Welcome to The Village Square, the series that answers common RVing questions with tips, tricks, and camping hacks from RVillage community members just like you.
When it comes to buying your first RV or upgrading to your next one, bigger isn’t always better. Whether you’re thinking of upgrading to something larger and more luxurious, or downsizing to something more streamlined, rig ownership is never one-size-fits-all. But no matter where you are in your journey, keep in mind that it’s your journey: Dream big, small, or somewhere in between—your rig, your choice!
From creature comforts to ease of maneuverability, here are some of the reasons fellow RVillagers have decided to look (or not look) to buy a bigger RV.
RVillagers Share Whether or Not They’re Looking To Buy a Bigger RV
We started out camping with a 32-foot travel trailer and have just purchased a new 44-foot toy hauler. We will be going full-time RV living the first of the year. If you don’t have experience with fifth wheels, smaller is better. We love our new fifth wheel, which will give us plenty of room. The big ones take some towing knowledge, and I would not recommend them for first-timers. —HasFun
I had no problems towing a 40-foot fifth wheel—it is the maneuvering in tight campgrounds and finding parking for your big truck in the city that can be challenging. We downsized to a 33-foot Class C and would like to upgrade to 40-foot Class A with a bath and a half. We have a toad (towed vehicle), but it is easy to disconnect if necessary when we’re in a tight campground. —Greg & Reba
RV Ownership
Join the conversationDid a 38-day trip from Philly along Route 66 to California and north in our 28-foot Jayco Red Hawk Class C. It was great, but we now have a Jayco Precept 33-foot Class A. We love the extra inside room and extra storage. —Stan and Theresa
We started off with a 40-foot Class A, which was great, but decided to upgrade to a 45-foot bus. We loved all the luxuries and it was fantastic, but too long for what we were doing. We tried downsizing to a 36-foot Class C but found it to be too crowded without opposing slides. We also miss the luxuries, so we are in the process of upgrading to a 40-foot bus and we think that will be our sweet spot. —Jim & Miriam
Not upgrading yet. I like the maneuverability of being smaller. —GretlGoes
We just moved from a 21-foot Class B (now for sale!) to a 30-foot travel trailer. We both work full-time and spend about 7 to 8 months on the road. We found we needed more day-to-day living and work space. We will miss the flexibility and ease of traveling in a small motorhome, but the trailering experience hasn’t been too bad so far and we’re looking forward to more adventures with a new way of travel. —Trekers (Ari & Jessi)
We started with a pop-up and now have a Class A. We are looking to upgrade our current Class A to a different floor plan so we can accommodate my mom. The size of the rig will depend on if we will be more stationary or travel more. —Full Time Dream RV
Full-time RVers
Join the conversationWe went from a tent to a travel trailer to a small motorhome to a larger (but far from the biggest) motorhome. This is as big as we want to ever get. No need for more. People don’t know what they want or need when they are starting out. —car2ner
I started in a Coleman pop-up and loved it. I bought a 23-foot Class C and made three cross-country trips. I had two different travel trailers after that, then got a 38-foot Tiffin Class A. After 2 years, I traded it for a Tiffin 34-foot Class A. With the 34-footer I can get into most campgrounds. If you go to some national parks there are size restrictions. It all depends on the kind of camping you are planning. We spend very little time actually inside the camper so don’t need it to be big. —MH & DH
Thank you RVillagers for sharing your RV upgrade journeys with the RVing community. If you want to see your advice featured on “The Village Square,” be sure to share your favorite RVing hacks, tips, and tricks with the community, and keep an eye out for questions from RVillage Camp Hosts.
Editor’s note: Some quotes have been slightly edited for clarity.
