Large, luxurious RVs lure you in with their curb appeal, vast interior space (often made even bigger with multiple slideouts), and long list of amenities. But bigger isn’t always better. We’ll tell you why as we look at the benefits of smaller RVs.
A Bit Of History: The RVgeeks’ RVs
Sure, we lived in a 43’ diesel pusher for a couple of decades, but we’ve also traveled overseas in far smaller rigs for extended periods, and (at only 19′ of living space) our current rig is much smaller. So, we do understand the trade-offs of living large compared with the benefits of smaller RVs.
That said, we didn’t start out RVing with the intention of vacationing, weekend camping, or even a few long road trips per year. We bought our first RV with the intention of traveling and living in it full-time. We sold our sticks & bricks home and purchased a (relatively) FAR smaller home-on-wheels.
Not long into our travels, we realized that we wanted to continue living full-time in an RV, but we also knew that we’d have to work full-time in it as well. And by that point, we’d come to realize that boondocking for extended periods is our favorite way to roll, so we knew we needed some pretty large holding tanks, among other things. All of which led us to buy our former 43’ diesel pusher.
When we were full-timers, our RV was a 43-foot Class A diesel pusher.
Because we lived and worked in our RV full-time, and because our go-to camping style is boondocking, we needed a substantial amount of space and some very large holding tanks.
But all RVers have different needs and different desires. So, what works for one may not work well at all for another. That’s why when people ask us what size RV we think THEY should buy, we always offer the same advice:
“Buy the SMALLEST RV that you think you can be comfortable in!”
And when we stopped full-timing, we took our own advice and downsized.
What Are the Smallest Types of RVs?
In discussing the benefits of smaller RVs, we’ll first take a look at the smallest types and work our way up to the largest “small RVs” (sounds contradictory, doesn’t it… but hang in with us). We’ll begin with an RV type that’s currently a very hot commodity in North America and Europe as well.
Vans
Small camper vans are all the rage. Young people everywhere have taken to traveling and living in vans that they either purchase as tiny RVs or that they convert into RVs. Vans are also very popular among older nomads who choose this lifestyle for pleasure or out of financial necessity.
Camper vans come in many different shapes and sizes, and some have a variety of amenities such as a small refrigerator and propane cooktop, or an additional bed created by a pop-top roof as this van has. Others are “self-built” campers that started as cargo or passenger vans and evolved into small RVs.
Vans benefit from many of the benefits of smaller RVs: they are easy to drive, easy to park, and offer tremendous freedom in terms of where they can go. In a small camper van, you can navigate anything from the busiest city streets to some pretty remote areas with tough terrain. The versatility and size of a small camper van allow it to be a daily driver in addition to a very tiny home on wheels, adding to the affordability factor.
Are there disadvantages? Of course, there are. And we’ll get to a list of the advantages and disadvantages of small rigs in just a minute. First, let’s run through the other small rigs that prove that bigger isn’t always better.
Small Travel Trailers
Small travel trailers include everything from pop-up campers to teardrop campers to small towables. Some small travel trailers have room only for a bed and a few personal items, while others have room to sleep a few people as well as a wet bath and a small galley kitchen area. These are known as self-contained RVs which means that they have everything you need to live in them comfortably, (albeit compactly)!
These small RVs represent a group of towable rigs known as travel trailers. Small travel trailers are often an RVer’s first introducing to camping and traveling with an RV.
Small travel trailers can be a cost-effective way to get into RVing. Not only can they be relatively inexpensive to purchase in some cases, but some are so lightweight that they can be towed by the family SUV or minivan… another great benefit of smaller RVs.
Truck Campers
Truck campers sit in, and are attached to, the bed of a pickup truck and offer a tiny living space that many travelers really love. Some trucks have the capacity to travel well off-road, and the addition of the camper is just exactly what overlanders need for their camping and traveling expeditions.
Truck campers can offer anything from simple sleeping and relaxing quarters to an entire home featuring a kitchen area and bathroom. Of course, the truck that hauls the camper has to graduate with the size, weight, and style of the camper.
A truck camper sits in the bed of a pickup truck and over the cab. Truck campers may be a simple design or may include amenities such as a wet bath and small kitchen. A truck camper can be lifted off the truck to stand on its own so the truck can be used independently for sightseeing, errands, etc.
Our friends Tom & Caitlin Morton traveled to and in Alaska with a truck camper. It was a substantial truck camper, and they carried it on a Ford F350 dually, but it was still a significant downsizing from their 5th wheel. How’d they do with the downsizing? They loved it! Be sure to check out their “Go North” series for more on their Alaskan adventures.
