Small RVs make for a convenient home on wheels. From tiny travel trailers to motorhomes, there are many options for any type of traveler.
Of course, road trips are better when you can crawl under your own sheets or cook an entire meal at a rest stop.
Want to learn more about the benefits of lightly used small RVs and which are the best?
Keep reading as we reveal it all.
Small RVs: What Are They?
A motorhome or camper under 25 feet falls within the small RV category. While there are 25-foot class A motorhomes, like the Thor Axis 24.1, class C and B motorhomes more commonly have short models.
There are also a lot of travel trailers and pop-up campers that fall into the small RV category.
From teardrops to compact 20-foot long trailers, there are numerous options.
The Benefits of a Lightly Used Small RV
The benefits of small RVs are as numerous as the options on the market. Let’s start with the ease of maneuvering and parking. The smaller your RV, the easier it is to drive and get around campgrounds. This includes parking and backing up.
In particular, if you plan to move around a lot and park in parking lots, you’ll have a much easier time finding a spot with an RV under 25 feet.
Small RVs can have luxury features similar to larger RVs. You don’t have to lose technology and creature comforts when going tiny. However, because the square footage is less, there are fewer things to go wrong. It’s a win-win, in our opinion, with enough amenities to make you feel at home but minimalist, so there are fewer bells and whistles to break.
For small motorhomes, good gas mileage is a major benefit. Weighing less or having a diesel engine can play a role in reducing gas mileage.
And it translates into a smaller budget, especially when buying lightly used than you would need for a large motorhome.
How Much Does a Lightly Used Small RV Cost?
In general, small RVs will cost less than larger models. You can find a lightly used one under $15,000 and some over $100,000, and everything in between.
The type of RV, brand, floor plan, construction, and features are the main factors that will determine the cost of an RV.
Do Small RVs Have Bathrooms?
Yes, there are a lot of small RVs that have bathrooms. While the perception is often that those are wet baths, more and more have full dry bathrooms, with the shower separate from the sink and toilet.
Having a bathroom is yet another benefit of a small RV.
Pro Tip: If a bathroom is a must have in your small camper, check out these 5 Best Small Camper Trailers with Bathrooms.
The 9 Best Lightly Used Small RVs
Now that you have an overview of small RVs let’s look at the best lightly used models from 2022. We’ve included travel trailers, a fifth wheel, motorhomes, and camper vans.
#1. Lance 1575 Travel Trailer
About: The Lance 1575 travel trailer is 20-feet-five-inches long and has a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of 3,700 pounds. It may be small, but it’s packed with features, and everything you would expect from quality Lance builds, like insulation throughout to keep you warm.
In addition, the small RV has a dinette on a slide-out, providing more square footage to the living space. It also has a full dry bathroom, and it can sleep four people.
ORIGINAL MSRP: $44,872
#2. Little Guy Mini Max Teardrop
About: The Little Guy Mini Max is a 17-foot-two-inch long teardrop camper. Its interior is six feet high, and the GVWR is 3,500 pounds. That means you can tow it with some midsize SUVs.
The camper is highly functional with innovative features and modern decor. It sleeps two adults with twin beds that also convert into a queen-size. The Mini Max also has a kitchen with a refrigerator, sink, and stovetop.
And it has a wet bath with a shower and toilet.
ORIGINAL MSRP: $43,395
#3. Airstream Basecamp 20 Trailer
About: Airstream’s Basecamp 20 is a 20-foot-two-inch long travel trailer with a GVWR of 4,300 pounds. This small RV is sleek, easy to tow, and highly functional, with a sleeping capacity of two people.
It has a wet bath with a toilet, sink, shower, and window. We like this innovative touch to air the humidity out of the bathroom.
The two bench seats in the back convert into a full-size bed. And the U-shaped dinette in the front also converts into a bed or extra lounge area.
Like you would expect in an Airstream, there are panoramic windows on the side and front to help you take in the view.
