How many passengers can ride in an RV?

In this article, we will discuss: How many passengers can ride in an RV? We will explain why considering the number of passengers in an RV is extremely important, and explain the regulations regarding wearing a seatbelt in the motorhome.

How many passengers can ride in an RV?

The number of passengers that can ride and sleep in an RV are approved and are always indicated by the vehicle manufacturer. The number will also depend on the size of the RV and the manufacturer company, but here are the average numbers:

RV Size	Number of passengers
Class A RVs (30-50 feet)	12 or more adults
Class B RVs (10-20 feet)	4 to 5 adults
Class C RVs (20-30 feet)	7 to 8 adults

In any case, the number of passengers can exceed the number of seats in the vehicle since according to the highway code, all people must be seated and with the seat belt fastened while the motorhome is in motion.

It is important to respect this limitation for two reasons:

1.  The homologation indicates that the motorhome has passed a series of tests that guarantee its quality and safety, as long as this capacity is not exceeded.

2. The vehicle will only have seat belts for the places approved for travel, so if you exceed this number, you will automatically be incurring a traffic violation, in accordance with the Traffic Regulations.

If you decide to buy an RV, one of the most important aspects that you should take into account is the number of places. There are multiple options on the market but the main thing is to identify how many homologated seats you have and their distribution. There are models that have several seating spaces, but not all seats have to be approved. To circulate it is mandatory that each seat has a seat belt.

Each type of vehicle usually has a certain number of seats, although it may vary depending on the make and model. Although camper van-type vehicles usually have two twin beds or one double bed, they also have four seats distributed in two double beds.

How do passengers travel in an RV?

It is mandatory that each passenger travelling in an RV is wearing a seatbelt all the time. There are very few things one can do while the vehicle is moving and the driver must ensure that his passengers are safe all the time.

Here is what it is allowed to do while the motorhome is on the move:

• You can use an RV bathroom (toilet facilities);
• You can sleep, read, play on your phone, take pictures – as long as you are seated and have your seatbelt on. 
• You can watch TV if it is not in the view of the driver.

While the RV is in motion, you cannot:

• Move freely around the cabin;
• Take a shower;
• Cook, drink alcohol or eat at the table (unless you are seated with a seatbelt on!);
• Sleep in a bed.

It is very important to secure free objects in the vehicle, to prevent them from turning into projectiles in the event of an accident.

It is prohibited to drive a road vehicle if a passenger, animal or object interferes with your field of vision or interferes with your driving.

If you have a pet in the RV, please make sure that you:

• Secure it with a harness.
• Install a safety net or barrier.
• Use a carrier, which you can secure with a seat belt.

Why all RV passengers must have a seatbelt

To understand why the seat belt is so important, we simply need to talk a bit about physics, specifically, inertia. 

Inertia is the tendency of a body to keep moving until some force exerts action on it.

In terms of travelling by RV, think of it this way: if the RV is going 75 mph everything inside the car also goes 75mph. Then, in an accident, where the vehicle stops unexpectedly, everything that was inside it keeps moving at that speed until it encounters an action.

If you are not wearing a belt, you are the body travelling at 75mph until action is exerted against you. That something, usually, is the dashboard of the car or the windshield, and in the second case, it is not enough to stop you. The belt, especially the three-point belt, uses physics to slow down our body in its most rigid parts.

In this way, although we may not escape unscathed, the belt does drastically reduce the damage to which we are exposed.

What is the best size motorhome to buy?

The best size motorhome to buy will depend on your needs and expectations: How many people are going to travel with the RV? Are you going to use it often enough or just for a few weeks/year? How much space do you actually need and what can you sacrifice? 

The RV measurements can affect you on a day-to-day basis, so it is very important to know exactly the length of the vehicle because when passing through certain narrow places, tunnels or tolls, we will have to be safe to avoid unwanted accidents.

It is also essential to know the dimensions when parking on public roads since the motorhome must be correctly parked without invading more space than it should or could penalize us. As is logical, a smaller vehicle will allow us to manoeuvre and circulate more comfortably in confined spaces.

 Recreational vehicles are divided into three basic categories:

1. Motorized RVs: An RV built on or as an integral part of a self-propelled vehicle chassis, combining the vehicle and living quarters into one unit.

• Class A Motorhomes – The largest of the motorized RVs. It is a luxurious motorhome built entirely on a simple chassis designed specifically for this type of vehicle.
• Class B Motorhomes (Camper Van) – This motorhome is commonly referred to as a camper van. This unit is built from a regular van with a high roof added.

• Class C Motorhomes – This motorhome is often referred to as a mini-motorhome. It is a unit built from a motor vehicle chassis with a van cab.

2. Towable RVs: RV designed to be towed by a motor vehicle (car, van or van) and whose size and weight do not require a special driver’s license. Conventional RVs do not require a permanent connection for the sites.

• Classic Caravan – Often referred to as a Conventional Classic Caravan, this unit is designed to be towed by a car, van or pickup truck by means of an equalizer hitch triangle.

• Fifth-wheel trailer – A two-level unit designed to be attached and towed by a pickup truck equipped with a special fifth-wheel hitch installed on the frame.

• Tent Caravan – A lightweight unit with the sides folded down for towing and storage. It is also called a folding caravan or tent trailer.

1. Detachable Motorhomes – These small recreational vehicles are usually loaded or secured to the platform or chassis of a pickup truck.

• Recreational Sport Utility Vehicle – This unit is known in the industry as a “speciality trailer”. This is a classic trailer or fifth-wheel trailer with temporary living quarters located in the front section, and the rear compartment is designed to store your ATVs, motorcycles and other sports vehicles.

• Classic Hybrid Trailer – Known in the industry as a “Hybrid Trailer”, this unit is a conventional classic trailer with folding ends.

• Park trailer: Park trailers come in two different models: the 8 foot wide one, which is built like an RV and therefore must comply with CSA Z-240, or the 10 to 16 foot wide one, which is designed for seasonal use, generally at a single location.

Which one do you think would suit you best?

Conclusions

The recreational vehicle includes a structure designed for temporary accommodation for the purpose of travelling, vacationing, or recreational use, and may be driven, pulled, parked or transported. 

Accommodation may include sleeping area, kitchen, bathroom, and fresh water and wastewater piping systems, 110 A / 12 V power supply, propane gas, heating, air conditioning and entertainment system.

Before buying an RV, it is important to define its purpose and know how many people may (potentially) travel with it. This will help you make the best decision and choose an RV size that will suit you best!

FAQ on How many passengers can ride in an RV?

Are seat belts mandatory in motorhomes?

Seat belts are only compulsory for the forward-facing seats and not for the side benches, which is why there are none. In the event of an impact, you are not thrown forward but tilted sideways against the backrest of the passenger seat.

How to install a child seat in a motorhome?

In a motorhome, children or adults passengers are transported as in a car. In other words, everyone has a seat and attaches, either in the restraint device adapted to their morphology, for the youngest or by buckling the belt alone, for the older ones (never before 1.35 m

How to put on seat belts in a motorhome?

To put on seat belts in a motorhome, pull the belt around you and hook it up. The wider it is, the more we try to structure it with a wide belt. You can either hang it in a classic way or tie it around the waist, like a ribbon.

References

• Things You Need To Know About RV Seat Belt Laws – RVshare
• What You Can and Can’t Do While Driving an RV – Cruise America
• Standards & Regulations | RVIA