Class B RVs
Class B RVs are purpose-built camper vans that are well-apportioned motorhomes in a tiny package, offering many of the great benefits of smaller RVs. Class B rigs have everything from kitchens and bathrooms to sleeping quarters and holding tanks, along with ample storage. They’re typically well-thought-out and well laid out. But, while they provide most of the amenities one might expect from a tiny home-on-wheels, it’s all packed into a very small space.
Class B RVs have all the amenities of a traditional RV but in a smaller package.
Class B RVs are typically taller, wider, and longer than the vans we discussed in the first section, but they’re still very easy to drive, park, and maneuver through city streets as well as campgrounds. The Class B RV is a very popular choice for many solo travelers and couples, and even for travelers with a small child or two (yes, this includes canine and feline “children”).
With a Class B rig, space is very tight, but you’ve got everything you need to live fairly comfortably, with the main idea being that you’re living OUT OF your RV, as opposed to living IN your RV.
Class B+ RVs
The Class B+ RV is another class of motorhome that’s snuck into the fray over the past decade or so. Manufacturers designed the Class B+ for people who wanted something a little bigger than a Class B RV, but who didn’t want a rig with the classic overhang of a Class C RV. In truth, the “Class B+ RV” is really just a marketing term – it’s not an officially recognized class of RV. As a matter of fact, when you go to register and insure your so-called “Class B+ RV”, it’ll be registered and insured as a Class C. But we digress…
Class B+ RVs are often built on the same type of cutaway chassis cabs that Class C rigs use, but they do away with the overhang you see on traditional Class C rigs. These rigs have gained in popularity because, while they’re very easy to maneuver, they offer more space than a Class B (look for the body bump-out larger than the cab). We published a post on Class B+ RVs, which we welcome you to check out for more information.
If you’d like to see a tour of one of the Class B+ RVs we’ve rented when traveling abroad, have a look at our Class B+ RV Tour — In-Depth Look at Our New Zealand Wilderness Motorhome Rental. We lived in this one for five weeks and we’d love to show you around while giving you our take on the pros and cons.
Some Class C RVs
Some Class C RVs are considered small RVs, but not all! A Class C rig can be anywhere from 21 feet to 41 feet in length. That’s quite a variation in size! The shorter, smaller end of the Class C scale offers a small RV overall, with the classic overhang over the cab. This area was initially intended as an additional sleeping area, but over time some floor plans have used the overhang for entertainment centers and storage for travelers who have no need for an additional bed.
You can identify a Class C RV by the classic overhang above the cab. This was traditionally used for the placement of an additional bed, but some Class C’s today use that area for storage or entertainment centers.
Some Class A RVs
And finally, even some Class A RVs are considered small RVs. This comes as a surprise to many, but it’s true.
We tend to think of a Class A RV as the big daddy of motorhomes. But despite the fact that they’re larger and taller than many RVs (see our post asking “How tall is a Class A motorhome?” for more info), there’s a wide variation in the sizes of Class A rigs available on the market today. This is because many travelers want all the amenities of a Class A RV without the largest footprint and typical fuel consumption of a Class A motorhome.
Newmar’s New Aire is considered a small Class A RV. It has all the benefits, luxuries, and amenities of larger Class As but in a smaller footprint. (Photo credit: Newmar Corp)
Rigs like THOR’s Vegas/Axis, Newmar’s New Aire (33-35′ diesel pusher), and the Tiffin Breeze are examples of smaller (though not entirely small) Class A RVs. For more detailed information, you can check out our post on 5 small Class A motorhomes.
What Are the Benefits of Smaller RVs?
There are lots of reasons why bigger isn’t always better where RVs are concerned. For one thing, travelers have different needs and desires. There are some travelers for whom a large RV wouldn’t work at all. Moreover, smaller rigs have numerous benefits. Let’s take a look…
More Economical & Efficient
Smaller RVs generally cost less in every way there is to cost less! They’re less expensive to buy, they generally offer better fuel economy, the tires cost less (fewer of them and they’re often smaller), and they present a smaller space to heat and cool, so there’s less energy consumption overall in terms of both propane and electrical power.
Ease of Driving & Parking
There’s no question that driving and parking a smaller RV is easier than driving and parking a large rig. It’s easier to handle everything from turning to backing, to highway merging, to navigating busy city streets, to managing difficult terrain.
Smaller is definitely better when it comes time to park. This Rialta easily fits in a standard parking space. Imagine trying to get a larger RV parked here?
Also, small motorhomes like Class B and B+ RVs and vans are no more difficult to park than a large car, SUV, or minivan. Many fit in a regular parking spot and are easy to backup safely.
Often Require Less Setup
Smaller RVs require less setup at the campsite. First of all, arrival at the site is simpler as it’s so easy to slip into the campsite, even if you’re backing in. Then there’s generally less leveling that needs to be done.
Owners of very small RVs or vans also don’t have the added setup involved with extending slides and setting up the interior. They can just put it in Park, hook up to the campsite amenities (power, water, and/or sewer) if available, and start relaxing.
