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RVs

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There is no one right answer to the question. The choice on whether to take an RV or a tent when setting off on a camping trip depends a lot on when you're going, how far you are going, what type of vacation experience you want, and how much can you afford to spend for the trip? Then, there's safety to consider.

First, what time of year will you be taking the trip, spring, summer, fall, or winter? Most travelers set off when the weather is optimal, choosing northern destinations in the spring and summer, and more moderate climates in the fall and winter. If you're in an RV, you can vary this schedule a lot as most RVs come equipped with air conditioning to help weather extreme heat and furnaces to ward off colder temperatures. Tents, for the most part, are fair-weather vacation tools. True, there is camping gear designed for cold-weather adventures into places where RVs only dream of going, but cold-weather camping requires a person stout of heart and educated in how to do cold-weather camping safely.

Second, how far will you be traveling? RVs require a monetary investment, first to purchase, and then to maintain. But, for the die-hard camper who hits the road every chance they get or for a family going for the weekend or longer, an RV makes perfect sense. In deciding, one should consider the cost of insurance, tires, oil changes, winterizing, chemicals for the holding tanks, gasoline for the tow vehicle or motorhome, fuel for the power generator if equipped with one, replacement of the RV/marine battery when needed, propane to run the cook stove, oven, furnace, and hot water heater. Then there are the parking fees, which in most areas run $15 to $35 per night, depending on what type of hookups are needed. There is, as with a tent, a time investment required when setting up an RV site. Just as tents require assembly and staking, an RV must be leveled, the jacks lowered, and the system connections made. Modern RV designs and park set-ups, however, have greatly reduced the amount of time it takes to do this. Advanced organization and preparation are essential to making the journey a pleasant one, regardless of what method you choose. While tents are more compact and site fees are significantly less, RVs are typically always packed with the necessities and ready to use. It's usually a matter of tossing in a suitcase full of clothes, appropriate for the season, adding a few groceries, and filling the fuel tank just before taking off.

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