In this article, I’m going to discuss the Class B Plus RV. And how they compare to other types of RVs.

You know, some people say that the B Plus RV is the perfect RV. But is that true?

Well, we’ll see about that. But first, let’s identify what a Class B Plus RV really is.

Table of Contents

• What Is A Class B Plus RV?
• What Makes An RV A Class B?
• What Makes An RV A Class C?
• Comparing B vs B Plus
• Comparing C vs B Plus
• B Plus Pros vs Class B Vans
• B Plus Cons vs Class B Vans
• B Plus Pros vs Class C RVs
• B Plus Cons vs Class C RVs
• Conclusion

What Is A Class B Plus RV?

And you know the truth is that it’s kind of hard to say for sure what a B Plus RV is.

That’s because it’s more or less just a marketing term. One that tries to explain an RV category that’s a little bit different from other types of RVs.

And there’s lots of conflicting opinions out there about what identifies a B Plus RV too.

In fact, there is only one thing that everybody seems to agree on.

And that is that it is an RV that falls somewhere between the Class B and Class C categories.

So what hapens when you have the term “Class B” already used as a category? And you have “Class C” already taken up too?

Well, there just aren’t any letters in between to use. So they call this in-between category the “B Plus”.

And I suppose that’s better than calling it a “C Minus”, right?

Well, let me explain my personal opinion about the definition of a B Plus RV.

Listen to my podcast about Class B Plus RVs here

What Makes An RV A Class B?

And to do that, let’s start with what a Class B RV is. Now it’s pretty easy to categorize them because they are hard-sided vans.

In fact, they look just like almost any other passenger van that you’re going to see out there.

Except that there’s going to be things on the outside that identifies it as an RV.

And because the walls are hard-sided, then their width and length is pretty well set.

Also, you don’t usually find slides in a Class B RV either.

But now let’s talk about a Class C RV, and what identifies that category as well.

What Makes An RV A Class C?

First of all, it’s usually built on a heavy duty commercial chassis. Very often a chassis like the Ford E350 and E450 chassis.

And that means they can handle a lot more weight. So Class Cs are typically bigger and longer than Class B RVs.

They also are very easily recognized by the overhead sleeping area above the chassis cab.

And it’s very common to see them with 1 – 3 slides in the floorplan too.

Comparing B vs B Plus

So what is the Class B Plus RV category then? Well in my opinion, a Class B Plus is built on a van chassis, but it’s not a hard sided van.

Instead, the RV manufacturer buys the van cab and frame and then builds the RV on top of it.

So it can be wider than a Class B RV. That’s because the manufacturer is not restricted by the hard sidewalls of a van.

And they sometimes extend the length of the RV as well. In addition, they very often put slideout rooms in the B Plus too.

Comparing C vs B Plus

But now, let’s compare the B Plus to the Class C RV. And the bottom line is it’s not as big or as heavy duty as the typical Class C.

In fact, a Class B Plus RV generally will usually weigh somewhere around 6 – 11 thousand pounds fully loaded.

But the typical Class C starts somewhere around 12 thousand, and can go up to 20 thousand pounds.

So clearly, there’s a huge weight difference between these two kinds of RVs.

Now a lot of people get hung up on whether an RV has a sleeping area that comes out over the cab or not.

And they feel that having a cab-over is what always identifies a Class C RV.

But I don’t subscribe to that viewpoint. Because I don’t think something like that should identify a whole type or category of RVs.

In my opinion, it’s the size and the weight that makes the real difference between the Class B, Class B Plus, and Class C categories.

At least, that’s the definition that makes the most sense to me anyway.

Now of course, because it’s just my opinion on the subject, if you disagree with it, that’s fine.

Because there’s honestly no universally accepted and clear-cut definition to go with anyhow.

But what I have explained here seems to make the most sense to me at this point.

So now let’s start talking about the pros and cons of a Class B Plus. Especially as to how they compare to a Class B or a Class C RV.

First of all, let’s start with the pros of a Class B Plus over a Class B RV.

B Plus Pros vs Class B Vans

And the first pro is that there’s going to be more room in the Class B Plus RV.

That’s because the manufacturer can put their own RV “house” on the van chassis.

So that means it can be wider and even longer than the typical Class B RV.

But here’s a really good point for all of you tall folks. If you’ve ever been in a Class B van, you probably know how difficult headroom is for taller people.

