New RVers Archives

Around the Campfire: ‘Help! Our new RV has problems!’

Gail Marsh - May 13, 2022

What can you do if you’re not happy with your newly purchased RV? What can you do if you have serious problems with your...

New campers flooded the RVing lifestyle in 2021, but many are already unhappy

Mike Gast - May 7, 2022

By now, you’ve likely read a lot of stories regarding the sudden influx of “new campers” into the RVing lifestyle. You also know the...

Be prepared, physically and mentally, for RV breakdowns

RV Travel - May 4, 2022

By Chris Dougherty Chris Dougherty is a certified RV technician. Here is an article he wrote while he was serving as RVtravel.com's technical editor. It really...

Last major spring Northwest RV show coming soon

RV Travel - April 28, 2022

After missing two straight years due to COVID, one of the Northwest’s most popular RV events returns for its 46th anniversary. The last major...

These RVers claim there is another reason behind poor-quality RVs

Gail Marsh - April 15, 2022

We’ve heard all about it: The poor quality of RVs coming out of manufacturing plants during the past few years. Blame has been assigned...

A commencement address for the New RV Owners “Class of 2022”

Mike Gast - February 25, 2022

FIRST, A PERSONAL NOTE: Everyone has a bucket list. Some write it all down in excruciating detail, ceremoniously checking off each item as they...

Learn from others’ RV buying mistakes

Gail Marsh - February 25, 2022

In a recent poll, we asked our readers: Did you make buying mistakes when you purchased your current RV? More than 1,700 readers participated...

The things you must do before every RV trip

Gail Marsh - February 23, 2022

Your rig is packed and fueled up. You’ve found your sunglasses and are wearing your comfy “long-haul clothes.” Your opened water bottle sits patiently...

Overheard comments by salespeople and consumers at the Florida RV SuperShow

Gail Marsh - January 28, 2022

You can tell quite a bit about an industry by attending a large show like the Florida RV SuperShow this past week in Tampa,...

A “newbie’s” shifting perspective on RV etiquette

Karel Carnohan DVM - January 21, 2022

I am not a new "newbie," but my perspective on RV etiquette is shifting. In 1999, I purchased a 26’ Winnebago Brave with the...

5 of the most important questions to ask before you buy your next RV

Ron Burdge - January 7, 2022

When you get ready to buy an RV, there are five questions you should always ask the dealer first, before you sign anything at...

Your advice needed: “Should I buy this used RV?”

RV Travel - January 3, 2022

We found this question on a social media platform group we manage. We're re-posting it here, where you can respond without anyone profiling or...

New RVers aren’t going to let a little cold weather stop their camping

Mike Gast - January 1, 2022

Cold-weather camping is apparently going to be a “thing” over the next few months. The KOA Monthly Research Report – December Edition projects that 8.69...

Part four of the saga: What I did wrong and right, what I’m grateful for, and products that worked

Karel Carnohan DVM - December 3, 2021

Last week I wrote about how I was thinking about giving up my RV... already. If you didn't read that installment in this series,...

Disasters – Round Three: The saga of the newbie continues. I’m thinking about giving up…already!!

Karel Carnohan DVM - November 26, 2021

You all deserve an update on my harrowing move to California from North Carolina in my new used Newmar coach. I write this story, bearing...

Despite what some say, RVs don’t drive like trucks. Know these rules of the road just for RVs

Gail Marsh - November 21, 2021

The RV salesman boasted, “If you can drive a truck, you can drive an RV.” But, I wondered, can you do it safely? Here’s...

Did I get scammed? I bought an RV sight-unseen and it had problems! A precautionary tale for buyers

Karel Carnohan DVM - October 15, 2021

The story about my plans to travel with 12 cats cross-country continues with twists and turns. I purchased a used 39-foot Class A toy...

Five important things to ask before you buy your next RV

RV Travel - October 15, 2021

By Ron Burdge LEMON LAW ATTORNEY When you get ready to buy a new RV, there are a five questions you should always ask the dealer...

Out and About: What will kibosh your used RV sale or purchase?

Scott Linden - October 7, 2021

The following one-minute "Out and About" segment is part of an ongoing series from RVtravel.com that appears throughout the day on Sirius Satellite Radio....

Did a close friend or relative recently buy their first RV?

RV Travel - September 30, 2021

With the amount of newbie RVers out there, we figured there's a good chance you know someone, perhaps a close friend or relative, who...

