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Make yourself at home on the road
Live down by the beach one week and way up in the mountains the next? It sounds like an impossible dream, but motor-homers do it all the time. Whatever draws you to the mobile life--adventurous domestic vacations or permanently itchy feet--RVs & Campers For Dummies helps you feel right at home. The book explores the key aspects of glamping-with-wheels. Discover how it's possible to bring beauty spots right to your doorstep without sacrificing domestic comforts like a comfy bed, private bathroom, and wholesome, healthy home cooking!
In a down-home, friendly style, mobile-living veterans and husband-and-wife team Christopher Hodapp and Alice Von Kannon welcome you inside to discover everything from deciding to rent or buy the vehicle that best suits your needs to planning and prepping your first journey and then setting yourself up wherever you arrive at the perfect spot. Along the way you'll learn how to adapt your driving skills to pilot your home on the road, as well as how to keep every aspect of it shipshape and ready for action.
Explore your RV and camper options
Stock up with the right supplies
Get a snapshot of the mobile home lifestyle
Troubleshoot common problems
Getting there is half the fun--and this guide shows you how to do it safely and in style. So, buckle up (or relax in the back) ... it's going to be a wild but incredibly comfortable ride!
Auteur
Christopher Hodapp and Alice Von Kannon are a husband-and-wife team who've had a lifelong love affair with the RV lifestyle. Alice grew up with travel trailers, and Chris traveled and worked out of a motorhome for many years as a commercial filmmaker. Veteran RVers, they've explored 44 of the 50 U.S. states so far, staying in literally hundreds of campgrounds and parks.
Texte du rabat
Take the comforts of home anywhere you want to go!
There's no better way to explore the world than in an RV, be it a motorhome, fifth wheel, or trailer. The best parts of home like a comfy bed and a bathroom go with you. Plus you'll have the freedom to go almost anywhere! But buying an RV is a major investment, so it's wise to learn all you can about choosing and maintaining one. This book has you covered. Select the vehicle that suits your needs, learn how to care for it, and hit the road with confidence!
Inside...
Résumé
Make yourself at home on the road
Live down by the beach one week and way up in the mountains the next? It sounds like an impossible dream, but motor-homers do it all the time. Whatever draws you to the mobile lifeadventurous domestic vacations or permanently itchy feetRVs & Campers For Dummies helps you feel right at home. The book explores the key aspects of glamping-with-wheels. Discover how it's possible to bring beauty spots right to your doorstep without sacrificing domestic comforts like a comfy bed, private bathroom, and wholesome, healthy home cooking!
In a down-home, friendly style, mobile-living veterans and husband-and-wife team Christopher Hodapp and Alice Von Kannon welcome you inside to discover everything from deciding to rent or buy the vehicle that best suits your needs to planning and prepping your first journey and then setting yourself up wherever you arrive at the perfect spot. Along the way you'll learn how to adapt your driving skills to pilot your home on the road, as well as how to keep every aspect of it shipshape and ready for action.
Contenu
Introduction 1
About This Book 2
Foolish Assumptions 3
Icons Used in This Book 4
Beyond the Book 4
Where to Go from Here 5
Part 1: Getting Started with RVs and Campers 7
Chapter 1: Joining the Cavalcade of Rolling Nomads 9
Everybody's Doing It 10
Weekenders and vacationers 11
Snowbirds and retirees 12
Full-timers 12
Workampers 14
Road scholars 15
Going green and living off the grid 15
Glampers 16
International tourists 16
The Song of the Open Road 18
Intrepid autoists 18
Getting scientific 19
President Eisenhower and the Interstate Highway System 20
The Road Less Taken 21
Chapter 2: Surveying the Wide World of RVs and Campers 25
Motorhomes 26
Class A motorhomes 29
Class B motorhomes 34
Class C motorhomes 37
Towables 41
Toy haulers or sport utility trailers 44
Lightweights 45
Teardrop trailers 46
Off-road trailers 47
Pop-up trailers 48
Fifth wheels 51
Truck Campers 53
Chapter 3: Decisions, Decisions: Knowing What You Need 55
To Pull or Be Pulled, That Is the Question 56
Go big or go home: Opting for a motorhome or fifth wheel 57
Space Odyssey: How Much Do You Need? 60
Traveling with kids 64
Traveling with pets 65
Working from the road 67
Honestly Assessing Amenities 68
Fireplace 68
Washer and dryer 68
Dishwasher 70
Part 2: Buying Your RV 73
Chapter 4: Fitting an RV into Your Budget 75
New or Used: The Wide World of RVs 75
Buying used 76
Buying new 77
Taking Out a Loan 78
Expecting the Unexpected 80
The tax man cometh 80
Insurance 81
Storage 82
Chapter 5: Doing Your Homework 85
Working on Your Short List 85
Getting to know the major players 86
Considering smaller RV makers 86
Zeroing in on the RVs you're interested in 90
Finding Resources You Can Trust 90
The Internet 92
Books and magazines 94
RV shows 96
Campgrounds 96
Factory tours 97
Chapter 6: Dealing with Dealers 99
Getting the Lay of the Land 99
Choosing an RV Dealer: Giant and Nationwide or Small and Local 101
Following the Rules of the Road: Tips for Working with RV Dealers 104
Worrying Over Warranties 106
Chapter 7: Adding a Tow Vehicle to Your Trailer 111
Choosing Wisely 112
Finding Your Vehicle's Tow Ratings 114
Shopping for a Tow Vehicle 116
Understanding truck sizes 117
Cab and bed configurations 121
Considering optional features 123
Chapter 8: Getting Hitched and the Alchemy of Weight 127
Getting to Know Your Trailer Hitch 128
The hitch receiver 129
What's what on the trailer hitch 130
Trailer hitch sizes 132
Weight-carrying and weight-distributing hitches 133
Weighing Your RV 134
Part 3: Taking Your First Camping Trip 139
Chapter 9: Stocking Up on Accessories: What Your RV Didn't Come With 141
The Bare Necessities 143
Wheel chocks 143
Leveling blocks 143
Water hoses 144
Sewer drain hoses and accessories 145 Electr...