How to Choose the RV of Your Dreams (36-2)
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For
millions of Canadian families, traveling with a recreational
vehicle represents the most affordable and enjoyable vacation
alternative. Whether you yearn for the quiet wilderness, or
use your RV as a "base camp" for a full schedule of
outdoor adventures, the opportunity to travel to far-flung destinations
and have all the comforts of home is a major attraction of the
RV lifestyle.
More than 25% of Canadian families enjoy overnight camping activities
on a regular basis, touring the continent in a range of vehicles
specifically designed for comfort, efficiency, and versatility.
From the most basic pop-up camping trailers to the upscale motorcoach
models, each RV shares the same prime objective - to provide
the greatest degree of family values in the tourism and recreation
sector.
At RV Lifestyle Magazine, our mission throughout our 36 year
history has been to deliver all the information a Canadian family
needs to make the most of their personal RV experience. Our
expert staff reviews each new model, applying years of hands-on
camping experience to help readers select the ideal RV for their
needs, and their budget, and we present a cross section of the
most interesting models within each category in the pages of
the magazine, and on our website.
Selecting the perfect RV is the first adventure that you and
your family will enjoy. This special Buyer's Guide edition of
RV Lifestyle Magazine will help you decide which model best
suits your family's lifestyle. As you proceed toward the final
purchasing decision, you should be prepared to spend some time
inside each of the vehicles that seem appropriate for your needs.
Over the years, we have spoken to thousands of RV enthusiasts,
and their suggestions for new RV buyers always reflect the same
advice - imagine that you are in a campground, during a heavy
rainstorm - you want to be comfortable and entertained, with
a reasonable feeling of open space within the vehicle. The experienced
RV'ers will tell you that their first choice was at least one
size too small for their needs - and that the uninterrupted
line of sight from one corner of the RV interior to the far
corner was a critical factor in selecting an interior layout.
With a multitude of floor plans available, and the option of
slide-out sections to create additional interior space, you
should be able to pick a layout that you can be comfortable
in without too much difficulty.
Our Road Test experts expand on this suggestion by recommending
that you spend time in the RV, and check out the ease of movement
through the interior layout as you simulate the various family
activities that you will enjoy inside the vehicle. Have the
family sit down at the dinette table, and see if the galley
will be large enough for your needs. Ask the tallest member
of the family to check out the designated sleeping locations,
the washroom facilities, and the shower to see if there is sufficient
room - then check to see if the "resident chef" can
reach the overhead storage compartments in the galley.
Is
the RV a Good Fit?
Each RV has its own distinctive flair, so the selection of decor
and floor plans are essentially a matter of personal taste,
but there is a significant difference in the way the various
vehicles handle, even within the same basic RV category. If
you are contemplating the purchase of a towable RV, it is essential
that you consult an expert to be sure that the RV you desire
can be towed by your present family vehicle - you must consider
a range of automotive systems - the cooling system should be
heavy-duty to handle the increased heat built up when towing
a significant load; the transmission should be equipped with
an auxiliary tranny cooler; the electrical system must be able
to handle the RV's 12 volt lighting requirements; the braking
system must be synchronized with the RV brakes for smooth and
secure performance; the hitch must match the load specifications
of the RV and tow vehicle, and it must be installed with precision
to maintain the optimum handling characteristics of the RV/tow
vehicle combination.
If you are thinking of purchasing a new vehicle to tow your
RV, keep in mind that the RV dealers will be better prepared
to advise you than the automotive dealers - unless you find
a truck dealer who has specialized expertise within the RV towing
field.
If you decide that a motorized RV is the perfect choice for
your family, your decisions will include not only the optimum
size and layout of the vehicle, but the engine and chassis as
well. With a range of chassis, suspension and handling options,
there is a considerable difference between the roadability of
motorhomes - you should definitely take a test drive on both
highway and winding roads to be sure that you have selected
a motorhome that you will be comfortable driving.
To help you select the RV of your dreams, we recommend that
you visit your local RV dealer to fine-tune your list of requirements.
You can locate a list of RV dealers through our website, www.rvlifemag.com,
or visit the RVDA of Canada website at www.rvda.ca for links
to the provincial RV dealer's association in your area.
Eight
Types of RV's in the Class of '07
The RV market has evolved to meet the requirements of a growing
number of active outdoor enthusiasts, with so many shapes and
styles that the novice RV buyer may find the selection quite
mind-boggling, but the categories are really quite distinct
- here's the basic information you need to decide what type
of RV is appropriate for your family.
Towable
RV's
 The
most basic category of RV is the fold-down camping
trailer, consisting of a box-type chassis, encompassing
a lifting mechanism that raises the roof of the trailer, and
a tent section with pull-out extensions to provide a rather
spacious home away from home for up to eight people.
The fold-down camping trailer category includes compact units
that are light enough to be towed by any family sedan, SUV or
van, as well as deluxe models that feature slide-out kitchenette
and dinette sections in addition to the traditional front and
rear sleeping areas. One of the major advantages of this category
of RV is the compact size and weight of the vehicle - from an
aerodynamic viewpoint, there is very little drag, which makes
the RV especially easy to tow. Most fold-down camping trailer
enthusiasts attach an optional awning and a screen room to their
trailer, which greatly increases the living area in a campsite
situation.
