You’ve probably seen a luxury Class A motorhome on the highway and thought that it must be nice to travel in style.
But you have a family of 6, so how could you fit everyone in one motorhome? RV travel is for retired couples or small families with only one or two kids. Right?
But there are RVs designed specifically for large families. With spacious living areas, bunk beds for three or four children and household appliances, your dream of camping with the family is not impossible.
Let’s explore the best RVs for a family of 6 so you can make great memories around the campfire!
Are there RVs that can accommodate a large family?
It can be difficult to find an RV for a family of 6 or more. Most RVs are only designed for a family of 4 or 5.
RVs in particular are hard to find for a large family and often have only one bed. Travel trailers and fifth-wheelers tend to offer the greatest variety of floor plans.
Although it is more difficult to find an RV for a family of six, it is not impossible to find one. You can look for motorhomes that have multiple bunk beds to provide ample sleeping space.
There are also motorhomes that are a good choice for larger families. The garage can be converted into a children’s room with four or five bunk beds.
In addition, many Toy Haulers have a half bath in the rear. This can be a definite advantage for larger families.
What are the challenges of camping with a large family?
Sleeping space isn’t the only challenge for large families. Living areas that can accommodate six or seven people are hard to find.
Maybe there’s a dining area for four or a sofa that can fit three, but it’s rare to find a living space where six or seven people can gather.
Large families also need more storage space, inside and out. If you put four or five kids in a bunk bed, they’ll probably need a drawer or closet to store their clothes.
Also, an RV for a family of six needs to have an outside storage area that can hold six camping chairs and all the other camping essentials for an enjoyable weekend.
Most RVs have only one bathroom, which can be a problem for larger families. There may be a line out the door to brush your teeth, use the restroom, or wash your hands before dinner. RVs with at least one and a half bathrooms make camping much more enjoyable.
Finally, RVs for larger families tend to be more expensive. An RV for a family of 6 or 7 will cost more because it is larger. Even if it is not a higher quality, the size of the motorhome affects the overall price.
Motorhomes with bunk beds are longer and heavier, which also means you need a heavy truck to pull them. That means even more money up front.
What to look for in a motorhome for a family of 6
When it’s time to look for an RV for a family of 6, there are a few things you should consider to make the best decision for your family.
From storage space to tank size, there are six things you should consider when choosing models.
Driveable vs. towable
This decision may be simple, but it’s important to know the pros and cons of each type of motorhome. A family of 6 usually doesn’t have many options in the motorized RV market.
Some Class Cs might work. But if you choose a towable motorhome, you’ll have to hitch and unhitch everywhere. Also, you must have a vehicle that can tow a large travel trailer or a fifth wheel.
However, many RVs do not have the safety features for children that are available in a regular vehicle. It is safer for your children to ride in a car than in the back seat of an RV.
You will need to weigh the pros and cons of both types of RVs and decide which you prefer and which best fits your family’s needs.
Storage space
When looking for a motorhome for a family of 6, storage space plays a big role because with more people you have more stuff to carry.
Whether it’s a weekend camping trip, a cross-country summer vacation or a full-time lifestyle, you’ll need room for six people’s clothes, dishes and groceries, toys for the kids and all the outdoor gear.
If you’re taking six fishing rods, a couple of inflatable paddle boards, camping chairs and an outdoor tent, you’ll need a large pass-through storage space.
When choosing a storage space, look at the cargo capacity of the RV. This is indicated on a yellow sticker on the inside of the entrance door of most motorhomes.
A full-time traveling family needs about 500 pounds per person. So if you’re looking for an RV for weekend getaways, you can get by with less. This is another reason why motorhomes are a good choice for large families. Cargo capacity is generally much higher than other travel trailers or fifth wheels.
Remember: Are you considering housing your RV indoors? Let’s see if it’s really worth it!
Sleeping place
This is perhaps the most important factor when looking for a motorhome for a family of 6: everyone needs a place to sleep.
If you’re only going away a few weekends a year, you don’t necessarily have to have a bed for everyone. You can get away with converting the dinette or pulling out the sofa so a child can sleep there.
