Motorhomes For New and Experienced Owners!When people hear the word motorhomes, many conflicting pictures can come to mind. Fortunately, this confusion is easily taken care of with a few facts and some simple explanations. This article will discuss what the nature of motorhomes and how they differ from other types of vehicles. It will supply you with a basic foundation for further investigation into this popular means of getting around. First of all, what are motorhomes anyway? As the name implies, it is a motorized vehicle that you can live in. How long you can live there, and how many people can live with you depends on both the type of vehicle and the personality of your bunkmates. Some motorhomes are equipped for only one or two people, others can comfortably sleep six or more. Many motorhomes are self contained, providing electricity, heat, water and sanitary facilities for extended periods, while others give only basic shelter and require the facilities of a camp or park for water and light. So, why are they so popular?
Besides motorhomes, there are several solutions to the problem of sleeping on the road, the most basic of which is the simple tent. While easy to use and lightweight, it offers little more than basic protection from the elements. To inject some of the amenities of civilization into traveling, we have to move up to the trailer. While providing the same basic functions as motorhomes, they require an additional vehicle for traveling. This has the advantage of being able to leave the living quarters at a park and drive a smaller vehicle around for sightseeing. But on the downside, trailers, especially larger ones, are very difficult to handle on the road. It also takes a great deal of skill to maneuver these rigs into a berth at a park or camp site. Even stops along the way can be a challenge. Trying to find a place for a forty foot truck and trailer combination can be a tricky when stopping for a happy meal or a few bags of ice. Thus, the idea was formed of merging the two pieces together to form one complete, multipurpose traveling machine. Many early motorhomes were a mobile, stand alone living module often referred to as a camper. This unit is lowered into the bed of a pickup truck and strapped in. While this arrangement limited the size and configuration of the living space, it allowed the truck be used separately, leaving the camper behind. Perfect for the weekend travelers. So, as more and more people looked to motorhomes for their vacation and traveling needs, the popularity of the dedicated travel vehicle grew. The size of motorhomes range from tiny one and two person rigs built on compact truck frames, to massive motor yachts build inside the chassis of a commercial bus. All have the same purpose. To allow the users to move across country with a level of comfort and convenience that is unmatched by any other mode of travel. While the driver pilots along the highway, the rest of the crew can be eating lunch, watching a movie, taking a nap or playing a game on the kitchen table. None of this is possible (or at least legal) with a truck and trailer rig. Most motorhomes are equipped with serviceable kitchens and road ready bathrooms. Meals are cheaper (and sometimes healthier), and those stops along the way don't actually require stopping. All and all, motorhomes provide an elegant way to bring a little bit of home with you on the road. |
