RVs r recreational vehicles are typically used in reference to any type of enclosed equipment used both as a temporary traveling or fulltime home as well as a vehicle. This term is used primarily in the United States, as in British English terms used in place of recreational vehicle include caravan, camper van or motorhome. In Australia the term sport utility vehicle is often used to describe recreational vehicles.

Among recreational vehicles are the subsets of truck campers, camping trailers, travel trailers, hybrid trailers, toy haulers, motorhomes, and toterhomes.

Truck campers or camper shells are separate units that are attached to the top of the bed portion of a pick-up truck to provide enclosed area for passengers or to use as living quarters when the pick-up is stopped.

Folding campers or folding camper trailers are units whose sides are collapsible. This makes them suitable for traveling. These types of recreational vehicles unfold to several times the volume of their collapsed traveling proportions.

A toy hauler is a type of fifth wheel trailer typically, where there is a living quarters and a portion for storing smaller vehicles and other things, such as motorcycles or barbeque grills and the like.

A motorhome, commonly referred to by the brand name Winnebago is typically a standalone recreational vehicle with its own locomotion and steering parts. The driver is enclosed within the motorhome with the passengers in typical motor home designs.

A toterhome is a less common term used to indicate a motor home that is built around a semi truck chassis, like that of a freightliner. These kinds of motor homes are the most powerful and allow users to tow large loads as well as carry very large living quarters themselves.