Life in a city can be a monotonous affair. Although, there is everything you can want – food, drinks, social events, nightlife, products, and so on – we, as humans, often find ourselves beholden to our routines and our lives are dictated by necessity.
These necessities regularly come in the form of needing to work for money or tending to our family and loved ones, which are not bad things, it's just it is the same thing every day.
So, when we get bored with our lives, many people turn to the great outdoors and with a country as large as America it is easy to find yourself in the wilderness.
The wild areas are free of the stress that comes with city life, and it is an easy place to catch your breath and yourself when you need to. There is no better way of exploring these places than with a recreational vehicle.
Many types of RVs exist, and it is an industry that keeps exploring new ways to bring comfort to their consumers, even in the most extreme of wild weather.
They provide more comfort and security than a tent, yet they are not as difficult to maneuver or as time-consuming as travel trailers, making them ideal for exploring the great outdoors.
Some people might suggest paying for a hotel and while they are nice, they still have the same trappings as a city or home life does, which is not something you want when exploring a rural environment.
No, an RV is perfect for this, but not everyone wants a big RV. Most people want a small, compact RV that can be stored at home, basically a class B RV.
The problem with class B RVs is their size, see their more compact nature is great for home storage, but they also tend to not be comfortable for more than 2 people. So, are there any class B RVs that can sleep 4?
Well, put your mind at ease for today we will look at 10 different class B RVs that can sleep 4 and tell you their upsides and downsides.
OUR TOP PICK
The Roadtrek brand was an idea in the mind of Jac Hanemaayer from the year 1974, when he first became interested in the RV business while designing his own model with the Home & Park Vehicles Limited company.
Eventually, Jac bought out the company and renamed it Roadtrek, before releasing their first motor home in 1980.
Since then, Roadtrek has gone from strength to strength, especially in its production of Class B RVs, with one of its most popular models being the E-trek.
The E-trek is designed to last with a chassis that is constructed from the Mercedes-Benz sprinter, making it resistant to all manner of weather.
The technology in the RV is amazing, allowing for a more functional RV design rather than the normal floor plans that go with class B interiors.
There is a full kitchen in the interior with a hot water system and a cooktop that uses induction, giving the perfect comfort and coziness when you need it.
The bathroom is also quite spacious and allows you to sit down or stand up in the shower, which is a godsend while camping.
The exterior allows for blind spot monitoring, while also helping with lane keeping and collusion protection thanks to the inclusion of enhanced safety features.
At 22 feet long it is quite large and can be a hassle to drive around, but with the safety features you shouldn’t have any problems.
Pros
- Good durability.
- Well-designed interior.
- Good external features.
Cons
- Very large RV.
EDITORS CHOICE
Winnebago is a name synonymous with the recreational vehicle industry, and it has provided some iconic travel trailers and motorhomes over the years.
It was set up in 1958 after a group of local businessmen, led by John Hanson in Iowa, convinced a California firm to set up a travel trailer factory to help with the economic downturn in the region.
After a few years, the firm sold the business to that group, and they renamed the company Winnebago industries, thus beginning an ear.
The Solis is probably the most popular of the Class B vehicles. Everything about it is designed with space and comfort in mind.
On one side of the RV is a small kitchenette with a lot of space for seating, while also having movable and foldable sets of furniture to make sure the interior is cozy. There is even a wet bath that residents and users can enjoy at their leisure.
The reason for the space is that there is a pop top in the RV, which takes those who enter to a spacious 2-person bedroom. The other bed is down the far end of the RV, thus giving at least two-thirds of the space to other items.
Winnebago has even added under floor storage to give a little more space.
The exterior of the RV allows for easy access to hookups from campsites for power, and its solar system makes sure you never run out of power.
However, there are few features beyond this on the exterior and while the interior more than makes up for it, it would have been nice for external features as well.
The size of the RV is between 19 and 21 feet, depending on the model, which is pretty standard for class B RVs, but thanks to intelligent planning, none of this space is wasted.
Pros
- Well-constructed.
- Incredible interior design.
- Good size
- Good external power systems.
Cons
- Not many exterior features.
BEST VALUE
Originally, Pleasure-way started as an RV dealership called Glenwood Trailer Sales in 1968.
However, in 1986 owner Merv Rumpel decided that moving over to Class B motorhomes was the way forward, and they began constructing such vehicles out of the back of their shop, thus Pleasure-way was born and has continued to go from strength to strength.
The Tofino is a RV for those who don’t want to draw too much attention to themselves. From the outside, it looks very much like a normal working van, as it uses a RAM Promaster chassis and tinted windows.
