Caravaning Blog

From basic tent trailers to luxurious motorhomes, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to choosing an RV.

But before you start mentally calculating what you can afford, there’s a more important question: what is your vehicle capable of towing?

Types of RVs

• Pop-up Camper/Tent Trailer/Folding Camping Trailer:This lightweight unit is often bought as a first trailer, and they can be towed by almost any vehicle. Most have refrigerators and hot water, and some even have air conditioning, washrooms, and slide-out sections. Prices start around $6,000.
• Truck Camper: Designed to ride in the bed of a pick-up truck, these campers leave your truck free to tow boats, cars, or additional trailers. Once you arrive at your destination, the camper can be set up on its own jacks, allowing the truck to be driven separately. Prices start around $15,000.
• Conventional Travel Trailer: The most common type of RV, these trailers can be towed by mid-size vehicles (cars, vans, SUVs, or pick-up trucks). They often have slide-out sections that expand the space with the touch of a button. Travel trailers can come equipped with options like fireplaces, rooftop patios, and bay windows. Prices start around $12,000.
• Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer:Towed by trucks with a special “fifth wheel” hitch, these models have taller ceilings, more slide-out rooms, and way more space than their conventional counterparts. Their bi-level design allows for a spacious room over the truck bed — often with a beautiful bay window — and many models are very luxurious. Prices start around $18,000.
• Sport Utility RV (SURV):If you love your toys, this is the RV for you. Beds, tables, and couches are designed to fold against the interior walls while you’re driving, allowing for a spacious rear cargo area to store ATVs, motorcycles, or boats. Prices start around $12,000.
• Class A Motorhome:These RVs resemble a bus, and don’t need anyone to tow them — they’ve got their own engines! These high-end vehicles have all of the comforts of home, including centrally-controlled heating and air conditioning, entertainment centres, and full washrooms. You can even tow small vehicles behind them. Prices start around $70,000.
• Class B Camper Van:These incredible vehicles somehow manage to fit in a kitchen, washroom complete with a shower, and sleeping quarters — all within a space the size of a stretched-out van. Owners like that they’re easy to load and drive, and that their raised roof allows you to stand up comfortably.  Prices start around $60,000.
• Class C Mini-Motorhome:You can spot this model by the distinctive over-the-cab bunk. These units come in various lengths, and have a ton of living space — including slide-out rooms. Prices start around $60,000.
• Park Models:If you’re someone who prefers to set up once, and then leave your RV all summer, this could be the model for you. Park models are designed to be towed infrequently, and they need to be connected to local utilities.  Once it’s all set up, it’s like having a sweet little cottage. Prices start around $30,000.

Source: www.GoRVing.ca

Robb Cusack, General Manager of Fraserway RV in Bedford, says the rising cost of fuel has caused many people to downsize to smaller vehicles. This means they need to find an RV that their vehicle is able to pull along the highway. Luckily, the industry is heading in that direction.

“There’s been a move towards lighter-weight travel trailers in the last 10 years, so they can be towed by small vehicles,” says Cusack. “Some are made with recycled materials, too. There’s a huge move towards greener RVing.”

Cusack says travel trailers — which start at around $12,000 — are the most popular choice. But you need to take into consideration the needs and wants of everyone who will be traveling in the RV.

Cusack and his wife have been RVing with their four sons for years, and he says storage and space are key considerations when you’ll be sharing the space with children. You’ll want ample storage for clothes, games, and toys, as well as a bed for each family member.

“The last thing you want after a long day of travelling is to have to fold down a table and make up a bed,” says Cusack. “The beauty of bunk beds is that each kid has their own, and they can just jump in and be done with it.”

Older travellers are usually looking for accessibility when buying a new RV, and Cusack says there are plenty of models that accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. If they’re starting to find stairs cumbersome, they might consider downsizing from a fifth wheel to a travel trailer.

Cusack says RV manufacturers listened to their consumers when they complained about kids tracking in mud on their way to the bathroom. So now many RVs come with separate bathroom entrances, accessible from outside.

If you plan to be doing a lot of barbecuing outside your RV, there’s a special feature that makes it easier than ever. Many RVs are now coming equipped with outdoor kitchens — another huge request from the RVing community.

“It makes it really fun at the campsite. You can flip up this big door and have an outside fridge, freezer, grill, and microwave,” says Cusack.

Autumn Doucette, an RV sales associate at Leisure Days RV Centre in Truro, says diehard RV travellers are always excited over the new gadgets.

There’s been a move towards lighter-weight travel trailers in the last 10 years, so they can be towed by small vehicles.

— Robb Cusack

“When the campgrounds open up, and people start seeing new models — with new floor plans and new features — it makes them want to trade up,” says Doucette.

She says Leisure Days provides an accessory catalogue for their customers, and many RV owners spend years collecting everything from patio lights to palm trees to “enhance their camping experience.”

“RVing is a big lifestyle change,” says Doucette. “Usually people go into it and continue living that lifestyle.”

Before they get too caught up in keeping up with the Joneses, Doucette suggests her customers consider how they’ll be spending their time before purchasing an RV.

Some people spend a lot of time inside, so they’ll want to buy a bigger camper,” says Doucette. “Others are more outdoorsy, and will be fishing and hiking all the time, so they’ll usually chose a smaller, more simple one.”

But it all comes down to what will suit your needs now and in the future.

Things to consider…

• Will you be parking or towing? If you will be keeping your RV at the same campground all summer, there are models designed for that lifestyle.
• Do you want a model you can drive — such as a motorhome? — or will you be towing your unit? If you’ll be towing, what are your vehicle’s towing capabilities?
• How many beds will you require? Families with young children tend to prefer units with bunk beds, but older couples may just want one double bed.
• What will you need in terms of storage? If you’ll be travelling with kids, account for all of their “stuff!”
• Do you need a unit that’s wheelchair or walker accessible? Are stairs a problem for you?
• What features would really benefit your day-to-day life in the RV, and which features are interesting but optional?

Michael Porter, General Manager of Bluenose RV Centre in Bridgewater, says it’s crucial to think long-term when you’re choosing an RV.

“The biggest thing is not to buy too small of an RV, because your kids will always have friends that somehow end up going with you,” says Porter. “Buy what you want the first time, so you’re not coming back to trade in a year. It will save you money in the long run.”

So how much will an RV set you back? Porter says you can get into a brand-new, well-equipped tent trailer for as little as $6,500, or you could go the other direction where “the sky’s the limit.”

“Prices have really come down because of the weakness of the U.S. dollar, so it makes RVs a lot more affordable,” says Porter. “You get a lot more for your dollar now than you would have 10 years ago.”

Porter says there is “a great demand” for used RVs. Bluenose RV Centre sells used units, and he says they all go through the shop to have any issues corrected, and they come with a guarantee and warranty. He cautions buyers against going the route of private sale — especially if it’s your very first unit.

“We’ve had calls from people who bought a unit on Kijiji, and then the bailiff showed up and took it because there was a lien on it,” says Porter. “We hate to see people get burned that way.”

If you’re confused by descriptions of features and towing requirements, Porter suggests coming through their facility and just looking around.

“Once you start looking at the models, it’s not hard to tell what you like and what you don’t like,” says Porter. “We have everything from the smallest, lightest pop-ups and travel trailers to the big motorhomes — and everything in between.”

“We can help you find the unit that’s right for you.”

Original source: The Chronicle Herald.

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