Table of Contents Show
You’ve probably seen a luxurious Class A motorhome speeding down the highway and thought it must be nice to travel in style.
But you have a family of 6, so how would you ever accommodate everyone in an RV? RVing is for retired couples or small families with just one or two kids. Right?
But actually, you can find RVs specifically designed with large families in mind. With spacious living areas, bunk rooms to sleep three or four kids, and residential appliances, your dream of taking your family camping may not be impossible.
Let’s explore the best RVs for a family of 6 so you can start making memories by the campfire!
Are There RVs That Can Accommodate a Large Family?
You may find it challenging to find an RV for a family of 6 or more. Most RVs are only designed for a family of 4 or 5.
Motorhomes, especially, are difficult to find for a large family and often only have one bed. Travel trailers and fifth wheels usually offer the most variety of floorplans.
Although it’s more challenging, it’s not impossible to find an RV for a family of 6. You can look at towable RVs that provide multiple bunk beds for adequate sleeping space.
There are also toy haulers that make great options for larger families. The garage can convert into a kids’ room with four or five bunk beds.
Plus, many toy haulers also have a half bath in the rear. This can be a game-changer for larger families.
What Are the Challenges of Camping With a Large Family?
It’s not just sleeping space that poses a challenge for larger families. Living areas to accommodate six or seven people are hard to find.
Maybe there’s a dinette for four people or a sofa that fits three, but you rarely find a living space where six or seven people can gather together.
Large families also need more storage, inside and outside. If you put four or five kids in a bunk room, they will likely need a drawer or closet to store their clothes.
Additionally, an RV for a family of 6 will need to have outdoor storage space to accommodate six camping chairs and all the other camping gear for an enjoyable weekend.
Most RVs have only one bathroom, which can create a struggle for larger families. You might always have a line at the door to brush your teeth, use the bathroom, or wash your hands for dinner. RVs with at least one and a half baths make camping much more enjoyable.
Finally, RVs are usually more expensive for larger families. An RV for a family of 6 or 7 will cost more because it’s larger. Even if it’s not an upgraded quality, the size of the RV will affect the overall pricing.
Towables with bunk rooms will be longer and heavier, which also means you’ll need heavy-duty trucks to tow them. This is even more money upfront.
Things to Look for in an RV for a Family of 6
When it’s time to start looking for an RV for a family of 6, you should keep a few things in mind to help you make the best decision for your family.
From storage space to tank sizes, here are six specific things to consider as you browse models.
Drivable Versus Towable
This decision may be an easy one, but it’s important to know the pros and cons of each type of RV. A family of 6 doesn’t usually have many options in the motorized RV market.
Some Class Cs might work. But if you choose a towable RV, you have the hassle of hitching and unhitching everywhere you go. Plus, you must have a vehicle capable of towing a large travel trailer or fifth wheel.
However, many motorhomes don’t have the safety restraints for children that a standard vehicle has. It’s safer for your children to ride in a car than in the back of a motorhome.
You’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of both types of RVs and decide what you prefer and what best suits your family’s needs.
Storage Space
Storage space is huge when looking for an RV for a family of 6. With more people, you have more stuff to haul.
Whether it’s for a weekend camping trip, a cross-country summer vacation, or a full-time lifestyle, you’ll need space to store six people’s clothing, dishes and food, toys for the kids, and all of the outdoor gear.
You’ll need a large pass-through storage if you bring six fishing poles, a few inflatable paddleboards, camping chairs, and an outdoor tent.
When considering the storage, note the cargo-carrying capacity of the RV. This will be printed on a yellow sticker inside the entry door of most RVs.
A full-time traveling family will need about 500 pounds per person, so if you want a camper for weekend trips, you can get by with less. This is another reason why toy haulers make great options for large families. The cargo-carrying capacity is generally a lot higher than other travel trailers or fifth wheels.
Keep in Mind: Are you considering indoor RV storage? Let’s see if it’s Really Worth It!
Sleeping Space
This may be the most important factor when looking for an RV for a family of 6. Everyone needs to have a place to sleep.
If only traveling for a few weekends a year, you don’t necessarily have to have a bed for everyone. You might settle with reconfiguring the dinette or pulling out the sofa for a child to sleep.
But if you want to make a long-term trip or live full-time in the RV, you’ll want individual places to sleep. Putting a dinette together and taking it apart daily will get old.
