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Choosing between an RV and a Caravan

If you are in the market for taking your home with you on holiday, you basically have three choices, the tent (or trailer tent), a caravan or the recreational vehicle or RV. All have their advantages, but what is the best choice?

The Tent

Of the three choices, the tent is undoubtedly the cheapest, and the trailer tent variation can be quite comfy to, especially as much of the living accommodation is off the floor in the body of the trailer. But it is still a tent and as such offers limited luxury and protection from the elements cannot match that of a caravan or RV.

The advantages of the tent are price, ease of towing not to mention it is easy to store when you are not on holiday!

The Caravan

Caravans come in all shapes and sizes these days and there is one for the smallest car, and the largest, some being veritable double axled paradises on wheels with every comfort you can imagine. Even the smallest is more difficult to tow than the trailer tent though and some people just do not want to tow in the first place (which of course means that they have to go for a basic tent or a RV).

The advantages of the caravan over the tent are obvious in that they offer a better class of accommodation, are more durable and are normally a lot bigger, a far better choice for a family.

The Recreational Vehicle (RV)

The RV has been with us for many years, perhaps the one that sticks in the mind (at least for those over 50) is the VW camper van as used by countless hippies and Australians for there travels across the globe. Today however, the RV is a lot different and in most cases a lot bigger, and has luxuries un-thought of by the first RV users.

The top of the RV tree is occupied (you guessed it) by the American Motor Home, vehicles of such size and luxury that they need an HGV licence before you can drive one, some even having a garage at the back with a Smart Car for those shopping trips etc.

When it comes to luxury, even the top of the range caravan cannot match the biggest RV, with its sliding walls (which extend the living area out each side of the body) higher ceilings and well, just pure luxury. Of course, there are smaller RV’s, some smaller than the good old VW Camper Van, with one for every taste.

When it comes to disadvantages the RV however has quite a few, not the least cost, even the smallest being a big purchase, whilst the largest can cost £250,000 quite an investment! Besides the initial cost, there is the running costs and with fuel consumptions in the low 20’s mpg (even less with the big ones) and the fact that you need to road tax and MOT them every year (and that can be expensive for the HGV variants) makes them a poor bet for anyone on a budget.

But then, the American Motor Home has never been something for man in the street, they are for those with a high disposable income or those that sell up and decide to live in one instead of owning a house. They offer true luxury and for those that want to live the high life on the open road, the RV is really the only choice.

Travel is one of life’s great pleasures, especially when you can do it in style. Some people however like to be in their own space, and for many the motorhome has become the answer to their prayers. A home from home with all the creature comforts you can ask for. Graham Baylis has been lucky enough to experience the true luxury they offer, through a company called TravelworldRV in Telford in the UK. See their site at http://www.travelworldrv.co.uk

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Best Camper or RV for Volunteering on the Road

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This is a great question, but what type of RV to purchase, unfortunately, has no clear-cut answer. It is partly a matter of preference and partly dependent on the type and amount of RVing you plan to do.

Full-time or part-time RVer?

irst of all, if you will be living in your RV full-time, you want to choose a rig designed for full-timing. Generally you are looking at Class A motorhomes and 5th wheel trailers. You want the storage space and especially need to have your tanks enclosed so your water doesn’t freeze. The better constructed units have more insulation and storage space.

If you have a homebase and will be traveling to a place to work or volunteer in temperatures that stay mostly above freezing, one of the other types-Class B vans, Class C motorhomes, truck campers- could do. Some mountain locations, though, even in summer can get cold near the beginning or end of the season.

Comfort and convenience

Besides construction, consider comfort and living space. Vans and truck campers have limited space. If you are a solo traveler, you may do fine. Doing the do-si-do in a narrow aisle with a partner for months can get old. Consider also how comfortable the bed and the sofa is. Do you even have a sofa or comfortable chair? George and I traveled in a Lance camper on our Ford 350. It had a small slideout, which certainly increased the room. However, the only place to sit was the dinette. We could put our computers on the table, though the table was higher than comfortable for typing. We also read there. The only other option was lying down on the bed or to sit outside. The Lance was great for short trips but by the end of several months, we knew we needed a larger rig for travel and working on the road.

Smaller rigs like vans and campers have smaller refrigerators. It means more frequent trips to the store. If you are working or volunteering in a remote spot and don’t have access to another refrigerator, it will severely limit your supply of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Motorhome or 5th wheel?

