How many RVs have you owned in your life? For some RVers, it’s been a long and winding road filled with different rigs for different seasons of life. Maybe you started small with a basic pop-up camper that got you off the ground and into the woods. It was simple, light, and did the trick for weekend getaways.
But as your needs and comfort level changed, so did your RV. Before long, you might have found yourself towing a modest travel trailer or even taking the plunge into a fifth wheel or motorhome.
Others among us dove right in. Maybe your first RV was a big Class A motorhome, and you’ve never looked back.
Or maybe you’ve always been loyal to a particular brand, like an Airstream, and you’ve just upgraded to newer models over time. Some RVers find a type of rig that works for them and stick with it; others are tinkerers, always on the hunt for the next perfect setup. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.
Then there are those who change rigs not because they want to, but because life demands it. A growing family might require more space. Downsizing for retirement could call for something smaller and easier to maneuver. Some switch from towables to motorhomes for the convenience. Others go the opposite way for flexibility. And sometimes, after trying a few different types, RVers circle back to the simplicity they started with.
The stories behind your RVs often say as much about you as the RVs themselves. Maybe your first RV broke down constantly, but the memories you made in it are still priceless.
Or maybe you’ve owned only one rig for 20 years, and you’ve got it customized exactly how you like it. No matter how many you’ve had—or how few—each one becomes a part of your travel history, and, often, your family history too.
So after you vote in the poll, we’d love to hear your story. What did you start with? What do you have now? Did you stick with one type or try them all? Share your RV evolution—or revolution—in the comments below. We know every rig has a story, and we can’t wait to read yours.
If you enjoyed this RVtravel.com reader poll, keep in mind that we have polled our readers at least 5,000 times through the years. It’s fascinating to see how they have responded, sometimes very surprisingly. You’ll find an archive of some of the polls here. So what are you waiting for? Check ’em out.
RVT1220
Started with popup when the kids were younger then upsized to 29’ Class for a few years. Downsized to a Class B in 2019 when the youngest was in college.
Three, but that is not counting the many tents we also cycled through between RVs. Tents from 73-78, TT from 78-95, Tents again from 95-07, TT from 07-09, Motor Home ever since.
We started with our 30’ travel trailer, thinking this would be perfect after selling our 2800 sq. ft. home to go full time. It lasted 4.5 mos. We now have a 38’ 5th wheel that we love! It’s more like home.
Started with a pop-up, then a 30ft bunkhouse, to a 36ft with 2 bedrooms, one master and one with bunks. Then moved up to a class A 36ft motorhome. Last on the list, and still in use is a 38ft Class A DP.
I owned my first RV, a 40 ft diesel pusher, for exactly 20 years to the day. Two years ago I downsized to a 32 ft Class C. I suspect I will own it for quite a few years also.
Our first one was a small pop-up that we pulled behind our motorcycle. It was actually a tent on wheels. Much better than a typical tent since we slept in a bed, off the ground. It had a 6X6 dressing room and an awning over the door and plenty of storage. A small ceramic heater kept us warm.
Used it for over 20 years.
As we aged, we bought a small toy hauler, then upsized to larger one.
PS: My wife was tired of getting up in the middle of the night to visit the bath house.
Our first was a 39 foot Class A including a 10 foot garage on the back. It scared me in the mountains as there was very little engine braking. So when the opportunity arose to get a diesel pusher, we jumped at the opportunity. We now have a 34 foot Class A DP, and tow a small motorcycle trailer.
7 RVs, not counting tents. In order, ’62 Corvair Greenbrier that my Dad and I made our own camper package for. ’79 Scamp 13′, brand new, ancient ’60s 10′ truck camper, ’80s 8′ truck camper, early ’90s RealLite 10′ truck camper with all the goodies, ’92 orphan Journey 35′ motorhome and our present motorhome we fulltime in, ’04 40′ Newmar Mountain Aire DP.
My wife and I got a converted van from my parents. It served as a daily driver and rv for several years. We then got a pop-up, an 18 ft. Jayco, a 20 ft Hideout, and finally a 23 ft Forest River MicroLite. We anticipate the MicroLite will be our last trailer. We spent 6 months researching before settling on this one.
