If you have a pretty sizeable family, you’re not looking for an economy car hatchback with a sleeper tent. You need size. You need space, and Class A motorhomes for large families happen to check all the boxes.
However, not all Class A motorhomes are created equally. Some have that knack for checking all the boxes and then running off the bottom of the page with more boxes.
If you’re looking for the best for your larger-than-life family, we have five Class A motorhomes for large families that should be on your radar.
What is a Class A Motorhome?
Class A motorhomes are the beasts of the various classes—easily the largest motorhomes. They’re large and built with the same chassis and framework as Class B CDL school buses and commercial trucks.
In other words, they’re built to last. Their lengths typically range from 25’ to 45’, up to 13’ in height, and 8.5’ in width. They dominate the road and can handle between 2 and 11 people. There’s potential for more if you’re having small get-togethers and parties.
5 Best Class A Motorhomes for Large Families
1. Winnebago Adventurer 35F – Best Class A RV for Family of 4
Our Pros and Cons:
✅The 35th Anniversary Edition comes with 2 amazing floorplans to fit almost any family.
⛔The gas mileage isn’t great, but it’s a Class A—you knew that.
- Engine: Ford 7.3L V8 Triton Gas
- Length: 35.5 ft.
- Tow Capacity: 5,000 lbs.
- Chassis: Ford F-53
- GVWR: 22,000 lbs.
- Sleep: 2-5
Of course, there’s no such thing as a Class A motorhome list without a Winnebago, and this one is the longest-running series in Winnebago’s gigantic lineup.
The Winnebago Adventurer 35F is loaded with amenities. The boondocking soul in you will love the 5,500-watt Cummins Gas Generator, 2 to 4 deep cycle batteries, and the automatic leveling jacks. The interior comes with an HD TV, which includes a satellite system.
The HVAC includes a front and back A/C unit that’s 15,000 BTUs and 13,500 BTUs, respectively. That’s more than enough cooling power for an extensive galley that comes with every amenity you would expect from a premium gas motorhome celebrating its 35th year in production.
2. Jayco Precept 36A – Best Class A Motorhome for Family of 5
Our Pros and Cons:
✅ Large families will enjoy the 2 full bathrooms and twin bunk beds!
⛔With a large family, you may choose to keep the storage space over the washer and dryer.
- Engine: Ford 7.3L V8 Triton Gas
- Length: 38.8 ft.
- Tow Capacity: 5,000 lbs.
- Chassis: Ford F-53
- GVWR: 24,000 lbs.
- Sleep: 4-10
The second gasoline-powered Class A motorhome on our list, the Jayco Precept 36A has all of Jayco’s best amenities thrown into it. Features include the JRide Plus handling and stability system and the JayCommand motorhome smartphone control.
The latter is a feature that turns your Jayco ride into a smart home on wheels, with many of the motorhome’s features controllable from your smartphone. This is also a very spacious RV with incredible storage space.
It also includes two full bathrooms. From the moment you step inside, you can tell that Jayco placed a premium on a roomy, spacious interior. It sleeps 10, which includes bunk beds to help maintain space while providing a compact sleeping arrangement.
3. Thor Palazzo 37.6 – Best Class A Motorhome for a Family of 6
Our Pros and Cons:
✅ Has a very spacious interior with sleeping for 10!
⛔ Bunk beds are nice but don’t flip up.
- Engine: Cummins ISB 6.7L I6 Diesel
- Length: 38.11 ft.
- Tow Capacity: 10,000 lbs.
- Chassis: Freightliner XCS RED
- (RED= Rear Engine Diesel)
- GVWR: 32,000 lbs.
- Sleep: 2-10
One of Thor’s largest entry-level diesel is also a great Class A motorhome for large families. The Palazzo 37.6 can sleep up to 10 and is one of the best-selling diesel pushers on the market. The 37.6 is incredibly spacey, with cabinetry space that nearly matches what you find in a house.
Two full bathrooms are always nice, but the rear bathroom, adjacent to the master bed, is probably the most worth-talking-about part of the entire package. It’s huge, and that’s saying something for a sub-40’ motorhome.
The mid-entry door may take a bit of getting used to, but once you’re inside, you’ll quickly forget about it. The only tight space is the section between the bunk beds and midship bathroom, yet Thor still made it a comfortable passageway. Other than that, the interior is very spacious.
4. Fleetwood Bounder 36F – Best Class A RV with Bunk Beds
Our Pros and Cons:
✅ This Bounder lives up to its legacy with all the features needed for large families!
⛔ The over-cab dropdown bunk is an optional feature.
- Engine: Ford 7.3L V8 Triton Gas
- Length: 38.9 ft.
- Tow Capacity: 8,000 lbs.
- Chassis: Ford Power Platform
- GVWR: 26,000 lbs.
- Sleep: 2-10 (w/opt cab loft)
When you have a brand and model that has lasted for decades, it’s because you have something special. Fleetwood was founded with the Pace Arrow in 1969, but when a journalist named their latest creation in 1985 the “Bounder,” it’s lived up to that name and then some.
The Bounder 36F is a Class A motorhome for large families with room and features for everyone. Not only is there sleeping for everybody, but the twin bunks also convert to a game console center during the day to blast aliens or use for homeschooling.
You’ll have plenty of beds for the kids; a true convenience is an ability to toss them wherever at bedtime. The 36F offers an optional cabin bunk that holds up to 650 lbs if you need that extra bunk. It also includes a residential fridge and incredible gear storage.
