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RVing with kids can be one of the best experiences you can have. It can also be a challenge. Kids …



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Are you the kind of person who loves to travel south for the winter and beat the cold? If so, you fit into a very large population of people often called snowbirds. While not all snowbirds head south in an RV, quite a few people do.

If you’re living the snowbird lifestyle and not in an RV, then you might be interested in buying an RV, but what type of RV do you get?

Well, let’s take a look at the different types of RVs and hopefully we can help you find the type of RV that’s right for you.

Types of RVs

The types of RVs are generally divided up into two distinct categories. There are motorhomes and towable RVs. The difference is probably pretty obvious. Motorhomes are an RV that has a motor and can be driven. Towable RVs are trailers that require a separate tow vehicle. Let’s take a look at the different types of motorhomes and towables.

Motorhomes

Motorhomes generally fit into three classes: Class A, Class C, and Class B. Class A is the biggest, Class C is the second larges, and Class B is the smallest.

Class A Motorhomes

Class A motorhomes are built on large bus or truck chassis. They offer a lot of space and many are luxurious models with all the luxuries of home. This makes them an enticing package for anyone who plans to spend long periods of time traveling.

Class C Motorhomes

Class C motorhomes are built on commercial truck and van chassis and feature a sleeping area the sits over the cab of the vehicle. These can vary considerably in length but usually aren’t quite as large as Class A motorhomes. They’re also usually a bit less expensive and less luxurious. They’re still a great option for snowbirds who need plenty of space.

Class B Motorhomes

Class B motorhomes are essentially regular full-size vans that have been converted or transformed by an up fitter or RV manufacturer to offer all the comforts of a camper. Their small size makes them easily maneuverable and a good choice for someone who likes to camp off the beaten path or move from campsite to campsite often.

Towables

When it comes to towables, there are more options. There are fifth-wheels, travel trailers, expandable trailers, pop-ups, and small campers, like teardrop campers.

Fifth-Wheels

Fifth-wheel RVs are one of the larger styles of towable RVs. They are defined by their unique hitch which attaches to the tow vehicle (a large pickup truck) to a meachnism in the bed of the truck. This makes them very stable when towing down the road. Fifth-wheels offer a wide variety of floorplans and plenty of space.

Travel Trailers

Travel trailers are simply an RV in a trailer form that attaches to a tow vehicle via a standard tow hitch. Travel trailers can vary widely in length and weight. This means you can often find a travel trailer that can be pulled by the vehicle you already own. This makes them enticing to some snowbirds.

Expandable Trailers

The expandable trailer design blends the idea of a pop-up with a travel trailer. Basically, you get a travel trailer with expandable areas that feature tent-like roof and walls. These areas are commonly used for sleeping. This design allows for a compact unit when towing that cam be expanded out once you get to your destination.

Pop-Ups

You probably know about pop-up campers. Pop-ups offer a little more protection than a tent and some of the amenities of a travel trailer in a small and affordable package. They’re perfect for weekend camping and shorter trips but lack many of the amenities and features that other options have.

Small Campers

Last but not least, there are small campers. These come in all shapes and sizes. You’ve probably seen teardrop campers, and other small campers before. Some of them are better suited to snowbirds than others. Their common feature is their light weight and small overall size. This means you can tow them with almost any vehicle.

What Kind of Snowbird Will You Be?

Finding the right type of RV from the ones listed above all comes down to the type of snowbird you will be. If you’re of the mind to just find someplace warm to park next to some friends or family, then something like a Class A motorhome might be perfect for you.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to go out and explore the area you’re staying in, a towable RV with a separate vehicle that you can drive around might be the right choice.

Sit down and really think about how you plan to spend the winter months. If you’re the kind of person who wants to live the RV resort life and stay at the campground and partake in all that the facilities have to offer then get an RV that you know will have more space and let you have the comforts of home.

If you’re going to be moving a lot and taking frequent trips, something smaller, more manuverable, and easier to handle on the road might be a better choice. You can also be in the middle. It’s all up to you. The best part about being a snowbird is that you get to decide which lifestyle is right for you and then live it.

