Designed to be transportable, most motor homes possess diesel engines for powerful yet affordable capabilities. Interiors can range from economical to luxury, putting motor homes well within anyone's reach.

Motor homes make camping hassle-free, with no need to pitch a tent or walk long distances for a restroom. There are also motor home sites across the country designed exclusively for overnighters to rest while refueling and emptying the sewage tank of their motor homes. While motor homes may be an entertaining option for some, others make it more of a way of life, and the huge number of groups and clubs in existence are an excellent introduction to becoming a "full-timer".

Different Types of Motor Homes

There are many makers of Motor Homes, with ultimately three different models to choose from. Class A Motor Homes are described as a bus-type custom body on a truck chassis. Class B Motor Homes are normally conversion vans. Class C Motor Homes contain a custom body on a van or pickup chassis.

There are three different types of motor home engines to choose from. These include a front-based gas engine, a rear-based diesel engine (known as a "Diesel Pusher"), or a "bus conversion." A bus conversion is a special kind of diesel pusher that comes from a modified greyhound bus. It is quite expensive and is only necessary if you require thousands of miles of weekly travel, month after month. Diesel engines are noisier and more expensive when it comes to maintenance, but they are also more durable and have better fuel economy than a gas engine. Although diesel engines are noticeably slower in terms of passing acceleration when compared to a well-built gas engine, a diesel engine will probably be have extra torque, something that could come in quite handy if you are towing another vehicle.

Which Motor Home to Choose?

When purchasing or renting a motor home, it is important to consider the differences between the different class types. Class B conversion vans are nice because they are short and can be parked almost anywhere. On the downside, these conversion vans are usually limited in terms of comfort and space available. The vehicle may contain a miniature style toilet, shower, storage facility, and water container. Because of this, living for long periods of time in a Class B motor home may prove difficult and uncomfortable.

Class C Motor Homes are quite well designed for families. They are basically two bedroom apartments on wheels with one bedroom in the rear, and the other in the front, over the van cab. Class C models are the safest because of their designers (Ford and GM), and they do offer a very natural, car-like driving position. The biggest

Class A Motor Homes are like a one bedroom apartment on wheels, with the bedroom in the rear of the vehicle. The biggest advantage to a Class A model is the feeling of openness that it provides. In contrast to Class C models, the front seats do swivel around. This means that when parked, the drivers can become part of the living room. And, because of the height of the driver's seats, an excellent view of the road and traffic is available. The biggest complaint that consumers usually have about Class A model motor homes is usually related to safety. Because they are built out of aluminum and fiberglass, the motor home is less durable in the event of an accident. Many Class A motor homes also lack air bags, which increases the chance of injury in an accident.

Roger B. White traces the evolution of motorized houses on wheels from a farm couple's 1916 wood-and-canvas sleeping compartment on their automobile chassis to the Johnson's Wax Cherokee-red housecar featured at the 1940 World's Fair, to today's luxurious interstate cruiser. White interviewed camping families, historians, camping-organization spokespeople, RV manufacturers and travel-club members. The author understands the American lone affair with the vehicle; he is a land-transportation historian at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. There is an entire world out there to be discovered and what better way to discover it than in the comforts of your own "hotel on wheels." A Motor Home, or RV (Recreational Vehicle), is perfect for anyone who enjoys traveling in comfort and at their own pace. In addition to covering hundreds of miles in a day, with a Motor Home, you can sit back and read a book, watch a movie, play with the kids or pets, sleep, cook dinner, or take a hot shower.

Motor homes are great for camping, road trips, and simply living in style. If you are interested in buying a motor home, definitely take the time to do some comparison shopping and research, as these mobile units can get expensive and come in a large variety of styles. Following is a list of basic motor home types with brief descriptions.

"A" Class: This means a complete motor home body mounted on a chassis provided by a truck manufacturing company. "A" Class motor homes give true meaning to living on the road.

"C" Class: A custom motor home body mounted on a conventional chassis and cab. On top of the cab, there is usually a bed or storage area.

5th Wheeler: These are towed motor homes that usually have a section that extends over part of the tow vehicle.

Converted Motor Homes: There are limitless numbers of motor

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