Best Overall Class A Motorhome for a Large Family
5. Forest River Georgetown 36K7 – Best Overall Class A Motorhome for a Large Family
Our Pros and Cons:
✅ The counter space in the kitchen and bathrooms is amazing!
⛔ There’s a door war between the first bathroom and the bunk bed doors
- Engine: Ford 7.3L V8 Triton Gas
- Length: 40 ft.
- Tow Capacity: 5,000 lbs.
- Chassis: Ford F-53
- GVWR: 24,000 lbs.
- Sleep: 4-10 (w/opt cab loft)
The Forest River Georgetown 36K7 somehow included all the premium features in the dining, entertainment, and galley areas while maintaining enough room for bunk beds. Not only that, the headspace between the bottom and top bunks is the best in this class.
Counterspace is excellent, with plenty of windows throughout the motorhome, including around the headboard of the king-size master bed. Storage space is plentiful all the way up to the pantry cabinets right behind the driver’s seat in the cockpit.
Sleeping arrangements include the master, bunks, dropdown cabin bunk, and a convertible sofa bed. There’s plenty of room for the whole party to crash, not including the recliners. The double-door residential-size refrigerator has a massive freezer, and the galley has all the amenities you expect.
Are Motorhomes or Travel Trailers Better for Large Families?
Motorhomes, especially Class A motorhomes, are better for larger families because you can’t beat the space. Unfortunately, not everybody can drop a ton of money on a Class A motorhome.
It’s possible to find similar size travel trailers for a lot less, like the Alpha Wolf 33BH-L, for around $65k.
Who Makes the Highest Quality Class A Motorhome?
Determining who makes the highest quality Class A motorhome; that’s a hard one. Everyone has their favorite, after all. Even during the backlog days, drivable RVs, including Class A motorhomes for large families, didn’t waiver on quality.
Is a Class A Motorhome Best for Families Full-Time Living?
Class A motorhomes for full-time families exist, and many are on the road. It all depends on what type of RV fits the full-time family best. Subscribe to get your FREE copy of RV Camping Magazine. Each month we feature RV Influencers from all stages of life, including full-time families. Learn how they do it.
Which Class A Motorhome Brand is Most Reliable?
Many hold this trophy, but problem is, there isn’t a scientific, mechanic breakdown on which Class A motorhome brand is the most reliable. You get a lot of opinions, and it’s always a good idea heavily research before dropping that kind of money.
7 Things To Consider in a Motorhome for a Large Family
It’s never easy making huge financial decisions. Today’s economy is almost like playing the cryptocurrency market. It’s an up-and-down rollercoaster ride. When you have a large family, those decisions become more difficult.
1. Number of Beds
The number of beds is one of the more obvious factors to consider. However, remember that kids 10 and under could almost care less where they sleep. Huddling together on the converted dinette could be perfectly fine with them (assuming mom and dad are okay with it).
2. Number of Bathrooms
There’s nothing worse than needing to go right now, and both bathrooms are locked up for the foreseeable future. Class A motorhomes are not limitless in terms of bathroom space. A bath and a half or two full bathrooms should be your goal if you have a large family.
Also, today’s campground bathhouses are much better than they used to be.
3. Separate Quarters
Have moody teenagers? They need their privacy almost as much as you need oxygen. Sliding curtains over bunk beds that effectively separate rooms is necessary. If the motorhome doesn’t come with bunk bed curtains, it’s an easy DIY project.
4. Room to Stretch Out
There’s a fine line between space and accommodation. If you have a large family, you need breathing room and enough beds for everyone. Some Class A motorhomes get pretty ingenuous regarding this very thing.
5. Extra Amenities
Don’t just look at a single floorplan. It’s really easy to get caught up looking at a motorhome on a website and not realize there are 7 different packages. Go over all of the packages thoroughly. You’re spending the money, so ensure you’re getting what you pay for.
6. Ability to Do Laundry
Nobody thinks about this one until the washer or dryer goes out unexpectedly. It’s the same in a motorhome, especially if you have a large family and teenagers who go through clothes as quickly as they do mood swings.
7. Your Budget
Not everybody can afford a Class A Motorhome, and there’s nothing wrong with that. If a new one isn’t feasible, there are many used Class A motorhomes for large families with plenty of life left in them. You can also look at new or used travel trailers as other options.
Is it Worth Buying a Class A Motorhome for Your Large Family?
Class A motorhomes for large families are worth every penny. In terms of having an absolute blast? It’s more than worth it. These things were designed with fantastic fun and luxury in mind. The best part is there are so many different brands and models.
There are budget-friendly options, huge options, smaller and more luxurious options, and high-tech options. There is probably something out there to fit just about any personality and sense of style.
Class A motorhomes are about as big as you can get in the drivable motorhome market—large enough that you can comfortably live out of one if you choose to do so. If you have a large family and love the camping and RV life, you can’t do better than a Class A motorhome for large families.
About the Author:
Thomas Godwin is a full-time freelance writer with a BFA in Creative Writing, a U.S. Marine, and an avid outdoorsman.
When he’s not writing, he’s raising chickens and Appleyard ducks. Thomas also constructs teardrop campers (attempting to anyway) and kayaks the Blackwater River with his wife, two daughters, and his Dobermans.