The Class A and 5th wheel do have the most comfort and living space and are better choices for living in your RV for extended periods of time. But which is best for Workamping? Things to consider are:

One or two engines: With a 5th wheel you have one engine to maintain. With a motorhome you’ll probably have a toad (towed vehicle), which means two engines to maintain. Driving a motorhome without pulling a toad means you’ll either have to drive your motorhome to the store and Laundromat or bum rides with others. In a remote area, relying on others could prove difficult or cause resentment.
Fuel mileage and convenience: Having a toad can mean that your exploring and trips to town cost much less than if you use your tow truck. A smaller vehicle could be more comfortable and allow you to drive is less accessible places, particularly if your toad is four-wheel drive. Even driving in a downtown area is easier with a smaller vehicle.
Living space: A 5th wheel is 100 percent living space. In a motorhome, you have the driver’s area that can be wasted space.
Maintenance: A motorhome should not sit for six months. You’ll need to run the engine for 10-15 minutes each week and periodically take it out for a drive. The 5th wheel can sit all season without a problem.

In the end, it is a matter of preference. If the rest of the year you prefer a motorhome for its advantages, you can certainly live for a few months in it where you work or volunteer.

My experience:

Bill, my late husband, and I chose a motorhome for a couple of reasons. One, we could leave the motorhome in a Wal-Mart parking lot for the day and explore in our jeep. We got better gas mileage with the jeep, could go four-wheel driving or drive downtown and find a place to park. Two, we felt safer being able to drive away in our motorhome at a moment’s notice if camped. Since we did a lot of boondocking, this was important.

After finding that we spent six months working in one location each year, we often thought that a 5th wheel would have been a better choice. When we purchased a homebase, we downsized to a truck camper. After Bill passed away, George and I tried the camper for a summer and decided we’d stick to his 5th wheel. We did spend several months at Big Bend National Park in Texas in the 5th wheel where he volunteered and found it much more comfortable than a camper. This past summer we traveled in the 5th wheel. Sometimes we were limited in roads we took. While my little Suzuki has 4WD and goes most anyplace, a big dually GMC doesn’t do so well on back roads.

Your choice

A recent subscriber survey of subscribers by Workamper News found a that 41.73% had motorhomes, 38.13% owned 5th wheels and 9.49% have trailers.

So there you have it. Each type of RV and setup has advantages and disadvantages. Weigh all the factors, go to RV shows and dealers and walk through many RVs and then make your best decision.

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak is an RV Lifestyle Expert. She has been RVing since 1992. She and her late husband weren’t retired so RVed on a budget and worked on the road. She is the author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider’s Guide to Working on the Road and other RV books. See http://www.RVLifestyleExperts.com for more information about the RV lifestyle.

2008. Permission to reprint as long as the full article and bio is included.

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The Two Purposes of an RV

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Recreational vehicle (often referred as RV) is an enclosed equipment with dual purposes. First it functions as a regular moving vehicle, and second as a temporary home. Some people call this as a motor home or a motor caravan. A recreational vehicle is intended for almost every use, to travel to different places yet still feel like being at home.

RVs can be rented in many cities. People who opt for an RV versus a car when traveling rave about the complete amenities inside of an ordinary house. It’s a great innovation that’s in demand nowadays.

A look-see inside an RV:

• Beds where you can take a rest or nap
• A multi-functional table
• Fully-equipped kitchen

Larger models of RVs have additional features like:

• Bathrooms
• Refrigerators
• Living areas
• Master’s bedrooms

Recreational vehicles are sometimes used as mobile-on-the-go. These RVs have special features like satellite TV and Internet access, slide-out sections and awnings. You just have an extra table and other needed equipments needed to be used in typical offices. Some have a small storing area for an ordinary car. An RV typically has sufficient supply of electricity and generator.. Other RVs are used just to tow small cars.

Types of RVs:

• Class A motor home – constructed with different kinds of chassis. Be it a commercial truck, a specially-designed motor vehicle or a commercial bus chassis.
• Bus conversion – highly-customized with luxury components; typically the largest motor vehicle available.
• Class B Campervan – like a conventional van with raised roof added or the back has been replaced by low body profile.
• Class C motor home – built on truck chassis with an attached cab section. It has a cab-over profile called mini-home motor.
• Truck Camper – favored by hunters and other back wood travelers.
• Folding Trailer – this is also known as tent camper, collapse for towing and storage.
• Travel Trailer – a unit with rigid side which is designed to be towed
• Teardrop Trailer – is a lightweight travel trailer, sometimes towed by a motorcycle
• Hybrid Trailer – combination of a travel trailer and a folding (tent) trailer
• Fifth-wheel Trailer – towed by a pick- up or a medium duty truck
• Park Model – is a standard traveler trailer but is not self-contained; designed for park camping only and not for dry camping. It has hot water storage tanks and must be used with hook ups.
• Toterhome – for pulling of large and heavy trailers
• Toy hauler – designed to be part living space and part garage.