In recent years, some manufacturers have adapted their fold-down
camping trailer line to respond to the demand for true wilderness
units, suitable for use with off-road tow vehicles.
In the final analysis, the fold-down camping trailer appeals
to its fans not only for the towability and low cost of the
vehicle, but also for the quality of the "camping"
experience - there's nothing like camping under canvas to experience
the full glory of the great outdoors, and the fold-down camping
trailer provides that element, along with a range of comfort
and convenience that is far beyond even the most upscale family
tent.
 Moving
up the RV ladder, the class of 2007 includes a full range of
towable travel trailers, from lightweight
and compact models in the 18-24 foot range, to the luxurious
full-size models that can reach 36 feet in length, and can include
up to four slide-out sections for the ultimate in RV comfort.
The towable travel trailer is designed to be pulled by a van,
sport ute or pickup equipped with a class 3 or class 4 equalizing
hitch. The use of sway control and load equalizing bars with
the larger travel trailers dramatically enhances the handling
of the vehicle - your RV dealer can help you select the ideal
hitch for your rig, and show you how to achieve the best towing
configuration.
For RV enthusiasts who own pick-up trucks, the range of models
is quite extensive. In the towable category, the largest and
most luxurious RV's are built to be towed with a fifth wheel
hitch - hence the category "fifth wheels".
While you can tow either a travel trailer or a fifth wheel with
a pick-up truck, the advantage of the fifth wheel RV is that
the front of the trailer is designed to incorporate the fifth
wheel hitch component, and when this is coupled with the hitch
that is positioned in the truck's load bed, above the rear axle
in the tow vehicle, the RV and tow vehicle combination could
be as much as six feet shorter than a similar size travel trailer.
While fifth wheels are available in sizes from about 21 to 40
feet, most RV enthusiasts prefer the mid range models.
The "split-level" interior of the fifth wheel trailer
adds an interesting interior element to the design, and the
towing capacity of the larger pickup trucks allows the RV manufacturers
to make these the most luxurious of the towable RVs.
 Among
the options available to owners of pick-up trucks, the most
compact and versatile RV category is the truck camper.
These RV units slide right into the load bed of the pickup,
and are securely tied down to become an integral part of the
vehicle. The selection of a truck camper as the family RV opens
the door to a greater range of camping adventures, since the
RV can literally go wherever the truck can - making it ideal
for backwoods excursions. The truck camper can also free-up
the towing capability of the truck, and many owners tow a boat
behind their truck camper, for the ultimate outdoor recreation
package.
Truck campers are available in a wide range of sizes accommodating
up to six people in relative comfort (considering the compact
size of the camper unit). The truck camper can be lifted off
the truck using the support jacks, allowing the camper to be
stored during the off-season, or placed in a campsite while
the truck is used separately.
Motorized
RV's
 For
those who plan to travel extensively, the most convenient RV
categories fall within the motorized sector. Class
A motorhomes are the largest and most luxurious
of the RV models, yet they are engineered to drive as easily
as a family van, with power steering, power brakes, automatic
transmission, and a host of optional handling enhancements that
can produce a ride that is surprisingly stable and responsive
- you just have to get used to the larger size of the vehicle.
Within the Class A motorhome category there are substantial
differences in handling, depending on the chassis, engine, tranny,
and suspension configurations. It is highly recommended that
you ask your local RV dealer to demonstrate the ride and handling
characteristics of the various models available.
The smallest of the motorized RV categories is the Class
B motorhome, built on a chassis modified from
the full size vans offered by the automotive industry. The class
B motorhome is nimble and easy to drive, and it can easily tow
a small travel trailer or a boat. Some of the more elaborate
models offer slide-out sections to make the most of the interior
space available. The most popular class B motorhome options
and accessories include awnings and screen enclosures, which
add to your campsite living area.
 The
Class C motorhome is a hybrid vehicle,
combining a strong truck chassis with an RV component that can
rival the luxury of class A units of similar size. Initially
designed as a lower cost alternative to the class A models,
the class C motorhomes have become more upscale in recent years,
with the addition of slide-out sections to greatly increase
interior living area. The trend to "basement storage"
has filtered down from the class A category to the class C models,
and most of the 2007 vehicles offer generous exterior storage
compartments.
Both class A and class C models are quite capable of towing
a small or mid-size car, much as a yacht is equipped with a
"dingy". This is a configuration that many RV enthusiasts
find to be the ideal combination for extensive touring - you
can hook-up the motorhome at your campsite, and head off in
the "dingy" to explore the local attractions.
 The
most popular new segment within both the towable and motorized
RV categories is the "toy hauler"
which incorporates a special "garage" area within
the RV to accommodate the transport and storage of a range of
recreational vehicles, from motorcycles and snowmobiles to ATV's
and compact cars. With a special firewall to keep the RV section
of the vehicle isolated from the "garage", the toy
haulers offer the ideal solution for active sporting families.
Park
Models
At the top end of the RV range are the "park models"
which are the largest of the towable recreational vehicles.
These units are intended for semi-permanent installation at
the campsite, yet they can be hitched up and moved when desired.
Recent modifications to the zoning regulations in a number of
jurisdictions have impacted this category of RV - you should
consult with the RV dealer in your area as well as the campground
where you intend the RV to be placed for information specific
to your area. (Page Top) |
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