Traveling in a car and staying in hotels is fine for a few days, but the packing-unpacking routine gets old very quickly, as does keeping a toddler quiet in a hotel room at 5:00 AM because it’s 7:00 AM at home.  Not to mention eating out three times a day.  In an RV, everything you need is always close at hand: a stocked refrigerator, a clean restroom, a place to sit or lie down and have a rest, a warm refuge when it suddenly turns chilly, a cool place when it’s hot, room for the kids to spread out their stuff, and on and on.

The scenery is better, too.  You’ll spend your nights in some of the most scenic places on earth rather than in a hotel on the busiest street around.  It’s a little home on wheels, and after a few days you’ll truly feel at home in it. You get the seclusion and natural beauty normally reserved for those willing to sleep on the ground, but with all the comforts of home. You can see the stars, hear the coyotes howl, and smell the junipers. We think you’ll love the RV experience.

No, you may drive a motorhome using a current, standard driver’s license.

There is some liability coverage included with the rental of your RV.  You can choose to purchase supplemental liability insurance to lower your deductible when you arrive at the RV station.  You can also check with your own private auto insurance company to see if they will provide some coverage as well.

Smaller RVs are only a few feet longer than a Chevy Suburban or Ford Excursion. Class C models – the most popular – are built on a full-size Ford or GMC van chassis. These same truck bodies are the foundation for ambulances, delivery vans and airport shuttle buses. The driving positions and controls are very similar to a passenger car and the vehicle handles very predictably. Even the big Class A models (they’re the ones that look like a bus) are easy to drive once you get used to them. What requires extra attention from the driver is the additional length and height. In no time you’ll get used to taking turns a little wider than usual and watching your overhead clearance.

The seats in the RVs have seat-belts and they are required to be worn while the vehicle is moving. Larger Class C models have seat-belts for up to seven passengers. This is a motor vehicle – the same seat-belt laws (and common sense) apply. Infant and child seats are also required in RVs.  Only a few RV companies will rent a car seat to you due to liability issues, but you may prefer to bring your own.

Most RV companies do not allow towing.  We think you’ll find that it’s not really a problem driving the RV wherever you need to go, and there are serious disadvantages to towing a vehicle.  It slows the RV down, makes it more difficult to handle, and makes it impossible to back up if you find yourself in a tight spot, which is inevitable.

Your rental is booked with “Convenience Kits” which typically include:

Convenience Kits also include sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, washcloths, etc.

If you love a big bath towel, then bring your own. We provide you with a customized list of items you might want to bring from home in the Adventure Kit.

We’ll handle all the details of making your RV rental reservation. We’ll help you decide what type of RV configuration will work best for you based on the number of people you have on your trip. We’ll choose a rental company with a strong reputation for service and quality. This will be your home for the duration of your trip and we want you to be as satisfied and as comfortable as possible.

We recommend a Class “C” motorhome.  Class “A” RVs tend to be 31’ and larger, and may have limited to no access on certain backroads.  Some campgrounds inside the parks may be restricted to smaller type RVs, or may have fewer larger campsites to choose from.

Below are a few more differences between the Class A and Class C motorhomes;

• Class Cs are less expensive to rent than a Class A.
• Fuel economy better than a Class A.
• Easier to drive than a Class A. Class C owners say that driving a Class C feels like driving a heavier and bigger SUV.
• Easier to find campsites, as Class A units typically start at 31’ and go up from there.
• Because it is more compact than Class A, it can be driven on most roads.
• It has more real sleeping capacity than a “bus” style motorhome, due to the spacious queen size cabover bed. Two full beds are ready to use immediately without folding down or adjusting interior furniture.
• Is much easier to drive, park, and maneuver in tight areas such as campgrounds. This feature is very important for the 1st time renter. Our customers report feeling more comfortable and familiar with driving the more “automatic” cabover motorhome.
• As per our internal statistics, is less prone to accidents involving third parties and to vehicle damage. We know since we formerly rented “bus” style motorhomes.
• Is easier to handle and drive in windy conditions due to lower overall vehicle profile. All renters really appreciate this feature!
• It has easier access with three separate entry doors, compared to one door commonly found on bus style motorhomes.
• With less interior volume to cool in the cab area during summer travel, has better driving comfort, as reported by customers. Uses less generator time to power the roof A/C, and consequently experiences less fuel expense.
• As a “van” based RV, has more readily available on-the-road service, and service part items such as filters, belts, and headlights.
• With lower profile, has easier entry/egress to vehicle along with the convenience of driver and passenger cab doors.
• It is quieter when driving, as the cab area “insulates” driver and passenger from over the road noise.

Fuel mileage will be between 7-9 mpg, depending upon the vehicle you rent. We know that RVs are at their best wandering the back roads at a leisurely pace.

A “slideout” is the section of the wall/floor that slides out the side of the vehicle when you’re parked.  It’s a great feature when you have lots of people in the vehicle.  It is MUCH roomier, because the big pieces of furniture (sofa and/or dinette) get moved 3’ outside the vehicle, opening up all that extra floor space inside.

Because of its size, an RV over 31 feet will have limited to no access on certain back roads.  Some campgrounds inside the parks will have a limited number of spots for larger RVs.

Some do and some don’t. It depends on the size of the RV and the supplier. But please allow us to make a radical suggestion. Even if you can’t imagine a week or two without a TV, give it a try. Almost without exception, families tell us that their kids seldom, if ever, watched TV and that this accounted for much of the family “magic” that took place during the trip.

The RV rental company will give you instructions on how to empty the holding tanks.  Buy a pair of heavy duty yellow rubber gloves for this task.  Basically, it’s a flush toilet with a holding tank, so it works like a normal toilet.  There is a gauge/panel that will show you the fullness level of the holding tank.  When it gets towards full (at ¾ is best) or every couple of days, you pull up to the dump station at the campground, and empty that holding tank along with the grey water holding tank (that holds the sink and shower water).

Helpful hint – empty the toilet (black) water tank first, and then use the grey water to rinse out the hose and wash out anything that didn’t go down on the first run through.

If you have 12V car cords for your devices, that’s all you need.  If not, you need AC (household) current.   This is available from the outlets in the RV when you are plugged into “shore power” at a campground or when you start your generator.  However, some campgrounds don’t have hookups, and running the noisy generator is certainly overkill for charging your camera battery.  The best solution is to go to Wal-Mart, Target, or any of the office supply superstores and buy a small “inverter”.  It plugs into a cigarette lighter and gives you a small quantity of AC juice.  They come in various sizes, but 150 watts is probably enough to run a laptop and miscellaneous adapters and battery chargers.  (No toasters or hair dryers!)  As a rule of thumb, any device with a separate “brick” in its power cord will work fine.  (Inverters may produce an audible hum in some audio devices if played while connected to the inverter.)  Just don’t buy the very cheapest units.