Renting RVs are expensive, and is not a better alternative to hotels or inns. But try it at least once in your life for the experience.

For more information on Recreational Vehicle Rentals and Commercial Vehicle Rentals please visit our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Urmann

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The Best RV Quick Tips by Mark Polk

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Towing
Whenever you are determining the tow capacity of a vehicle make sure you know what the rear axle ratio is. It is quite possible to have the same type and size of vehicle with the same engine and the tow ratings vary by several thousand pounds. The axle ratio is a comparison of how many times the drive shaft rotates, versus the rear wheels. A 4.10:1 axle ratio means the drive shaft or pinion gear rotates 4.1 times for each rotation of the rear axle or ring gear. The higher the numeric value the better the vehicle will tow. Some people have a misperception that a vehicle with 4-WD will have a higher tow rating than an identical vehicle that is two-wheel drive. In reality the 2-WD vehicle will have the higher tow rating. The reason for this is the transfer case in the four-wheel drive vehicle adds additional weight to the vehicle, usually close to 500 pounds, which lowers the tow rating by that same amount. Keep in mind that any weight you add to the tow vehicle takes that same amount of weight away from the vehicles tow rating and Gross Combined Weight Rating.

Deep Cycle Battery
RVs come equipped with deep cycle batteries for the coach’s 12-volt DC electrical system. House or coach batteries need to be true deep cycle batteries that are designed to provide a steady amount of current over a long period of time. Starting batteries and marine batteries should not be used in this application. True deep cycle batteries have much thicker plates and are designed to be deeply discharged and recharged over and over again. Many RVs use a single deep cycle battery. Deep cycle batteries are rated in amp hours. How many amps the battery can deliver for how many hours before the battery is discharged. If you enjoy dry camping, without utility hook-ups, you depend on your deep cycle battery(s) to take care of your 12-volt needs. You can purchase a deep cycle battery with a higher amp hour capacity that will last longer. The higher the amp hour capacity is the larger and heavier the battery is. If you have room for a larger battery and enjoy dry camping you may want to upgrade your deep cycle battery to one with a higher amp hour rating. If your RV is equipped with a marine RV battery you may want to upgrade to a true deep cycle battery.

Water Pressure Regulator
Water pressure at campgrounds can be extremely high and can cause damage to your RV plumbing system. Always use a water pressure regulator when you hook-up to the campground water supply. Always connect the water pressure regulator directly to the campground water source. This way you regulate the water pressure where the water pressure originates. It’s also a good idea to turn the water supply off if you’re going to be away from the campground for extended periods of time.

Water Filters
You never know the condition or quality of potable water at different campgrounds. Always use a water filtration system to filter the drinking water in your RV, or take bottled water with you for drinking water.

Pet Safety
Take updated photos of your pets with you on camping trips. If they should get lost you can use the pictures to assist in finding them.

Safe Drinking Hose
Always use a non-toxic, white RV drinking hose for your potable water connection at the campground. Take a black or green garden hose along for all other purposes such as cleaning the RV or flushing out holding tanks. You will always be able to distinguish the difference by the color of the hose.

Pre-Trip Checks
Before leaving on a trip always check the license plate and inspection/emission sticker on the RV to make sure they are current or won’t expire while you are away. Always make sure your RV insurance is current.

Simple Test for Water Leaks
A quick and easy way to test your RV plumbing system for leaks is to turn the 12-volt water pump on when there is water in the fresh water holding tank. Once it pressurizes the system and shuts off it should not come back on until you open a water faucet. If the pump does come on sporadically, even for short periods of time, water is leaking somewhere.

Trip Routing
Print a detailed map and routes of your entire trip from an Internet trip planning service. It is a free service and it is a great help in tracking distance, routes, and exits that you need to be watching for especially in congested areas. A GPS system helps too.

Proper Tire Inflation
Always check and add air to the tires when they are cold, before traveling. When tires get hot the air expands and you get a higher-pressure reading. If you let some air out they will be under inflated when they are cold.

Awning Protection
Awning tie downs help to protect your patio awning, but you should never leave your awning out during bad weather, or when you’re not physically at the campsite. Wind and rain can damage your RV awning very quickly and it can be expensive to repair.

Wiper Blade Maintenance
Check the condition of your windshield wiper blades before you leave on a trip. This is one of those things we don’t think about until the next time we need them. Periodically clean the wiper blades with windshield washer fluid.

Happy Camping!

Mark J. Polk

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America’s most highly regarded series of DVD’s, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/