Reasons to try before you buy. Why renting an RV is a good idea

Sharon Still - September 3, 2021

Motorhome owners commonly tell stories of how they started with a pop-up, moved to a fifth wheel within six months and are now driving...

Buying an RV? Visit an RV show first. Here’s why.

Mark Polk - August 11, 2021

By Mark Polk, RV Education 101 RV shows, like boat shows, are intended to introduce new model year RVs and help disseminate RV-related information to the...

RV bathroom often underrated in buying process

Chuck Woodbury - August 1, 2021

When shopping for an RV, it's easy to be influenced by advice that you should concentrate on models that provide the appropriate amount of...

Want to buy an RV? Buyer beware!

Chuck Woodbury - May 28, 2021

If you are thinking of buying your first RV, beware: You will be lulled into a stupor, driven by dreams of the wonderful, charmed...

A big fat lie RV dealers tell buyers

Chuck Woodbury - May 7, 2021

By Chuck Woodbury EDITOR I wish more RV dealers were like Haylett RV in Coldwater, Michigan. I especially wish more dealers were as honest with their...

All the RV lingo you need to, and should, know

Gail Marsh - April 30, 2021

By Gail Marsh RVers have a unique language. Have you ever wondered why? Me too! Maybe RVers have discovered this wonderful way of seeing the...

How to negotiate the best price on your next RV

Julie Chickery - April 30, 2021

By Julie Chickery An RV purchase is a big deal, and depending on the type of RV you buy, it can come with a substantial...

How expensive is traveling with an RV? Here’s what you can expect

Julie Chickery - April 16, 2021

By Julie Chickery Traveling by RV is a great way to see the country and it has many advantages. You can cook your own meals,...

New to RVing? Here’s what experienced RVers want newbie RVers to know

Nanci Dixon - April 12, 2021

By Nanci Dixon It's no secret that RVing is exploding in popularity. It was recently ranked "the safest way to travel in 2021," after all....

Ways you can help “newbie” RVers – You were once one, too!

Gail Marsh - April 5, 2021

By Gail Marsh When COVID-19 lockdowns began early last year, people figured, “Within two weeks this will all blow over.” Remember “Flatten the curve?” As...

Values of used RVs doing something hard to believe!

Chuck Woodbury - March 20, 2021

The demand for RVs is so high these days that the vehicles are doing something virtually unheard of: They are increasing in value. Every...

RV dealer provides rare insider information to RVers

Chuck Woodbury - March 13, 2021

In this video from Haylett RV in Michigan, Josh "the Nerd" provides a rare insight into the current state of the RV industry and...

Video: Single vs. tandem axle trailers: Pros and cons

Chuck Woodbury - February 17, 2021

In this six-minute video, Josh Winters of Bish's RV (formerly Haylett RV) explains the advantages and disadvantages of single vs. tandem axle travel trailers....

Top 5 essential items for every RV trip

Mark Polk - February 8, 2021

By Mark Polk, RV Education 101® When you go camping there are nice-to-have-items and what I refer to as essential items. Here are my top 5...

January Florida RV SuperShow to go on as scheduled

Chuck Woodbury - December 7, 2020

The 2021 Florida RV SuperShow will go on as scheduled Jan. 13-17, despite the threat of even worse COVID-19 cases in the months ahead....

New book answers the questions beginning RVers ask

Chuck Woodbury - October 29, 2020

Recreational vehicles are selling in near-record numbers as Americans seek a safe way to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. While cruise ships sit in...

Idaho brothers debut campers in a box for pickup trucks

James Raia - September 12, 2020

By James Raia Talus Expedition Gear, owned by brothers Dan and Will Sunderland in Boise, Idaho, has introduced a new approach to the camper lifestyle. It's...

I’ve been bitten by the RV bug. Did it happen to you once too?

Keith Ward - September 11, 2020

By Keith Ward I’ve been bitten by the RV bug. And, like so many of you, it happened for one reason: I’m starting to lose my...

RV sales people: Which customer service approach wins the sale?

Keith Ward - September 4, 2020

By Keith Ward I'm shopping for my very first RV (gulp). That means tons of Internet research, including forums, YouTube videos, etc. It means budgeting,...

Beginner’s Guide to RVing Newsletter #28

Newsletter Editor - August 13, 2020