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| In
North America, the term RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (or
RV, as they are more commonly known), generally
refers to a dual purpose vehicle that can also be
used as a temporary or full time home - essentially,
a MOTORHOME. |
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In
Britain, on the other hand, common terms describing
vehicles classified as RVs in the US are caravan, camper
van and indeed, motorhome. In other parts of the English
speaking world, such as Australia and New Zealand, the
term RV may be used to describe a sport utility vehicle
(SUV) or 4X4.
A
minimal RV typically contains beds, a table, food preparation
and storage areas. Larger models come with full bathrooms,
refrigerators, living areas, master bedrooms and entertainment
units. Some RVs
are very elaborate, with satellite TV and Internet access,
slide-out sections, and awnings; Most RVs can cost (new)
from less than $10,000 to $500,000. Some of the more
elaborate models can cost much more than that.
As
their name suggests, RVs are mainly used for recreational
purposes. RVs have varied uses - from short vacations
and camping trips to full-time living at various levels
of comfort. RV travel is a burgeoning segment of the
international travel industry, and many RV rental firms
- both large and small - rent vehicles in many cities
around the world.
Several
classes of vehicle are generally classified as RVs:
Truck
Camper: Usually used on pickup trucks, a truck camper
is a shell, usually made of fiberglass or aluminum,
mounted atop the truck's rear bed. It is generally large
enough to be suitable for camping purposes.
Pop-up
Camping Trailer: This type of RV is a lightweight
trailer unit with collapsible sides, for quick setup
at the campsite and easy storage. The unit is suitable
for towing by most vehicle types.
Caravan
(sometimes called Travel Trailer): This is a towable
unit with rigid sides, designed to be towed by larger
vehicles.
Fifth
Wheel Travel Trailer: Designed to be towed by a
pickup or medium duty truck with a special "Fifth
Wheel" hitch.
Available in a range of comfort levels, this RV class
usually has taller ceilings and slide-out walls. These
are generally the most spacious of all RV models. Despite
their size, however, they are quite easy to handle.
Other great Fifth Wheel features include many home conveniences
such as bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and entertainment
units.
One of the greatest features to me is the ability to
detach the tow vehicle from the trailer. You can then
park your trailer and use the truck for sightseeing,
shopping or basically whatever you please.
Toy
Hauler: Toy hauler trailers are one of the hottest
trends in RVing, and a total hoot to boot. Going under
several names, they are also known as Toy Box,
Sport Utility Trailer (SUT), Sport Utility
RV (SURV) and Ramp Trailer. Designed as part
living space - usually located in the front end of the
vehicle - and part storage compartment in the rear,
they are great for taking motorcycles, snowmobiles,
watercraft, bicycles and the like on the road, and are
a big hit with travelers who want to take their active
lifestyle with them on vacation.
Motorhome:
The term originally referred to the vehicle manufactured
by the Winnebago company almost 50 years ago and still
serves as a synonym for vehicles produced by Winnebago
Industries.
Now
produced by many different manufacturers both in the
US and abroad, the term "motorhome" has come
to refer to single unit recreational vehicles, as opposed
to the towable type.
Motorhomes
are usually divided into three separate class types:
Class A Motorhomes
Constructed
on either a coach or commercial truck chassis, Class
A motorhomes are what people usually think of when speaking
of motorhomes. Practical in wide open spaces, these
are the slow, lumbering, gas-guzzling hogs that folks
worry about getting stuck behind. They can, however,
have a lot of class attached and are ideally suited
to the serious, full-time RVer.
Class
B Motorhomes
Class
Bs are built using a conventional van which has had
a raised roof added or the back replaced by a low-profile
body. Modern Class B motorhomes have progressed far
since the early days of van conversions.
You
will find that today's Class B motorhome can be as fully
appointed as many a full-sized motorhome. They are also
much easier to maneuver in urban settings, and are much
easier to use, especially for drivers who are not accustomed
to driving large vehicles.
Class
B motorhomes are very popular as rental vehicles, especially
in Europe. They are also popular with former full-time
RV addicts who want to continue RVing on occasion but
don't want the upkeep and expense of owning a large
Class A motorhome, or for families with older children
who need a dual purpose vehicle that gets more than
just weekend use.
Class
C Motorhomes
Class
Cs are built on a truck chassis with and attached cab
section. Class C motorhomes are intermediate in size,
being larger than the Class B's, yet smaller than the
Class A's.
These
midrange motorhomes offer many of the advantages of
bigger motorhomes, yet generally take up less space
and are easier to handle on some roads. They are easier
to drive and maneuver than the average Class A, and
are essentially a motorhome body stuck on a van chassis.
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