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When you’re a family of five, six, or more, finding an RV to accommodate everyone can be difficult. It can be even more challenging if you’re new to RVing and don’t want a huge rig.
Today, we want to help by sharing six motorhomes that will suit a family of six and provide ample sleeping space, areas for lounging, and storage for everyone’s things. Let’s dive in!
Are There Motorhomes That Can Accommodate a Large Family?
Although the stereotypical image we imagine for motorhome owners is a retired couple, families have also started hitting the road in these types of RVs. But motorhome manufacturers still cater to couples. You won’t find many options for large families in the motorized RV market.
You won’t find nearly as many family-friendly motorhome floorplans as you will towable RV floorplans.
Thankfully, though, it’s not impossible. Whether you prefer a Class A with a massive front windshield and tons of outdoor storage compartments or a more affordable Class C with extra cabover space for storage or sleeping, some motorhome brands have stepped away from the traditional layouts to create family-friendly floorplans.
Things to Look for When Purchasing a Motorhome for a Large Family
When looking for a motorhome for a family of six, you don’t want to focus solely on the floorplan, although that’s certainly important.
You want to make sure that everyone has a place to sleep, there’s room in the kitchen to prepare a meal for six, and everyone has a place to sit for a family movie night or game night. But there are a few other considerations we want to mention.
First, how much storage space do you have? A family of six will need lots of outdoor storage options for things such as camping chairs, a gazebo tent, fishing poles, and other camping gear.
Inside, does everyone have a place to put their clothes? Do the kids have cabinets they can use for their toys and gadgets? In the kitchen, you’ll want a large refrigerator and a pantry for all the food to feed a large family.
Another consideration is how accessible the motorhome is on travel days. If you’re just taking the RV down the road an hour or two every time, this isn’t a big deal. But if you’re planning cross-country road trips, you want to be able to access the bathroom and kitchen while you’re stopped at a rest area or fuel center. When the slides are in, what can you get to?
Finally, tank sizes are essential for a large family. You don’t have to dry camp often to pay attention to the tank capacities. Even if you’ll only be staying at full hook-up campsites, you don’t want to go outside daily to empty the tanks.
Six people taking showers, six people washing hands, six people flushing the toilet, and washing dishes for six people several times a day will use a lot of water.
Best Class A Motorhomes for a Family of 6
Today, we’re sharing three Class A motorhomes that could suit the needs of a large family. These types of motorhomes tend to be the most luxurious and most expensive.
But they are excellent options if you have the budget and want a comfortable camping lifestyle.
Coachmen Encore 355DS
The Coachmen Encore 355DS is a good unit for families with older children who need more space. Instead of bunk beads, you’ll find a sofa bed, theater seating, and a dinette for ample living space and sleeping space for a larger family. Older, taller children can sleep on the sofa bed and in the cabover area and have more room than they would in a bunk.
The kitchen features a three-burner stove, a residential refrigerator, and a stainless steel farm sink. There’s also a separate pantry for food storage. At just under 37 feet, it’s a good size for a family of six without feeling overwhelming for new RVers.
Thor Outlaw 38KB
Toy haulers are some of the best options for large families because of the flexibility of the garage. Most toy haulers are towables, but this Thor Outlaw 38KB is a Class A motorhome toy hauler. The garage measures about 8 feet by 10 feet, with plenty of room to create a kids’ space. There’s also a sky bunk for a drop-down sleeping space above the cab area.
The kitchen features a two-burner stove, a convection microwave, a stainless steel double-bowl sink, and a residential refrigerator. Seatbelts are available in both the dinette and sofa for traveling. At almost 40 feet long, the Thor Outlaw 38KB has plenty of room for a large family.
Tiffin Open Road Allegro 36 UA
Check out the Tiffin Open Road Allegro 36 UA for one of the most luxurious living accommodations. A huge spa bathroom in the rear has washer and dryer hookups. The wardrobe and drawers provide plenty of clothing storage for everyone in the family. An additional half bath sits in the hallway directly across from a set of bunk beds.
