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About RVs
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:
- 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
- Travel Trailer - heavier
unit with rigid sides designed to be towed by most
vehicles by means of a bumper or frame hitch
- Fifth Wheel Travel
Trailer - designed to be towed by a pickup truck
equipped with a special hitch in the truck bed
- Park Model - designed
for occasional relocation and will require a special tow
vehicle and a highway movement permit
- 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
include low fuel economy for the motorized RV or tow
vehicle, lack of maid service as experienced in motels
(maid service is available at a few high-end resorts), and
larger RV models can be hard for the novice to drive or
tow.
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