Posted by RV Pro on Jun 29, 2009
If you’re a dedicated RVer, you probably RV for the relaxed lifestyle, the comfortable accommodations, the affordable travel, and the scenic vistas. Well, add one more to your list of reasons to enjoy RV travel. RVing is the healthiest way to travel.
Seventy percent of RVers walk more during RV trips than they do at home, according to a Campfire Canvass survey conducted by Robert Hitlin Research Associates, Inc. RV vacationers spend more time biking, jogging, hiking, rollerblading, and engaging in all manner of physical activities than typical vacationers. The survey also found that RVers are more apt to travel specifically to take part in active outdoor events. Of course, when you RV, it’s easy to bring along your favorite sports gear.
All that aerobic exercise strengthens your cardiovascular system, builds stamina and keeps your body flexible, contributing to a healthier you. But it’s not just the extra exercise that makes RVing a healthier vacation choice. The ability to slip away for a quick, inexpensive vacation whenever the mood strikes encourages families to leave the stress of work and everyday life behind more often. Studies have found that vacations reduce your risk of heart disease and lower blood pressure. RV vacations allow you to control your own schedule or toss it out altogether. You ditch the stress and concentrate on relaxing.
Food is one of the biggest impediments to healthy vacationing. When traveling, meals can be erratic and you wind up snacking on junk food. When you RV, you bring your kitchen and all your favorite foods along for the ride. You can continue to enjoy healthy snacks and nutritious meals, making for a happier, healthier you.
Posted by RV Pro on Jun 26, 2009
“What do I want to do with my life?” That was the question that sparked a summer road trip that has inspired a generation of collegiates. When three college buddies — Mike Marriner, Brian McAllister and Nathan Gebhard — graduated from college in 2001, they had no idea what they wanted to do or how they wanted to spend their lives. They borrowed an old family RV from one of their parents, painted it bright green and set off on a summer-long road trip to find some answers.
Crossing the country in their RV, they interviewed people from all walks of life and a wide variety of careers, from the inspiring to the seemingly mundane, asking what made them passionate about what they did. Filming as they went, they captured not only their personal journey of self discovery, but, in interviews, the inspiring stories of an eclectic group of people, including Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, award-winning winemaker Robert Mondavi, and a Maine lobsterman.
By the time they returned home, after logging 15,000 miles in their RV and accumulating 456 hours of film footage, their trip had become a grassroots movement. In 2003 they published a book chronicling their travels, Road Trip Nation, which led to the PBS documentary series Road Trip. More books, an online community and a network that encompasses more than 350 college campuses have followed. The green Road Trip Nation RV now tours college campuses throughout the year, encouraging collegiates to go on their own quest to discover their personal passion in life. Camera equipment and grant money are provided to assist college students with travel expenses as they film indie versions of the great RV road trip that started it all by inspiring a generation to search out their passion in life.
Posted by RV Pro on Jun 24, 2009
Easy affordability in a difficult economy is luring a new crowd of fans to the RV lifestyle. People who formerly spent their vacations being pampered in upscale luxury hotels are giving RV camping a try. RV campground owners are reporting a noticeable increase in a new class of RVers totally unfamiliar with – and often unprepared — to “rough it” in the great outdoors. Neighboring campers may smile at the fledgling attempts of these newbies to interact with nature or shake their heads at the whir of espresso machines in the morning, but in the accepting way of RVers and campers the world over, they’re tolerant, helpful and welcoming.
That’s the aspect of RV living that quickly turns newcomers into lifelong fans — the welcoming acceptance and comfortable sense of community that permeates RV parks. Help is never farther than the neighboring campsite. Having trouble with your cooling system? Not sure how to connect to the dump station? Need a new recipe to spice up tomorrow night’s dinner? Want to know the best place to rent bikes or take the kids horseback riding? Feeling a little out of your element and need some reassurance? When you RV, you have only to introduce yourself to your neighbors to feel welcome.
