The RV lifestyle continues to increase in popularity, with motor homes offering all the amenities of home and then some. The fun of an RV is that you can choose from a wide variety of vehicles, from rustic pop-ups that are perfect for a weekend getaway to full-sized motorcoaches that will take you across the country in extreme style and comfort. Whether you are looking for a way to camp more comfortably with the family or a whole new travel lifestyle, there is the perfect RV waiting for you. However, before you sign on the dotted line, there are a few basics to learn about RV travel.

Types of RV’s
The first choice is the type of RV that you want to travel in. Beginners might do well to select a more modest variety to test the waters of the RV lifestyle. Dealers like Ameri-Camp offer the perfect solution in fifth-wheels and travel trailers that offer plenty of creature comforts without breaking the budget. A fifth-wheel is designed to be towed behind a vehicle through a fifth-wheel hitch. This model offers a bi-level floor plan that provides plenty of space for a retired couple or a family to live comfortably for a number of days or even weeks. Travel trailers are towed by a bumper hitch and can be used with a van, sport utility vehicle or pickup truck. The advantage to a travel trailer is that you can unhitch your vehicle and leave your trailer in one spot as you tour the countryside during the day.

Class C motorhomes, built onto a truck chassis, are often referred to as mini-motorhomes. These RV’s can offer the same amenities as larger vehicles, but in a compact space and for a smaller price. Bus style motorhomes are the granddaddy of them all, with many modern conveniences and luxuries and plenty of space to spare. These are perfect for the retired couple who has the cash and wants to enjoy the RV experience full time. You can find these coaches in a wide price range, depending on how luxurious and loaded you want to go.

RV Destinations
The sky is the limit in RV travel, whether you want a mountain retreat or a beach destination. You can find RV camps in national parks, near major tourist attractions and just outside of large cities. Nearly all will come with basic hookups and a bath house, while some of the nicer parks will also include cable access and Internet connections. You can find parks that include playgrounds, swimming pools, general stores and game rooms. Of course, the most enticing attraction to most RV areas is the beautiful surroundings that will provide the opportunity to hike, boat, bird watch or just sit back and enjoy the view.

There are so many things to enjoy about the RV lifestyle; the greatest challenge may be to choose between the many wonderful destinations and activities available. Select a vehicle that will best suit your needs, find a destination that you want to visit and get ready to enjoy your RV!

Recreational Vehicles are becoming a more attractive way to get away from home and still have the comforts of home along for the ride. Several years ago RV’s were thought of as an affordable way to get away, more on the lines of camping. Today there are still campers available that fit that, however the majority of the RV’s are more like a home on wheels. To have a better understanding of what is available.

Luxury Motor Coaches are the most comfortable and most expensive RV’s on the market today. They are built on air ride suspensions to provide a comfortable ride that almost floats over the road. The Class A Diesel luxury motor coaches are manufactured up to 45 feet in length, and have as many as two bathrooms. King size comfort Air beds provide a comfortable nights sleep, and a full kitchen includes microwave, stove, oven, marble or corian counters and even a dish washer. Most have plasma TV’s, surround sound systems, navigation systems, in motion satellite systems so watching TV while driving down the road is just a part of the luxury. The cost of Luxury motor coaches starts just under a half a million dollars and varies with size, and options to several million dollars. Some of the manufactures of Luxury Coaches are Prevost, Newell, Blue Bird, American Coach, Beaver, Newmar, Foretravel, Monaco and Winnebago.

Class A Motor Homes are the largest and most comfortable motor homes, and includes the luxury motor coaches. The options and cost vary from the luxurious models listed above to the more affordable smaller gas motor homes. All of the Class A motor homes today have full bathrooms, comfortable beds, full kitchens and offer the comforts of home away from home. They start at under a hundred thousand dollars and go to those listed above. In addition to those listed above, some of the manufactures are, Airstream, Damon, Coachmen RV, Fleetwood, Gulf Stream, Holiday Rambler, Tiffin, and Thor.

Class C motor homes have a van looking front, are usually smaller in size than the class A. Most are gas, provide similar comforts, such as full size beds, bathrooms, kitchens, and booth dinettes that turn into beds for additional sleeping. They vary in size and cost, usually starting around fifth thousand dollars. The majority are manufactured by those listed above.

The Fifth Wheel is the most luxurious of the pull behind trailers. The Travel Trailer is also a pull behind unit that is very similar to the fifth wheel trailers. Many have King or Queen size beds, full bathrooms, kitchens and sofas that convert into beds for additional sleeping. They vary in size and cost from around twenty thousand dollars. In addition to those already listed, some of the manufactures are, Forest River, Four Winds, Jaco, Keystone RV, Leisure Travel and Travel Supreme.

There are many different models and types of Camping vehicles and trailers on the market today, I have tried to list and give some details and description of some of them.

Recreational vehicles combine transportation and temporary living accommodations for travel, recreation and camping. new or used RVs cover a wide range of interests and budgets. At one end of the spectrum, there are folding camping trailers that sell for a few thousand dollars while at the other end you can find luxurious motorhomes that feature all the comforts of home and come with a pricetag to match.

Before you buy or rent an RV, it pays to gain a basic understanding of how RVs are categorized. The RV world is generally divided into two broad categories: motorized RVs and towable RVs. Motorized RVs combine a motor vehicle chassis and living quarters in single unit. Under motorized RVs, you’ll find class A, class B, and class C motorhomes. Towable RVs are designed to be towed by a car, van, SUV, or pickup truck, but are small enough so as not to require a special highway movement permit. Under towable RVs, the accepted sub-categories are travel trailers, folding camping trailers, fifth wheels, and truck campers.

