Floorplans

[Wanderer2]

I have been looking at a lot of Class B and C RVS. I would like some experienced opinion on floor plan preferences. I am not sure just looking at them what would work best. Kitchen in the rear? Bathroom in the rear? And why? I kind of like lounge area in the middle by the door. What have you found advantageous? I know that this is all a matter of opinion, but there is so much that I don't know. It sure is confusing. Soooo... thought I would ask.

[Bethers]

It really does come down to what you like. That said, one thing I wouldn't be without is what I call a down bed. In Mt case that means I looked at rigs with back corner beds. I lucked into that on my first rig which started with me 9 years. My new one is a tad longer and has more space up front, but still the back corner bed. In a B I would probably have been looking at the ones with twin beds that were 2 couches during the day. If I only had a couch or dinette, I prefer the couch. I also would only take a rig with the overcab bed even though I won't use it as one. Again, you're asking for personal preference and that's all this is.

Keep getting in every rig you can and find which feels like home to you.

[JudyJB]

Most motorhomes have the bedroom in the back, with the bathroom near the bedroom, and then the living area and kitchen in the front near the door, but it really depends on how you are going to use it. Are you going to weekend camp or full time live in it? And how many people do you need to sleep?

What you should do is imagine how you will live in whatever RV you are considering. Where will you spend most days, especially rainy or windy ones when you cannot be outdoors? Do you want a permanent, always made up bed? And do you need access to make the bed on both sides or can you crawl over the foot to get in and out and make it. I wanted to sleep my kids and grandkids, plus I have bad knees so I did not want to have to crawl into and out of bed over the end of it. That eliminated a lot of models with corner beds. Since I would be full-timing, I needed more storage room for clothing and belongings, but if you are just spending an occasional week, you probably don't need that much.

I don't think it matters much what the floor plan is like as long as it works for you. Ask the salesman to leave you alone in a unit for an hour so you can sit in the sofa/chair/dinette for a while and pretend to read or watch TV. Make sure you try getting in and out of the bed and pretend to make it.

[snowball]

other areas to pretend to use is the toilet and the shower!!!
we were looking at 5th wheels so what we looked for wouldn't be
what you would look for but when they first came out with the big window
in the rear (only with the living room in the rear) I loved it mentioned how
much I liked it and the sales person said it won't last just a fad a stupid one at that!!
hmmm just a fad huh stupid huh?? it's pretty much the norm unless the kitchen is in the
rear or it's a toy hauler...I had to have a walk around bed and the rear lv with the big window
sheila

[BirdbyBird]

Looking at floor plans.......hummmm. Once you figure out there is enough room for you alone (to sleep, eat, shower and potty) you can think about how you will use the rig and if other people will come and occasionally visit you. Can you sleep a guest should you want/need to invite a guest? Is that even important? On the chilly or rainy days, where will you sit to read or eat? Is there comfortable space for someone else to come in and sit with you over coffee, tea or an adult beverage as you swap stories or plan new adventures?

Different floor plans lend themselves to different types and sizes of storage spaces. It is more than how much storage is available. Is it inside? Outside? What diversity of objects and sizes can be stuffed in those spaces. Can the spaces be accessed without taking yoga classes for five years to limber up first?

Small rigs are good choices for many reasons. Many like the convenience the shorter vehicle provides. But don't walk away from a rig with an extra 2-3 feet in length, that provides a living space that seems to fit you better because you are worried about touring in it, driving it and parking it. Those are skills that can be learned, just watch all those rigs you pass going down the road.

[Pooker]

Like the others said, only YOU can know which floor plan and rig size is for you. Would it drive you crazy to have to make up your bed each night and set the sofa back up again for day use? Maybe, maybe not. Do you absolutely have to have a dinette? Or are you comfortable eating on a tv tray while sitting on the sofa? Do you plan to drag along a lot of extras like portable table, grill, chairs, raingear, extra warm jackets, multiple shoes, firewood, etc.? Then you need to check for storage places. Are you a cook-from-scratch, want to make it myself cook or a heat-it-up-in-the-micro sort? Do you absolutely have to have an oven?

