In a Class of their Own

From Compact and Cosy to Luxurious

Motorhomes are essentially just that: a house you take on the road with you. Often considered the firstclass option for camping, motorhomes are self-propelled vehicles, as opposed to requiring a truck or other vehicle to tow or host it, according to the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association (CRVA). Motorhomes are divided into three classes, based on their size and overall configuration.

Class A Motorhomes

The largest and often most impressive of the three classes, class A motorhomes are the kings of the road. Resembling a large bus and designed for luxury, the class As are built on a specially designed frame, according to the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association, and also are the most expensive. Shane Devenish, the president of the CRVA says that, while class As are the largest (in Canada, the maximum length is just over 12 metres), they don’t often boast the largest sleeping capacity (usually up to six people) as the space is used for other amenities—some can come fully decked-out with marble surfaces, a fireplace, etc. Devenish says the price can range wildly here, from the high five figures up to a million dollars.

Class B Motorhomes

The smallest of the three motorhome classes, modern class Bs can be thought of as a “really luxurious van,” Devenish says. It’s an appropriate description, as class Bs are constructed using a conventional van chassis, on to which a raised roof is added, according to the CRVA. The maximum length is roughly half that of a class A. “The class B market […] is usually a couple, usually older, and they’re travelling around. They want something easier to drive that gets a little bit better gas mileage—they don’t care so much about the space and amenities,” Devenish says. The CRVA website says class Bs can sleep up to four people. Class Bs are the least expensive of the options here, often topping out at under $200,000.

Class C Motorhomes

Class Cs might be the most distinctive, thanks to their telltale cab-over bunk which sits atop the driver and passenger seats. Despite not being as large as a class A (size-wise, they tend to fall between an A and a B), they often have the largest sleeping capacity of up to eight people, due to the way they’re configured inside. A popular choice for families, Devenish says, class C motorhomes are built on a commercial van chassis. “Class Cs tend to allow for more sleeping capabilities because you have the bed over the driver,” Devenish says. “You have a dinette and a couch—usually you can sleep there—you’ve got a queen bed at the back, so usually you can sleep between six and eight people in a class C, easily.” Price-wise, class Cs tend to fall in the $100,000 to $200,000 range.