About RV Camper's Many Versions...The RV camper may be the most elegantly engineered member of the motor home family. Designed to be rugged, compact and versatile, these self contained travelers provide basic comfort and protection in areas that the standard motor home cannot cope with. If loving nature doesn't always mean sleeping under the stars, the RV camper can a good buy. But how do you choose among the many styles, models and option packages? First, you must look at what makes it a camper rather than a motor home. Most full featured motor homes are designed for long term use. They are generally larger, and contain features like showers, sanitary hookups, and generators, which are usually missing from the RV camper. The RV camper is designed to be a step or two above a tent. A place to sleep out of the weather without having to set up camp. Just park, stabilize and balance the bed, and you are good to go. Or stay, if you will. So what features can you expect in an RV camper? Usually the basics. Some sort of furnace, usually propane, that can keep you warm in cold weather. A propane stove and some sort of cooking area is standard as well. And of course, a place to sleep. Many have some kind of toilet facility, and a few have built in showers. Battery powered lights are also common. Living areas are usually limited to a multi use table which doubles at night as a bunk.
There are many models and styles to choose from. The simplest and possibly the most efficient is the van camper. Built inside the body of a standard van, this RV is equipped for sleeping and cooking, but does not have the bulk of the typical RV or motor home. And since it is built inside a van, it is as easy to handle as a van, and often has better gas mileage than the larger, fancier units. On the down side, van campers not only lack advanced features, but can usually only sleep two to three people comfortably. And unless you have a pop up or extended roof, you can't stand up inside. The next level up is the camper insert model. Designed to be carried in the bed of a pickup truck, this unit contains all of the necessities of camp life. The main sleeping area is a large double bunk which extends over the cab of the truck. Additional sleeping is usually provided by a fold down ledge bunk and a convertible kitchen table. Since the insert is not permanently attached, the truck itself can be used for independent travel. And you can stand up inside. On the downside, the need to fit inside of the truck bed limits the size and configuration of the unit. The smaller the truck the smaller the camper. Most camper inserts can sleep four people comfortably. Some can handle up to eight. For those who want additional features, or who don't want to have to assemble their RV camper every time they want to use it, the dedicated RV camper is the logical choice. Built on truck or van frames, these RVs have all of the features of a camper in a more efficient package. Since the body is custom built, the possibilities for sleeping, eating, storage and support facilities are greatly increased. The most common configuration is bed over cab model. This has the same appearance as the camper insert described above, but the driver has full access to the interior of the unit. Whatever the choice, these specialty RVs can help you get more enjoyment out of your wilderness experience. |
