In North America the term recreational vehicle and its derived acronym, RV, are generally used to refer to an enclosed piece of equipment dually used as both a vehicle, a temporary travel home or a full time home. In other parts of the world, particularly Australia, the term may be used to refer to a sport utility vehicle, also known as an SUV. This article discusses the North American usage.

RVs are intended for everything from brief leisure activities such as vacations and camping, to full time living. RVs can be rented in major U.S. and Canadian cities.

There are different classes of vehicles generally labelled as RVs:

• Truck Camper - unit is affixed to the bed or chassis of a pickup truck.
• Folding Camping Trailer - also known as a pop-up, is a light-weight unit with sides that collapse for towing and storage. Suitable for towing by many vehicles.
• Travel Trailer - unit with rigid sides designed to be towed by some larger vehicles with a bumper or frame hitch
• Hybrid Trailer - a blend between a travel trailer and a folding (tent) trailer. One type has rigid sides and pull-out tent sections (usually beds) while another type's top section of walls and its roof can be lowered over its bottom section to reduce its height for towing.
• Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer - designed to be towed by a pickup or medium duty truck equipped with a special hitch in the truck bed
• Toy Hauler - a motor home, 5th wheel or travel trailer, it is designed to be part living space, and part garage for storing things such as motorcycles and ATV's.
• Park Model - designed for occasional relocation and will require a special tow vehicle and a highway movement permit
• Motorhome ("Winnebago", a product of Winnebago Industries that dominated the market for many years, was long a synonym for a motorhome, but this usage has faded in recent years.)

Class A Motorcoach - constructed on either a commercial truck chassis, a specially designed motor vehicle chassis, or a commercial bus chassis. Sizes run from 26 to 45 feet.

Class B Campervan - built using a conventional van, to which either a raised roof has been added or had the back replaced by a low-profile body (compared to a Class C). Sizes run from 19 feet to 24 feet.

Class C Motorhome - built on a truck chassis with an attached cab section, which is usually van based, but may also be pickup truck based or even large truck(freightliner) based. Size can vary from 17 feet to 34 feet.

• Toterhome This is not a common term but when used indicates a motorhome built around a semi truck chassis such as a freightliner. This type of motor home allows you to pull large and heavy trailers while having all the conveniences of a large motor home. Large motor homes not built on a semi truck chassis can also be capable of pulling heavy loads.

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