It’s that easy camaraderie and friendly acceptance that draws celebrities like Dolly Parton and Matthew McConaughey to the RV lifestyle. That same sense of neighborliness creates enduring friendships between RVers. What starts with a “Could you help me?” question more often than not turns into a lifelong friendship that crosses social, economic, cultural, and often state boundaries. Ultimately, that’s the attraction of RV living that will bring this summer’s RV newbies back next year. They may be green now, but next year they’ll be dispensing advice like old pros!
Posted by RV Pro on Jun 22, 2009
Economic uncertainty has everyone scrimping to save money these days. People are making do with what they have or shopping for bargains online. Used is beating new on the retail scene. Garage sales and consignment shops are attracting crowds and used vehicles are doing a brisk business. If you’ve been considering selling your RV, this is the perfect time to put it on the market. RVT.com, North America’s largest online RV sales site, makes it easy and inexpensive to sell your RV online.
RVT.com’s quick 5-step ad process shows you exactly how to create an online ad, providing handy tips on how to price your RV, what features to list, how to write your ad, and how to upload photos. RVT.com also accepts ads via phone and mail to accommodate RV sellers. On our website and blog, you’ll find loads of great tips on selling your RV based on RVT.com’s 20 years of experience selling new and used recreational vehicles online.
RVT.com is dedicated to providing RV sellers and buyers with the best, most reliable, and safest online experience. Listen to what our satisfied customers have to say:
“RVT.com was great! We tried listing our RV in other venues and didn’t get the kind of response we got from RVT.com. We sold our Class B RV today …” – H. Miller
“Wow! RVT works fast!! We listed the RV and had it sold for cash and driven away within less than a week! I can’t believe it was so easy and quick! -L. Bullard
“I was blown away with how well your site worked for me. We sold the trailer in 5 days and had over 150 hits. … This is the place to go to sell your RV.!” -J. Young
Click here to sell your RV on RVT.com.
Posted by RV Pro on Jun 19, 2009
To encourage more Americans to get outdoors and enjoy the country’s stunning national parks, the National Park Service is sponsoring three fee-free weekends this summer, beginning tomorrow. Entrance fees to all 147 national parks that charge fees will be waived on:
June 20-21
July 18-19
August 15-16
The National Park Service manages 391 national parks in 49 states. “During these tough economic times, our national parks provide opportunities for affordable vacations for families,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said at a press conference announcing the free entry program. Waived fees are for entrance admissions only and do not include fees for camping, reservations, tours or concessions.
From tranquil, peaceful solitude to exciting recreational opportunities, U.S. national parks offer “unparalleled natural beauty” that “have inspired visitors for generations,” President Obama said in proclaiming June Great Outdoors Month. He urged Americans to “spend more time outside” and “find calm and enjoyment in our nation’s vast outdoors.”
Outdoor recreation is an important key to maintaining wellness and relieving stress, said Dr. Andrew Lepp, assistant professor of recreation, park and tourism management at Kent State University in Ohio in an article on RVeNews.com. RV travel, camping and other outdoor activities bring families together, encourage exercise, and reduce stress. Lepp identified five critical benefits of outdoor activities:
- Mind: reduces stress; enhances self-esteem, confidence and creativity; encourages spiritual growth; provides adventure and challenge.
- Body: improves cardiovascular and muscle fitness, improves immune function.
- Social: promotes social and family bonding, increases community and national pride.
- Economic: increases work productivity, creates jobs, elevates property values, provides economic recreation and travel.
- Outdoor: increases environmental awareness and preservation.
Posted by RV Pro on Jun 17, 2009
RV campsites are getting the luxury treatment. A host of exciting new amenities is showing up at RV campsites and resorts across America. Perennial standbys — mini golf, pinball machines, swimming pools, fishing ponds and basketball hoops — are still around, but they’re being quickly elbowed aside by hot tubs, athletic courts, fitness centers, laser tag, Wi-Fi connections, electronic game rooms, water parks, elaborate water slides, skate parks and gourmet coffee shops, to name a few.
Your family can still enjoy bingo nights and hayrides, but more RV sites now offer summer camps for kids that include gold panning, dinosaur digs, pottery making, historic re-enactments, horseback riding, boating and much more. For adults, there are wine and cheese tastings, dances, barbecues, stocked fishing lakes and tours of historic sites.
