| What would you say if I told you I knew the best | | | | factoring in RV ownership costs, and considering |
| kept secret for traveling in America? A safe, cost | | | | resulting tax benefits, a family of four can spend up |
| effective, hassle-free way to see more of this | | | | to 70 percent less when traveling by RV. |
| beautiful country we live in. A way to travel at your | | | | What exactly is an RV? RVIA describes an RV as a |
| own pace, on your own schedule, while building lasting | | | | vehicle that combines transportation and temporary |
| memories with your family and friends. It sound too | | | | living quarters for travel, recreation and camping. RVs |
| good to be true doesn't it? Wait, it gets even better. | | | | come in many different types, sizes and price ranges. |
| What if I told you it's not by plane, train, bus or your | | | | Some are very basic starting around $ 4,500 |
| family automobile? Are you curious? Would you like | | | | providing sleeping arrangements and cooking facilities. |
| to be let in on the secret that over 7 million | | | | On the other end of the spectrum there are |
| households in America already discovered? If so, let | | | | $1,000,000 plus luxury land yachts on wheels. |
| me introduce you to the wonderful world of | | | | RVs are categorized as either motorized or towable. |
| Recreation Vehicles (RVs) and camping. | | | | Motorized RVs are built on a vehicle chassis and |
| I'm not talking about roughing it in the backwoods | | | | powered by either a gasoline or diesel engine. There |
| with tents and sleeping bags, not that there's | | | | are three classifications for motorized RVs, type A, |
| anything wrong with camping like that. What I'm | | | | B, and C. Type A motor homes are the largest of |
| talking about is your home away from home. An RV | | | | the three ranging from 25 to 45 feet. They are the |
| is your living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom and | | | | ones you see that look similar to a bus, and |
| bathroom on wheels. Not to mention air conditioning, | | | | depending on the price they can be equipped with |
| satellite TV, and being able to take a hot shower. An | | | | features like washers and dryers, multiple slide out |
| RV offers you the freedom to roam Americas back | | | | rooms, satellite dishes, home entertainment systems |
| roads and the flexibility to go whenever and | | | | and much more. Type B motor homes are the |
| wherever you want. Imagine this, you wake up one | | | | smallest of the three ranging from 16 to 20 feet. |
| weekend on a beautiful crisp fall morning and just | | | | They are conversion vans that have been modified |
| outside your front door is a 20-acre lake full of | | | | and equipped with all of the comforts and amenities |
| hungry rainbow trout. How about a two-week | | | | found in other RVs in a compact size. Type C motor |
| summer vacation 50 yards away from the tranquil | | | | homes also referred to as mini-motor homes are built |
| sound of waves breaking on the beach, or just a | | | | on a cutaway van chassis and range in size from 20 |
| Saturday afternoon tailgate party at your favorite | | | | to 31 feet. |
| college football game. Your RV is a private | | | | Towable RVs are towed behind a vehicle then |
| guesthouse for relatives when they come to visit | | | | disconnected and set up when you arrive at your |
| and a weekend getaway to your favorite | | | | destination. This allows you the benefit of using the |
| campground. | | | | tow vehicle to make a trip to the store, or go sight |
| It's a 30-day cross-country history lesson. It's | | | | seeing while you are camping. Towable RVs include |
| whatever you want it to be and best of all it's fun | | | | folding camping trailers, truck campers, travel trailers |
| and it's safe. Perhaps this slogan used in a Go RVing | | | | and 5th wheel travel trailers. Folding camping trailers, |
| advertisement sums it up the best. Waiting for the | | | | often referred to as pop-ups, are the least |
| fish to bite you wonder how smart your daughter | | | | expensive RV and the lightest in weight. Some |
| has gotten and how much your son is starting to | | | | pop-ups offer the basic essentials while others come |
| look like you and you wonder why you never noticed | | | | equipped with features like a water heater, |
| until now. But you might as well head back to camp; | | | | bathroom, furnace and refrigerator. When set up |
| the fish seem to be as relaxed as you are. | | | | they can range in size from 15 to 24 feet. Truck |
| Rediscover your family while you discover America. | | | | campers are campers loaded onto the bed of a |
| Wherever you go you're always at home. Go RVing | | | | pickup truck. This makes for a very versatile RV that |
| was formed in 1994 by representatives of the | | | | can access back roads and remote areas other RVs |
| Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), | | | | can't get to. Travel Trailers are a popular choice |
| Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), | | | | among RVers because of the wide array of floor |
| National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds | | | | plans available. Whether it's for two people or eight |
| (ARVC) and leading state RV and campground | | | | you can find a model that will suit your needs. They |
| associations. Go RVing works to distribute information | | | | range in size from 15 to 35 feet and offer all the |
| about the benefits of RV travel and ensure the | | | | comforts of home. Fifth wheel travel trailers are the |
| quality of RV products and services. You can call | | | | ones you see that extend over the bed of the |
| 1-888-Go-RVing or visit the Go RVing website at to | | | | pickup or custom tow vehicle. Because of their |
| get a free CD-ROM or video that will introduce you | | | | bi-level design 5th wheels offer the most living space |
| to the world of RV travel and camping. | | | | of any towable RV and are often times the choice |
| Traveling in the United States and life in general | | | | for full-timing RVers. They range in size from 21 to |
| changed dramatically after the cowardly terrorist | | | | 40 feet. |
| attacks on September 11, 2001. A nation of people | | | | Traveling by RV makes even more sense when you |
| who always felt safe and secure against any type of | | | | take into account there are over 16,000 |
| outside threat, and a nation of travelers who never | | | | campgrounds, both public and private, for RVers to |
| gave a second thought to their mode of | | | | use in the United States. We also have 367 national |
| transportation are now weary about what to expect | | | | parks that offer over 400 campgrounds with 29,000 |
| next. RV travel, already at an all time high, is more | | | | campsites and our 156 national forests offer more |
| appealing since the tragic events of 9/11. Recognized | | | | than 4,000 campgrounds. While you visit these |
| travel authority and former President of RVIA, Mr. | | | | campgrounds across the U.S. you don't need to be |
| David J. Humphreys had this to say, "Families want to | | | | concerned about staying in touch with your family |
| escape to America's outdoors in these uncertain | | | | and business contacts. On a Travel Channel Program |
| times, spend quality time together, and avoid hassles | | | | titled "Secrets of RVs" hosts and publishers of |
| associated with flying-all long-term trends likely to | | | | former RV Companion magazine, Mike and Beverly |
| sustain continued RV market growth." | | | | Wieber, discussed the latest technology for RVs |
| U.S. ownership of RVs has reached record levels, | | | | involving in motion satellite systems and high speed |
| reveals a 2005 University of Michigan study | | | | Internet access. With this technology you can access |
| commissioned by Recreation Vehicle Industry | | | | online maps, travel information, and weather reports. |
| Association (RVIA). Nearly one in 12 U.S. | | | | More and more campgrounds are offering telephone |
| vehicle-owning households now owns an RV. That's | | | | connections as part of their full hook-up and the |
| nearly 8 million households-a 15 percent increase | | | | latest trend is to provide RVers with wireless high |
| during 2001-2005 and a 58 percent gain during | | | | speed Internet access at the campground. |
| 1980-2005. The study also stated demographic trends | | | | If you're concerned about purchasing an RV only to |
| favor substantial RV market growth. As baby | | | | find out the RV lifestyle is not meant for you try |
| boomers enter their prime RV buying years over the | | | | renting one before you buy. There are over 400 |
| next decade, the number of RV-owning households is | | | | national rental chain outlets and RV dealerships that |
| projected to rise to nearly 8 million in 2010, a gain of | | | | rent all types of RVs. Another way to learn more |
| 15 percent, outpacing overall U.S. household growth | | | | about RVs is to attend a local RV retail show or visit |
| of 10 percent. Other contributing factors to RV | | | | an RV dealer near you. For more information about |
| market growth are low interest rates, long term | | | | rentals, RV shows, and RVs in general visit To locate |
| financing and the lure of the great outdoors. RVs can | | | | an RV dealer check your yellow pages or visit So |
| be financed for periods of 10, 15 and in some cases | | | | what are you waiting for? Come join the other 30 |
| even 20 years, resulting in low monthly payments | | | | million RV enthusiasts in America and remember |
| and tax deductible interest. RV vacations are more | | | | wherever you go you're always at home. |
| affordable than travel by personal car, commercial | | | | Happy Camping, |
| airline or cruise ship, according to vacation | | | | Mark |
| cost-comparison studies by PKF Consulting. Even | | | | Copyright 2006 by Mark J. |