RV camping is fun and easy; many of the comforts of home can be taken along in the recreational vehicle and some people even call an RV home.
Camping is a fun activity, especially for those who love the outdoors. Many people grow up camping in tents with the family on summer vacations to lakes, parks, or other scenic spots. Although adults often have many fond memories of camping as children, many people tire of tent camping as they grew older. RVs, or recreational vehicles, have become a very popular way to camp in recent years. Retired baby boomers who want to travel, young families on vacations, workers who travel from job to job, and outdoor sports enthusiasts are just some of the categories of people who find RV camping attractive today. Let's look at some details of RV camping.
What is a recreational vehicle? Basically, an RV is a unit in which to camp, and the units range from very small to very large. There are two kinds of RVs- those that are towed by a truck or car, and those that have an engine and can be driven. As expected, the self-propelled RVs are more expensive and often larger than the towed kind. Within the two classes of RVs there are also many variations.
The smallest and least expensive RVs are pop-up and truck campers. Although the pop-ups now come with features such as air conditioning, they are very basic; they fold down into a small trailer and function much like tent camping. Truck campers are also very basic; they are shells that fit onto a truck bed. They are good for those who want more weather protection than tent camping alone allows. Both pop-ups and truck campers range from a few thousand dollars to more than $15,000 for new models.
Travel trailers and 5th wheel trailers are more expensive, ranging from under $10,000 to over $90,000 for new models, and they are harder to tow. Travel trailers have to be pulled by vehicles with hitches, and 5th wheels require special kinds of large hitches to be installed in the truck beds; they cannot be pulled with cars, SUVs, or vans and larger models require heavy-duty diesel trucks. These types of trailers are great for families who want to camp, as they can hold 6-8 people and have large beds and bathrooms and kitchens. Some have a part of the main room or bedroom that slides out, creating extra space while the RV is parked. When the RV is ready to be towed, the slide-out is pulled back in by pushing a button. 5th wheels have two levels, since the front of the trailer is raised to fit onto the special hitch; more expensive models often have features such as satellite TV, washer-dryers, built-in computer desks, and double refrigerator-freezers. Some 5th wheels are even configured with a large empty space at the back to hold motorcycles or other sports equipment. Many "full-timers or people who live in their RVs and have no other homes, choose 5th wheels since they can be disconnected when parked, allowing use of the trucks for other purposes.
Recreational vehicles that can be driven are known as motorhomes; they are classified as Class A, B, or C, depending on their features. Class B motorhomes are vans that have been turned into campers. The vans have bathrooms, small kitchens, and sleeping quarters, and they are easy to drive. They usually sleep no more than 4 people and resemble a normal van with a bumped-out top. Class Bs are good for those who want to travel a lot but don't want to stay at hotels; they can be parked in RV parks and connected to water, electricity and sewer for overnight stays.
Class C motorhomes are larger than vans; they have a section that rides over the cab of the vehicle that usually contains a bed or entertainment center. They are often called "mini-motorhomes" and some popular brands include Winnebago's Minnie Winnie and Fleetwood's Tioga. These motorhomes are easy to drive and slide-outs make the inside roomy. Their price range is about the same as the 5th wheels.
Class A motorhomes are much larger and more luxurious than Class B or C recreational vehicles. Class As are divided into two kinds- gas powered and diesel pushers. The powerful diesel engines are more durable and generally last longer than the gas engines. Both types have slide-outs, sometimes 2 or 3, and can come with deluxe materials in the interior. Tile floors, plush carpeting, fine woods, comfortable chairs and beds, and garden tubs are some of the standard features of Class A motorhomes, and custom paint jobs for the exteriors are common. Class A motorhomes can range from less than $100,000 to more than $1,000,000 and are the first choices of many full-timers. Popular brands include Airstream Land Yacht, Monaco Dynasty or Windsor, and Holiday Rambler Ambassador. The motorhomes come in sizes ranging from 26' to 40' long.
Another type of RV is the bus conversion. These are often custom-made and range from luxury tour buses for rock stars to old school buses made into RVs for hunting trips. Luxury bus conversions are durable and are good for those who travel a large number of miles and for those who want a customized interior. Prevost is a well-known manufacturer of bus shells ready for high-end conversions.
Recreational vehicles can be parked in RV parks that have hookups to water, electricity and sewer. Camping for a night or two is possible without hookups if the water tanks are filled before stopping, and the sewage and holding tanks for the kitchen and shower can be dumped at waste stations afterwards. Waste dumps are available at RV parks and at many national and state parks that offer camping. Most 5th wheels and motorhomes are equipped with batteries that operate the lights and recharge automatically when connected to electricity, and refrigerators can be switched over to run on propane when the electricity is disconnected. The more expensive motorhomes have generators to power the units when connections are not available.
There are hundreds of RV parks around the US, and listings of the parks are available in compilations available from Woodall's, Trailer Life, and others. For those who want to purchase or rent an RV and travel on a long trip, cards that give discounts on park rent are available by purchasing annual memberships to organizations such as the Good Sam RV Club or KOA. Some parks also give discounts to AARP members and groups traveling together, and spaces in the parks are usually available at a daily, weekly, or monthly price, with the monthly cost much reduced. Some parks also offer seasonal rates for those who want to camp for the entire summer.
By consulting a camping directory or searching online, many different types of parks can be found. Many state and national park sites have only basic amenities and often have no hookups and two-week stay limits, while private parks often offer swimming pools, lakes, boat rentals, clubhouses, restaurants, stores, gas stations, propane, shower facilities, and many activities. Many RV campers join camping clubs and take trips together to different areas of the country. Areas where retired people from cold climates go for the winter, such as southern Florida, Texas, and Arizona, have huge parks with a large number of amenities, since they are home for months at a time to people escaping the cold.
RV camping is fun and easy; many of the comforts of home can be taken along in the RV, and some people even call an RV home. Camping around the country allows contact with lots of nice people, and RVers are generally very friendly and helpful to those who are new to the experience. New RVs can be purchased at dealers found in many cities. Renting an RV is possible from many national companies such as Cruise America, and also from local RV dealers. Renting is probably a good idea for those who are considering buying an RV but aren't sure which type they want, those who don't want to have to maintain an RV or don't have room for it, or those who like to take different kinds of vacations each year.
