Hit the Road

Monday, March 1, 2010

Photo Courtesy of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.

See the "Gear Box" below for information on these items.

Judy and Dick Coderre. Courtesy photo.

Photo Courtesy of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.

More Information

goodsamclub.com
The AAA of the RV world loaded with insider tips and discounts

nhgoodsam.com
Granite State chapter of RV group with contacts around N.H.

gorving.com
Web site filled with introductory information for prospective RVersr

via.org
Nuts and bolts from Recreation Vehicle Industry Association

ucampnh.com
N.H. Campground Association’s Web site with RV parks in N.H.

That quote from the unparalleled Dr. Seuss can be applied to those who hit the open road in comfort, convenience and versatility in an RV. Recreational vehicles combine leisure, travel and camping. From huge motorhomes that have everything from wet bar to jacuzzi to towable folding campers that scream barebones, New Hampshire’s varied landscape attracts residents looking for that one-tank-away escape to visitors from afar enamored by the ocean, mountains, woods and color.

“There is such a wide range of units that there is something that can fit in every budget,” says Nashua’s Dick Coderre, state director for the New Hampshire Good Sam Club. “You can get them as fancy or as plain as you want.”

The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association says there are two main categories of RVs: motorhomes and those that are towed. Type A motor-homes are the big boys while Type B are those van campers. Type C are in between. The towable RVs include trailers (like those folding ones), truck campers and big fifth-wheel trailers.

Generally, new folding camping trailers cost from $4,000 to $13,000 and up to $26,000 for truck campers. The range is $8,000 to $65,000 for conventional travel trailers and $48,000 to $140,000 for Type C motorhomes. The big boys go from $58,000 to $400,000 and more.

The typical RVer is 49, married and travels about 26 days a year, logging some 4,500 miles. Unsure about RVing? Rent one.

Then hit the road, and oh, the places you’ll go.

Gear Box

See photo above

Know before you go with the RV Road Atlas ($29.95 with discounts for members, goodsamclub.com) from Good Sam Club, a huge community of RVers. Maps are RV-friendly with truck routes, campgrounds and service centers. Need to stay connected back home and figure out what’s ahead? Surf the Web while on the road with the NETGEAR 3G Mobile Broadband Wireless Router, which makes a portable WiFi hot spot ($109.99, netgear.com). Make the place shine with some retro Airstream trailer lights showing the classic RV ($15.95, airstream.com). The light goes inside or outside.

Impressive Fact

A survey says most RVs are owned by people aged 35 to 54.

Expert Advice

Dick Coderre’s been the state director for the New Hampshire Good Sam Club for the past four years. He has been an RVer/camper for more than 40 years and has visited 23 states. He lives in Nashua with his wife Judy.

What’s the appeal of RVing?
It allows you the freedom to travel and visit this beautiful country of ours. There are so many choices you can pick your spots. It is especially a great way to spend time with a young family enjoying the beauty of nature. In this day and age with family relocating all over the country it’s a great way to be able to visit with the family and see the grandchildren.

How do I choose the right RV for me?
Which RV to choose basically depends on the type of lifestyle you are into or want to pursue. There is such a wide range of units that there is something that can fit in every budget. You can get them as fancy or as plain as you want.

How handy do you have to be in terms of the housing unit and under the hood?
The RV itself basically is like having a home on wheels. Most of the time, if you have basic common sense, you shouldn’t have too many problems. As long as you do your preventive maintenance annually and keep up with the minor repairs then it should be in good running order. There are plenty of RV dealers around to help you with these items.

Do I need a special license to drive an RV and do you have any driving tips?
To operate an RV you do not need a special license here in the state of New Hampshire, but you should definitely check with your state licensing department as some states may require some sort of training. When purchasing an RV you should check with the dealer to see if they offer or know of some training on how to operate one of these units. You may have a license to drive but there are several other things you have to be mindful of such as height, length, width of the unit.

Some people actually live in their RVs, right?
There are RVers that are retired and are called full timers. These people live in their unit and travel all over the country. Many of these people sell off the house, cars, etc., and have an address of somewhere USA. They use mail forwarding to receive the usual mail.