Access to Areas Where Large RVs Can’t Go
Smaller RVs can park and camp nearly anywhere. From remote areas to small campgrounds, to state and national parks, to the driveway of a relative – almost any area can accommodate a small rig.
Among the primary benefits of smaller RVs is the ability to park anywhere and to easily navigate city streets and rugged rural terrain.
However, larger rigs can be much more difficult to take to certain places. Our 43’ Class A didn’t keep us away from too many places, but there are plenty of backcountry campsites, state/national park campgrounds, driveways, and streets where we literally couldn’t drive (let alone park), and we certainly would have preferred not to navigate tight city streets with our former rig. (Imagine us trying to drive our old Newmar motorhome on the narrow roads in the U.K.?!?!).
The difference between driving our old Class A through New York City streets or driving a small Class B through those same busy city streets is very significant.
We love going to the city, so we didn’t let that stop us. But we used our toad, a Honda CR-V, to maneuver around busy city streets. This brings us to the next point…
No Need For a Toad
With a smaller RV, there’s no need for a toad! With a Class B or B+ RV, for example, you can just drive your rig to wherever you want to go. Or with a small travel trailer, you can leave your little rig somewhere and simply drive around in your tow vehicle. The same is true for a truck camper… put the camper down on its own and drive the pickup truck into town.
But with a larger RV, if you want to bring a toad along, there’s another level of preparation and navigation involved, as you can see in our post all about towing a car behind an RV.
Small Motorhomes Can Be Used as a Daily Driver
And finally, small motorhomes like vans, Class B RVs, and Class B+ RVs can be used as a daily driver. Many people use a van or a Class B RV as their only vehicle, and some use it as their family’s second car. But any way you slice it, a trip to the post office, the grocery store, or the local ice cream shop is relatively easy in a small van camper or Class B RV.
What Are the Disadvantages of Smaller RVs?
Like anything else, where there are advantages there are also disadvantages, and we’d be remiss not to visit those associated with smaller RVs.
Less Living Space
Perhaps the most obvious disadvantage of smaller RVs is the lack of living space. There’s very little living space in a Class B van and even less in a regular van being used as a camper. Again, most travelers with very small RVs live OUT of their rigs and not IN them.
But still, there are times of day when people spend time inside their RVs, and there are days when the weather requires you to be inside for even longer. That’s not as easy in a small van as it is in a larger rig. Kids, pets, spouses, and all other traveling companions can grate on the nerves of even the most patient person when everyone is confined together in a small living space.
We often hear that the tiny living space really isn’t an issue, but…umm…yes, it is!
Less Privacy
The less living space you have, the less privacy you have. Getting any real degree of privacy in an RV the size of a van isn’t unlikely – it’s impossible. If you’re traveling with others and privacy is important to you, the smallest RVs might not be for you.
One stark disadvantage of a smaller RV is the lack of privacy. The minimal living space can also feel confining.
Less Storage Space
Depending on how long you tend to travel without returning to a home base, you may need substantial storage on your RV, and you’re unlikely to get that with very small rigs. The designs of some Class B rigs and other small RVs are pretty impressive with regard to their generous storage areas, but no matter how well you pack or how well organized you are, there’s simply not a lot of space on a small RV.
Not only is there less room in a small RV, but there’s also far less allowance for weight. So, with smaller rigs, you’ve really got to account for what you’re packing and where you’re packing it. And you need to be very cautious about your rig being overweight because it can happen very quickly.
Smaller Holding Tanks
This is a big one for us, but it may not be significant for other travelers, which is why we always say – get the smallest RV that’s comfortable for YOU. We need large holding tanks because we boondock regularly and like to stay out for extended periods. We couldn’t get by with a 25-gallon freshwater tank and a 20-gallon blackwater tank. That would never work for our style of RVing.
But some people prefer to use campgrounds and RV parks exclusively, so they know they’ll always be connected to shore power, water, and sewer. The size of their holding tanks matters very little to these travelers.
More Likely to Have a Wet Bath
Smaller RVs are more likely to have a wet bath. Some people may not mind this, (or may THINK they won’t mind this), but in general, unless you happen to be a person who enjoys showering in public campground showers (or other public showers), or who doesn’t shower all that regularly, a wet bath is rather a bit of a pain in the neck.
In an RV wet bath, everything gets wet when the shower is used.
This can be difficult to understand until you spend some time living in an RV and using a wet bath, though so many people look at a wet bath and think it will be perfectly fine. And again – for some, it is. But for the most part, showering in the same area where the sink and toilet are, having to move things out of the bathroom every time you shower, and having to dry the entire bathroom after every shower… GETS OLD FAST.
