| Most people think of RV travel and camping as | | | | There are other reasons people use their RV's all |
| summer time activities. Let's face it, tents and most | | | | year. Trade shows, dog shows, concerts and many |
| of the smaller trailers aren't set up for winter use. | | | | other exhibitions are occasions for people to get |
| There didn't used to be a huge demand for it. | | | | together. These days, it's pretty common to see the |
| People brought out their camping vehicles and | | | | parking lot partially filled with RV's - no matter what |
| equipment in the spring and put it all away in the fall. | | | | season of the year it is. |
| Then, they'd hunker down for the winter and count | | | | According to a recent article in the Toronto Star, a |
| the days until the nice weather appeared once again | | | | lot of Canadians spend their winter months in an RV |
| in the spring. There wasn't a lot of thought given to | | | | park in Yuma, Arizona. One of the reasons for that |
| four-season use of that stuff. | | | | location is so that they can slip across the border into |
| But, in recent years, more and more people are using | | | | Los Algodones, Mexico and have expensive dental |
| their RV's year-around. The demand for "four-season" | | | | work done for a lot less money. |
| coaches has skyrocketed. Of course, where there's a | | | | So, what's involved in the design of a four-season |
| demand, there will be manufacturers willing to meet it! | | | | RV? First of all, the sidewall and roof insulation is |
| I live near Phoenix, Arizona. Our campgrounds (RV | | | | thicker, giving greater protection from cooler |
| Resorts!) are jam-packed during the winter months. | | | | temperatures. A lot of people don't realize that this |
| These people we call "snowbirds" come down here | | | | same feature keeps the unit cooler in the summer! |
| from really cold country to spend the winter. Many of | | | | Many of the RV's can also be ordered with |
| them live in their RV's. | | | | double-pane windows for further insulation. |
| While it's true that we don't have the really cold | | | | Another important feature is that the underside is |
| weather complete with snow and ice, we do | | | | enclosed and insulated. In many of them, the heating |
| frequently see the temperatures get below freezing | | | | ducts run under the floor which keeps all the plumbing |
| at night during the winter. The RV's have to be able | | | | and sensitive systems from freezing when the heat |
| to keep their occupants warm and protect the RV | | | | is on. The valves for the waste tanks are normally |
| systems from the cold. | | | | located within this heated and insulated area, as well. |
| I don't know if you've noticed it, but I've been seeing | | | | RV's of today are a far cry from those of just 10 |
| more and more RV's on the road around the holidays. | | | | years ago. They're being used for more than just |
| Maybe it's the security hassles or the increasing costs | | | | summer vacations. RV travel has become a larger |
| of air travel that have more people hitting the road. | | | | and more important part of our national lifestyle. One |
| Maybe it's the cost or inconvenience of hotels that | | | | day, it will be commonplace to live part-time in a |
| causes people to take their RV's instead. Whatever | | | | house and part-time in an RV. |
| the reason, increasing numbers of people are | | | | Now, that will be fun! |
| choosing RV travel for the holidays. | | | | |