The day finally came to make the move to one of these contraptions, but what to buy? What the heck is out there and what does it do? What do they cost? If I get one, how much time do I want to spend in it? What type? What brand? New or used?
After some research I discovered that recreational vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, depending on how much you will use it, how much you are willing to spend, what amenities you want, what brand, quality level, etc.
So basically, there are four types of RV. There are travel trailers that are towed behind a vehicle with some type of hitch and can range in length from a little "teardrop" trailer to a 40' long rig with all the comforts of home. The small teardrops contain just a bed and small outside food preparation area. These can be towed by a midsize or larger car or pickup truck. Larger travel trailers are self contained and have a living room, full kitchen, and full bath with tub and shower. The larger the travel trailer, the larger the vehicle needed to tow it. The small teardrop trailers are not "self contained". What is "self contained". That means that you can park the unit somewhere and everything you need is contained within the RV itself. Fresh water comes from a holding tank, grey water (dirty water from sinks, bath, and shower) and black water (sewage) flows into holding tanks all contained within the trailer. Gas (usually propane) comes from propane tanks and electricity comes from a generator or solar cells, again, all contained within the unit. No outside sources are required. Of course there are limits to how long the trailer can run as a self contained unit. At some point the fresh water tank will need to be filled again and the grey and black water tanks will need to be drained. The draining must be legally performed at a dumping station. These are located at parks, some rest areas, etc. Some places charge for this and some do not. More often than not, there is a charge.
Bear in mind that one consideration when considering what trailer to buy is the length and your ability to maneuver it through traffic and obstacles in parks, campgrounds, and city streets. The longer trailers can be a real challenge! Also consider that longer is heavier and that means getting a bigger truck to haul it around. Another consideration is insurance. Insurance rates will vary depending on age, size, amount of use, and deductibles. Also take into consideration gas mileage. Bigger and heavier means fewer mpg. Big rigs can get you less than 10mpg on the highway.
After some research I discovered that recreational vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, depending on how much you will use it, how much you are willing to spend, what amenities you want, what brand, quality level, etc.
So basically, there are four types of RV. There are travel trailers that are towed behind a vehicle with some type of hitch and can range in length from a little "teardrop" trailer to a 40' long rig with all the comforts of home. The small teardrops contain just a bed and small outside food preparation area. These can be towed by a midsize or larger car or pickup truck. Larger travel trailers are self contained and have a living room, full kitchen, and full bath with tub and shower. The larger the travel trailer, the larger the vehicle needed to tow it. The small teardrop trailers are not "self contained". What is "self contained". That means that you can park the unit somewhere and everything you need is contained within the RV itself. Fresh water comes from a holding tank, grey water (dirty water from sinks, bath, and shower) and black water (sewage) flows into holding tanks all contained within the trailer. Gas (usually propane) comes from propane tanks and electricity comes from a generator or solar cells, again, all contained within the unit. No outside sources are required. Of course there are limits to how long the trailer can run as a self contained unit. At some point the fresh water tank will need to be filled again and the grey and black water tanks will need to be drained. The draining must be legally performed at a dumping station. These are located at parks, some rest areas, etc. Some places charge for this and some do not. More often than not, there is a charge.
Bear in mind that one consideration when considering what trailer to buy is the length and your ability to maneuver it through traffic and obstacles in parks, campgrounds, and city streets. The longer trailers can be a real challenge! Also consider that longer is heavier and that means getting a bigger truck to haul it around. Another consideration is insurance. Insurance rates will vary depending on age, size, amount of use, and deductibles. Also take into consideration gas mileage. Bigger and heavier means fewer mpg. Big rigs can get you less than 10mpg on the highway.
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