RVing
What is RVing? The term RV-- short for recreational vehicle-- has been broadly used to describe everything from van conversions to fifth-wheels to trailers. However, the former often lacks proper sanitation containment, and the latter two won't go far without a vehicle to tow them.
In its most basic form, an RV is a house built on a motorized vehicle. That is, it will have sleeping quarters, a shower, a toilet and sink, a kitchen, a heating and cooling system, an electrical system, fresh water and waste holding tanks built on a motorized chassis.
I'll admit, I am a huge fan of RVing. My husband and I spent exactly one night in a tent many years ago. It was a night to remember, with my 6-month-old fetus kicking my belly from the inside, and my one-year-old toddler kicking my back from the outside! The next morning we packed up our tent, drove to Las Vegas, and checked into a hotel. The following weekend, we purchased a 27-foot RV and life was sweet thereafter.
Of course, that's an exaggeration, but you get the point. As soon as we had kids, our tent camping days were over. It was so liberating to just arrive at a destination and be there! No packing, unpacking, hauling, etc. I always knew where things were and what we didn't have, we could stop to purchase or do without.
Renting an RV is not cheap, but it can be very economical. It's particularly popular with international visitors, especially young families with children. Why? You can pick one up in Las Vegas or Salt Lake City and hit several national parks over a two-week visit. It is, in my opinion, the quintessential American experience. Where else can you travel in such luxury to such unparalleled beauty for so little? You are literally surrounded by nature. (See "US Destinations" for additional detail.)
Several years ago, gas reached $5 per gallon in California. We made a brief transition back to traveling by car, staying in lodges and eating in restaurants. We quickly remembered why we went to the trouble and expense of RVing and why it was worth every penny! While it's not for everyone, it may be for you.
Enjoy the comforts of home in an RV
Advantages of RVing: (comfort, convenience, flexiblilty)
1. Go virtually anywhere in comfort.
2. Pack & unpack once
3. Prepare your own meals
4. Adaptable for most ages & abilities
5. Economical for families
6. You're immersed in nature without the bugs!
June Lake, eastern Sierrra Nevada, CA
Disadvantages of RVing: (work, parking, servicing.)
1. You may not want to shop, cook or clean.
2. You can't go everywhere; length, width restrictions
3. It's work to drive and service (fill/empty tanks).
4. The larger the RV, the more space you need to park.
5. Expensive for solo travelers or long distances.
Getting to Know Your RV: Your rental RV will likely come with the following features:
bed(s)- Usually 2 or 3 queen or full-sized beds, depending on the size and configuration of the RV.
kitchen- Containing a small sink, microwave oven, 2 or 4 burner stove, refrigerator, freezer, cooking and eating utensils. Ours has a conventional oven, though some newer models don't.
shower- Possibly my favorite feature of the RV. The ability to get clean and stay that way for longer than an hour. Who could have thought you could be clean while enjoying the great outdoors!
toilet with sink- The toilet empties into the black water tank; the remaining drains empty into the grey water tank. When you dump your tanks, you dump the black first, then the grey.
batteries- There are a minimum of two; one is in the engine, the other is in the coach (house). Both are 12 volts, but they are different types. The engine battery is a starter battery and can provide the cold cranking amps to start an engine. The coach battery is a deep-cycle battery and is used to power your electrical lights, water pump and forced-air heater. The engine battery gets recharged by the alternator when the engine is running. The coach battery needs to be recharged somehow. That "somehow" is how my husband and I spent almost a decade and a lot of money...
charger/converter- This device is supposed to recharge your coach battery when you are plugged in. (That is, when your RV is connected to a 110/120VAC electrical outlet.) It also converts the incoming AC into DC so your lights, water pump and heater will work. The problem is that the voltage on the charger never gets high enough to adequately charge the battery. Which is why many now have the next feature.
inverter/charger- This device allows you to run your 120VAC electrical appliances when you're NOT plugged in or you don't have the generator running. It does so by taking the charge from your house battery and changing it to 120VAC. That said, if you're operating any appliance that draws a lot of power, such as a blow dryer or the air conditioning, you should be plugged in or start the generator. This is because the power draw from these appliances will quickly drain a battery. The inverter gets its "juice" or input from the RV either being connected to "shore" power (i.e. the RV is plugged into an electrical outlet) or you starting the generator (below).
generator- This is that loud, humming noise you will sometimes hear in campgrounds. It is usually powered by the same type of fuel as the RV engine (that is, gas or diesel.) It converts gas or diesel fuel into 120VAC so you can run these appliances as described above.
RV Etiquette:
1. Don't be a parking hog; park in the back and walk.
2. Drive in right lane except to pass; use turnouts to allow others to pass.
3. Make sure your sewage hose is connected before opening the waste water valve.
4. Empty wastewater tanks ONLY at sanitation stations.
5. Be a good neighbor; don't run your generator during quiet hours; don't play music so others can hear it.
Gros Ventre, Grand Tetons NP, WY
Driving Tips:
Breathe! Try to relax and enjoy the experience. You are on vacation and there's no need to rush.
Backing up: Have someone outside the vehicle directing you; they can see things you can't.
Making right turns: Turn the steering wheel to the right when you right rear wheel(s) clear whatever you don't want to hit (e.g. curb, rock, tree).
Windy days mean being blown around and poor fuel economy. Slow down & pull over if necessary.
Anticipate longer driving times: With stops count on traveling no more than 50 miles per hour.
Driving at dawn & dusk carries with it the added risk of hitting wildlife; use caution; avoid night driving.
Avoid cities- Go through them, no to them. The size of the vehicle makes it a liability rather than an asset.
Park with an exit strategy to avoid being "boxed in".
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
All alone, early June in Kings Canyon NP
Planning your RV trip
1. What to expect- If you're visiting a US national park in summer, know that most visitors come during this time. Expect heat, congestion, road construction and crowds.
2. Shop & gas up before you enter a national park. Most are isolated, making backtracking into town expensive.
3. Reservations: I recommend getting these when possible, particularly for international visitors.
4. Without reservations: Most parks visitor centers have a list of campsites and usual fill times. If arriving without reservations, plan to arrive before these times.
5. Some roads or view points within the parks may have over-sized vehicle restrictions. Check with the National Park Service (NPS) before you go.