5 Best Small Motorhomes
Small motorhomes aren’t what you may think.
They’re mighty little machines that can pack in a lot of luxury and features while saving you gas mileage and the need for a big parking space. Plus, they’re just plain fun!
Get ready. We’re about to tell you the benefits of small motorhomes and which are the best ones on the market today.
Let’s get into it!
Benefits of a Small Motorhome
There are numerous benefits of a small motorhome, but we’ve narrowed it down to three standouts.
Small Motorhomes Are Versatile
A small motorhome is versatile. You can use it for short trips, as a condo on wheels for a long journey, or even for full-time RV living. If it has a tow package, you can also pull a car with it for day trips and more.
In addition, maneuvering it and finding parking spaces are far easier than with a large motorhome.
The versatility of a small motorhome offers less stress and planning than you have with a big rig.
Better Gas Mileage in a Small Motorhome
The smaller and lighter the motorhome, the better gas mileage you’ll get.
This makes small motorhomes more budget-friendly. You’ll also find that many small motorhomes have diesel engines, which often add to the fuel efficiency.
Small Motorhomes Are More Comfortable to Drive
Small motorhomes can be very comfortable to drive. It’s almost as if you’re driving a minivan or truck down the road.
They tend to have less sway than a long motorhome and are easier to maneuver in general. Backing up a small RV is also easier.
Pro Tip: Before you buy, make sure you know both the pros and cons to small RVs. These are 5 Reasons to Avoid Small RVs.
5 Best Small Motorhomes
Let’s get into which small motorhomes are worth taking a look at. We’ve identified one from five different manufacturers.
If you get a chance to do an in-person walk-through of any one of these, we think you’ll be impressed.
1. Thor Axis 24.1
Thor’s Axis 24.1 is a favorite among part-time and full-time RVers. It’s a small class A motorhome with modern features and decor and practical sleeping and living space.
The exterior measures 25 feet eight inches, and it has a sleeping capacity of five people. It has two twin beds in the rear that can convert into a king-size bed. The bedroom has lots of storage above the beds and a large wardrobe closet.
There’s also a sofa bed in the living area and a bunk above the cab. It has a full bathroom with a sink, shower, and toilet. And the kitchen has ample counter and storage space.
The Thor Axis 24.1 comes with a generator and a Winegard ConnecT 2.0 Wi-Fi/4G/TV antenna. You can also add on a 100-watt solar panel. It has 63.5 cubic feet of outside storage. And it has a whopping 8,000-pound towing capacity.
MSRP: $132,900
2. Coachmen Freelander Class C
Coachmen’s Freelander Class C comes in various floor plans. Models range from 24 feet three inches long to 32 feet 11 inches long, and they have a towing capacity between 5,000 and 7,500 pounds.
The Freelander Class C has a queen bed in all floor plans and a dinette and/or sofa that also converts to a bed. There’s also a bunk over the cab. Each has a full bathroom with a sink, shower, and toilet.
The kitchens have all the essentials and storage space.
MSRP: $92,374 to $126,775
3. Leisure Unity
Leisure Travel Van’s Unity is a luxury, Euro-chic class C motorhome. Manufactured in Canada, this small motorhome is so popular there’s a 15-24 month wait to get one. Take a look, and you’ll see why. It’s innovative, modern, and a smooth ride.
The Unity has six-floor plans, and each is 25 feet one inch long. It has a 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel engine on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 dual rear wheel chassis. The layouts across floor plans sleep two to four people.
Master bed configurations range from a murphy bed to an island queen. Each has a full bathroom with a sink, shower, and toilet.
The kitchens are small but have well-thought-out space and storage, as do the dining and seating areas.
MSRP: $150,160
4. Winnebago EKKO
Winnebago’s EKKO class C motorhome is ready to go off-grid, as it’s all-wheel-drive. It has a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 gas engine and sits on a Ford AWD chassis. This small motorhome can tow 5,000 pounds and has a 500-pound maximum vertical tongue weight.
It’s all-weather prepped and has three solar panels with 455-watts, a second alternator that charges the batteries while driving, and standard lithium-ion batteries.
The EKKO is 23 feet long and can sleep up to four people. It also comes with an optional pop-up top, which is a feature Winnebago has implemented in their camper vans.
It has two twin beds that can convert into a king-size bed. The bathroom is innovative with a pivoting lavatory wall.
MSRP: $171,845
Pro Tip: Winnebago is a widely recognized and reliable brand. Check out The Entire 2021 Winnebago Travato Lineup (with YouTube Video Tours)
5. Airstream Atlas
Airstream’s Atlas is a class B+ motorhome. It’s luxury on wheels with every bit of quality one would expect from Airstream. This mighty RV is built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van chassis. It’s 24 feet nine inches long and can tow 5,000 pounds. And it comes with 300 watts of solar.
It comes with one floor plan with a sofa, a murphy bed, and a sufficient wardrobe.
The Atlas can seat four people and sleep two people. It has a full residential-style bathroom with a sink, shower, and toilet. The kitchen has a good amount of counter space compared to many class B motorhomes this size. In addition, the decor is modern.
MSRP: $260,260
Small Motorhomes Surprised Us
Which of these small motorhomes are you ready to drive away in? It would be a difficult choice for us.
Each is great in its own right. We hope you get a chance to walk through and test drive one of these if you’re in the market for a motorhome.
Although they’re small, you may be surprised at how little space you really need and at how the features in these measure up to larger motorhomes.
Safe and happy travels!
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Things are usually a compromise, especially with RV’s. The biggest factor here is what can you afford? The Thor 24.1 is our favorite floorplan but according to most surveys, Thor’s quality is lacking. This is also true of Coachmen. The same floorplan as the 24.1 is available in the Winnebago View/Navion 24V but they are Class C’s and the 24.1 is a Class A. Winnebago did make a similar vehicle up until 2018 called the Winnebago Via/Itasca Reyo 25T. There is a big quality difference between Winnebago and Thor – for instance, a fiberglass roof versus a rubber roof. Also, which is pertinent to Atlas and Unity as well, is the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis in the View/Navion/Via/Reyo which, everyone should know, is very expensive to maintain and repair. The biggest caveat I wish to express is that while the Sprinter chassis is higher quality it is also extraordinarily expensive and you should get one ONLY if you can afford it. However, if you are looking for an all-weather and off-road vehicle EKKO is great but at $170k+ it also is costly. As far as the Airstream Atlas, $260,000 is extremely costly. Buying a small, affordable motorhome is a tough job. To keep the costs reasonable for the average buyer, we are probably looking at used. Might I suggest additionally, a small Forest River Sunseeker/Forester or a small Winnebago Minnie Winnie/Spirit (both Class C’s); or a Winnebago Vista/Sunstar or 2015-2016 Winnebago Brave/Itasca Tribute (both Class A’s). All of these additional recommendations are reasonably priced, have fiberglass roofs and have better-than-normal quality construction.