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Beginners Guide to RVing
Recreational Vehicle (RV) is a broad term used to describe a large enclosed piece of equipment with wheels designed to be moved from place to place for people to temporarily live in and be protected from the elements while away from their permanent domicile. While RVs are intended for brief leisure activities such as vacations and camping, some people, especially retirees, live in their units and are known as fulltimers. RVs can be rented in major U.S. cities.

 

There are many different classes of vehicles generally labeled as RVs:
 
  • Toy Hauler - unit is designed to haul motorcycles, four wheelers, dirtbikes and other small atv's.  They are available in fifth wheels, pop ups, travel trailers and motorhomes.

 

  • Truck Camper - unit is affixed to the bed or chassis of a pickup truck.

   

  • Folding Camping Trailer - light-weight unit with sides that collapse for towing and storage. 
  • Click pop up to see how easy it is to set up a Fleetwood Folding Camper!

 


 

  • Travel Trailer - heavier unit with rigid sides designed to be towed by most vehicles by means of a bumper or frame hitch.  Requirements are a weight distribution system: otherwise known as sway bars and a brake control sytem to operate the trailer brakes by means of an inertia brake controller box and wiring in your tow vehicle.

  • Fifth Wheel - designed to be towed by a pickup truck equipped with a special hitch in the truck bed easily removed by removing four pins to regain your truck bed when needed and a brake control sytem to operate the trailer brakes by means of an inertia brake controller box and wiring in your tow vehicle.

  •  
    Motorhome ("Winnebago", a product of the Winnebago Company that dominated the market for many years, was long a synonym for a motorhome, but this usage has faded in recent years.)

    Class A Motorcoach - constructed on a specially designed motor vehicle chassis, typically resembling a bus

 

 

 

  • Class B Campervan - built using a conventional van, to which a raised roof has been added


 
  • Class C Mini-motorhome - built on an automotive manufactured chassis with an attached van cab section

 

 

 

A minimal RV typically contains accommodations, which include beds, a table and food preparation and storage areas. Larger models add full bathrooms, refrigerators, living areas, master bedrooms, etc. Some RVs are very elaborate, containing satellite TV reception, slide-out wall panels, and awnings; many RVs can cost in excess of US$ 100,000 and some can cost up to US$ 1 million.

RV travel is one way for, to experience the dozens of U.S. national parks and forests, myriad of state parks and thousands of miles of scenic highways. Many RVers stay at RV parks, most of which feature electrical, water and sewer service (full hookups), as well as cable television and wireless Internet. Amenities often include swimming pools, game rooms and even destination-resort activities such as horseback riding.

Advantages of RVs include not having to move one's things in and out of motel rooms, not having to rent multiple motel rooms, and the fact that preparing food saves money compared to eating in restaurants. Kids also tend to like RVs.

Disadvantages of RVs lack of maid service as experienced in motels (maid service is available at a few high-end resorts).               

 

 Saturday, August 30, 2008 Beginners Guide to RVing   Login 
HILLTOP RV Superstore 2905 N.Lincoln   Escanaba, MI 49829   Toll Free: 1-800-676-7848
Store hours: Mon. - Fri. 9:00 am - 6:00 pm   Sat. 9:00 am - 4:30 pm   Closed Sun.

600 US 41 West   Ishpeming, MI 49849   Toll Free: 1-888-346-7848