Newcomer's Guide To RV Camping | The Family Handyman

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RV camping is a fun and affordable way to explore the neat outdoors in comfort. Learn key insights from experienced RVers here.

Recreational vehicle (RV) camping offers a host of benefits not afforded past conventional tent camping. For starters, information technology allows yous to explore the not bad outdoors without sacrificing the comfort and amenities of home. It'southward likewise affordable; a family unit of four can save 27 to 62 percent on vacation costs, even when fuel and other expenses are factored in. And it's more environmentally friendly than other types of vacations.

No wonder RV buying has increased 62 per centum in the last twenty years, and rentals increased 650 percent during the COVID-xix lockdowns of 2020.

As a full-time RVer, I know there'south a lot to learn earlier setting out on your first RV camping circuit. I called on my experience, plus that of several experienced RV campers, to relay key insight and communication to help minimize your learning curve.

• What Is RV Camping?
• Pros and Cons of Renting an RV
• RV Rental Options
• Owning an RV
• What To Know Virtually RV Campgrounds
• What To Bring RV Camping
• Insider Tips for RV Camping

What Is RV Camping?

Every bit the proper name implies, it involves camping in some form of recreational vehicle. RVs come many shapes and sizes, including camper vans, motor homes (from small class-Cs to giant course-As), truck campers and tow-behind trailers.

Pros and Cons of Renting an RV

"Due to the loftier cost of RV ownership, most people prefer to rent an RV," says Go RV Rentals founder David Kosofsky. He says renting trumps ownership if you're merely RV camping ground a few times per year.

"The boilerplate RV owner only spends around thirty days a twelvemonth using their RV," Kosofsky says. "That means for 11 months in a year, y'all could be staring at a $100,000 vehicle idly sitting in a parking spot." And like almost vehicles, he says they lose value over time — up to 30 percent in three years.

Other advantages to renting an RV, according to ARVIE founder Mark Peterson:

• Seeing if you bask RV camping before purchasing 1;

• Testing different types of RVs to run into which you prefer;

• Fugitive ongoing storage, insurance or maintenance costs involved with RV ownership.

The cons of renting an RV, according to Peterson, may include:

• Expensive daily rates, plus per-mile charges, making extended trips unaffordable for many;

• Mileage limits restricting the distance y'all can travel;

• Rules and restrictions on what you can bring in the RV, such as pets;

• Steep fees for damage or wear and tear.

RV Rental Options

In that location are two main options: renting directly from RV owners (peer-to-peer) or using commercial RV rental companies.

Julie Chickery, a total-time RVer and creator of Chickery's Travels, says the peer-to-peer model offers more options than RV rental companies, and many owners volition deliver the RV to your home or campground. She recommends Outdoorsy, RVShare and RVNGO for peer-to-peer rentals.

Find commercial rental companies on Cruise America or Motorhome Bookers, or conduct a Google search for "RV rental in [your surface area]."

Owning an RV

Owning an RV is recommended for those with extensive RVing experience who know exactly what they want and plan to spend a considerable portion of the year RV camping ground. For them, owning offers several advantages, Peterson says:

• An RV is cheaper to operate twenty-four hour period-to-day compared to rentals' 24-hour interval-rate;

• Yous tin do whatsoever you lot desire to your RV, including bringing along you pet(s) and customizing the interior design and amenities;

• Yous tin can rent out your RV when y'all're not using it on peer-to-peer rental platforms.

If you do decide to buy, Ted Mosby, founder of Camper Suggest, recommends purchasing in December and Jan. "The demand isn't very high during wintertime, so y'all can negotiate ameliorate and go it for a steal," Mosby says.

It's also wise to take advantage of the depreciating nature of RVs past buying one used. If you do, get it inspected by a mechanic or a certified RV inspection company or technician.

What To Know About RV Campgrounds

With 16,000 campgrounds for RV camping ground in the U.S., there are plenty of options to choose from. One of the biggest considerations, Chickery says, are what type of "hookups" (water, electricity and sewer connections) the campground provides. These include:

• Total hookups. Electricity, h2o and sewer are provided at your site.

