How to Choose an RV
By an eHow Contributor
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While a vacation home is a wonderful purchase, there is the
disadvantage of having to always go to the same location
every year. For those vacationers with wanderlust, an RV
(recreational vehicle) might be a better choice. A home on
wheels, these rolling vacation homes, can be taken anywhere
there is a road! With comforts like air conditioning, television
and queen-sized beds, Try a "sleep comfort mattress".
These are ideal to use in a RV because you can adjust the
comfort level. RVs may be more luxurious than you think.
Related Searches:
Gulfstream RVFleetwood RV
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
1
Consider a Type A motor home. This is the largest and most
expensive type of RV. These RVs are bus-like in appearance
and have a bathroom, kitchen, dining area, living area and a
bedroom. Some may have "slide-outs" to make the living area
larger when the RV is parked. Since the Type A motor homes
are usually 40 feet or larger, many owners choose to tow a
separate vehicle behind the RV. Class A RVs are generally
luxurious and have many extras, such as captain's chairs for
the driver and passengers. Their greatest disadvantage is
their low fuel efficiency, cumbersome size and higher price.
2
Research a Type B motor home. These RVs are smaller than
Type A is, and they have van fronts and chassis. They still
have many amenities of a Class A, such as air conditioning,
a kitchen, a bathroom and a dining/living area. The front of
the van opens to the back of the RV, so you can walk easily
from the driver's seat to your bedroom. Class B RVs have
limited towing capacity.
3
Look at a Class C motor home. These RVs look like large cargo
vans. The "bedroom" is the sleeping area above the driver's
seat. Space is more limited than a Class B motor home, but air
conditioning, a bathroom and a small kitchenette are
possibilities. Class Cs can tow cars, trailers or boats.
4
Check out a Fifth Wheel RV. Hitch this trailer directly into the
bed of a large truck to tow it. Fifth Wheels are very roomy and
offer all the comforts of a Class A motor home. Disadvantages
include parking difficulties, not being able to get into the RV
from the driver's seat and the hassle of hitching
and unhitching the trailer from the truck.
5
Compare a travel trailer to the Fifth Wheel. A travel trailer is
very similar to a Fifth Wheel, except that the travel trailers are
usually smaller and less expensive. Any vehicle with a hitch
can pull a travel trailer, which has the advantage of fitting more
family members in the vehicle pulling the trailer since it does
not have to be a truck.
6
Use a pop-up trailer. These are some of the cheapest and
lowest-frills campers and usually do not have bathrooms,
kitchens, air conditioning or dining areas. Pop-up trailers
have canvas, mesh or plastic sides that compress down
to a small "box" and can be towed behind a van, car or truck.
Disadvantages include set up and take down time, plus the
fact that no one can enter the camper unless it is
"popped up." Advantages include cost and towing ease.
7
Try a camper trailer. If you have a pickup truck, this small
camper (for one or two people) fits directly into the bed of
the truck. While relatively inexpensive, these small campers
provide little room or amenities, but many people find this a
preferable alternative to sleeping on the ground in a tent.
Save Space by Planning Ahead
1
Select your personal gear, such as toiletries, MP3 players and
laptop computers. Consider what you will use the most, and
pack only the most critical items--the ones you always use.
Remember, during your travels you will be exploring new areas
and finding other activities to occupy your downtime. Pack
every person's toiletries in a small bin that fits in the RV's
bathroom.
Create or purchase a basic first aid kit and include that as well.
2
Pick five to six days worth of casual clothing, choosing
wash-and-wear items with color schemes that allow you to mix
and match everything. A lightweight rain parka and heavy
sweater should provide enough protection when traveling in
warmer months. According to Phil and Carol White, authors
of the book "Live Your Road Trip Dream," start selecting your
clothing by making two stacks of "must go" and "candidates."
Gradually eliminate from your "candidates"
stack until you have no more than five days worth of clothing.
3
Plan your food items around a specific menu. For shorter trips,
draft a meal plan and pack the necessary food items for the
menu. For longer trips, consider what your favorite food items
are and what meals you enjoy the most. Then ask yourself how
much of a mess they make in the kitchen. Pick only the easiest
recipes you enjoy the most, then choose food items accor
dingly. One-pot meals are preferable, and you should pack
only utensils that can function in at least two different ways.
For example, an egg beater isn't necessary because you can
use a fork instead for beating eggs. A wine opener should
also have a bottle opener attached to it. RV kitchens have
limited space, so choose your kitchen items carefully. Avoid
glass and breakable items,
as all items will shift when the RV is in motion.
4
Pack a toolbox for mechanical repairs to prepare for the
unexpected breakdown or broken RV part. The Kampgrounds
of America (KOA) organization recommends "pliers,
a assortment of both open and closed-end wrenches, an
adjustable wrench, extra hose, several wooden leveling blocks,
a hammer and two or three sizes of flat and Philips screwdrivers."
5
Fill your freshwater tank to about 1/3 capacity, which is enough
water to get you to where you're going comfortably and safely.
If you are traveling to a spot with utility hookups, there is no
need to travel with more water. Remember that an extra 100
pounds in your RV can reduce your fuel economy by 2 percent
or more.
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I hope that you find this article helpful.
After we retired, we RV'ed for 14 years to every state in these
Continental United States and to all but two of the Province's
in Canada. In these 14 years we owned and used,
1) A HI LO 15ft trailer.This was the smallest, but we managed
to go coast to coast twice in relative comfort for the size.
2) A 29 ft Prowler Regal towed trailer. We RVed the East
Coast from Florida and up into Canada. This took a couple
of summer seasons to do. There is so much to see and
enjoy from the Civil War History to the Canadian Maritime.
Remember that a Passport is necessary now to cross into
Canada,but it is well worth it. Canada is a beautiful
Country from British Columbia to the Maritime. Don't miss
out on anything by traveling through too fast.
3) A 36ft- 5th Wheel Mountainaire trailer.This is the unit that
we lived full time in and did most of our traveling with. We
We traveled from Florida (our home State) to Alaska and to
all of the western Canadian Provinces. We crossed the
Canadian Rocky Mountains Four times trying to see as
much as we could see in one trip. Outstanding scenery!!
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