This isn’t just for comfortable sleeping but also for everyone to have a sense of privacy and personal space. The tiny living spaces of RVs make these luxuries hard to find, so having these individual sleeping areas gives each person a place to call their own.
Slide-Outs
Some new RV owners won’t think about the interior space when the slides are in. If traveling down the highway, you don’t need to access the inside of the RV, right? However, if shopping for an RV for a family of 6, you may want to get to the fridge and bathroom while the slides are in.
You might have a day when you drive three or four hours to a campground. You’ll likely have at least one child who needs to use the bathroom before you make it to a rest area.
And to avoid stopping at a fast food restaurant miles away, you can get to the refrigerator to make sandwiches or get some yogurt cups. So as you look at RVs, notice how far the slides will come in and what you’ll have access to on travel days.
Tank Sizes
A family of 6 needs large tank sizes. Even if you plan on staying at campgrounds with full hookups, you don’t want to go outside every day to empty the black or gray tank. This is a nuisance.
And if you plan on boondocking often, you especially need large tank sizes. The fresh tank must provide water for the entire family for at least a few days. And the black and gray tanks need to have the capacities to hold waste for longer than a day.
Emptying your tanks into a portable waste tank and driving to a dump station takes both time and effort. You want to enjoy the weekend and not make several trips to empty your family’s waste.
Must-Have Amenities
Finally, do you have a list of must-haves or deal breakers? Do you need a washer and dryer to easily throw in a load of clothes every morning?
Do you need an outdoor kitchen so one spouse can grill hamburgers outside while the other cooks baked beans and mashed potatoes inside? What are the most important amenities to make your camping lifestyle with your family of 6 most enjoyable?
Every family will have a different must-have list. Additionally, the age of your children will greatly affect the types of amenities you want. The size of your kids will also play a role in what you think is important. Consider how much you’ll travel and make the best decision for your family.
7 Best RVs for a Family of 6
When you feel ready to walk through some models at a dealership, take a look at seven of the best RVs for a family of 6.
They offer great floorplans, ample storage space, and good cargo-carrying capacities to accommodate six people. Plus, they have different amenities, so you can choose the one that best suits your must-haves.
1. Coachmen Chaparral 373MBRB
Length: 42 feet 6 inches
GVWR: 15,000 pounds
Features: This Chaparral has a unique floorplan because it offers three different bedrooms. The main bedroom is at the front of the unit, the mid-bunk room has double bunks, and the rear bedroom has a bunk over a sofa. It also has two full bathrooms, a peninsula countertop in the kitchen, and two pantry cabinets.
Why It’s Good for a Family of 6: This RV is great for a family of 6 because of the three bedrooms. Two kids can sleep in the mid-bunk room, and two kids can sleep in the rear bedroom. Everyone has their own bed and own personal space.
Plus, it has two large full bathrooms for the family to share. Two people can shower, brush their teeth, use the bathroom, or get ready for the day at the same time.
2. Forest River Heritage Glen 356QB
Length: 43 feet
GVWR: 13,790 pounds
Features: This Heritage Glen features a large rear bunk room with opposing slides and its own private full bathroom with a second entry door. The living area has a large U-shaped dinette, a 16 cubic foot 12-Volt refrigerator, and a tri-fold sofa. Also, the underbelly comes heated for all-season use.
Why It’s Good for a Family of 6: Like the Chaparral, this Heritage Glen has two full bathrooms, which means less waiting in line. The second entry door into the rear bathroom is great for dirty shoes and washing hands.
The opposing slides in the bunk room create the largest space in the unit, giving kids plenty of room to play. Finally, the outdoor kitchen has a fridge, griddle, sink, and storage for a great second cooking location.
3. Grand Design Solitude 3740BH
Length: 40 feet 9 inches
GVWR: 16,800 pounds
Features: This fifth wheel is designed with a large family in mind. The rear bunk room has four bunks, a sofa, a large storage dresser, and a half bath.
The kitchen features an island, hutch, pantry, and 20-cubic-foot 12-Volt refrigerator. The front main bedroom features a queen bed, a large wardrobe, and washer and dryer hookups.
Why It’s Good for a Family of 6: Everyone will have their own sleeping space in this Solitude. Each child can make their space unique by hanging photos, posters, or lights.