But if you’re going on a long-term trip or want to live in the RV full-time, you’ll need individual sleeping spaces. Assembling a dinette and taking it down every day eventually gets boring.
It’s not just about sleeping comfortably, it’s about everyone having a sense of privacy and personal space. In the tiny living spaces of RVs, that luxury is hard to find, so these individual sleeping areas give each person their own space.
Pull out sleeping berths
Some new motorhome owners don’t think about the interior when the slide-outs are installed. When you are traveling on the highway, you don’t need to enter the interior of the motorhome, right? However, if you buy an RV for a family of 6, you may want to access the refrigerator and bathroom when the sliding doors are open.
On any given day, you may be driving three or four hours to a campground. You probably have at least one child who needs to use the restroom before you make it to a rest area.
And to avoid having to stop miles away at a fast food restaurant, you can reach the refrigerator to make sandwiches or grab yogurt cups. So when you’re looking at RVs, pay attention to how far the sliding doors extend into the vehicle and what you’ll have available on your travel days.
Tank sizes
A family of 6 needs big tanks. Even if you stay at campgrounds with full hookups, you don’t want to go outside every day to empty the black or gray tank. It’s a hassle.
And if you plan to stay outdoors frequently, you’ll need extra-large tanks. The fresh water tank must provide water for the whole family for at least a few days. And the black and gray tanks must be large enough to hold waste for more than a day.
Emptying your tanks into a portable holding tank and driving to a disposal station is time consuming and tedious. You want to enjoy the weekend, not make multiple trips to empty your family’s waste.
Essential amenities
Finally, do you have a list of “must-haves” or “deal breakers”? Do you need a washer and dryer so you can easily throw in a load of laundry 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 as comfortable as possible with your family of 6?
Every family has a different must-have list. In addition, the age of your children will greatly influence the type of equipment you want. The size of your children also plays a role in what you consider important. Consider how much you will be traveling and make the best decision for your family.
The 7 best motorhomes for a family of 6
If you feel ready to check out some models at a dealership, take a look at the seven best RVs for a family of 6.
They offer great floorplans, plenty of storage space and good cargo capacity for six people. They also have different features, so you can choose the vehicle that best suits your needs.
1st Coachmen Chaparral 373MBRB
Length: 42 feet 6 inches
GVWR: 15,000 lbs.
Features: This chaparral has a unique floor plan in that it offers three different bedrooms. The master bedroom is located at the front of the unit, the middle bedroom has twin bunk beds, and the back bedroom has a bunk bed over a sofa. It also has two full bathrooms, a peninsula countertop in the kitchen, and two pantry closets.
Why it’s good for a family of 6: This motorhome is great for a family of 6 because it has three bedrooms. Two children can sleep in the middle bedroom, and two children can sleep in the rear bedroom. Everyone has their own bed and personal space.
It also has two large bathrooms that the family can 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 lbs.
Features: This Heritage Glen features a large bunk room in the rear with opposing sliding doors and a private bath with a second entry door. The living area has a large U-shaped dinette, a 12-volt refrigerator with 16 cubic feet of capacity, and a three-seat sofa. In addition, the undercroft is heated for year-round use.
Why it’s good for a family of 6: Like the Chaparral, the Heritage Glen has two full baths, which cuts down on waiting in line. The second entry door to the rear bathroom is ideal for dirty shoes and hand washing.
The opposing slides in the bunk room create the largest space in the unit and provide plenty of room for children to play. The outdoor kitchen has a refrigerator, griddle, sink and storage for a great second cooking space.
3rd Grand Design Solitude 3740BH
Length: 40 feet 9 inches
GVWR: 16,800 lbs.
Features: This fifth wheel is designed for a large family. The rear bunk room has four bunk beds, a sofa, a large storage dresser and a half bath.
The kitchen is equipped with a cooking island, cabinetry, pantry and 12-volt refrigerator with 20 cubic feet of capacity. The front master bedroom has a queen bed, large closet and washer/dryer connections.
Why it’s good for a family of 6: In this Solitude, everyone has their own sleeping space. Each child can make his room unique by hanging photos, posters or lamps.
Even if the second bathroom doesn’t have a shower, it’s still better than just one bathroom. Children can get ready at night in the bunk room without having to go to the main bathroom.
