Are you tired of tent camping? Looking for that perfect home on wheels? In todays RV market there are so many styles to choose from. If you've done any shopping at all, you will know that finding the perfect RV can be very overwhelming. Well, have no fear. I have a few tips and suggestions to help you in your quest.
The first thing you need to decide is what kind of RV you would prefer. There are a number of styles ranging from those high dollar luxury motorhomes, to the lightweight and versatile tent trailers. Make sure, if you are looking for a towable RV, that you have a vehicle that can handle that type of trailer. You wouldn't want to buy a fifth wheel if you drive an SUV right?
A couple things to consider when choosing your RV are:
- How often do you plan to use it? If you are looking to become a "full-timer" you will probably want a motorhome or something with a decent amount of space and ammenities to suit you. Looking for something for weekends and occasional vacations? You might not want to spend the money for a motorhome.
- Insurance costs are another thing you want to take into consideration. A towable does not require the same amount of insurance as a motorhome. In most cases a towable trailer is covered while it is hooked to your tow vehicle. I suggest getting insurance for while it is parked as well in case it is damaged while you are not towing it.
- When you go camping in a motorhome, you may need what is referred to as a "toad". This would be the vehicle that you tow behind to use for sightseeing, etc. while parked in a campsite.
- Is this for yourself, you and a significant other, or the whole family? Believe me, RV's are not what they used to be. Go to any RV show and you will see what I mean. Toy Haulers are becoming very popular these days. A tou hauler is a fifth wheel or bumper pull trailer that has a "garage" in the back for your ATVs, motorcycles, or whatever toys you like to take amping with you. These trailers come with generators so dry camping in the desert or mountains is not a problem. Some of them even come with fuel pumps so you can haul the gas for your toys and pump it straight from your trailer!
The back of these opens down as a ramp to drive into the back. They have a sink in the back for washing up before entering the living space after a hard day on the trails. Take the family, the toys, and the kids' friends! I have even seen these with theater seating and flat screen tv's built in. Not looking for a toy hauler? That's okay too. There are many different brands of trailers with many different floor plans. If you have kids you might want to look at the models that have bunk houses. These have rooms in the back that close off from the rest of the living area and some have the beds, table and chairs or a desk, as well as a tv, all in the bunkhouse. I have seen many different trailers, and they all have somthing unique to offer. - What kind of vehicle do you have to tow it with and what is the maximum weight your vehicle can handle? These two questions have a huge impact on what kind of RV you get. If you have a truck, would you rather tow a fifth wheel or a bumper pull? Fifth wheels tow smoother and the weight is placed more over the axles on your truck than with a bumper pull. They can also offer more appealing floor plans than a bumper pull. If you are a very tall person you will find that fifth wheels can be more accomodating. Bumper pulls have some very nice floor plans as well and are great for those just starting out RVing. One bit of advice though, bumper pulls over 30 feet are not easy to tow. With any bumper pull trailer you will need to get sway controllers to help keep the trailer from fishtailing while driving down the road.
- A big factor for me when trailer shopping is the amount of storage they have. With two kids we take a lot of stuff camping with us and storage is essential.
- Now, do you want to buy new or used? Either way you should do your research. Buying from a dealership can be beneficial because if you have problems with your new RV within a certain period of time after purchasing it, you can take it back into the dealer for repairs or to have the problems resolved. They also do what they call PDI. This is the pre delivery inspection. They go through the RV making sure that everything is working properly, nothing is broken, and the unit is clean. Then when you pick it up, they go through the whole RV with you, showing you how everything works, and making sure that everything is cleaned and working to your satisfaction.
Once you have found your perfect RV, it is time to load it up with all your gear and hit the road. RVing is a very fun and rewarding experience for the whole family. A note, however, to those of you looking at becoming full-timers. If you are going to be living in and traveling in your motorhome with a significant other, and you have never done this before, I suggest trying it out for a couple of months first. You don't want to sell your house, or end your rental agreement only to find out that you don't like the full time life. I know, it happens to a lot of people. So be sure before you give up everything else to hit the road. Otherwise, have fun and always stop to see the sights!
