How to Choose the Right RV Type for Your Snowbird Lifestyle

The snowbird lifestyle can be the best way to spend retirement. You get to enjoy a mild summer with friends and family in your home state up north, and when the cold weather rolls around, you get to hop in your RV and head south to dodge the winter weather and keep soaking up the sun. While living that way can be a dream, it does take some preparation, including deciding which type of RV is best for you. Depending on the type of lifestyle you want to lead during your winters down south, some RVs may be better fitted for you than others. We’ve compiled a list of a few things you should consider when you begin your search for which RV fits your snowbird lifestyle.

Towable vs. Motorhome

We start things off with the most basic question: do you want to tow your RV, or would you prefer for the engine, cab and living quarters to all be part of the same vehicle? For first time RVers, a small motorhome like a Class B or Class C rig can be easier to drive because you don’t have to worry about the turn radius with a towable rig. Driving a larger Class A motorhome can take a little extra expertise, but you’ll have plenty of space with everything all in one spot.

On the flip side, there are some advantages to being able to tow your rig. With a towable, you can park your RV at the campground, and then use your tow vehicle to get out and explore the local area without having to unhook or go through the trouble of finding a place to park your RV at local attractions. If you plan on exploring outside of the RV park while you travel, then you may want to consider a fifth wheel or travel trailer for that reason. You’ll have to use a pickup truck as your tow vehicle with a fifth wheel, but SUVs can work for some travel trailers. With a towable, you also won’t have to worry about an RV engine issue stranding you somewhere as you’ll be dependent on your towable’s motor and not the motor in the RV itself.

Luxury vs. Simplicity

Next, you’ll want to consider how high maintenance your camping style will be. Is enjoying the finer things in life a priority for you? In a Class A rig, you’ll find every comfort and convenience of a sticks and bricks home. There’s a reason why famous musicians choose coach motorhomes as their luxury homes away from home on tour. Even some high-end fifth wheels can rival Class A rigs in terms of luxury. But if you prefer a more simplistic way of life, a lightweight travel trailer or Class C motorhome may be a better fit for you. Though these rigs can be smaller, most come packed with modern conveniences to make sure your camping experience is still an enjoyable one.

Glamping vs. Parks

You’ll also want to consider where you plan on camping during your time in your RV. If you won’t settle for less than “RV glamping,” a more glamorous version of camping at luxury RV resorts, then you’ll probably want to invest in a Class A motorhome, as many of the high-end RV resorts require a coach motorhome or have length requirements that basically rule out any other type. If you plan on spending most of your time in state and national parks, you may want to consider a small rig such as a light travel trailer, Class B or Class C rig since parks tend to have smaller campsites and some won’t allow rigs beyond a certain length.

Keep in mind that some of those campgrounds won’t have full hookups, so you may want to look for a rig with extra batteries or solar prep, as well as large holding tanks so you can last longer between trips to the dump station. The middle ground here would be setting up shop in private RV parks that may have full or partial hookups. There are plenty of travel trailers and fifth wheels that would fit the bill for this style of camping.

Comfort vs. Budget

This one isn’t so much of an either/or decision as it is figuring out where you land on the continuum. There’s a lot of gray areas here, as most people desire comfort that FITS their budget. Determining whether you fall in the absolute center of comfort versus budget, or if you lean slightly towards prioritizing one over the other will dramatically help you in determining which RV is right for you.