Thanks to the prevalence of full-time RV living, motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth-wheels (even truck campers) are becoming more modernized than ever. Modern amenities and features add luxury, style, and class to RVs, making them feel more like home during road-tripping adventures.
Modern RV Types
Whether you’re looking for a tow-behind camper, a motorhome, a camper van, or any other type of RV, there are modern options available. Here’s a rundown of the best modern rigs for every RV type and class.
#1: Modern Motorhomes (Class As, Class B Camper Vans, Class Cs, etc.)
Motorhomes, specifically Class A coaches, have come the furthest in terms of modern features and luxury. This is especially true with their interiors, as modern motorhomes often feature granite countertops, hardwood cabinets, and bright flooring/paint colors. Here are some of the best modern motorhomes on the market:
- Newmar King Aire – $1,615,000
- Foretravel Motorcoach Presidential Series – $1,680,400
- Newell Coach P50 – $2,445,000
The best modern motorhomes combine luxury and modern amenities. While the options above come with a high price tag (as is to be expected from a Class A RV), there are several great Class C and B motorhome options that are much more affordable. For instance, the Winnebago Ekko and the Leisure Travel Vans Unity are two of the best options.
#2: Modern Travel Trailers and Teardrop Trailers
Motorhomes aren’t the only options if you’re looking for modern and luxurious options in the RV space. There are also plenty of travel trailers and teardrop campers that include modern features and amenities. Here are some of the best luxury RVs if you’re looking for a travel trailer, no matter how large or small:
- The Droplet – $18,500
- Bowlus Rivet – $165,000
- Airstream Basecamp – $46,900
In addition to modern amenities and features, travel trailers have more leeway for a modern exterior design. The Bowlus Rivet, for instance, looks like the Tesla of travel trailers and has a nearly otherworldly design. Other options, like the Droplet, have limited interior space, but they make up for it with panoramic windows, natural light, and more.
#3: Modern Fifth Wheels
When you want to combine size, massive slide-outs, and unique features like rear garages and drop-down ramps, a fifth-wheel RV is the way to go. In addition to some of these timeless features, modern fifth-wheels also have updated interior and exterior paint colors and self-leveling systems and are equipped for off-grid living.
Here are some of the best options:
- Alliance Avenue – $77,190
- Brinkley RV Model Z – $102,000
- Grand Design Momentum – $148,145
Modern Truck Campers
Although they aren’t as popular as other types of RVs, truck campers have become significantly more modern in recent years. A big reason for this boost in innovation is that truck campers are becoming a popular option for boondocking and extended road trips.
Here are some of the most modern and surprisingly luxurious RVs in the truck camper department:
- Tune M1 – $13,000
- Kingstar Camino 88 – $42,000
- Nucamp Cirrus 920 – $89,900
Modern RV Innovations
If buying a new RV isn’t in the budget, there are many recreational vehicle innovations that you can add to your current RV to modernize it. Many of these innovations also come standard on newer RVs that aren’t necessarily viewed as “modern” or “luxurious.” Here they are now!
Solar Power Systems
Solar panels and solar power systems are all the rage in the RV industry right now. Nearly all RVs made today are designed with the option of adding solar panels. Some, such as the Heartland Sol, even come with solar panels pre-installed.
However, solar panels are only one part of a solar power system. To set up a fully functional solar system, you’ll also need an inverter, rechargeable batteries, a charge controller, and more. While these systems are fairly pricy, they are one of the best ways to save on electricity at campgrounds and live off-grid comfortably if that’s your style.
Advanced Technology
Entertainment and staying connected to the outside world are also a big part of modern camping. To that end, many modern RVs, including the Jayco Greyhawk motorhome, have built-in entertainment systems, including smart TVs, Bluetooth radios, and even wi-fi routers. That way, if you stay at a campground that doesn’t offer these things, you can work remotely, connect with friends, and enjoy movie nights with the family.
Off-Grid Living Capabilities
While solar power systems are a big part of being able to live off the grid in your RV, they aren’t the only thing. After all, you need more than just electricity to feel safe and comfortable in your home, and your RV shouldn’t be any different.
In addition to being outfitted for solar power, off-grid living also requires that you have large freshwater, black, and grey water tanks. Otherwise, you’ll quickly run out of fresh water for showering, cleaning, and drinking, and your wastewater holding tanks will fill up too quickly and overflow.
It’s also important to have an energy-efficient cooling system that operates using minimal electricity on hot summer days. (But can you run an RV air conditioner while driving? Check out this article for more information).
Similarly, you should have an energy-efficient electric or propane heating system so that you can stay safe and warm when boondocking during the winter months.
Additionally, you need extra insulation in your walls, ceiling, and underbody for winter boondocking, such as the Forest River Arctic Wolf Extreme Weather Package RV.
Outdoor Kitchens
Another modern amenity that’s tough to live without is an outdoor kitchen. While outdoor kitchens aren’t necessarily a new feature, they’ve come a long way and are much more innovative, useful, and luxurious than they once were.
Modern outdoor kitchens are built into an RV’s side or rear in the form of a mini slide-out or pop-up door. It should include things like a grill for cooking, a sink for cleanup, and a few shelves and cabinets for storage. Modern outdoor kitchens will also have a smart TV and a griddle or Blackstone, such as the Forest River Wildwood Heritage Glen.
Luxurious RV Interiors
With all the excitement over outdoor kitchens, awnings, and other features, it’s easy to forget the strides RV interiors have made. In addition to modern appliances, furniture, and storage accommodations, the decor and paint colors have come a long way in RVs.
Modern rigs, such as the Newmar King Aire, sport neutral color palettes and Scandinavian-inspired decor rather than the traditional drab and dark grays and browns used for RV ceilings, walls, and cabinetry. From the kitchen and living area to the bedroom and bathroom, newer RVs more closely resemble modern homes than ever before.
Final Thoughts
If you’re lucky enough to have purchased a brand-new, modern RV, it’s important to do everything you can to protect it (It is an investment, after all). In addition to proper maintenance and using it responsibly, you should also store your luxurious rig somewhere safe.
Consider using Neighbor, a peer-to-peer storage marketplace, to find safe and affordable RV storage near you. Whether you have a massive motorhome or a tiny teardrop camper, Neighbor has storage options for you.