The living and kitchen area contains a fold-and-flip sofa bed, booth dinette, residential refrigerator, convection microwave, double bowl kitchen sink, and 3-burner stove.
There’s also an optional drop-down bunk over the cab should you want to use it as a sleeping space for the kids instead of the sofa. You could also opt for a workstation instead of the booth dinette should you need a homeschooling or remote working space.
Best Class C Motorhomes for a Family of 6
If a Class A motorhome isn’t in your budget or you’d prefer the design of a Class C instead, we also did some digging to find three ideal options for a large family in this class.
These motorhomes are smaller than the Class As but still offer everything a family of six needs for an enjoyable, comfortable camping trip.
Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31H
The Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31H offers plenty of sleeping options for a family of six. The rear bedroom has a queen bed, and there are two bunk beds in the hallway, a sofa bed in the living area, and an overhead bed above the cab. There’s also a large U-shaped dinette across from the sofa for plenty of seating for everyone.
The kitchen has a pantry, three-burner stove, stainless steel double sink, microwave, and an 8-cubic-foot refrigerator. The Winnebago Minie Winne 31H measures less than 33 feet long, which is ideal for RVers who have never driven a large vehicle.
Keep in Mind: The Winnebago Minnie Winnie also comes in a micro version! Take a look at this complete Breakdown of the Winnebago Micro Minnie
Entegra Odyssey 31F
This Class C only measures 32 feet 7 inches but still provides everything a family of six needs for a comfortable camping getaway. You’ll find a rear queen bed, bunk beds in the hallway, and the cabover bunk for sleeping spaces. A tri-fold sofa also provides an additional sleeping area.
The drawers and wardrobe in the bedroom have room for everyone’s clothing, and the bathroom is convenient for both the parents in the bedroom and the kids in the bunks. The kitchen has a 10-cubic-foot refrigerator, a three-burner stove, and a microwave. A family of six will also appreciate the large tank sizes of the Entegra Odyssey 31F.
Thor Chateau 31EV
Starting at $154,800, the Thor Chateau 31EV is the most affordable motorhome on our list. It measures just under 33 feet and has one huge slideout along the driver’s side. The cabover bunk area, trifold sofa, bunk beds, and queen bed provide ample sleeping space for a family of six.
There’s a pantry in the kitchen beside the 12-volt refrigerator. The kitchen has a three-burner stove, stainless steel sink, and microwave. A family can enjoy game nights or meal times as the booth dinette sits directly across from the sofa in the living area.
Keep in Mind: How Many RV Brands Does Thor Industries Own? Let’s dive in and see.
What Are the Challenges of RVing in a Motorhome With a Large Family?
Before choosing which motorhome to purchase, a family first has to decide between a motorized RV or a towable RV. Each has its pros and cons. If you decide to stick with a motorhome, be prepared for the challenges of RVing with a large family.
Towables tend to have more interior living space because there’s no cab space. In many fifth-wheel designs, you’ll find two sofas, a kitchen island, a dinette, and an entertainment center. Because of the motorhome layout, several cubic feet of space is lost once you’re settled into a campsite because of the front cab.
It’s also not as safe to travel with passengers in the rear of a motorhome. Even with seatbelts, car seats don’t properly fit in motorhome couches or booth dinettes.
Older kids or teens aren’t protected in a motorhome like in a standard vehicle. This is a major concern for many families, and often they opt for a towable RV because of the safety of riding in the tow vehicle.
Don’t Let the Size of Your Family Keep You From Enjoying The Camping Lifestyle
If you have a large family, there are limited options in the motorhome market, but you’re not devoid of floorplans. Don’t let the size of your family keep you from making memories together and connecting with nature. Hopefully, these six motorhomes help you see the possibilities!
Which model and floorplan do you like best?