Motorized RVs: Class A motorhomes are generally the top dogs of the RV world. Units range in weight from 15,000 to 30,000 pounds and stretch from 30 to 40 feet in length. Describing them as “motorhomes” is no exaggeration. Class A units come with almost every creature comfort you would expect in a home, minus the front lawn. They are frequently constructed on custom undercarriages or on a 3-10 ton truck chassis. Many Class A motorhomes also feature an automatic slideout. At the touch of a button, motorhome owners can extend a portion of their RV’s exterior wall outward to expand their living space. Class A motorhomes usually provide cooking facilities, a refrigerator, heating, air conditioning, a self-contained toilet, water tanks (fresh water, grey water, black water), faucets, sinks, a LP (propane) gas supply, a separate 100-125 volt electrical system, and a full array of appliances and entertainment features. They can sleep up to eight people, depending on the model and the floor plan. Of course, all those features don’t come cheap.

Class B motorhomes, also commonly known as van conversions, are the smallest fully enclosed motorhomes. They are constructed on a van chassis with elevated roof lines but no modifications to the length or width of the original chassis. Class B motorhomes generally weigh 6,000 to 8,000 pounds and are 17 to 19 feet in length. Although living space is limited, Class B motorhomes receive high marks for economy, versatility, and handling. When not RVing, many Class B owners make use of their units as family vehicles. Class B motorhomes usually provide cooking facilities, a refrigerator or an ice box, heating, a self-contained toilet, a fresh water tank, a waste water tank, a faucet, a sink, convertible/folding beds, a LP (propane) gas supply, and 110 VAC and 12VDC electrical outlets. Class B motorhomes can sleep from two to four people depending on the model.

Folding Camping Trailer Folding camping trailers are the least expensive RV. Also commonly referred to as tent trailers or pop-up trailers, folding camping trailers are designed from the ground up to be lightweight and inexpensive while providing many of the conveniences found in a basic travel trailer. Because of their relatively small size, folding camping trailers can easily be towed by a typical mid-size car, and even compact cars in some cases. A folding camping trailer can be thought of as a large, expandable tent built on a trailer.

Fifth Wheel Fifth-wheel trailers are similar to larger travel trailers, but they have an extension on the front of the box that extends over the tow vehicle and a horizontal plate that looks like a wheel (hence the name “fifth wheel”) that rests on the tow vehicle for support. This hitch arrangement requires special equipment on the tow vehicle. Still more living space is afforded by slideouts that come as a standard feature of many fifth wheels. Fifth-wheel trailers usually provide cooking facilities, a refrigerator, heating, air conditioning, a self-contained toilet, a shower, water tanks (fresh water, grey water, black water), faucets, sinks, a LP (propane) gas supply, and a separate 100-125 volt electrical system. They can sleep up to six people depending on the model and the floor plan.

If you’re in the market for an RV, you might just be surprised at the wide variety of recreational vehicles on the market. While RVs are intended, by and large, for the same purpose; they come in all different sizes, models and equipped with various features. Before you hit the road shopping for your first new or used RVs, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the wide gamut of recreational vehicles.

A Class A RV is a motor home that in which the cab is actually a part of the coach, or ‘living area.’ These vehicles may have either a diesel or gasoline engine; which is normally located in the front of the vehicle. You will typically find that a Class A motor home will have a bit more space than other models; however you must keep in mind that when traveling with this type of RV you will either have to bring along another means of transportation or suffer with having to drive the RV itself for basic errands away from the campsite.

A Class B RV, on the other hand, is more of a motor home that resides on the body of a converted ban. This model of motor home typically contains a section that will slide out once you have set up camp in order to allow for additional space. While the Class B RV generally contains all the comforts of home such as cooking, toilet and shower facilities as well as heating and air conditioning; this type of RV is really best geared for shorter duration trips due to the fact that it does not typically contain a lot of additional space. The upside to the Class B motor home is that because it is built on the frame of a converted van it is often much easier to maneuver than other RV models and you won’t need to park it at the back of the lot when you stop at a restaurant or shopping center.

The Class C RV is similar to the Class A in that the cab is contained within the body of the vehicle. This type of motor home frequently features a compartment located over the cab; quite often containing a sleeping loft. Cooking, shower and toilet facilities are also included with the Class C RV and depending on the size of the model, additional sleeping space may also be included.

Between the Class C RV and the traditional travel trailers falls a mid-category of pop-up tent trailers. These models are generally inexpensive and quite portable due to the fact that they are collapsible. They can be hauled by a standard vehicle and feature sleeping areas that can be pulled out on both sides of the trailer with a limited amount of living space in the center and basic cooking facilities.

Travel trailers are another form of RVs; however, they are somewhat different than the above mentioned classes because they must be hooked up to a secondary vehicle and pulled to the site. These models come in a wide range of sizes and lengths; varying from 12 foot models all the way up to 35 foot trailers. The smaller models are intended more for short term trips and weekends with basic accommodations while the larger and more luxurious models are well suited for full time occupation.

The largest type of RVs are known as fifth wheels. These models are similar to travel trailers in that they must be towed; however, the difference lies in the fact that the vehicle towing the RV hauls it with the hitch located over the rear driving axles. This type of RV is also well suited for longer trips and typically contains luxurious appointments.