RV camping is attracting a flood of new devotees happy to save money while vacationing, and these former resort dwellers are looking for the same amenities and luxuries they enjoyed at swanky island resorts in happier financial times. But that’s not the only thing spurring campground owners to modernize their properties. An influx of still-active retiring Baby Boomers, plugged-in teens in tow, is embracing the relaxed RV lifestyle, introducing a new generation of travelers to the RV industry. Many campgrounds hope to attract these upscale parents by offering activities to keep the kids – and their parents – occupied and happy.
Their plan seems to be working. RV campsite rentals were up by 3% on Memorial Day weekend and demand is expected to rise over the summer. “A lot of people are camping today instead of other forms of travel,” Bobby Cornwell, director of the Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, told the Palm Beach Post, adding that RV owners are camping more than ever.
Posted by RV Pro on Jun 15, 2009
Looking for an RV with real hauling power? Toterhomes and truck conversions are recreational vehicles built on heavy-duty commercial truck frames. These heavy haulers of the RV world have comfortable truck cabs and powerful truck engines with more than enough juice to haul heavy toys long distances without sacrificing power or comfort. It’s that hauling capacity that makes toterhomes the RV choice of NASCAR and motocross race teams.
Offering living space and creature comforts similar to Class A and Class C motorhomes, toterhomes are the commercial version of the RV toy haulers featured in our June 12 post. Extending from 12 to 36 feet behind the truck cab, toterhomes generally have one or more slideouts that expand their living space. With the push of a button, walls slide out, increasing interior space by as much as 3 1/2 feet — instant addition! Depending on the model, toterhomes generally sleep 2 to 6 people.
Besides extra space, toterhomes often offer state-of-the-art technology and first-class luxuries found on high-end RVs, including back-up cameras, hydraulic leveling, security systems, washer/dryers, satellite dishes, basement storage, home theaters, full-size kitchens and much more. Prices range from $25,000 to well over $500,000, depending on size and features, with the average retail price being $125,000. Online RV sales sites like RVT.com offer incredible bargains on used toterhomes with prices often less than half the retail price.
While some states may require special licensing if you’re hauling particularly heavy or long loads, in most states non-commercial use of toterhomes or truck conversion RVs requires no special driving license. Their heavy-duty truck frames make RV toterhomes extremely safe and with proper maintenance toterhomes can easily outlast the lifespan of conventional RVs.
Posted by RV Pro on Jun 12, 2009
The SUV of the RV world, toy haulers are sport utility trailers, or SUTs. A newer entry on the recreational vehicle market, toy haulers offer sleeping and living accommodations up front with plenty of carrying capacity in back for hauling your favorite toys — ATVs, motorcycles, bikes, kayaks, snowmobiles, etc. Whatever your favorite leisure-time pursuit, RV toy haulers let your travel in comfort and bring your favorite toys along for the fun.
Toy haulers give you the best of both worlds. Haul out into the rugged wilderness for a hard-charging day of adventure on your favorite leisure toy, then return to your RV for a good meal, some well-earned downtime, a post-mortem with your buddies, and a comfortable night’s sleep. It sure beats camping! RV travel lets you bring all the creature comforts of home with you, no matter how far from civilization your recreational activities take you. You awake renewed and refreshed, ready to go at it again!
Toy haulers are towable RVs with garage-style cargo space. Generous ramps allow you to drive or carry your recreational toys right into the back of the RV for safe storage and transport. Toy haulers combine plenty of secure cargo space with the comfortable accommodations and luxury features found in Class A and Class C motorhomes. Many have slideouts that instantly increase interior room size with the touch of a button.
Some toy haulers have electric beds that drop from the ceiling or removable tables that increase living/sleeping space into the garage area when you’re parked. Some models come with handy on-board fuel stations that make it easy to gas up your toys between adventures. Functional floor plans provide balanced towing even when hauling heavy amounts of cargo.
Check out amazing deals on toy haulers and RVs of every type on RVT.com.
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