Plus, the large countertop in the kitchen is ideal for cooking for a large family. Outside, there’s a beverage cooler, sink, and griddle for even more cooking space. Finally, you have nearly 3,000 pounds of cargo capacity in this fifth wheel.
4. Keystone Montana High Country 335BH
Length: 37 feet
GVWR: 16,000 lbs.
Features: Like the Chaparral, the Montana High Country offers a unique floor plan among motorhomes. The rear bunk room has two beds and a half bath. Above this room is a loft with room for two more children.
In addition, the large living room has opposing sliding doors that help make the interior seem larger than it is. The kitchen features an island, an 18-cubic-foot refrigerator, a pantry and plenty of overhead storage. Finally, the outdoor living area offers plenty of shade in the summer with two awnings.
Why it’s good for a family of 6: This fifth wheel also provides sleeping space for everyone. Each child can have their own bed. Even the two in the loft can easily make their side their own.
The large refrigerator and storage in the kitchen provide ample space for food and cooking utensils. Finally, the opposing slides in the living area provide a large area for a family of 6 to enjoy movie or game nights.
Please note: Can you finance a mobile home that is over 10 years old? Let’s take a look!
5th Alliance Valor 36V11
Length: 39 feet 8 inches
GVWR: 16,950 lbs.
Features: This Toy Hauler has an 11-foot garage that you can convert into a nursery. A Happijac rollaway sofa and 60 x 80-inch mattress are already in the garage, but you can remove them to completely transform the space.
This motorhome also has a large sofa in the living area, a kitchen island with bar seating, and a 17-cubic-foot refrigerator. There is also a space for a washer and dryer in both the garage and master bedroom.
Why it’s good for a family of 6: Toy Haulers make great RVs for a family of 6 because of their versatility. You can convert the garage into a space that suits your camping needs. It also has a loft for extra sleeping space or storage.
The half bath is another great feature for a large family. Finally, the huge sofa makes movie nights with the family enjoyable. Most motorhomes only have seating for two or three people. And this Valor has a cargo capacity of over 3,000 pounds.
6th Keystone Raptor 431
Length: 44 feet 11 inches
GVWR: 20,000 lbs.
Features: The second Toy Hauler on this list is the Raptor by Keystone. It features a 13-foot-6-inch garage with a Happijac rollover sofa, a mattress, a double bed loft and a full bathroom.
The living area features an L-shaped seating area and a second sleeper sofa. The kitchen has a large pantry and a 12-volt refrigerator with 16.5 cubic feet of capacity. Two awnings provide ample shade to enjoy the outdoor camping experience.
Why it’s good for a family of 6: This is the longest and heaviest RV on our list of best RVs for a family of 6, which means you’ll need a heavy-duty van to haul it around. But this Raptor meets all the requirements.
You can turn the garage into a unique space or leave it as is so everyone has their own bed. There’s also a huge sectional couch and a second sofa, so everyone has plenty of room.
Thanks to the two full bathrooms, you won’t have to wait in line for long. Finally, the large refrigerator and pantry provide plenty of space for food storage.
7. Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31H
Length: 32 feet 9 inches
GVWR: 14,500 lbs.
Features: This Minnie Winnie is the only mobile home on this list. Like all Class C motorhomes, it has an alcove bed in the front. The living area has a large U-shaped dinette opposite a three-seater sofa. The bathroom, a set of bunk beds and a rear bedroom are located down the hall.
Why it’s good for a family of 6: Safety is important for families with children. This Class C has safety belts on the dinette and sofa.
The interior is well designed for a family of 6 with the opposite dinette and sofa. These options provide plenty of seating.
Thanks to the alcove bed and bunk beds, this Winnebago Minnie Winnie has plenty of room for all the kids. If you extend the sofa bed, it can even sleep up to eight people.
Do not give up camping because of a large family
Don’t think there are no RV options for you just because you have a large family. Some manufacturers make a special effort to create family-friendly units with bunk rooms, refrigerators and large cargo capacities.
So once you have your list of “must-haves,” head to your nearest dealer and check out a few models.
Have any of these vehicles caught your eye as the next RV for your family of 6?