Before you decide to purchase an RV, there are many factors to take in consideration, such as the interior, furniture, engine, etc. However, another extremely important element that people may sometimes forget to take into account is the RV width dimensions.
The standard RV width varies between 6 to 8 feet. Still, the width of an RV can be changed by its characteristics, like whether it is a class A camper or a motorhome with slides out. No matter what additional gadgets are included, the average RV length and width shouldn’t be over 50 feet and 8.5 feet, respectively, based on states’ regulations.
If you are confused about a certain motorhome width and other specifications, this article can be your solution! In this post, we will cover all essential information related to camper width.
Other knowledge on motorhome height, length and width will be provided all about how wide are RVs throughout the text, so stay with us until the end.
Table of Contents
How Wide Can Your RV Legally? From the Smallest to the Widest RV
1. The average RV width
The average RV width fluctuates between 8’ and 8.5’, or 95 and 102 in inches. Other smaller and less compact recreational vehicles come with a standard size of 6’ or 7.5’ wide.
The above calculations do not include the extension of additional features, such as awnings, slides out, etc. If you use the gadgets simultaneously, the maximum width of your motorhome can reach 9 feet.
Similarly, the widest RV legally allowed to travel has a width of 9 feet without measuring other extra equipment. However, not all 9-feet wide motorhomes are permitted to commute. Depending on federal transportation regulations, the legal RV size limits differ from state to state.
2. Legal RV width by states
Traveling by RVs has been a popular activity among households, especially in vacation seasons. People commute within their cities, and many families also wander across the country, which makes it inevitable to travel to numerous states.
Because each state has its own laws about maximum RV dimensions, you may get in some trouble if your RV doesn’t meet the requirement. Hence, in this part, we will tell you how wide your motorhome can legally be in different states!
To start, states such as New York, Tennessee, Washington D.C, New Mexico, and Texas only allow RVs under 8 feet wide to travel within their regions. Meanwhile, motorhomes and travel trailers with a maximum width of 8 feet and 8 feet 6 inches, respectively are permitted to commute in the streets of Delaware.
On the other hand, the legally max width of an RV warranted in other states is 8 feet 6 inches. Still, if you have an oversize motorhome and none of these state regulations suits its width, Hawaii can be a wonderful location.
Hawaii is the only region with a 9 feet maximum width limitation. Massachusetts may also be another option because its rules allow for a maximum width of 9 feet for RVs but remain the standard width of 8’6′ for travel trailers.
3. Dimensions of each RV class
Thanks to the variety of RVs available in the market, the dimensions also vary by each of its type. There are three main classes of RV: Class A, Class B, and Class C with different lengths and widths.
First, class A RVs are usually 33 feet long and 12 to 13 feet tall. The average class A RV width is somewhere between 8.5’ and 9 feet, which exceeds the regulatory limits in several regions.
Class B motorhomes are the smallest type of RV. The standard class B RV width is around 8 feet, while its length is 20 feet and its height is 7 to 9 feet. These dimensions comply with all states’ regulations, so driving a class B motorhome does not require you to have any special license.
Class C RVs combine the features of Class A and Class B motorhomes. They are usually 28 feet in length, 8 feet 6 inches in width, and 10 feet in height. This is an excellent balance since it has the modest maneuverability of a class B RV while holding up to 8 passengers.
How to Measure RV Dimensions?
As we have mentioned above, due to the regulations of each state, knowing the sizes or dimensions of your RV is extremely important. It is essential for you to understand the techniques to measure your motorhome’s width, length, and height. In this part, we will provide the basic and overall instructions to measure RV dimensions.
Step 1: Find the widest/tallest spot of the RV
To assess the width of a motorhome, choose the widest part of your RV. However, this spot shouldn’t include the extension of slides out or awnings. You can measure the part where the slides out are opened later, as the legal width of the RV does not include those gadgets.
Step 2: Measure the selected spot
Once you have identified the widest place in your RV, you can start measuring the width of the motorhome. You should use a tape measure or other measuring tools available in your garage. Still, we suggest you measure it at least 3 times for the best results.
Step 3: Compare the results with RV’s manual books
Each RV has its own manual book, which contains information like the unit’s width, length, height, weight, etc. Even though these specifications may not be similar to your measurements, comparing them can give you an overview of your RV dimensions and help you calculate the average width, for instance.
If you want to know more about ways to measure RV height, check out this video:
What to Consider When Studying RV Width?
Methods in measuring RV width aren’t the only factors you need to study. Understanding the typical RV parking space dimensions is also a crucial factor to consider if you want to park your motorhome accurately and legally.
The dimensions of RV parking spots vary based on the parking lot and its location. Nevertheless, most RV park parking places are at least 20 feet wide and 40 feet long. A basic parking spot in a conventional parking lot is 9 feet wide and 18 feet long.
Once again, we have to remind you it is important to select RV width that meets the state’s road restrictions. You don’t want to get into unwanted troubles frequently just because you purchase an oversize RV in this state and can only use it in another region.
Apart from the regulatory obligations, your taste is still vital. A class A camper van may be suitable if you want your motorhome to be a nice retreat and are ready to obtain a class B RV non-commercial license.
Alternatively, if you want something a bit smaller and simpler to drive on the road, a class B RV would be another option. In terms of sizes, class C motorhomes are top choices as they can enable flexibility while providing plenty of space for a bigger group of passengers.
Conclusion
How wide are RVs? The average RV width is between 8 and 8.5 feet. As an RV owner, you must understand the above knowledge about RV width and dimensions. Lack of information about your RV width, especially in relation to states’ road requirements, may cause you problems that you certainly want to avoid.
We hope that this post was helpful! Did you enjoy the article? Do you want to add anything else? Please let us know and leave a comment below.
Okay, so I’m Philip Lopez. I join Riverside Trailer as an editor, where I will be doing research for both content and reviews. I contribute to studies aimed at understanding the most typical problems encountered by RVers on the road. I also keep up with the newest RVing gadget innovations so that I can promptly evaluate and recommend the best options.