Toterhome has come to mean generally a heavy-duty truck chassis with a small/medium living quarters and a deck on the back with a fifth wheel or gooseneck hitch. The racing and horse community use Toterhomes to pull heavy trailers.
Amenities Common to Most Motor Home Types
There are so many advantages of various motor home types; particularly the selection of amenities such as:
- kitchen sink
- refrigerator/freezer
- propane range (sometimes with an oven)
- microwave oven
- table with seating
- entertainment center or TV/DVD
- lavatory with bath/shower
- one or more sleeping areas
- additional front seating
- air conditioner
- water heater
- furnace
- awning
- generator