However, the inside is anything but ordinary and once you raise the top of the van the features of its interior open up. The popped top lets you stand up easily and make good use of the kitchenette and seating areas.
The secondary sleeping area is right next to the kitchenette, making great use of the space. Yet, the Tofino unfortunately is not as well planned as some other Class B’s, as there is no room for a bathroom, forcing those who buy the Tofino to find other facilities.
This problem extends to the exterior as well, as the RV appearing completely as a normal van on the outside means that a lot of external features are missing. This leads to an issue when you need external power, or you want to make use of the outside space.
These issues probably extend from the van’s size, which at 17 feet is smaller than most Class Bs. But, if you are looking for a small RV with just enough space, then the Tofino is your van.
Pros
- Solid Chassis.
- Good interior features.
- Compact and discrete size.
Cons
- Lack of necessary interior features.
- Lack of useful exterior features.
RUNNER UP
Coachmen started as a brand in 1964 and has always been about bringing quality service and products to its customers.
Although it has not moved from its original site in Indiana, it has managed to sell over 750,000 vehicles across the country and shows no signs of slowing down today.
Like the Tofino, the Nova is built from the chassis of a RAM Promaster, giving it great durability and making it a workhorse amongst the RV community. Yet, this is where the similarities end, as Coachmen have put their own unique spin on this RV.
For starters, the interior is designed with weather conditions in mind, and it has an insulation rating of R-15, making it one of the most well insulated Class Bs out there.
The insulation works well in both hot and cold weather, as Coachmen have added a Trauma Combi Eco furnace and water heating system for cold weather and a Coleman Mach 10 air conditioner for hot weather.
Most of the interior features are also foldable or movable, with the sofa turning into a bed and the table being stored by folding away when necessary.
The RV also has a bath and gallery with cooktop for culinary needs, while a pantry sits snugly between the bath and the seating area.
The exterior is also well-used with an awning for outside seating, a rack for bikes, and solar panels for extra power. At 20 feet, the Nova is a perfectly average size, but the fact that Coachmen make such great use of the space is stunning for a Class B.
The one issue with the Nova is that it can be somewhat crapped, especially for sleeping. It does sleep 4, but even still it only just sleeps 4 and not especially comfortably.
Yet, with this machine there is very little else to worry about and most of the time you won’t be spending time in the van anyway.
Pros
- Durable and ready for any weather.
- Well planned interior.
- Good outside features.
- Nice size.
Cons
- Might be a bit cramped.
RUNNER UP
Thor motor coach is one of the newer brands on this list, as it was only formed in 2010, as a merger between Damon Motor Coach and Four Winds International.
Nevertheless, it is a brand that has exploded in popularity, becoming the No 1 motor home brand in North America. In fact, 1 in 4 motor homes sold in the US today are Thor brand motorhomes, which tells you how good this company is.
The chassis of the Delano is that of a Mercedes sprinter van, hence the name, and has incorporated a lot of the safety features from Mercedes into the RV to make it safer and more durable.
The interior is fully furnished with an easily accessible bathroom, complete with shower, sink and toilet, and a kitchen area with a cooktop, oven, and refrigerator.
The RV actually sleeps 5 if necessary and is all about comfort with a fold away queen size Murphy bed and a sofa and dinette area. There is even an air conditioning unit and footrests.
The reason the Delano can get away with this is that a lot of its storage is external or hidden under things in the RV, like the booth areas. As well as storage, the exterior also has a solar panel system for extra power should you need it.
The main issue with the Delano is that a lot of the features that could be included have been stripped away to maintain Class B status and, instead, are included in the Class C.
This makes the Class B still a stand-up model, but sometimes you might pine for what could be.
Pros
- Focus on safety and resilience.
- Lots of internal features.
- xterior use allows for more space and features.
Cons
- Some features lost due to oversight of RVs size.
RUNNER UP
Roadtrek coming in for their second appearance on this list, this time with the Zion Slumber. Though from the same company, the Zion Slumber is a little different from its E-trek cousin and appeals to a different kind of crowd.
Unlike the E-trek, the Zion Slumber is built using a RAM Promaster Chassis, which – with its large size – allows the Zion to appear as little more than a transit van. However, this does not sacrifice durability when using the Zion, as it can still take on most weather.
The Zion offers two different modes for the interior, one is sleep mode and one is lounge mode.
With sleep mode, many of the features can be folded or put away and beds pulled out. In this mode, up to 5 people can sleep in the van, thanks to the larger RAM chassis and the economical use of space.
