Gulf
Coast Campgrounds
Northwest
Florida
Alabama
Gulf Coast
Mississippi
Gulf Coast
Story courtesy of RVIA
For a hassle-free outdoor vacation surrounded
by the comforts of home, consider a recreation vehicle (RV):
motorhome, travel trailer, folding camping trailer, truck camper
or conversion vehicle.
Why? A Louis Harris and Associates
survey showed widespread agreement that whatever the type, RVs
provide the freedom to travel where you want when you want;
offer the convenience of a home away from home; and are the best
way to travel with family or children. RV vacationers avoid
problems of canceled and delayed flights, lost luggage and
moving in and out of hotel rooms, Harris found.
RVs comprise a whole family of vehicles
that combine transportation and temporary living quarters for
recreation, camping and travel. Some provide a simple place for
sleeping and eating, while others are virtually luxury lodges on
wheels. Amenities range from central heat and air conditioning,
fully equipped kitchens and baths, queen-sized beds and plenty
of storage space to new innovations like
entertainment electronics, satellite dishes and expandable,
"slideout" rooms.
Recreation Vehicle Industry Association
(RVIA) specifies RV types by their characteristics and provides
their typical prices. RVs fall into two general categories:
towables (folding camping trailers, truck campers and travel
trailers) and motorized (type A, B and C motorhomes). Closely
related but sold by auto dealers rather than RV dealers are
conversion vehicles (van, truck and sport utility vehicle
conversions)
Towable RVs include:
Folding Camping Trailer -- A
lightweight unit with collapsible sides that fold for
aerodynamic towing by a motorized vehicle, even some small
compact cars.
When set up, they provide kitchen,
dining, sleeping and, in many models, bathroom facilities.
Folding camping trailers sleep two to eight people and retail
for an average of $5,600. Models are available from $3,300 to
$10,500.
Truck Camper -- A camping unit that is
loaded onto, or affixed to, the bed or chassis of a pickup. Most
models have kitchen, dining, sleeping and bathroom facilities.
Truck campers sleep up to six people and sell from $4,000 to
$21,900. Most consumers buy models costing about $12,500.
Travel Trailer -- A unit designed to be
towed by a car, van or pickup. Travel trailers provide comforts
such as kitchen, bathroom, sleeping, dining and living
facilities, electric and water systems and modern appliances.
Like all towable units, they can be unhitched from the tow
vehicle, which is then free for convenient local travel to and
from the campsite. Travel trailers sleep four to eight people.
Conventional travel trailers sell for an average of $13,900, but
models range in price from $9,500 to $63,000 depending on size
and features.
Fifth-wheel models, which are built to
be towed by pickups with a special hitch, sell from $12,000 to
$97,000. The average retail price is $25,100.
Motorized RVs include:
Type A Motorhome -- The living unit has
been entirely constructed on a bare, specially designed motor
vehicle chassis. As in all motorized RVs, the kitchen, dining,
sleeping and bathroom facilities are conveniently accessible
from the driver's area. Living systems generally include
electricity, heating, air conditioning, water and propane gas.
Type A motorhomes sleep from two to six people and retail for an
average of $94,700.
Type B Motorhome -- More commonly
referred to as a "van
camper," a type B motorhome is a panel-type truck to which
the RV manufacturer
adds sleeping, kitchen and/or bathroom facilities. Most have
electric and water hook-ups, fresh water storage and a top
extension for added
head room. Type B motorhomes sleep up to four people and sell
for an average
of $48,000.
Type C Motorhome -- Built on an
automotive manufactured van frame with an attached cab section,
the RV manufacturer completes the body section containing the
living area behind and above the cab. This design allows for the
usual RV kitchen, dining, bathroom and living facilities along
with more sleeping room than other types, as the area over the
cab will accommodate a double or queen sized bed. Type C
motorhomes sleep six to ten people and sell for an average of
$49,800.
Conversion Vehicles:
Van, truck and sport utility vehicle
conversions are typically manufactured by an automaker, then are
modified for added comfort and convenience by a company
specializing in customized vehicles. Changes may include side
windows, carpeting, paneling, custom seats and sofas,
entertainment systems and assorted accessories.
Van conversions -- The most popular
conversion vehicle, these units provide comfortable and
luxurious seating for seven, though some seat as many as 12
people.
They are popular for towing travel trailers and folding camping
trailers and for group travel, including carpooling. Van
conversions sleep from two to four people and sell for an
average of $29,200. Models are available between $15,000 and
$41,000.
A free "getting started"
video full of RV shopping, rental and travel tips, plus a
list of local dealers and campgrounds, is available by
calling 1/888-Go-RVing. More detailed information, including a
free booklet on "Choosing and Using Your RV" and a
directory of RV shows, publications, rental sources and clubs,
can be obtained by writing RVIA, P.O. Box 2999, Dept. P, Reston,
VA 20195. Internet users can order these and other publications
on-line, as well as access extensive information, news and tips
on RV travel at www.rvia.org
and www.GoRVing.com. RVIA
is the national association representing over 500 manufacturers
and component suppliers producing 95 percent of all RVs made in
the U.S.
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