RV Camping - Beginner's Guide to RVs and Motorhomes
What Type of RV is Right For YOU ?
An RV (short for recreational vehicle) is a nickname for a whole family of vehicles that combine transportation with temporary living quarters. They are vehicles that can be used for recreation, camping and travel. Some vehicles provide a simple place for sleeping and eating, while others are luxury lodges on wheels.
To start, RVs essentially fall into one of two general categories:
- First, there are motorized vehicles, also known as motor homes or motorized RVs. Advantages of a motor home include having everything in one unit — your home and your motor vehicle. While driving, passengers can eat, watch a video, sleep or simply sit in the rear of the vehicle. RVers with children find this especially nice, as it's easier to keep the kids entertained on long trips. Once at the campground, the motorhome can transform from vehicle to "home" in a matter of a few minutes. Just level it up, plug into the hookups (where available) and that's it. Although typically more expensive than a towable, once parked and hooked-up, there is no spare vehicle to drive for a short trip to the store. There are three categories of motor homes:
- Second, there are towable vehicles of different sorts, typcially referred to as trailers or campers. One advantage to any towable is that when you arrive at your destination, you can unhook the tow vehicle from the trailer and use it to run errands or explore the local area. There are four principal typs of towable vehicles:
Class A Motor Homes - the largest, best-equipped and most luxurious of the motorized RVs - sometimes referred to as the "conventional motorhome".
Class B Motor Homes - frequently referred to as the van camper, a Class B Motor Home is a panel-truck (or commercial van) that has been customized on the interior to include temporary sleeping, eating and bathroom facilities.
Class C Motor Homes - sometimes referred to as a mini-motorhome, a Class C Motor Home offers the conveniences and many of the amenities of the larger Class A motorhome, but in a scaled-down version and at a lower price.
Folding Camping Trailers - also known as a Tent Trailer or a Pop-up Trailer, the Folding Trailer is a lightweight trailer unit with sides that collapse or fold down for towing and storage.
Travel Trailers - one of the most versatile and flexible RVs, Travel Trailer models range from
compact 12 foot units capable of being towed with an ordinary car to fully-equipped 36 foot luxury units that require a pickup truck of other
truck-based tow vehicle.
Fifth Wheel Trailers - also known as "fivers", the Fifth Wheel Trailer is designed to be affixed and towed by a pickup equipped with a special hitch in the truck bed and is equipped with a "master" bedroom over the truck bed, thereby providing a two-level unit with significant living space.
Truck Campers - A Truck Camper is a unit loaded onto, or affixed to, the bed or chassis of a pickup truck. Truck Campers are great for would-be RVers who already own a pickup truck.