The right rig is the one your knees agree with.
Van, minivan, trailer, bus or big rig. How to choose, and why you should rent before you buy.
There is no official retirement vehicle.
The people in our showcase live in minivans, cargo vans, cargo trailers, a truck camper, a shuttle bus, a school bus, a vintage trailer and a fifth wheel the size of a small apartment.
Every one of them made a trade.
Space for freedom. Comfort for simplicity. A big kitchen for a better parking spot.
Your job is to choose the trade you can live with. Every day.
Things change as you get older so I have learned to adapt.Dee, Out Of The Box Van Dee
The knee-friendly checklist
Small vans are hard on knees. Leveling, dump tanks and high beds are part of daily life.
Before you fall in love with a floor plan, walk through it like it's a Tuesday in year three.
- Can you get into the bed without climbing?
- Can you get out of it at 3 a.m. without climbing?
- Can you stand up to cook? To dress?
- Who empties the tanks? Can you, alone?
- How many steps to get in the door?
- Is there a bathroom, or a plan for one?
- Can you reach the things you use every day without kneeling?
- Could you still drive it on a bad back day?
If the answer is "not really" more than twice, keep looking.
New or used?
Let's start with sticker shock.
Go RVing publishes average price ranges for new RVs:
| Rig type | New, average range |
|---|---|
| Class B (camper van) | $100,000 to $150,000 |
| Class C | $65,000 to $140,000 |
| Class A | $75,000 to $250,000 |
| Travel trailer | $20,000 to $35,000 |
| Fifth wheel | $40,000 to $65,000 |
| Truck camper | $20,000 to $40,000 |
Source: Go RVing, "Compare RVs," checked October 17, 2026. Averages for new units. Trailers and fifth wheels need a tow vehicle, which isn't included.
Yes, the little camper van can cost more than the big motorhome. Small and clever isn't cheap.
Used?
We don't have used prices we trust yet, so we won't guess.
What else we can tell you:
- In RVIA's 2025 owner study, 45% of RV owners paid cash.
- Several of the people in our showcase converted their own vans.
- Plenty changed rigs after a few years. Your first rig may not be your last.
Rent before you buy
The cheapest mistake is one you make over a long weekend.
Rent the kind of rig you're dreaming about. Then live in it.
Cook a real dinner. Sleep two nights in a row. Empty the tanks. Do it in the rain.
If you still love it on day four, that's your answer.
Turn our life upside down at 50 to join the Full Time Van Life? Sure!Snow & Curt