I, too, have the corner bed like Beth used to have. The bed only bothers me when I have to change the sheets, but I've learned a few shortcuts and that inconvenience is minor compared to the luxury of a real bed. And I bought a rig with a LOT of storage space. I needed that back then. Now that I've had Flitter 7 years, I'd like a B and wouldn't mind setting up the bed each night. I don't need as much to carry around, either. And I have never used the oven I insisted on! But that's me. I think most RVers go through more than one rig in their life. There will always be compromises and the things you are willing to put up with now may not be the things you want to deal with 5 years from now. So, shop, shop, shop. And my most important advice: Don't pay a lot of attention to sales people. I always ask them if they own a RV and if they do, how long have they been RVers. You'll be surprised to hear how few of them have actually camped in their lives!

Pooker

[Wanderer2]

Thanks all for all of your input. You have given me some things to think about that I didn't know. Want small, but not too small. Want a slide so I don't feel cramped when I am inside all day for some reason. Don't really want a bed to look at and prefer murphy style for more seating in the day time. I wouldn't mind the transition, at least for now anyway. I am hitting a RV show next month. And yes I can make salesmen disappear. This will take awhile and I am getting excited about this new venture. Next Christmas I would like to be somewhere warm and dry maybe watching the decorated boat parade or watching shooting stars out in the dessert or enjoying a good drink with friends. Can't wait to pick and yes sometimes I am a nut.

[MandysMom]

I've had the sofa to bed each day RV ( my Sprinter Leisure Travel van, have spent about 10,000 miles over 9 years sleeping on that bed off and on) and our big (40 ft) bus with its queen sized bed in rear and lots of living space up front. Spent 3 mo traveling and using that bedroom style on a long trip. Will not buy another RV without a regular walk around bed. Just not into make up and put away bed every time I travel, except short trips in van. But each person has to determine that for themselves. My perfect rig in my brain right now is 30 ft Winnebago VIsta 30t with bedroom in rear and just eight amount of space up front. One of our members has one.
Velda

[Andi]

My only experience with RVs thus far has been the class A's, and my very favorite plan was what was called a "side aisle," which as the name implies had the aisle down the side of the coach, rather than down the middle as is customary. It made the bedroom a whole lot more private, as you didn't see it as soon as you walked in the door. It gave a lot more room to the bathroom (and room for the litter box), and the kitchen and living room areas were also more spacious. Not sure if anyone makes those anymore, though.

My favorite plan in the more traditional center aisle plan has a couch or loveseat with two chairs across the aisle upfront. Between the two chairs would be a pop-up/fold-up table for dining rather than the more common booth. I just find the booth rather wasted space for the most part, although if you travel with more than two, I can maybe see the point. If the coach is small enough where you have to choose between a booth or a couch/loveseat, I'll go for the couch every time.

Kitchen would come next, and if the builder has put in a decent size microwave convection, I would be happy to do without the traditional oven (I currently have a microwave convection oven in my home, and the traditional oven never gets any use).

Bathroom would be next, followed by the bedroom with the bed turned sideways. That adds more space to the other areas of the coach. Do motorhomes still have the three sizes of queen mattresses like they used to have? When I was married and RV'd, we had the regular 60x80 queen, but there were two smaller sizes of queens as well. At this point, as I would be traveling alone (except for my three kitties), might opt for one of the smaller sizes if that's still an option.

I too like the front space over the cab for storage (or places for the cats to hang out if they get spooked).

I know the plan with the chairs and the table that came up in the middle is really rare nowadays, but I took a trip to Motor Home Specialist in Alvarado, Texas, while I was in the Dallas area over Christmas, and lo and behold, they actually did have one model with that old style. I like it because when you're between meals, you've got a proper living room setup. It was made by Thor and the classification they gave it was a mini A, with a length of around 25'. Also had the over-the-cab storage like a C.