Have any questions or concerns? Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you. 

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While we focus a lot on camping in an RV, most people’s introduction to camping was in a tent and thousands of people take tent camping trips each and every year. It’s still sometimes the preferable way to camp. If you’re camping way out in the wilderness or just want to really reconnect with nature, a tent is the way to go. If you have a tent camper in your life or are a tent camper yourself, we have the gift guide for you. Here’s some fantastic gear to own.

Venture Forward Wilderness 6-Person Tent

If you’re camping in a tent, then you need a tent, and this Venture Forward Wilderness 6-Person Tent is perfect for the whole family. The 10 foot by 10 foot floor gives you plenty of room for everyone to lay down a sleeping pad and sleeping bag and get a good night’s rest. Pair that with four large zippered windows with mesh windows and you have a great tent for any camping trip.

Check it out at Camping World

If the tent above is a little too big, then a three-person one will be perfect. I like a good three-person tent because it works for a solo camper or for a couple and their gear really well. This particular tent features a D-style door, two side windows, a gooped fly front, an easy to set-up pole and pocket system. It all collapses down and is easy to move from place to place, too.

Check it out at Camping World

Stanley 10-Piece Adventure Prep & Cook Set

A camper’s got to eat. That’s where this Stanley 10-Piece Adventure Prep and Cook Set comes into play. When camping you can’t just bring along you’re typical kitchen cookware. Stanely’s cook set offers all you need, including a 1.58 quart pot, a vented pot lid, floding cutting board, two 20 ounce bowls, two bowl lids, a spatula with an extending handle and a ladel with an extending handle. The best part is that this all folds up into a single package for travel.

Check it out at Camping World

Aussie Crushable Hat

If you’re camping when the sun is out, sunscreen is important but a nice sun hat can do wonders to keep you from having your head, neck, tops of your ears, and face from getting burned. Also, it can help keep you more comfortable and shield your eyes. This hat will do just that. It’s also a mesh hat, which allows for air to move more freely through the hat, helping you stay cool and comfortable.

Check it out at Camping World

Ultimate Terrain Men’s The Hagen Beanie

If it’s a little bit chilly out there then a beanie is going to be the right choice in terms of a hat. This simple yet sophisticated designed hat is exactly what you need. It offers a textured 100-percent acrylic kit shell, fleece inner band for added warmth and one-size-fits-most adults sizing.

Check it out at Camping World

Venture Forward Swing Chair

Yeah, you can get by without a camping chair, but you’re likely to find that having a chair of some kind makes life a lot easier, and a small foldable camping chair is generally the way to go when it comes to tent camping. This Venture Forward Swing Chair is a fantastic addition. It folds up small, offers a small carrying bag, and offers a 300-pound weight capacity.

Check it out at Camping World

This Cascade 5 Sleeping Bag is a very good all-around sleeping bag to have available. While you should really pick the sleeping bag depending on the specific trip and temperatures you’ll encounter. If you just need a good general-purpose sleeping bag, this is the one to go with.

The sleeping bag weighs just five pounds, offers a polyester exterior, nylon flannel liner, and self-repairing zipper. Are there better sleeping bags out there? Probably, but if you want something good for a very reasonable price, then you’d better take a good hard look at this one.

Silverton Self Inflating Camp Pad with Carrying Bag

You can always lay your sleeping bag right on the floor of the tent, but when you get up in the morning you’ll likely feel stiff and sore from essentially sleeping on the ground. A sleeping pad will help keep you more comfortable inside your tent. This particular sleeping pad is a blow-up version that comes with its own carrying case, making it easy to take with you. It also features a weather-resistant durable shell and polyurethane foam.

Check it out at Camping World

Carhartt Men’s Shoreline Jacket

There’s nothing like having the wrong jacket on a tent camping trip. It’s horrible. That’s why you need to get this Carhartt Men’s Shoreline Jacket. The jacket is designed for a life spent in the outdoors.