A 14′ trailer back in the 1980s then an old motorhome 10 years ago. I have also stayed out on my boats overnight to see meteor showers.
Including boats with beds and bathrooms, 7.
A Westfalia (VW) camper, one Prowler trailer, 5 Northwood trailers (Arctic Fox and ORV) and if you count it as an RV (I don’t), one sailboat with bunks, galley and head.
I started in 1986 with a 1983 micro-mini Toyota Dolphin. Next, in 1992, I took a “giant leap” to a new 31-foot Fleetwood Bounder, which I lived in for 8 years. After that, I bought a new 2000 36-foot HitchHiker that was my home for 6 years. During that time I traded my car for a 21-foot 2000 Chinook, which I used as my “car” and travel vehicle. When I was getting ready to retire in 2004, I sold both the HitchHiker and the Chinook and bought my current 2001 Lazy Daze, which probably will be my last RV home.
I really had to stop and add them up. There has been times where we had more than one. Others I have bought just to restore and sell. So I counted the ones I bought for personal use and came up with four.
6 Class B’s, now on 4th Class A, 3rd Diesel Pusher. Borrowed in-law’s Xplorer camper van for our first trip after honeymoon, loved it, and bought ourselves a used Xplorer Class B van and have never looked back.
6 and about to buy my 7th. My very first classs C, this will be my last RV purchase, ever! (for the third time) lol
A hard sided pop up, 2 hybrid travel trailers, 3 truck campers, and a 5th wheel for a total of 7. We’re still travelling fulltime at 80 in a triple slide truck camper, currently spending our 4th summer in Alaska.
Thank you for the question, RV Travel! DW’s family camped regularly when she was a child and young adult. Meanwhile, my family never did. Our RVing began by joining her parents now and again as they traveled in their fifth wheel. Our first RV was a 43′ diesel pusher, which has been succeeded by a 36′ diesel pusher. Thus, we are at 2 (and holding). I have designs on a successor to number 2 (a 39′ diesel pusher), but DW is far from having similar thoughts. Have a great week and safe travels!
Started out with a ’69 Pontiac Bonneville station wagon, moved up to a 1/2 ton pickup with shell, 3/4 ton with cab over, 2 class C’s, and 3 different class A’s. Plus various tents early on and camping with my 2 Eagle Scout sons.
Nine total. Started with a tent trailer and have purchased 8 motorhomes since then. We currently have three. A 40’dp for our long trips. A 24′ for shorter trips when we are at home in WA during the summer, and a 20 footer for shorter trips when we are in AZ for the winter.
3 – started with a pop-up, then had a 21-foot TT, and now a 28-foot TT. Loved them all, had almost no problems with any of them.
We bought our first RV, a 17 ft. Travel-Eze trailer, when we were in our 20’s because we wanted to have a “home” wherever the military sent our family of four. During the military years, we also owned a Coleman pop-up trailer and a 24′ Yukon Wilderness trailer. After military retirement we bought a 35′ Class A Winnebago Vectra and now have what we hope will be our final RV, a 40′ 2006 Alfa Class A that we love. So 5 RVs in all.
7 total in order,popup 70 to 71, truck camper 71 to 74, 23ft Class A 91 to 93, 29ft Class C 93 to 94, 30ft Class A 93 to 95, brought home first bus 1970 GM 35ft PD4108 finished conversion in 97, bought a 1986 MCI 40 ft a 102A3 in 2005 converted this one in about 18 months. Still using, but no longer full time. Both buses made the Alaska trip.
We have two popups and two class A’s and a couple of tents in the past 50 yrs.
We started camping in a tent. Then bought my in-laws class B when they moved to a C. Bought another B, off of eBay Motors…not a good decision. When we got older, the hassle of dinette to bed or sofa to bed became frustrating, and uncomfortable. I also disliked the shower and toilet set up. We went to a small C with queen bed and a complete bathroom with full size shower. We’ve had it for 10 years.
3 RVs in 50 years.