If y'all ever get within reasonable distance of Alvarado, TX, you really should visit that dealership. It is absolutely HUGE and very low pressure. They take you around by golf cart to those RVs you've expressed an interest in, and then turn you loose to wander where you will, either by golf cart or by your own vehicle. When I'm ready to buy, I'll definitely be making a trip back to them.

[Wanderer2]

Thanks MandysMom and Andi. Food for thought. Your input will help when I am looking at different styles. I did see one model with a couch and small table instead of dinette, which would be a space saver. I think I could live without the dinette. Thanks again!

[JudyJB]

As you are looking consider things you can modify. For example I hate dinettes because they are not comfortable but nearly all motorhomes have them. I looked for one where I could easily remove it and put my old leather recliner in its place. Mine had only one small sound system speaker under it so it was easy to take out.

I know a couple of people who chose the twin bed arrangement and removed one bed to make a big desk or store dog crates. My cousin removed his dinette and replaced it with a fold-down table and two chairs.

So think broadly for any special needs you might have.

[MandysMom]

Speaking of Judys idea, I like the RVs that now have a pull out table from a buffet with storage wit two regular chairs and often two folding chairs that store elsewhere. Some even have a laptop size computer station that pulls out from side of the buffet. I have seen that in rigs as short as 28 feet. Then a sofa across from it.
Velda

[Pooker]

I also saw a B+ that had a Murphy bed! New concept that seems like a good plan because that allows floor space in front of it for seating, etc., but the one my son and I toured had too many things that had to be rearranged and I wasn't strong enough for some of the procedures. I liked the idea, tho, because the bed could be folded up with all the bedding intact.

Pooker

[Acadianmom]

My favorite motorhome floorplan had twin beds in the back, split bath, kitchen and dinette and sofa in the front. It was only 27' long. I usually travel with my sister or son and grandson. It was nice to have a room to escape to. lol If I ever get another motorhome a separate bed room with twin beds would be at the top of my list. I would rather have a sofa than a dinette. Dinettes are not comfortable to sit at for very long.

The motorhome I have now is 23' with the bathroom in the back, two electric sofas that make beds in the center and a front kitchen. Since I have memory foam toppers on the sofas I just leave the bedding on the sofas when we put them up during the day. I don't have enough storage to store the bedding anywhere. This one is good for one person but very crowded with 2.

Martha

[MelissaD]

Floor plan is a very personal thing. Your personal health will also influence your choice. Some people are much more flexible than the rest of us.

Some things we look for: Granted there is 3 of us.

A queen size bed I can walk around with night stands and power. Phoenix's BIPAP machine and I suspect a CPAP is in my future. Nice to charge Kindles when I go to sleep, etc.....
Bathroom needed a nice big shower and I hate the toilet in the closet design. I also like having an actual bathroom and not the shower in the master bedroom.
I find a table and chair more comfortable than the booth. Not a fan of the couch, I think a pair of recliners would be a better option. Also having the television in front of the chair instead of having to turn to see it.

I like having "public" and "private" areas. I like having my bedroom and master bath separate from the living room and kitchen area. I can have company without them seeing if I made my bed or if Phoenix needs to excuse herself she can go off to the bedroom and take care of herself.

Because of the GB we needed a bunkhouse and the 1/2 bath has been a blessing. When we travel it's nice to have easy access to a restroom as the 1/2 bath has a door to the outside. It also makes it nice if a friend or 6 GBs need to use the restroom, they don't have to walk through the trailer.

You also need to ensure you can comfortable reach all the controls (slides, lights, awnings, fuses, etc....) and tank dump valves and connections. Can you winterize without having to unload storage areas to get to the heater bypass valves. Can you reach the Fresh water tank or the low point drains. Can you get into a bay with a slide out.

If you have a camping buddy or two take them to a RV show and compare likes and dislikes. They may bring up something you have not thought about.

I also love this couples videos. Gone with the Wynns https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBo9TL ... CXFsCxOhmA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWnd7cNWSBk Top picks under 30' they bring up some great points looking at RVs

Have fun looking and it's always a learning experience as our needs change.