RV There, Yet?

Hit the open road and explore the great outdoors in style.

We’ll help you choose a camper and a campsite, arm you with delicious recipes everyone will love, and gear you up with clever products and informative guides to make your trip even more memorable.

A quick guide to choosing a travel trailer.

MOTOR HOME

A motorized RV—Type A, B, or C—is designed as temporary living quarters for recreational camping, travel, or seasonal use and is built on a motorized chassis.

TRAVEL TRAILER

Conventional travel trailers offer a wide range of floor plans, sizes, and conveniences.

POP UP TRAILER

Folding camping trailers have canvas sides that extend to reveal queen-size beds. The folding camping trailer stows away for easy, lightweight towing.

FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER

Fifth-wheel travel trailers typically have the same amenities as the conventional travel trailer but are constructed with a raised forward section that provides a spacious bi-level floor plan. These models are designed to be towed by a pick-up truck equipped with a device known as fifth-wheel hitch.

TRUCK CAMPER

The truck camper is a portable unit designed to be loaded onto, or affixed to, the bed or chassis of a truck. The slide-in units are easily loaded and unloaded from the bed of the truck, freeing the truck’s bumper to tow boats, ATVs, and other trailers.

SMALL VAN CAMPER

A smaller vehicle that provides both transport and sleeping accommodations.

Source: GoRVing.com

How-to’s and what-to-do’s.

Four things to know before jumping on the bandwagon.

1 Rooftop tents are quick and relatively easy to set up, and they give you the flexibility to camp just about anywhere. They store on top of your car. Options range from hard shell to soft shell and typically take less than 5 minutes to set up.

2 Sleeping on top of your vehicle, away from damp and rocky ground, can be a more comfortable experience—and most options come with a foam mattress. It is also safer, more secure, and dryer than traditional tent camping.

3 Does your roof rack rate? Make sure your rack’s dynamic weight capacity and its static weight capacity can hold a tent system—they are heavy, take up a lot of space on the roof, and will affect gas mileage.

4 Rooftop tents are best suited for individuals or couples who have no mobility issues. Climbing up and down the ladder can be inconvenient for late-night bathroom trips and for travel with pets or small children.

READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2023 ISSUE