Even though the second bath has no shower, it’s still better than only one bathroom. The kids can get ready at night in the bunkroom without having to go into the main bathroom.
Additionally, all the countertop space in the kitchen works great when cooking for a large family. Outside, you get a beverage cooler, sink, and griddle for even more cooking space. Finally, you have almost 3,000 pounds of cargo carrying capacity in this fifth wheel.
4. Keystone Montana High Country 335BH
Length: 37 feet
GVWR: 16,000 pounds
Features: Like the Chaparral, this Montana High Country offers a unique floorplan among towable RVs. The rear bunk room has two beds and a half bath. Above this room is a loft with space for two more kids.
Additionally, the large living space has opposing slides that help make this interior feel larger than it is. The kitchen also features an island, an 18-cubic-foot refrigerator, a pantry, and lots of overhead storage. Finally, the exterior has two awnings for ample shade during the summer.
Why It’s Good for a Family of 6: This fifth wheel also has sleeping space for everyone. Each child can have their own bed. Even the two in the loft can easily make their side all their own.
The large residential refrigerator and overhead storage in the kitchen provide enough storage for food and cooking gadgets. Finally, the opposing slides in the living space offer a large area for a family of 6 to enjoy movie or game nights.
Keep in Mind: Can You Finance an RV Over 10 Years Old? Let’s take a look!
5. Alliance Valor 36V11
Length: 39 feet 8 inches
GVWR: 16,950 pounds
Features: This toy hauler has an 11-foot garage that you can convert into the kids’ room. It has a Happijac roll-over sofa and a 60-by-80-inch mattress already in the garage, but you can take them out to completely overhaul the space.
This RV also features a large sofa in the living space, a kitchen island with bar seating, and a 17-cubic-foot refrigerator. And you get a washer and dryer prep space in both the garage and the main bedroom.
Why It’s Good for a Family of 6: Toy haulers can become great RVs for a family of 6 because of their versatility. You can turn the garage into whatever suits your camping needs. It also has a loft for additional sleeping or storage.
The half bath is another great feature for a large family. Finally, the huge sofa makes family movie nights enjoyable. Most RVs only have seating for two or three people. And this Valor has a cargo-carrying capacity of over 3,000 pounds.
6. Keystone Raptor 431
Length: 44 feet 11 inches
GVWR: 20,000 pounds
Features: The second toy hauler on this list is the Raptor by Keystone. It features a 13-foot-6-inch garage with a Happijac roll-over sofa, a mattress, a twin bed loft, and a full bathroom.
The living space has an L-shaped sectional plus a second reclining sofa. The kitchen has a large pantry and a 16.5 cubic foot 12-Volt refrigerator. It has two awnings for plenty of shade to enjoy the outdoor camping experience.
Why It’s Good for a Family of 6: This is the longest and heaviest unit on our list of best RVs for a family of 6, which means you’ll need a heavy-duty truck to haul it. But this Raptor checks all of the boxes.
You can convert the garage into a unique space or leave it as it is for everyone to have their own bed. Plus, you get the huge sectional couch and second sofa for plenty of seating for everyone.
The two full bathrooms eliminate waiting in line. Finally, the large refrigerator and large pantry provide plenty of room for food storage.
7. Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31H
Length: 32 feet 9 inches
GVWR: 14,500 pounds
Features: This Minnie Winnie is the only drivable RV on the list. Like all Class C motorhomes, it has a cabover bed in the front. The living space features a large U-shaped dinette across from a three-seater sofa. The full bathroom, a set of bunk beds, and a rear bedroom lie down the hall.
Why It’s Good for a Family of 6: For families with children, safety is important. This Class C has seatbelts at the dinette and at the sofa.
The interior space is also well laid out for a family of 6 because of the opposing dinette and sofa. These options provide lots of seating.
Finally, because of the cabover bed and bunk beds, you get plenty of space for all of the kids in this Winnebago Minnie Winnie. In fact, it can sleep up to eight people if you pull out the sofa bed.
Don’t Skip Out on Camping Because of a Large Family
Don’t think that because you have a large family, you can’t find RV options for you. Some manufacturers specifically try to design family-friendly units that feature bunk rooms, residential refrigerators, and large cargo-carrying capacities.
So once you have your list of must-haves, head out to your nearest dealer and start walking through a few models.
Did one of these units catch your eye as the next RV for your family of 6?
