Month: December 2021

Which RV Class is Best for You?

/ National Indoor RV Centers

Not all RVs are created equal. The perfect adventuring companion for one RVer might feel clunky or limited to another. A family that enjoys the practical coziness of a Class B RV might not get the same benefit out of riding in a roomy Class A RV—and vice versa!

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a weekend warrior or a regular cross-country adventurer: the RV lifestyle has something to offer you. There’s a sense of freedom and authenticity that comes from seeing America (or the world beyond). By picking the right RV type, you can ensure your trip is off to the best possible start before you’ve even left your driveway.

Read to the end for a link to a downloadable NIRVC motorhome buyer’s guide with in-depth RVing 101 videos from NIRVC’s Angie Morell.

In the meantime, here’s the best RV class for you …

… If You Mainly Do Weekend Trips

You’ve got a lot of options to choose from for weekend trips! Which RV can depend on how much time you plan on spending inside once it’s parked at a campsite. RVers who want to spend time inside, watch some TV, and do some cooking will likely benefit from a Class C RV or Super C RV—both of which offer ample space to lounge around while remaining relatively easy to maneuver in and out of campsites.

Meanwhile, Class B RVs are perfect if your adventures are mostly happening outdoors. These compact RVs are often called camper vans or sleeper vans for a reason: they offer a reliable place to sleep and little else. While many provide indoor cooking spaces and bathrooms, they’re an incredibly affordable and practical option for drivers who are planning outdoor activities.

… If You’re Planning a Cross-Country Adventure

Making long-distance trips requires a combination of space and practicality. On the one hand, having enough room to stretch out and relax is vital for recharging after long distances on the road. On the other hand, larger RVs come with trickier considerations for driving and parking, and this can be a hassle if your trip includes mountain roads.

Class C RVs are the most reliable if you’re planning to go coast-to-coast. They offer enough amenities to maintain a comfortable life on the road while their truck chassis provides an accessible, maneuverable drive.

… If You Want to Live in Your RV Full-Time

This one can also vary, both on what the terms of your living condition are and what you’re planning to get out of life in an RV.

Life on the road full-time is possible in any size of RVs, but smaller ones can start to feel cramped, fast. A Class A RV means you’ll never have to worry about space, comfort, or features, but it does mean some parts of the country can be frustrating to drive through during the winter months. Meanwhile, a Super C RV might not offer as much space, but it more than makes up with extra flexibility and maneuverability.

… If You Want to Travel Like a Rockstar

This one is easy: pick a Class A RV. No other class of RV offers the same degree of luxury and amenities as these palaces-on-wheels. Each one is a comfortable, completely self-contained living situation, meaning you’ll never have to worry about feeling cramped, bored, or restless on the road.

… If You’re Traveling for Work

From indie musicians to nature photographers, Class B RVs remain the favorite for professionals on the go. While picking one means making a few compromises in sleeping space, they’re incredibly easy to get on (and off) the road, which can make a huge difference for a professional on-the-go.

SUMMARY:

Of course, no two RVers are exactly alike. Every person gets something different out of adventures on the road, which means a different type of vehicle best suits every person. That’s why there’s no substitute for taking the time to explore the ins and outs of your prospective RV to understand the unique advantages of your vehicle. There’s also no substitute for having an RV expert on your side when you’re shopping for one.

National Indoor RV Centers would love to be your go-to resource for all things recreational vehicles. Our staff of certified RV Lifestyle Specialists will work with you to find the best possible ride. We don’t just get people on the road, we keep them there with a full suite of RV maintenance, storage, and detailing services.

Download Angie’s NIRVC Motorhome Buyer’s Guide below.

f_NIRVC_BuyersGuideDownload

Then jump on our website and search our inventory today at NIRVC.com or call 800.250.6354 to begin the next chapter of your RV journey. See you soon!

The Dos & Don’ts of RV Campgrounds!

/ National Indoor RV Centers

Visiting an RV campsite in your fancy new RV is easily the best way to camp. The awesome part about RV parks is that they offer something for everyone, meaning everyone can get their own unique adventure out of them. Some campers prefer to spend quiet evenings watching the stars while others are focused on perfecting their grilling skills. There’s no single right way to camp, meaning RV campsites offer plenty of flexibility!

That said, your neighbor’s sense of adventure might be completely different from yours, and it’s important to respect that. To that end, here are the unspoken rules of RV camping.

NIRVC PRO TIP!

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out two of the four RVing 101 videos that Angie created for tips & tricks around Setting Up and Taking Down camp at an RV campground:

Keep your campground clean.

This one should be a no-brainer, but every RVer has experienced a messy campsite at some point or another. Just follow the golden rule and leave every campsite in the same condition that you’d want to find it in. Nobody likes spending the first hour of RV camping picking up someone else’s beer cans, after all.

Don’t park RIGHT next to another camper (unless you have to).

If your campsite allows you to pick your own spaces, then consider giving your RV neighbors a little space. As a plus, you’ll be getting extra space too! In the event that a cramped campground or an inflexible reservation system requires you to park next to another camper, try and be mindful of their space by giving them plenty of activity room in front of their RV.

Do arrive (and set up) early.

Every RV camper also has a horror story of a group that kept the entire campground up by driving in late and setting up at midnight. While people are attracted to RV camping for a wide variety of reasons, they’re united in distaste for these kinds of campers. When in doubt, plan to arrive at your campsite as early as possible so that you can unpack, set up, and enjoy the rest of your day. Even though RV camping is chock full of fun detours, distractions, and delays, planning for an early setup gives you better leeway if your schedule changes.

