An Overview of Recreational Vehicles

You've taken that first step and decided to rent or purchase an RV. That's great, but which one? With the wide variety of recreational vehicles on the market, it can help to have a guide to the basic styles available. By reading through this quick list of RV style basics, you, too, can get up to speed on which motorhome is right for you.

Question: I see the terms "RV" and "motorhome" used frequently. Are they all talking about the same thing?
Answer: these terms are used interchangeably to mean a vehicle you can both drive and sleep in. There are several classes of these, as detailed below:

Class A Motorhome
These are premium camping vehicles, specially built on a commercial truck chassis. These RVs come in both gas and diesel models. Basically the size of a city bus, many Class A motorhomes have slide-out compartments that can be opened at the campground to increase the living space inside. These vehicles typically contain luxurious features such as ceramic tile baths, televisions with DVD players, custom kitchens and so on. Definitely not for "roughing it", these beautifully built motorhomes provide the ultimate in camping comfort.

Class B Motorhome
Commonly known as van conversions or camping vans, these vehicles also provide the luxury of taking your hotel room with you, but on a much smaller scale. They might take the shape of a full-size van customized with a sleeping area, eating space, and a small kitchen with water storage tanks. A Class B motorhome can also be a "pop-up" camper van with extended head room and living space built in to the passenger area.

Class C Motorhome: If you've ever passed an RV on the highway that had an extra compartment above a truck cab, you've seen a Class C motorhome. These RVs may or may not have slide-out sections to expand the living space, and usually have a separate bedroom plus additional sleeping space above the cab. A step down from the Class A models, they're still a comfortable way to travel long distances and save the

Question: I understand now about motorhomes, but what's a "fifth wheel"?
Answer: A fifth wheel trailer is one type of towable camping trailer, but there are other kinds of towables, as well. Here's a breakdown of their similarities and differences.

Fifth Wheel Trailer
This type of camping trailer is towed by way of a large goose neck hitch, installed in the bed of a pickup truck. Someone who purchases a fifth wheel would need to have this equipment installed in their truck in order to tow it. Some RV rental companies deliver fifth wheel trailers to customers who intend to live in them for an extended period. These camping vehicles can be quite luxurious, with full-size refrigerators, microwaves and their own heating and air conditioning systems.

Towable Camping Trailers
There are several levels of these towable trailers, but, in general, they are travel trailers that are towed by a ball hitch attached to a truck, van or SUV rather than a gooseneck hitch. The largest of these can sleep up to five adults and feature comfortable kitchens and baths.

Whether you decide to purchase the most luxurious Class A "diesel pusher", or to rent a comfortable, affordable travel trailer, RV camping can provide years of happy vacation memories. The most important thing is to get out on the road and start camping!

Be sure to check out the RV's and Fifth Wheels that El Monte RV Rents...

RV Camping "Essentials"

You have booked your RV rental or purchased your first motorhome, but now have no idea how to outfit it for the perfect RV vacation. You're in luck, because this list of essential RV camping items will help you get on the road fast!

Keeping Things Safe and Comfortable
Love to travel, but have trouble adjusting to the road? Why not take along some of the things that make your own home a haven?

• Battery-powered alarm clock - an alarm clock can keep busy families on schedule!
• Comfy, durable bedding – check RV stores for sheets that fit odd-sized RV beds.
• Don't forget pillows!
• Comforters or quilts for cool mountain nights.
• Towels and washcloths
• Biodegradable toilet paper
• Net bag or reusable shopping bags for laundry
• First Aid kit
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Green cleaning supplies and washable rags for cleaning
• Toiletries in refillable containers – Fill and store for the next trip!
• Glasses or contacts and supplies
• Medication and prescriptions
• Cash and credit/debit cards
• Comfortable clothes and shoes (remember swimsuits!)
• Flip flops for showers and beaches
• Reusable shopping bags for groceries and recyclables
• Lawn chairs for campfire comfort

Personal Items Worth Packing
The point of having downtime is to relax and enjoy it! Remember to pack these things if they're important to your peace of mind.

• CDs, mp3 player or tapes
• Cell phone and calling cards (just remember that you are on vacation...)
• Laptop computer/wireless card (again, remember that you are on vacation...)
• Connector cable for cable television
• Camera and batteries, film if shooting 35mm photos, download cable for digital

Keeping Your Trip on Track
There's nothing worse than driving on a dark two-lane, trying to find the campground. Here are some tips for items that will keep your trip on track. Some of the following items should be packed in resealable, waterproof bags in an easily-secured area of your vehicle.

• GPS system
• MAPS! Print from Internet sites or purchase a set for the RV
• Campground reservation receipts and directions
• Vehicle and health insurance information, vehicle registration.
• Emergency contact information in case of accident or illness, list of known allergies

Vehicle Safety and Maintenance
We'd all like our vacations to be trouble-free, but vehicle breakdowns occasionally occur. Why not keep the disruption to a minimum by being prepared?

• Roadside assistance identification and contact info
• Good flashlight with built-in strobe
• Toolbox with basic home and auto maintenance tools
• Tire pressure gauge (a lighter operated pump might also be a good idea)
• A set of jumper cables

RV Essentials

• Waste water and fresh water hoses
• Rubber gloves for handling waste water hoses
• Bacterial additive for waste water tanks (no toxic chemicals, please!)
• A LARGE roll of duct tape! (you'll be amazed what it can do in a pinch!)
• Heavy-duty extension cords (at least 25' long)
• Wheel blocks and trailer levelers

Kitchen Cupboard Packing
Packing an RV kitchen is as an art! The trick is to plan meals ahead and buy food items that can be used for more than one meal. Get creative and think of one-pan delicacies, you'll save dishwater and spend less time in the kitchen!

• Favorite spices and condiments in labeled, refillable containers
• Basic kitchen tools – can opener, stirring and serving utensils, spatulas, coffee scoop, knives and cutting board
• Paper goods – aluminum foil, paper towels, trash bags
• Dishtowels
• Plastic, washable table cloth for picnic tables
• Laundry and dish washing detergent in refillable containers
• Plastic tubs with lids for dirty dishes, kitchen tools
• Unbreakable dishes, inexpensive silverware (saves on trash generated!)
• Plastic food storage containers
• Food and drink items from your menus, packed to minimize breakage from shifting
• Snack items in tubs
• Small set of pots and pans—skillet, sauce pan, large pan for chili, pasta
• Coffeemaker, tea bags, coffee, creamer, sweetener

This may seem like a long list, but once you've collected these items the first time, they can be packed, stored and labeled for the next trip. When you've fine-tuned this a bit, you will know just what you need for carefree RV camping. So don't just sit there - start packing!