RV Types and
Classes of Recreational Vehicles

What type of Recreational Vehicle are you interested in?
Maybe you've seen an RV on the highway or in a campground, or maybe a friend has one that interests you, but you're not quite sure how to describe it. The pictures, codes and descriptions below should solve the problem.

Recreational vehicle means a structure designed to provide temporary living accommodation for travel, vacation, or recreational use, and to be driven, towed or transported. Living accommodations may include sleeping, kitchen, bathroom, and systems for fresh and waste water, 110/12V electricity, propane, heating, air conditioning, and entertainment. It has an overall length not exceeding 12.5 meters  (41 ft)* and an overall width not exceeding 2.6 meters (8 ft 6 in), where the width is the sum of the distance from the vehicle centreline to the outermost projections on each side (including door handles, water connections, etc.) when the vehicle is folded or stowed away for transit. Such structures include folding camping trailers, travel trailers, fifth wheel trailers, slide-in truck campers and motorhomes.

* For a fifth wheel travel trailer this measurement shall be 11.3 meters (37 ft) taken from the extremity to the front of the main body measured at the floor line.

Recreational vehicles are divided into three basic categories: Motorized RVs, Towable RVs and the Park Models.

MOTORIZED RVs

An RV built on or as an integral part of a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis, combining transportation and living quarters in one unit.

Class A Motorhome

The largest of the motorized RVs, is a luxury motorhome unit entirely constructed on a bare, specially designed motor vehicle chassis.		  
 
Class B Camper Van

The Class B Motorhome is generally referred to as a Camper Van. This unit is built using a conventional van to which a raised roof is added.
  
 
Class C Motorhome

Sometimes referred to as a mini-motorhome, a unit built on an automotive manufactured chassis with an attached van cab section.		  
   

TOWABLE RVs

An RV designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle (car, van or pickup truck) and are of such size and weight as not to require a special highway movement permit. Towable RVs do not require permanent on-site hook-ups.

Travel Trailer

Sometimes referred to as a conventional travel trailer, a unit designed to be towed by a car, van or pickup by means of a bumper or frame hitch.		  
 
Fifth-Wheel Trailer

A two-level unit designed to be affixed and towed by a pickup truck equipped with a special hitch in the truck bed.		  
 
Folding Camping Trailer

A lightweight unit with sides that collapse for towing and storage. This unit is also referred to as a Fold Down Travel Trailer, Pop-up Trailer or Tent Trailer.		  
 
Truck Camper

This small recreational vehicle unit is loaded onto, or affixed to, the bed or chassis of a pickup truck.		  
 
Sport Utility RV

This unit is known in the industry as a "Specialty Trailer". It is a conventional or fifth wheel travel trailer with temporary living quarters in the forward section and compartment in rear for either horse(s) or vehicle storage.		  
 
Expandable Travel Trailers

Known in the industry as a "Hybrid Travel Trailer", this is a conventional travel trailer with folding bunk ends.		  
 

PARK MODELS

Park Models are available in two different classes: the Park Model Trailer 102 which is built to RV specifications, the CSA Z-240 Standard, or the Park Model Recreational Unit, which is designed for seasonal use, generally in just one location, and built to the CSA Z-241 Standard.

Park Model Trailer 102
  • A unit designed to be towed by a heavy-duty tow vehicle (auto, van, pick-up truck, etc.) but is of restricted size and weight so that it does not require a special highway movement permit. The maximum width when being towed is 2.6 meters (102 inches).
  • Designed for infrequent towing, it is not fitted with a 12-volt system for fixtures and appliances. Once on site in the set-up mode it must be connected to the local utilities.
  • This recreational vehicle is built on a single chassis mounted on wheels. It usually has one or more slide-outs, but when in set-up mode the gross trailer area does not exceed 37.2 sq. meters (400 sq. feet). It conforms to the CSA Z-240 Standard for RVs.
  
 
Park Model Recreational Unit
  • It is built on a single chassis mounted on wheels, which may be removed and returned to the factory.
  • The unit is designed to facilitate occasional relocation, with living quarters for a temporary residence or seasonal use, and must be connected to those utilities necessary for the operation of installed fixtures and appliances.
  • It has a gross floor area, including lofts, not exceeding 50 square meters (approximately 540 sq. feet) in the set-up mode and has a width greater than 2.6 meters (8' 6") in the transit mode.
  • Park Model units always require a special tow vehicle and a special permit to move on the road as the width of the unit is greater than 2.6 meters. It conforms to the CSA Z-241 Standard for RVs.

  
NOTE: This definition has been developed by a joint industry task force of manufacturers, dealers, campground owners and the Canadian Standards Association and is the basis for the CSA Z-241 Standard for Park Model Recreational Units.