RVs can be a lot of fun for the family! The ability to ride around on vacation without the need for a hotel or kitchen can be quite nice. You can park just about anywhere too so you aren’t limited to finding a place when you are in remote areas.
RVs are also like hotel rooms in that they have occupancy limits to keep people safe and comfortable. While you might want to take your entire family and the kid’s friends on a vacation, we’ll walk you through some guidelines about RV capacity.
The answer depends on the class of RV you buy and its length. Some RVs are definitely bigger than others. We will go into more detail, though the highest capacity is generally around 12.
The highest capacity RV: Class A
The Class A type of RV can be 30-50 feet long and sleep 12 people. Generally, a mix of kids and adults can sleep 8 to 10 people comfortably.
Class A RVs tend to make creative use of spaces. They can have slide out beds and drop down bunk beds. These all make it easier to ride in comfort and enjoy extra space, and usually require little effort to prepare for bed time.
For the sake of comfort, some Class A RV’s actually have more than one bathroom. They can also have plenty of floor space for sleeping extras if needed without stepping on people.
The upside to a Class A RV is having lots of room for everyone and many amenities. Most hotel rooms don’t even have multiple bathrooms. You can also make creative use of your spaces.
The downside? You’ll want to put a little extra practice into learning to maneuver one well and park it! They also use more gas.
Travel Trailers: A Different Class
Travel trailers can also fit up to 12 people with amenities. The difference is that a trailer will also require a powerful truck to tow the entire rig. Otherwise, they can offer similar amenities for less money.
Class C – Smaller, but good for smaller groups
Class C RVs and towable trailers can be 20-30 feet long. Class C Rvs generally sleep about 7 people comfortable, assuming a mix of children and adults.
They use similar methods as Class A, just less. This can include fold down beds, slide out beds, and bunk beds. Many of these are made for kids and young adults while larger adults should use regular beds.
A Class C RV also usually has one bathroom, which is generally fine for groups of 7 or less.
The downside is that everything will be smaller than a Class A. The definite advantage is that a Class C RV is cheaper, uses less gas, and is considered easier to drive than a Class A motorhome.
Class B – Great for Couples
You might not have heard of a Class B! Class B RVs are generally about the same size as a conversion van with more amenities. These are great for lone travelers or couples who don’t need a ton of space.
Class B can usually sleep three and often have a raised roof to fit extra people or beds.
The advantage to a Class B is that they are not much different from driving a conversion van. They are also much easier to park and also cost less than the other larger classes. The downside is that they don’t offer much room – but if you don’t need much room the advantages are great.
Cots, Hammocks, and Creative ways to sleep more people
Your RV might even come with one! Cots and hammocks can be strung across lesser used living spaces or just overnight to create some more sleep room. These are more commonly put up in the living room area or kitchen.
Cots and hammocks are also generally cheap and the kids might actually really enjoy sleeping in a different kind of bed. Most adults like the idea of a mattress instead.
Cots generally add a one person capacity. They are not quite a waterbed when it comes to stability.
Naturally, we don’t recommend using the cot or hammock while actually moving. They are generally designed to sway!
Your kitchen table can also be converted to a bed. We suggest again having a flexible kid sleep on these, but throwing an air mattress or pad on the fold out table will at least give them room to sleep.
Other things to consider: Safety
Most of the time, the people you have riding in your RV will also be sleeping there. Some states have different laws about which passengers must be wearing a seatbelt. Some also have laws about how many can be in an RV in general.
The RV classes larger offer a couple less seatbelts than passenger capacity. This isn’t a bad thing, and some seats can go unused while you are actually moving. Check the RV for capacity and the states you are going through for their own rules.
Also, since we discussed travel trailers: No one, especially children, should ride in a trailer that is being towed. Children should always ride in the vehicle towing.
Conclusion
RVs come in different capacities and might depend on some of the creative ideas in this article to sleep more people. Imagine being able to take the family on vacation to wherever you want. You won’t need to stop to go to the bathroom or find a hotel that might not be as clean as your place.
Just look for the right RV to fit all your needs and go from there in terms of do it yourself projects and flexibility.
