Recreational vehicle (RV) provides temporary living quarters for year-round travel, camping, or recreation. Some RV’s have an engine and can be driven. Others are towed by an automobile, van, or truck. Still other RV’s are carried on the bed of a pickup truck. All can be moved easily and travel almost anywhere on land.
Early models of the recreational vehicle appeared in the 1920’s. During the 1960’s, RV’s came into wide use as a means of comfortable and economical travel. Today, the basic types of recreational vehicles are (1) motor homes, (2) van conversions, (3) travel trailers, (4) folding camping trailers, (5) park trailers, and (6) truck campers.
Motor homes
are motorized vehicles that provide both transportation and temporary living quarters for camping and travel. Motor homes measure from 17 to 40 feet (5.2 to 12.2 meters) long and up to 81/2 feet (2.6 meters) wide. They can sleep 2 to 10 people. Motor homes contain conveniences similar to those found in permanent homes, including a kitchen, a bathroom, heat, air conditioning, and a television set. Lighting and appliances are powered by electricity, a 12-volt battery, or propane gas. Separate storage tanks carry fresh water to the bathroom and kitchen and hold waste water and sewage. There are three types of motor homes. The conventional motor home is built on a truck frame. The mini-motorhome is built on a van frame. The van camper is a van with motor home conveniences added.
Van conversions
are vans that have been modified after manufacture for travel and recreational use. Changes may include special windows, carpeting, custom seats, fold-down sofa beds, and a television set. Van conversions can seat 7 to 12 people and sleep 2 to 4 people.
Travel trailers
have the same conveniences as motor homes but are towed by a hitch attached to an automobile, van, or pickup truck. They measure from 10 to 40 feet (3 to 12 meters) long and from 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters) wide. Some travel trailers can sleep up to eight people. A fifth-wheel trailer has a raised forward section that creates a two-level floor plan.
Folding camping trailers
measure from 10 to 25 feet (3 to 8 meters) long and about 61/2 feet (2 meters) wide. They unfold into a tentlike enclosure that provides kitchen, dining, and sleeping facilities for up to eight people. They offer many of the same conveniences as other RV’s, including electricity, running water, appliances, and toilets.
Park trailers,
the largest of all RV’s, can measure up to 400 square feet (37 square meters) in floor area. They can be towed to a seasonal or permanent location and connected to electricity, gas, and water lines.
Truck campers
ride on the bed of a pickup truck. Many have kitchen and bathroom facilities, electricity, air conditioning, microwaves, and other conveniences. They can sleep two to six people. Truck campers are available in many sizes and floor plans.