Don’t knock on doors unless there’s an emergency.

RV campers are a notoriously friendly crowd, and there’s always bound to be something exciting going on at a campsite–be it a campfire or a pickup game of frisbee golf. However, you also want to respect other campers’ space and privacy. While it can be tempting to go door-to-door in order to make new friends (especially if they’ve bought the newest model of your favorite class A, B, or even Super C motorhome!), refrain from actually knocking on someone’s door unless there’s something URGENT that they need to know about.

Do be mindful of pets.

RVers are a diverse group, and they come with an equally diverse range of pets. As you never know how friendly an animal might be, make sure to give a respectful distance to any pets you encounter, especially if you’ve got your own pet with you. If a cute-looking dog turns out to be aggressive, you’ll likely prefer to find that out from its owner–nobody likes explaining a Chihuahua bite to the paramedics

Don’t hog the shared bathroom.

We get it, camping can get messy. Any RV campsite is going to have plenty of opportunities for muddy adventures, and that can mean having to hose off at the end of a long day. That said, remember that the campsite’s shared bathroom is just that: a SHARED bathroom. Nobody likes having to wait in line for the bathroom because another camper is doing all of their dishes in the sink.

Do maximize your RVing experience by joining AIM Club.

Short for All-Inclusive Motorhome Club, organizations like AIM Club let you maximize your RV camping experience by meeting like-minded campers. In addition to offering awesome discounts and incentives on important RV services, this club gives campers access to adventure-filled events! You can learn more about all of its awesome benefits by clicking here.

By following these best practices, you can better enjoy your time at RV campsites and keep your fellow campers happy while you do so! Remember that other RV campers are also at the campsite to go on adventures of their own, and that can look different for everyone. By being respectful of other camper’s privacy, space, and pets, you can keep things cordial–and make some new friends while you’re at it!

Happy travels!

4 RV Destinations You Don’t Want to Miss!

/ National Indoor RV Centers

Florida
Best Months: Any

You don’t earn a name like “Sunshine State” accidentally. The climate is just one of the many reasons to visit Florida. These also include accessible beaches, easy-to-drive roads, and plenty of interesting tourist destinations. Did we mention that there’s plenty of sun?

Florida is known for being a super RV-friendly state, and that translates to awesome RV accommodations and friendly rates for RV camping. Some of the most popular destinations include the Florida Caverns State Park—which allows guests to hike near breathtaking rock formations—and the freshwater springs at Juniper Springs National Recreation Area.

If you venture out to Orlando, there’s always the option to check out Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, which combines RV camping with all the magic of a Disney Park visit!

South Dakota
Best Months: April-September

While most people don’t associate this state with being a trendy tourist destination, it offers a unique look at America that’s unlike any other place in the country. Combined with accessible roads, beautiful scenery, and plenty of interesting tourist stops, it can make for an easily memorable RVing experience.

There’s a certain living history to South Dakota that’s easy to pick up across long peaceful drives in your motorhome on its gentle roads. You can feel shades of America’s storied past in locations like the Badlands National Park, which offers breathtaking rock formations that have a certain rugged, fantasy magic to them.

One required destination on any South Dakota trip is the Wall Drug Store, a mom-and-pop store that’s blossomed into a full-on tourist destination. Featuring a mall, general store, and plenty of quirky merchandise, it feels like a glorious time capsule to a different era—one that is best experienced while traveling in your luxury motorhome.

Arizona
Best Months: April-June, September-November

Unless you really, really like the heat, you’ll probably want to visit Arizona during one of its cooler months. During the summer, there doesn’t feel like much to do besides sit in pools and wish that you were somewhere cooler.

Once you get past the heat, however, you’ll find that Arizona offers some of the most breathtaking desert scenery in the country. There’s still plenty of wild west spirit left along the state’s open roads, and it’s impossible not to feel it during long, scenic drives in your motorhome.

While Arizona is home to one of the most popular RV destinations in the country—the Grand Canyon—it’s also home to some lesser-known ones. The Petrified Forest National Park allows guests to wander across stone log fragments while basking in the beautiful scenery of the Painted Desert. Meanwhile Meteor Crater allows RVers to see the best-preserved meteorite impact site on earth—just miles from the historic Route 66!

Colorado
Best Months: May-October

While Colorado winters can be incredibly beautiful, they can also be a bit chilly well into May. As long as you’re willing to put up with catching a surprise blizzard for half of the year, Colorado offers breathtaking scenery and plenty of things to do while traveling in your motorhome. As many of the state’s RV destinations are within a day or so of Denver, it’s easy to fit plenty of interesting adventures into a relatively short RVing trip.

Rocky Mountain National Park is considered a national destination by mountaineers and nature photographers, and it’s not hard to see why: it’s incredibly beautiful! The western half of the state is dotted with plenty of interesting mountain towns, offering plenty of chances to absorb the state’s interesting history while venturing through its western half.

Colorado is also an incredible place for watching fall colors, as long as you’re ready to drive away when the surprise snow rolls in! There are plenty of byways around Fort Collins and Leadville that are blanketed with bright fall foliage and unparalleled views.

Once you have a destination, you’ll want to download and read our “NIRVC Buyer’s Guide” (see file below) to make sure that you’re driving the right motorhome for your adventure. Every driver is different and having an RV (recreational vehicle) that fits your unique needs goes a long way towards making your trips more memorable and enjoyable.

National Indoor RV Centers (NIRVC) employs expert technicians and RV Lifestyle Specialists at each of our locations in order to help each customer, whether you’re an RV enthusiast or a brand new RVer, find the luxury motorhome that is just right for you and your loved ones.

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