Sharing an RV
How Big -- Or Small Are They?

You need to know right from the start that you'd better all be able to get along in tight quarters. Just how tight those quarters are depends on the size of the RV. Before you rent or buy an RV, you should understand what you get with the different sizes.

Class C motor homes are a scaled down version of their bigger cousins. They are in the 20-31 foot (6-9 meters) category. They generally have a drivers compartment with a bunk over it. They have most of the same features as the Class A RVs, but on a smaller scale. These also say they can sleep up to 8 people depending on the floor plan. As you can imagine, this will mean you are in even closer quarters.

Class B motor homes and van conversions go down in size and amenities from there.

So can they really sleep that many people?

Yes, it's physically possible, but.... it's very cozy. Sharing an RV with that many people is probably easiest for a family. You can tuck the kids into all those bunks and fold outs and have the bedroom for yourself.

If there are four or six adults sharing an RV, may we suggest that you should be really good friends or family!

We took a road trip in one of those Class A motor homes recently. It was a 35 footer (10.5 meters), with two slide outs, a bedroom, and a full bath. The daytime sofa folded to a bed at night, and the dining table area could be converted into another slightly shorter bed. It was fun, and we were thankful for those walls when thunderstorms shook us. However, we took a tent along too, and when the weather was good, we slept outside for a little more privacy.

You have to think... you will all be sharing the same bathroom. If you don't have water and power hook-ups, you will need to conserve water and power. At some point you have to "dump" the "grey water" and the "black water". The point when you need to empty those tanks comes sooner with more people using the facilities.

We found it was easiest sharing an RV when we were in campgrounds that had shower blocks and toilets that we could use. That gave us all a little more privacy, and we could all get ready faster in the mornings.

You need to divide up cooking chores. The kitchens are small; not enough room for too many cooks. Take turns, so everyone gets a vacation from cooking.

And you need to think about how comfortable it will be when everything is closed up and you are driving to your next destination. Are you driving long distances? Is there room for everyone to sit comfortably?

We found traveling and sharing an RV was a great experience. It worked especially well for the type of trip we were on. Even so, after three weeks, we were glad to get home and out of the RV. If you think you can get along with your fellow travelers and deal with the tight quarters, we say go for it. Sharing an RV can be an interesting experience.

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