It features a fully seam-taped design that will seal out moisture, Storm Defender waterproof membrane, mesh-lined interior, snap-on hood, and internal rib-knit storm cuffs to keep water from getting up the sleeves. The jacket is warm and comfortable. It’s the perfect companion on any camping trip.

Check it out at Camping World

Not seeing what you’re looking for here? Head over to Camping World to find anything and everything you could need for a camping trip. 

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Talking about toilets isn’t the most glamorous thing in the world, but it is practical. As RVers, we all have to deal with the result of flushing the toilet in our RV.

While most of us are used to the typical gray and black tanks for waste water, there’s another type of toilet out there that is popular overseas and available to you. It’s called the cassette toilet, and its a different way of making the bathroom in your RV work.

What Is a Cassette Toilet?

The cassette toilet is really pretty simple. It’s a permanent toilet in your RV with a portable black tank. 

Portable black tank? Who would want to take that with them? Well, there are some advantages. Caassette toilets offer a portable tank that you can remove from your RV. It’s usually about the size of a suitcase and often comes with rollers.

This portable black tank can be emptied virtually anywhere—public restrooms, dump stations, etc. This opens up some new possibilities.

Cassette toilets are primarily found in camper vans and Class B motorhomes. The portable black tank isn’t very large and that makes transporting and emptying it very easy.

How to Determine If It’s Right for You

Don’t get me wrong. Cassette toilets are not better. They’re just different. They give you some options when it comes to disposing of your sewage waste. 

If you’re the kind of person who loves to camp anywhere and you don’t always have access to a dump station (vanlifers come to mind), then a cassette toilet’s versatility might be right for you.

If you camp in campgrounds and have no issues finding a dump station, then you might be better off with a toilet with a more traditional black tank.

Either way you have to deal with the waste. Either you get out your hoses and you empty your tanks or you pull out your black tank and go about emptying it at a public restroom or dump station.

Before you jump on the cassette toilet bandwagon, really think about if you want to deal with the portable tank. Some people have no problem doing that, but others find it far easier to go the traditional route. Personally, I see the benefits of a cassette toilet, but I would only really be interested in that solution if it was just me and my wife camping. If we had friends or family members along, I’d much rather have the traditional toilet system due to the larger black tank.

The choice is yours, just make sure to think about it ahead of time and discuss it with the person or people who will be camping with you.

If a cassette toilet sounds right for you, consider checking out a Class B motorhome. Camping World has a full selection!

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One of our favorite things to do while camping is to see how many things we can cook over an open fire. These cheesy potato tin foil packets are cooked directly in the coals, no other equipment needed. These are a great side dish for any meat you may be grilling and are pretty hands-off. They can also be cooked directly on a grill.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb mini red potatoes diced
• ½ yellow onion, diced
• ½ cup shredded cheese
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp thyme
• Salt & pepper to taste

Equipment:

• mixing bowl
• two 12-14 inch sheets of tinfoil (makes 2 packets)

Directions:

Chop the potatoes into small pieces. The size of the potatoes will affect how long these packets take to cook, so dice them small so they cook faster. Dice the onion and add both the potatoes and the onion to a mixing bowl. Stir in the olive oil, garlic powder, thyme and a bit of salt and pepper. Mix well so everything is evenly coated.

Divide the potato and onion mixture into two packets for faster cooking. Scoop the mixture into the center of the tinfoil sheet and cover with ¼ cup of shredded cheese. Do the same for the other packet.

Bring the sides of the foil together and fold over a few times to make a packet. Fold in the ends to seal it. Be sure to leave a little room at the top of the packets for steam to cook the potatoes.

If cooking in a campfire, wait until the fire burns down to coals and place the packets directly on the hot coals. Leave for 18-25 minutes until the potatoes are soft and cooked through.

If cooking on the grill, preheat grill to medium heat, place packets over direct heat and close the grill. Cook for 18-25 minutes.

Remove the packets from coals or grill and carefully open – watch for hot steam escaping – and check to see if the potatoes are done. If they need more time, throw them back on the coals or grill for a few more minutes.

Serve immediately and enjoy with your favorite main dish!

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