We’re not complaining here – it’s definitely a first-world problem, and we loved the little Class B+ RVs we rented when we were traveling abroad. But we never did come to love the wet bath. Feel free to see our post for more details on RV wet baths and why they suck aren’t the best option for many people.
Can’t Invite Many (ANY?) Guests to Travel With You
Let’s face it – a very small RV is challenging to share with the person you love and already share your life with. Adding guests to that small RV is, in some cases, not physically possible… and, in other cases, downright annoying.
Even in a larger RV, there are privacy and comfort considerations to make. Feel free to check out our video for how we dealt with those issues when we had guests in our 43″ Class A. Frankly, we can’t imagine having guests aboard a Class B or a teardrop trailer!
So, tell us – have you traveled in a small RV? We’d love to know your thoughts. Have we missed anything? Did we thoroughly cover the benefits of smaller RVs as well as the disadvantages? Chime in down in the comments section below!
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Phil Biggs
Wednesday 11th of March 2026
Great article! After owning a popup tent camper, tear drop trailer, a Outdoors RV 20FQ Creekside, we thought we had given up on RVing. We started tent "glamping" and thought we could do it but realized we wanted to explore more. We knew we were tired of hauling things and always having to be conscious of where we were pulling into and whether it had an exit route, especially with my wife driving. We looked at each of the options you listed and decided on an Embassy Dolphin S (Class B built on a Ford Transit 350HD van (or should I say IN that van)). We love the incredibly well thought out floor plan and the "no wood, no propane, no solar and no black tank" simplicity and durability. We were worried about what to do when we wanted to get away from the campsite until our first longer trip. We realized that you just put a few things away and drive off. We get great gas mileage (compared to our F-150 and the Creekside) and with the suspension additions Embassy adds, it is super stable on the interstates in high winds. It was a good choice for us (though we doubt we'll ever take a shower in it -- you got that one right! :-) )
TheRVgeeks
Thursday 12th of March 2026
That’s great, Phil! We love hearing about other RVers journey through their different RVs. And thanks for the validation about NOT using the shower in a wet bath! 😂🤣 Definitely a “no go” for us, but it certainly works for other people. 😉
AK Fish
Wednesday 11th of March 2026
Note: GM pickups have a vehicle-specific Truck-Camper Loading Information label that is attached to the inside of the vehicle's glove box. This label indicates if a slide-in camper can be carried, how much of a load the vehicle can carry, and how to correctly spread out the load (center of gravity zone).
My 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD has a max. payload capacity listed on door frame of 2,625# and a GVWR of 9,500#. My specific camper cargo weight rating is found in the glovebox: max. 1738# not 2,625#. People will do what the want and use the max. payload as their guide or not.
If I were to go the truck camper route, I'd follow GM's weight ratings and not go above them, that is just me.
Jay
Wednesday 12th of March 2025
If you're desiring a quality, smaller motorhome, you will have great difficulty finding one in less than a 45' length. Generally, the lower the price, the lower the quality. Unfortunately, the converse doesn't appear to be the rule. We were lucky to find a used 37' Foretravel with all of the features and technology of their 45s. Unfortunately, they only made a few in 2022. I asked the factory rep why they no longer make them and I was told that they cost the same as the 45s. I found that hard to believe with their 605 HP engine, larger chassis, tag axle and 2 bathrooms to name a few.
Larry Hybl
Wednesday 12th of March 2025
We have the same Outdoor RV (ORV) as TheRVgeeks. It is an ORV Creekside 19MKS. It’s the Mountain series, not Titanium. 😞
We’re in week 3 of a 6 week expedition to the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. We frequently comment that it fits our needs perfectly. We can’t imagine needing more of anything than what it offers.
Our biggest regret is that we’re pulling it with a 1-ton dually, 8’ bed pickup. While we love the stability and storage, the fuel economy could be better in a smaller yet still capable truck. It’s also a pain when driving the small streets of the historic towns we love to visit.
We would love to see more YouTube episodes from you good folks about how your new, smaller rig is working out, and your experience with the smaller diesel engine in your GMC truck. 🙏🤞
TheRVgeeks
Wednesday 12th of March 2025
Hi Larry! Always great to hear from a fellow Outdoors RV owner, especially a 19MKS owner! We’ve had a LOT of questions about towing our trailer with a 1500, and are planning to make a video about that this spring/summer going into in-depth detail about how we’re able to do it. We will say this… We had to absolutely, positively max out the capabilities of our truck to meet the payload requirements of such a solidly built trailer. It took careful calculations and planning, especially knowing we would be adding about 500 pounds of lithium and batteries, solar panels, and related equipment. Stay tuned!
Gay Tacoma Travel Enthusiast (Jason)
Thursday 14th of March 2024
I'd buy a GMC Motorhome if I had someone to share the experience and responsibilities with. While it may not be large enough for everyone, I would think even a full-time RVer could live in something between 20 and 30 ft. in length.