In lounge mode, there are a couple of comfy sofas for social gatherings instead of beds. The RV also has a kitchenette with a fridge, propane stove, microwave, pantry, and the optional flip up countertop for extra counter space.
Although the interior is wonderful, bar an awning on the outside, there is not much going on externally. In most scenarios, it appears like a regular transit van, which is great in the city, but not much use in rural locales.
Yet, the van is an average 20 feet, so the fact that Roadtrek have made so much use of the indoor space is breathtaking.
Pros
- Tough chassis.
- Excellently made interior.
- Size of the van was used very well.
Cons
- Not many external features.
RUNNER UP
Coach House is a family run business and has been so for more than 35 years. Started in 1985 by the Gerzeny family, this company has sought to provide quality care, comfort, and service as long as they have been around.
These motorhomes seek to harmonize style and ruggedness for a perfect combination.
The Arriva once again uses a Mercedes chassis and relies on its safety features for care and protection. The interior is split into thirds with the toiletry area at the back, the lounge area at the front, and the bed areas in between.
The toilet area has a shower, toilet, sink, wardrobe, and cabinet, while the lounge area has seating, a kitchenette, a pantry, a stove, a microwave, and a sink.
While it may seem good for features, there is also quite a lot of storage. This is in the bedding area, and both above and below the beds are storage space for anything you need. The RV even has an air conditioning unit for those long hot summer days.
Still, it is the external features that let the Arriva V24 down, as there is really only an awning and outdoor TV (when the door is open) for the outside of the RV. While these are nice, they are not very useful or necessary when it comes to RV camping.
This is further compounded by the size of the RV. At 24 feet long, it is an enormous Class B, and having some features to help with driving it would be a great help to anyone buying this vehicle.
Pros
- Durable and safe.
- Extensive interior design.
Cons
- Few outdoor features.
- Large vehicle for a Class B.
RUNNER UP
Crossing back into Forest City, Iowa once more to see Winnebago’s second entry onto this list, that of the Ekko. The Ekko is one of the newer additions to the Winnebago family, coming about as a rise in interest in boon docking and free camping experiences.
The first thing to mention is its fantastic resilience to any weather. The Ekko was made to be used in all four seasons, with Winnebago trying to balance the various features in the RV to create comfort no matter what the weather is.
The chassis is based on the Ford Transit van, which is known as a workhorse to the people who use them, and the walls and roof are at least 2” thick.
The interior of the Ekko has had a lot of features crammed in, yet because of intelligent planning and logistical forethought, the space is well-used.
First, the most unique feature of the Ekko is the bathroom, whose wall pivots, allowing the toilet to become a wet bath almost immediately. Considering the back of the Ekko is taken up by two twin beds, this frees up a lot of space for further use.
The bathroom and kitchen area are kept to minimum size to allow for more seating, yet neither have lost any features. The kitchen has a stove, sink, fridge, and a small pantry next to the bathroom.
The remainder of the Ekko interior is used as a lounge and dining area combined with a fold down table available when eating, or free space and an open pop top when not.
The exterior of the Ekko has a huge amount of space for storage and several awnings attached to different sides of the vehicle, letting you fully utilize the outdoor space. There is even a separate flap where you can pull out the kitchen stove and use it outside.
The size of the vehicle is where the Ekko has a little problem, as it is 22 feet, which – while not massive – is certainly bigger than a normal Class B and may give new drivers some difficulty.
Pros
- Tough as nails.
- Great interior features.
- Great use of exterior.
Cons
- Size is a bit too big.
RUNNER UP
Looking at another RV from the No 1 motor home sellers in the country, Thor has really outdone themselves here.
The Tiburon is actually pretty similar to the Delano in design and execution, but there are still some key differences that you can pick up on when you look at it closely.
Like the Delano, the Tiburon uses a Mercedes sprinter chassis and all the safety features that are included, which is enormously useful when protecting your RV on the road. Where the Tiburon changes strategy compared to the Delano is with the interior.
The Tiburon is all about ultimate style and has created a floor plan in which the features are placed in perfect harmony, whereas most Class B try to stuff in as many as possible.
The way the Tiburon does this is by its placement of the beds and the expansion of the exterior.
Both beds are tucked away, one being a folding Murphy bed and the other being an over bunk bed, which gives a lot of extra room to place other features in a comfortable way. One of the sides is extended as well to extend the area inside the RV.
As such, there is space for a kitchen area, fridge, pantry, convection microwave, and wardrobe all on one side and a full bathroom at the end without impeding people’s ability to move.
