Did you know you can get a taste of the open road in your own RV for about the same cost of staying in a hotel? And you don't have to worry about maintenance and upkeep…
RVshare is a cool resource that pairs you with privately owned RVs to rent! It's kind of an "Air BnB" for campers!
These vehicles are in great shape because they're loved by their owners. It's just that these folks know they're not on road every day, so why not share the fun and make a little return on their investment?
What's the best RV for you to try?
Pop-Ups and Ultralights…
Alex and I got into RVing with a pop-up camper. These are really cool little trailers that have all the comforts of home with the rustic appeal of a tent. And that's basically what they are, a tent that pops-up from a trailer.
These are very easy to tow and the smaller units can be towed by virtually any vehicle with a trailer hitch. They even make pop-ups for motorcycles! They're easy to set-up and tear-down and many of them even have extras like air conditioning or heating, full kitchens and some even have lavatories and showers.
Along with these you might check out the "teardrops" and "ultra-lights." These are solid body trailers that have about the same amenities as the pop-ups, but you're not in a tent.
Again, easy to tow, really easy to set-up and the higher end units have a few more bells and whistles.
Here's a nice video that shows you how to pop up a pop-up!
Travel Trailers and 5th Wheels…
If you've got a vehicle with a little more towing capacity––and be sure to check this out BEFORE you rent a unit––you can move up to the travel trailers.
Alex and I graduated to our 24 foot trailer when we wanted a little more comfort and a little less set-up. We towed it with a full size pickup truck. We had a blast in our "Gypsy Wagon" and travelled all over the country with it. We stored it at a seasonal campsite near home giving us a great out-of-town retreat.
Many of these can be towed with a standard hitch. Depending on the size, they range from very easy to tow to something requiring a little more confidence.
These units have all the luxuries of home on wheels! Smaller units are great for one or two people, larger units can accommodate an entire family, pets and gear! Some are even "toy haulers" that actually have a garage built in for your 4-wheelers, motorcycles or personal watercraft.
As I said, be sure to check your vehicle's towing capacity and make sure you have the right hitch. 5th wheels attach to a special hitch in the bed of a pickup truck.
Motors…
Powered RVs range from camper vans to Class A motorhomes. And you have a couple of options in between.
The camper vans are exactly what you think. They're standard size and even min-vans that are rigged with everything you need for comfort on the road and in camp. You sleep off the ground and most have kitchens and other accessories. Some have lavs and showers.
They're easy to drive and give you access to just about any campground that has drive-in sites. Class B motorhomes are still on the smaller end of the scale, but are usually built in larger vans and have full amenities.
For a little more room, choose a Class C. The Class C is built on a full truck chassis usually with a van style cab. Now these can still be fairly small and easy to drive, but can range to a longer truck type of vehicle that may require a little more courage.
These vehicles have everything you need for life on the road. You'll have a full kitchen, lav and shower. Larger units have master bedrooms that require no setup. Some can sleep a family of 6 or more.
If you want to go the full monty, try a Class A. Some of these are like luxury hotel suites on wheels. Lots of space, lots of storage to carry lots of stuff! The Class As are the "motorcoaches." You sit high off the road with lots of visibility. These usually provide the best ride, but they are usually a bit wider and taller than other vehicles. They're really not that difficult to drive––in fact they can be quite easy to drive, but they do require confidence and you have to be aware of the size.
Here's a nice, short video about the different types of motorhomes…
Other considerations…
Of course the bigger the motor, the more fuel you're going to use. You'll also want to be aware if you're renting gas or diesel.
The owners will tell you how to do your hook-ups. Even the smallest pop-ups can usually connect to electric, but also be aware that units with kitchens and baths are going to require water and sewer hook-ups. You don't have to be a master plumber to make it all work, but you'll want to know how to connect everything properly, how to watch your tank capacity and how to flush and clean the sewage tanks.
And if you want to bring a "toad" or a "dinghy," you'll have some work to do to get your car ready. Many of these units will tow a car so you can wander away from camp without having to disconnect the whole rig.
A little research and a little advance planning will help you make the right pick!
RVshare is a great option to ownership, or a great way to try before you buy!
We'll be doing some future episodes with some of these vehicles and our plans are to have a Big 60 Life "Tour Bus" to visit you soon!
Do YOU have an RV? Check out RVshare to turn your idle RV into a side hustle!
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