Some tips before hitting the road with your RV

Chris Mahony

By Chris Mahony,
Special to Wheelstalk.com –

Summer is in full swing; the provincial parks are packed with tourists, the lakes are littered with boats and the roads are filled with every shape and size of recreational vehicle….or better yet, your home away from home.

If this is your year to get out in an RV for the first time, choosing the perfect RV to travel in can seem like a daunting task, but worry not there’s plenty to choose from and always something to suit your needs.

When picking the right RV for you and your family there are a number of factors to consider. The trick is to ask yourself a few questions: What size of RV am I comfortable driving? Would it be more cost effective to tow a smaller unit? Do I need a special towing license? How much room do we need inside?

The variety of RVs available these days provides choice to suit any budget or lifestyle interest. From towable RVs such as the folding camping trailer, truck camper or fifth wheel to a motorized Class B, Class C, Class A or Park model.

Take a travel trailer, for example.

In Ontario, 1,978 travel trailers were sold between January and April of 2012, making the towable trailer the most popular type to purchase by far. In fact, we’ve seen that pop up camper trailers are consistently the most purchased of RVs across all provinces. Travel trailers are such a popular option because they are inexpensive and easy to use—perfect for the first time RVer. They’re compact, lightweight and nowadays most travel trailers can be towed by medium to large size cars.

First time RVers can make the common mistake of not researching enough before testing out their travel trailer. You have to make sure it fits your needs, capacity wise. One huge piece of advice I always suggest is practice towing and maneuvering the trailer before you set off. Pulling an RV is different – you have to make sure you are comfortable and safe before hitting the road. And when you do hit the open road, the opportunities are endless.

Whether you are renting or buying an RV, there are a few additional steps to follow for first time RVers. Ensure you participate in a full walk around of the RV with your dealer. Your dealer will not only point out all of the technical aspects of the unit but will also teach you a number of safety precautions and scenarios to avoid so that your first time out is seamless. Another tip I always suggest is booking your campsites ahead of time when possible to avoid last minute blunders. Most campsites can only accommodate a certain length of RV per lot, so you’ll want to make sure you have the appropriate space and hook up capacity.

For more information on the variety of RV types and additional tips, visit www.GoRVing.ca

Chris Mahony is the Go RVing Canada Executive Director