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RV transport, also called RV shipping or RV delivery, covers every move where the RV travels without its owner behind the wheel: a fifth wheel bought three states away, a motorhome headed to a new home base, a show unit going back to the dealer lot. As part of its <a href="https://www.rpmmoves.com/shippers/vehicles">vehicle logistics services</a>, <strong>RPM Logistics</strong> matches the unit to the right method and a vetted driver, documents its condition at both ends, and quotes it within one business day.
Buying at the Fall Detroit RV & Camping Show?
The 37th Fall Detroit RV & Camping Show runs September 30 to October 4, 2026 at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave, Novi, Michigan. Eleven Michigan dealers show folding campers, travel trailers, toy haulers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes priced from under $12,000 to more than $500,000.
If you buy at the show and live outside the selling dealer's delivery area, or you would rather not tow a new fifth wheel home on your first trip, RPM can move it for you. RPM is headquartered in Birmingham, Michigan, a short drive from Novi.
RPM Logistics is an independent transport provider and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the Fall Detroit RV & Camping Show, its organizer, the venue, or any exhibiting dealer. Event details are referenced for identification only.
How RV shipping works: three transport methods
RV shipping uses one of three methods, chosen by whether the unit is towable or motorized and how big it is. The method is matched to the unit at quote time, not picked by price alone.
01
Towaway
A driver tows the unit with a properly rated truck and hitch, one unit per trip. Best for: Travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers.
02
Driveaway
A screened driver drives the motorhome to its destination on its own chassis. Best for: Class A, B, and C motorhomes of every size.
03
Trailer haul
The camper is loaded onto a trailer and secured. Best for: Folding and pop-up campers.
Towaway, driveaway, or trailer haul: how they compare
| Towaway | Driveaway | Trailer haul | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RV types | Travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers | Class A, B, C motorhomes | Folding and pop-up campers |
| Miles on the unit | Tire and bearing miles, no engine miles | Engine and odometer miles | None |
| Must be road-ready | Yes: tires, brakes, lights | Yes: runs, registered, road-legal | No |
| What sets the truck | GVWR, hitch type, pin or tongue weight | The motorhome's weight, which sets the driver's license class | Length, height, and weight on the deck |
RV types we transport
Every RV type ships a little differently. Size, weight, and hitch decide the method, the truck, and the driver.
Class A motorhomes are the largest RVs, built on a bus or heavy truck chassis. They move by driveaway, with a screened professional driver licensed for the coach's weight at the wheel (here's how driveaway transport works). Tell us the height, whether you tow a car behind it, and whether slides and leveling jacks retract fully. Tall or wide units can need route planning around low clearances and permit rules. If the car you tow behind the coach needs to move too, it can ship separately by enclosed vehicle transport.
Class B camper vans and Class C cab-over motorhomes are smaller and ride on van or truck chassis. They move by driveaway, the same as a Class A. Mention any roof racks, solar panels, or bike carriers, since they change the loaded height.
Travel trailers are bumper-pull towables that attach to a ball hitch. They move by towaway, one unit per truck. Give us the GVWR from the sticker and the overall length including the tongue, and confirm the tires and brakes are road-ready.
Fifth wheels couple to a hitch in a pickup bed, which puts part of the trailer's weight over the truck's rear axle. The two numbers that matter are GVWR and pin weight. Weight also decides licensing. Under federal rules, towing a unit rated over 10,000 pounds in a combination of 26,001 pounds or more requires a Class A CDL (FMCSA). Your GVWR is how we match a truck and a properly licensed driver.
Toy haulers come in both fifth-wheel and bumper-pull styles, with a rear ramp door and a garage for bikes or ATVs. They move by towaway. The garage should be empty for transport, and the ramp door latched and secured.
Folding campers are light and low, so they are loaded onto a trailer and secured. Close and latch the camper fully before pickup, and note any canvas tears on the condition report.
What we need for an accurate RV quote
An accurate RV transport quote starts with the unit's size, weight, and hitch. These details decide which truck and driver can legally take the load.
Shipping an RV you just bought
Shipping an RV after a purchase goes smoother when the details are settled at signing, not the week of pickup. The checklist differs a little for dealers and private sellers.
- Pre-delivery inspection. Do the dealer walk-through before pickup, not after delivery. Problems found in your driveway are harder to resolve.
- Release contact. Get a name and phone number at the dealership for the driver.
- Title and tags. Confirm who holds the title during transit and whether temporary tags travel with the unit.
- Paperwork first. Have the signed title and bill of sale in hand before pickup is scheduled.
- Seller availability. Someone has to be on site to release the unit and sign the condition report.
- Condition, in writing. Ask the seller about tires, brakes, lights, and registration. The unit has to be road-ready to move.
Either way, know what the unit is worth for coverage purposes. J.D. Power RV values are the common reference for used units.
RV transport for dealers and manufacturers
RV transport for dealers, sometimes called dealer RV hauling, covers inventory moves between lots, dealer trades, show-unit returns, and factory-to-lot delivery. Every new unit has to get from the factory to a dealer: wholesale RV shipments totaled 342,200 units in 2025 (RV Industry Association, 2026), and the Summer 2026 forecast puts this year's median at 314,000 units (RV Industry Association, August 2026).
Dealers can read how RPM runs larger programs in driveaway program design for multi-site fleets.
How to prepare an RV for transport
Preparing an RV for transport takes about an hour and prevents most in-transit damage.
How RV carriers and drivers are vetted
Every RV move is assigned to a carrier whose operating authority and insurance are confirmed before dispatch. You can check any carrier's authority yourself on FMCSA's Company Snapshot.
What affects RV transport cost
RV transport cost is set by distance, unit size, method, and timing. The same fifth wheel can price very differently in May and in November.