The kitchen is full furnished as well, with a stainless-steel sink and laminate countertops. The Tiburon, like the Delano, sleeps 5 and all the seating areas are cushioned for comfort.
The exterior is nothing to sneeze at either, holding an air conditioning unit on top and a solar charging system as well, so you never run out of power. There are also awnings and usable storage features on the outside as well.
The one issue lies, as it does for many Class Bs, in its size. The Tiburon is a whopping 25 feet long, 4 feet longer than the highest average. As such, if you plan to buy one, make sure you practice driving it first.
Pros
- Tough and durable.
- Luxury interior features.
- Good use of exterior for additional space and power.
Cons
- Huge for a Class B.
RUNNER UP
The last entry on this list is the third one for Thor Motor Coach, and it really shows how hard they worked to get ahead of the competition and why they are no 1 amongst RV owners.
This time we take a look at the second most popular selling of their RVs, the Tellaro.
Unlike the previous two entrants, the RAM Promaster chassis is used for the Tellaro for its durability and its constant ability to run. While this takes away the safety features of the Mercedes, it adds space both inside and out for those taking this RV out for a spin.
The interior of the Tellaro is focused mainly around the bedding, which is placed right at the back of the van and sleeps 4 people, and the lounging area.
Although there are places for the kitchen and bathroom, they are quite small so as to make full use of the RV for other purposes. This is not to say that the kitchen or bathroom have nothing in them, as they are fully equipped and stocked.
The exterior is also made full use of, with there being a roof air conditioner that feeds inside to the van’s interior and an awning that has integrated lighting made of LED bulbs. The outside of the van also stores a hydronic furnace and water heater system.
Nicely, the Tellaro is only 20 feet in length, putting it at the perfectly average size for a Class B RV and making it easy to drive as well.
Pros
- Chassis is tough.
- Well-designed interior.
- Great use of exterior.
- Good length.
Cons
- Small kitchen and bathroom.
Buyer’s Guide
It is difficult to complete a list of good Class B RVs without having some criteria that the RVs need to meet.
This is because we have expectations about what our vehicles can do and if they don’t meet them, especially when we rely on them for safety and travel, then disaster can strike. As such, here are the criteria we measured each RV on this list against.
Durability
If you are traveling around the rural areas, a place where roads are not as well maintained and where weather and wildlife can be more extreme, your car needs to be able to handle the conditions.
If your RV falls apart during a mild storm, then you are in trouble. Making sure that your RV can handle these situations is a given, and it is something you need to look into before you go anywhere.
Interior
You want your RV to be comfortable on the inside and have all the features you need to make a good and stable home from home. It needs some necessities like bedding and a toilet, but having extra luxury items is also a good thing as well.
Having a bare-bones RV is all well and good, until it starts to affect your health and sleep, so keep in mind the things you need to feel comfortable before purchasing.
Exterior
While the exterior of an RV is less important than the interior, it still matters, especially with Class B RVs. This is because no matter what Class B you buy, the interior space will be limited, and so many people want to expand to enjoy the outside space.
If there is nothing to help you do that, then it is a bit difficult to use the wild places to their fullest and, as such, not making your trip memorable.
Size
This is not something that many people consider essential, as the size of the van is just that: its size. However, the size matters for two reasons: 1) more space on the interior, and 2) ease of driving.
The more space that is available, the more comfortable the interior of the van will be, as there will be more room to use for more equipment. If a van is massive, then driving it will be an issue and making sharp turns or finding your way out of difficult places will be a problem.
Conclusion
There are all sorts of amazing Class B RVs from which people can choose, even more than have appeared on this list. The focus of making recreational vehicles smaller and more compact is giving rise to more people deciding them over standard larger motor homes.
They are easier to get around in, as comfortable as a motor home, and can be parked anywhere, not just on a campsite. If you are looking for a new Class B RV, go to the websites on the list. You may find more than you thought was available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Class B Worth It?
I would say: yes, it is absolutely worth it. They are much easier to use and maneuver than standard motor homes, and they cut out a lot of the things that take up too much power.
In fact, most Class B RVs are as good as standard motor homes, if not better. If you don’t believe me, see if you can take a rented one for a whirl!
What Does Class B Mean?
Class B is just a term for a camper van, which are the smallest of the motor homes. They are basically a large work van that has been converted to a camper van or has been made with the camper van idea in mind.
Class A motorhomes are the biggest and most luxurious, and Class C ones are hybrids between Class A and Class B.
Through this blog, I want to share all of my hints and tips, along with reviews of the best RVing accessories. I hope this blog will help others with their RV trips, and make traveling easier for you.
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