• Fractional hookups. These are the near common and usually include electricity and water, but non a sewer connectedness. It tin can also hateful electric only.

• No hookups. No electricity, water or sewer connection provided. RV camping without hookups is also chosen "dry camping ground" or "boondocking." No-hookup campgrounds are usually on public state operated past the Bureau of Land Direction, U.S. Forestry Service or Army Corp of Engineers.

Some campgrounds feature swimming pools, laundry facilities, WiFi, playgrounds and dog parks. Sites with the well-nigh hookups and amenities generally cost the most and are the most crowded.

Zander Buteux, a total-fourth dimension van-dweller and growth leader at Holiday Renter, also suggests ensuring the campground will permit your specific RV. "In other words, do they have sites big enough for your RV?" he says. "Or if yous have a classic like mine, do they allow entry for vehicles older than 2005?"

Individual campgrounds oftentimes have the strictest requirements for entry, while campgrounds on public land tend to be the most all-around. Use sites like Campendium or Go Rving, and apps similar Allstays to find campgrounds effectually the nation.

What To Bring RV Camping

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Peterson, Buteux and Marshall Wendler, co-founder of Camp Addict, recommend the following essentials:

• First aid kit. Outdoor activities can atomic number 82 to injuries, and then pack a quality beginning help kit to prevent infections and become you dorsum outside.

• RV h2o hose. Regular garden hoses oftentimes contain toxic chemicals like pb, so pack a lead-free RV hose for your water hookup.

• Roadside emergency kit. Breakdowns happen, and then it'due south best to exist prepared with bones roadside equipment such every bit a warning triangle, high-visibility vest, car jack, tire patch kit and battery leap starters.

• Tire pressure level gauge. Low tire pressure level compromises fuel efficiency and impacts braking grip and general handling. Keep a tire pressure gauge on hand and periodically check your tire pressure.

• Kitchen items. Brand certain yous carry all the necessary kitchen implements for whatever type of cooking you lot programme to practice. And don't forget to pack plenty of trash bags and a can opener.

• Personal care items. This includes standard items such as toothbrushes, shampoo and torso launder, just also RV toilet newspaper that won't clog the black water tank.

• Level and leveling blocks. RVs need to exist level for the refrigerator to function and the waste tanks to dump correctly. Pack a minor level and leveling blocks to ensure you tin can level the RV wherever y'all become.

• Recreation items. Be certain to bring all the gear yous need for your preferred types of outdoor recreation. You don't want to go far at your destination to discover that you forgot your hiking boots or fishing poles.

Insider Tips for RV Camping

Tips from my personal experience every bit a full-fourth dimension RVer:

• Practise a thorough walk-around inspection of your rig earlier hitting the road. This includes your towing hookups, signal lights and tire pressure level.

• Have an active Roadside Aid programme. Ideally, it should characteristic a large enough towing distance to get yous back home in case of a breakdown. The Expert Sam Club caters specifically to RV travel and offers an unlimited tow radius, or coverage for expenses similar lodging, transportation and meal expenses while awaiting repairs. Plans designed for personal vehicles, like AAA, Allstate, Nationwide, etc. are options, simply they normally accept a maximum tow distance (like 100 or 200 miles).

• Exist mindful of "tail swing." This is when you turn the RV in i direction, and the rear of the RV swings out in the contrary management. Depending on the RV, tail swing can be greater than 30 inches.

• Practice backing up before your trip. This is specially important if y'all're using a tow-behind trailer, but any large RV is a challenge to dorsum up.

• Don't overload your RV. Overloading is a common error that tin cause tire blowouts, structural damage and bent axles. For motor homes, make up one's mind the load-carrying chapters from its data plate or owner'south manual. For truck campers and travel trailers, know — and take into account — your tow vehicle'due south Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).

• Terminate and smell the roses! Long trips in an RV can be stressful at times, but don't forget to savor it and accept in the scenery. Equally the old saying goes, "It's not the destination, information technology'south the journey."

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