Yes, generally you’re going to be stooping over as you’re going down the middle of the van.

Well in a B Plus, that’s pretty much usually solved as the RV builder can create more headroom in the “house” part of the RV.

Also, there’s typically more cargo storage in a B Plus too. Not a lot more, but definitely more than the usual Class B van.

And generally speaking, they often put more amenities in a B Plus RV as well. That’s because they have more room to work with.

You also get larger storage tanks, like your fresh water and waste water tanks. Once again, they’re not huge tanks. But better than you get in a Class B van.

But here’s the big difference. Here’s the thing that everybody loves about the B Plus RV.

And that is that you get a full bathroom in the B Plus. For many that’s huge!

Because if you’ve been in a Class B van, there is often nothing more than a wet bath in there.

Which means that the shower, toilet and sink are all in one small, cramped area.

So it’s really nice to have a full bathroom in the B Plus instead.

B Plus Cons vs Class B Vans

Now what are the cons when you compare the B Plus to the Class B?

Well there’s often a little bit lower fuel mileage. It’s not a lot lower, but it is a bigger and more heavy type of vehicle. So there’s a little lower fuel mileage.

Also, it’s not as easy to drive and park as a Class B RV tends to be. What I mean is a Class B RV can go almost anywhere.

And you can park it in almost any parking space. In fact, you can even stealth camp on a street in a Class B van. And almost nobody will know that you’re in an RV.

B Plus Pros vs Class C RVs

But now let’s talk about the pros of the B Plus over the Class C RV.

And for many, it’s the size of the RV. That’s because it’s smaller and more nimble. It’s easier to get around in than the Class C RV.

And that means it’s going to be easier to park and also easier to drive.

Also, you’re going to usually get better fuel mileage in the B Plus than you do in a Class C that is carrying a lot more weight.

And here’s a big pro to consider. You don’t have to take a towed vehicle with you on your travels for an around-town vehicle.

That’s because the Class B Plus RV is smaller and more nimble than a Class C.

So you can fit into a lot of parking spaces when you go downtown or shopping with it. And you can move around in traffic easily with it too.

So that means that a towed vehicle is not totally necessary with a Class B Plus RV. Although some do still tow another vehicle anyway.

And if you can get by without having a towed vehicle along, you can save on the cost, insurance, and repairs that another vehicle brings.

B Plus Cons vs Class C RVs

Now what are the cons of the B Plus when you compare it to a Class C RV?

Well number one, it doesn’t sleep as many people. And that’s because it’s not as big as the typical Class C RV.

Class Cs are really made mainly for RVing families. And so very often you can sleep 8 to 10 people in a Class C RV.

Well Class B Plus RVs usually are really only designed for two to four people at the most.

And that means that there is also more living area in the Class C too.

That’s because the Class C is usually bigger than the B Plus RV. And built on a bigger and more heavy-duty frame.

But you’re also going to have another step up in storage from the B Plus to the Class C too. That again is due to the heavier weight that Class Cs can carry.

And actually, in many cases you’re going to be able to buy a Class C RV for less money than you spend on a Class B Plus too.

In fact, the B Plus and the Class B van are some of the most expensive RVs per square foot that you can buy.

So that’s something that certainly comes into play for many people too.

Conclusion

All right now, having covered all these pros and cons, can we say that the B Plus is the perfect RV?

Well my friends, there is no such thing as the perfect RV that fits everybody. It just doesn’t exist.

However, it can be the best RV choice for you and your needs. And that’s something that you need to try to determine.

But I will say this about Class B Plus RVs. It can be a great choice for couples that like to travel a lot. And couples that get along well together.

And that’s a really important consideration. Because when you’re in a space that small, you had better be able to get along really well with the other person with you.

Also, if you don’t want the large footprint of a Class C or a Class A RV, then a B Plus may fit your needs really well.

Or maybe you like to do a lot of boondocking. Maybe you like to get into national parks and their smaller campsites easily.

Or maybe you don’t want to take a towed vehicle with you on your travels.

Well then, a Class B Plus RV is going to fit those needs very well.

So I hope you understand Class B Plus RVs a little bit better after reading this article.

And hopefully now you can decide whether it really is the perfect RV for the way that you like to travel and camp or not.

Have safe and happy travels!