ORIGINAL MSRP: $43,100
Pro Tip: Airstream is a well known RV producer, but Is Airstream an Overrated RV Manufacturer? Find out!
#4. Escape 5.0 Small Fifth Wheel RVs
About: The Escape 5.0 is a small fifth wheel that is only 21-feet-two-inches long. Its interior height ranges from six-foot-four to seven feet, and the GVWR is 5,500 pounds to make for easy towing with a half-ton truck.
We love the Escape 5.0 because it’s compact, and it has a one-piece fiberglass construction that will last. The floor plan includes a queen-size bed up front and a dinette or lounge area in the back.
It also has a small kitchen and a wet bath with a sink, shower, and toilet.
ORIGINAL MSRP: $33,495
#5. Leisure Travel Vans Unity
About: Leisure Travel Vans’ Unity is a luxurious class C motorhome. It’s available in six different floor plans, all of which are 25-feet-one-inch long. They range from sleeping two to four people with varying bed configurations from a murphy bed to twin beds or a full walk-around bed.
Each has a full dry bathroom and a kitchen.
The Unity comes complete with modern decor and technology, such as an onboard generator at the push of a button. It sits on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 dual rear wheel chassis.
And it has a 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel engine with a seven-speed auto transmission for great gas mileage.
ORIGINAL MSRP: $150,160
#6. Winnebago EKKO 22A Small Class C RVs
About: Winnebago’s EKKO 22A is 23 feet from the front bumper to the rear bumper. It’s an all-wheel-drive class C motorhome that’s a great option for those wanting to get off the beaten path.
The EKKO sleeps up to four people with two twin beds that convert into a king-size.
It has a full bathroom, kitchen, and two additional captain’s chairs with a table for dining or working. In addition, it has a gear garage under the bed for your adventures.
The motorhome sits on a Ford AWD Transit chassis and has a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 gas engine.
ORIGINAL MSRP: $171,845
#7. Coachmen Nova 20RRB Class B
About: Coachmen’s Nova 20RRB is a 20-foot-11-inch class B motorhome on a Ram Pro Master 3500 chassis. And it’s powered by a 3.6L V6, 24-valve engine. It has an excellent floor plan for two people.
There are two twin beds with storage overhead. The captain’s chairs turn toward the back of the van for lounging with a table in between.
There’s a galley kitchen with a refrigerator, stovetop, and sink. And there’s a wet bath in the rear with a shower, toilet, flip-up sink, and wardrobe.
ORIGINAL MSRP: $134,856
#8. Airstream Interstate 24X Class B
About: Airstream’s Interstate 24X class B motorhome seats six people and can sleep two. It’s 24-feet-six-inches and sits on a Mercedes-Benz chassis. The small RV has luxury features all around, including a 400-watt, military-grade roof solar system with two exterior ports.
Its interior has a wet bath with a shower, sink, and toilet. The bench seating in the back converts into a bed, and you can also use the space to transport gear.
In addition, the kitchen has adequate countertop space and a refrigerator, stovetop, and sink.
ORIGINAL MSRP: $219,196
#9. Winnebago Revel 44E Class B
About: Winnebago’s Revel 44E class B camper van has a 3L Turbo-Diesel engine with on-demand four-wheel-drive. That, coupled with it only being 19-feet-seven-inches long, makes it easy to take off-road.
You can park it nearly anywhere. This adventure camper van has a power lift bed for two in the back with a gear garage below.
It also has an all-in-one gear closet and wet bath. In other words, you can pack a lot of outdoor adventure into this small RV.
The kitchenette has an induction stovetop, a refrigerator, and a countertop extension. Behind the captain’s chairs is a bench seat with a table.
ORIGINAL MSRP: $196,506
Take a Test Drive
Note that used prices will differ greatly. We highly recommend doing a walk-through of any of these models that you might consider.
It’s always good to get a hands-on feel for an RV before purchasing it.
And if you’re looking at a motorhome, be sure to do a test drive. Which of these small RVs fits your travel style?
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