It’s summer and RVs have gotten their usual annual popularity. Campgrounds are getting increasingly busier and lively as more and more families arrive hoping to have another amazing time away from their homes in the city.
These vacations are one of the reasons so many people anticipate summers because it is a time to unwind, relax, and zone out from the many complexities and worries of a typical city life. Out on campgrounds, we get to appreciate the night skies and see the stars shine better than what we see in cities because of the many lights from billboards, moving traffic, and well-lit stores.
Out in the open, away from technology, car horns, police sirens, and high-rise buildings, you experience tranquility and the type of peace that only nature brings. While spending time away from technology and city life has been found to be good for our mental health, we can’t completely do away with it.
As a matter of fact, the RV where you’ll be living in out in the wild is a product of technology and needs power to serve you and make your retreat more comfortable. The many amenities and appliances installed in these RVs require power to work and since you’ll likely be miles away from any station, you’ll need an alternative source of power like a generator. More on this later on in the article. Visit Outdoorsy to learn more about must-have amenities in RVs.
Picking an RV for Your Trip
There different classes of recreational vehicles that vary mainly due to the degree of comfort and convenience they provide. RVs can be very expensive to purchase with prices climbing as high as $200,000 and in some cases up to a million dollars for those extremely luxurious ones. Notwithstanding, there are cheaper models that provide just about the same functionality that can be purchased for a relatively lesser amount, starting at around $40, 000.
- A-class: These are the biggest, most spacious, and most luxurious types of RVs. They are basically homes-on-wheels as they have nearly all you’d expect to find in a normal home. Class As can measure as long as 45 feet and often weigh in at around 30, 000 pounds.
Depending on their price points, they can have simple interior layouts or could have mind-blowing designs. It’s not uncommon to see some of these mobile homes with king-sized beds and even mobile garages for smaller vehicles. For big families, these big boys should suffice as they can comfortably house up to 10 people.
Class As come with a ton of convenience, luxury, and comfort and owners most certainly pay handsomely to get them. Issues like lack of fuel efficiency, and limited travel routes that cannot support the big sizes of these types of RVs should be carefully considered before you buy or rent one for your vacation.
- C-class: These are smaller than the A-class but are bigger than B-class RVs, confusing right? People often wander why they weren’t just named B-class but, hey! It is what it is. They are built on truck chassis, making them less spacious than Class As that are built on full commercial bus chassis.
Class Cs have a unique “cab-over” look that makes it easy to identify them from other RVs. Aside from being a differentiating factor these cab overs allow for extra storage and bed space. Although these motorhomes won’t provide the level of comfort and luxury the big guy offers, they do come with similar amenities like bathrooms, slideouts, and kitchens on a smaller scale.
Their smaller chassis makes them more mobile and road-friendly than Class As since they can be driven or parked at places where bigger RVs won’t fit. Class C RVs can measure anywhere from 20 to 30 feet with weights maxing at around 13, 000 pounds. They are perfect for smaller size families of about 4 to 6 people. You won’t spend as much as you would buying or renting the bigger RV, but, rest assured, it won’t be cheap.
- Class-B: These are the smallest of the main types of RVs. Built on a van chassis, they typically measure between 17 and 23 feet and weigh between 4,000 and 9,000 pounds. They are often called camper vans because of their small size which is also an advantage, especially for people who enjoy camping on mountainous regions. Click here to learn more about the best RV road trip routes in the US.
Comfort is certainly not one of the selling points of these types of RVs and certainly not why many people buy or rent them. Space in these RVs is limited and a room is mostly what you’ll get for a sleeping area aside from other important parts like the kitchen and dining area.
The major benefits of camper vans are that they run on four wheels which makes them more fuel efficient, easy to park and drive through rugged parts and routes. They are perfectly suited for solo travelers and couples. Class Bs are much more affordable than the other two and renting one out shouldn’t cost so much.
Space and comfort are definitely one of the major considerations when it comes to make a choice on which RVs for road trips and vacations. However, the maneuverability of the vehicle should also be put in mind if you’d like to campout on rugged terrains and regions.
Picking a Generator for Your Trip
As mentioned earlier, most of the amenities and appliances in RVs require power to work. This is usually one of the major concerns and headaches that come with going on road trips with recreational vehicles. Often pitching tent far away from any power source, campers have to travel with an alternative power source, usually generators and solar power sources.
Generators are usually the preferred option since they can provide power that is significantly more than what solar panels would. Also, they do not require sunlight to function properly; once their tanks are filled with the right fuel, they are good to go.
There are so many sizes of generators to choose from so deciding which will efficiently power your RV can be confusing and frustrating. You can find valuable insights by visiting the best generator website online.
Additionally, the following are some of the things you should consider when making that choice:
- Size and Weight: Since you’ll be on the road, you should limit the amount of load you carry. Generators can be really heavy and so you would want to pick one that doesn’t take up much space and that won’t make the RV crawl instead of drive on the road.
- Wattage and Tank Capacity: There are generators that are just the perfect size for road trips and still generate enough power to run RVs. Having an idea of the tank size and how long it’ll run on certain amounts of fuel will also come in handy. With this information, you can plan how to manage power since there’s a limited supply of diesel or gasoline. You’d have to do some digging to find these types of generators. That said, there are tons of resources and guides online that you can work with.
- Noise Level: This isn’t much of a big deal but it won’t hurt to have a generator that doesn’t scream and disrupt the tranquility you went camping for.
Conclusion
This article merely covers a few of the technical parts of planning a memorable summer vacation. Other aspects like how to pack, safety tips, and weather conditions have to be carefully planned out to get the best experience.
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