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By Tom Zoccolo, For The Associated
Press
HOLMDEL, N.J. — If you've never vacationed in
a recreational vehicle, your first reaction might be "I can't afford to
rent an RV" or "They're too large to maneuver."Or maybe even "I don't want to end up like Robin
Williams," who not only had trouble driving one in the movie
"RV," but also had a run-in with the septic tank.
But RV dealers and rental companies are not going to hand you the keys
without some preparation. I rented an RV for the first time last summer, and
I didn't head out on vacation not knowing what I was doing. A tutorial before
you drive the RV off the lot is the norm.And while gas prices have
made it more expensive to take road trips in any kind of vehicle, RVs do come
in many different models and sizes
— from truck campers and towable trailers to motor homes and even sport
utility RVs. There's one for every budget and family type. Winnebago
Industries Inc., the largest maker of motor homes, unveiled a 2009 ERA (a
class-B motor home model) that gets 22 miles per gallon, while the largest
motor homes get about eight miles per gallon, according to industry data.Courtney Robey,
public relations manager for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association,
says RVs can also
be a good deal for families. Despite gas costs, "a family of four can
travel much more cheaply in an RV than by flying, where you'd have to buy
four tickets. And you're not going to be eating out at restaurants three
times a day. You're going to be cooking in the RV. You also don't have to pay
for a hotel room. So a family can save money in the long run."FIND MORE STORIES IN: Canada
| Indiana
| Midwest
| Montana
| South Bend
| Lake Michigan
| Robin Williams
| Billings
| RVs
| U-Haul
| Yogi Bear
| Tracks
| South Haven
| Recreational
Vehicle Industry Association | Trails
| class-C
Expect to pay about $1,000 a week for a class-C motor home that
sleeps up to seven. Class-C motor homes may also have a queen-sized bunk over
the cab that sleeps two more.Luxury rigs run $90-$200 per day; more
modest travel trailers run $28-$85. Multi-day deals are usually available.
You pay gas plus a fee
for the number of miles you drive (some companies sell miles as a package).
Most rental companies also offer inexpensive packages with sheets, towels,
dishes, and pots and pans so you don't have to pack all that.As
with summer house rentals, RV rentals often go early. Many dealers have their
fleet rented by early spring for summer travel. The RVIA
website —www.gorving.com
or 888-467-8464 — can help you find dealers, manufacturers, campgrounds and
general information.The tutorial you get before driving away will
likely include how to use the generator, water pump, water heater, furnace
and liquid-propane
tank; how to fill the freshwater tanks, dump the black-water (toilet) and
gray-water (sinks and shower tanks); when to start electricity and which
modes (battery or AC) to use; and when to run the refrigerator on gas or
electricity.I booked a Midwest trip
through KOA (Kampgrounds of America) —www.koa.com or
888-562-0000. Some RV camps charge a family overnight rate; others charge per
person or per child. I found a campground in South Haven, Mich.
—www.covert-southhavenkoa.com—
near Lake Michigan. We paid $42 a night to
stay there, and stored our RV at the campground for $5 a night, while taking
a sightseeing trip by rental car in South Bend,
Ind., and Chicago. We called the KOA campground with
a return date and time, and the owners not only removed the RV from storage
but set it up at a drive-up campsite complete with hookups, folding chairs
and campfire ready to go.There are more than 450 KOA franchises
in the U.S. and Canada. Most sites cost $25-$40
per night. You can order a KOA Directory (P.O. Box 30558, Billings,
Mont., 59114,
$4 shipping, or online) or pick one up free at any
KOA.The KOA Value Kard Rewards program
($24 for a year) saves you 10% on KOA stays, provides a website where you can
track your travels and rewards points, and mails you a KOA directory each
spring.Other resources for finding RV campsites include Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, www.campjellystone.com,
800-558-2594, $30- $50 a night, about 70 locations; www.reserveamerica.com,
which lists private and government park campsites; and www.recreation.gov,
which lists campsites in federal recreation areas. Camping in a national park
typically costs less than $20 a night, not including park admission fees.Woodall's
North American Campground Directory —woodalls.com— lists over
14,000 private, independent campgrounds, service centers and attractions,
including maps and rules of the road for each state and Canadian province.
Go Camping America —www.gocampingamerica.com—
also lists private parks and campgrounds nationwide. A business called Tracks & Trails
—www.tracks-trails.com—
prepares customized self-drive itineraries for the Western U.S. and Canada that
include RV rentals and reservations.I also used the Automobile Club
of America —www.aaa.com— for mapping
out my trip, and planned the least expensive gas stops through www.gasbuddy.com.A
few things to keep in mind before you go:DRIVING: Get directions
for the straightest, easiest route, and practice parking. Don't speed; you'll
need extra room to stop. Learn to use
your side-view mirrors (and rear camera if there is one). Most motor home
generators automatically turn off just before the fuel tank is completely
empty. There will still be some gas left to drive on, but you should gas up
immediately.ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: Lower the jacks when you arrive
at campsites to balance and stabilize your RV, and raise the jacks before
departing. Also, when leaving campsites, lower the TV antenna and close
outside door steps, the canopy and slide-outs (walls). Apply the parking
brake when stopped and release it before departing.INSIDE: When
the RV is in motion, all passengers should be belted and you shouldn't try
to cook. Bring a 30/15-amp electric adapter and
an outdoor long heavy-duty extension cord, plus a cable wire for the TV.
Bring marine toilet paper, which degrades easily, and disinfectant for the
toilet. To conserve water, shut the shower off while soaping up.THE
SEPTIC: Don't be intimidated! The black tank (sewer waste) and gray tank (water
waste) are located beneath the RV. A panel in the galley
displays tank levels. Wait until tanks are at least three-quarters full
before you empty them; otherwise they won't drain properly. Dump contents of
the black tank first so the soapy water from the gray tank can clean out the
hose. Put a tray of ice cubes down the toilet into the black tank after
pumping out, but before hitting the road. The jiggling ice can help clean the
tank.And remember: Robin Williams made it look harder than it really
is.Copyright
2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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