By Chuck Woodbury
I wish RVtravel.com had a million subscribers. Then we could better battle all the misinformation out there created by artificial intelligence robots and content creators who know nothing about RVing, yet pretend they do.
For example, read the article below I found just poking around RVing websites.
It says that travel trailers can be as small as 33 feet. Read that again if you want. As small as 33 feet? So all those 15-footers out there, and those little teardrop-types … they don’t exist? I’m glad you’re not sitting with me right now because I am feeling a little nauseous.
Even the opening sentence is wrong: “Unlike RVs, trailers don’t feature an engine that powers them.” So trailers are not RVs? Oh, and trailers are pulled by hitches. So I don’t even need a motor vehicle? Just a hitch?
And fifth wheel trailers … they have a “mount on their rear!” Yes, that’s what it says — on their rear. Some aspiring RVer out there will believe that. And, notes the article, fifth wheel trailers can be “very long and heavy, which requires a more powerful truck.” More powerful than what?
And popup trailers? Oh, they feature “fold-up parts and you can usually see a canvas top”? Huh? “And since they are very light, you can tow them with a minivan”? But not an SUV, truck, passenger vehicle or even a motorcycle?
Wait, there’s more…
I don’t know where the article above appeared. But it could have been on hundreds of websites that claim to be authoritative sources of RVing information. Among them, they are misleading tens of thousands of RVers every day.
Like I said, I wish RVtravel.com had a million readers to help combat such misinformation, which is getting worse by the day. As a publisher of honest news, information and advice, competing with these bogus websites, blogs and social media sites is like playing whack-a-mole with hundreds of moles. I’m going crazy!
So, please, please, please, tell your friends about RVtravel.com and suggest they sign up for our newsletters. Help them learn what is true, and not get lured to websites and other places that spread lies. They can sign up at https://www.rvtravel.com/subscribe.
And if you haven’t done it already, become a voluntary paid subscriber to RVtravel.com. We’ll pump most of your contribution back to our writers—all RVers, all ethical, and all tempted to throw up at some of the false information purveyed by slimy publishers who only care about making a buck off you, and to hell with telling you the truth.
##RVT1185
I have to admit, I had always considered RVs had an engine, and everything else is a trailer. I had finally been beaten down enough by trailer owners to give up, and accept “it’s all the same air and roads to get to campsites.” Like the famous quote from a famous movie, “It just doesn’t matter. ” 🙂
Appreciate what you and all the crew do!
I know them all as campers. 30 plus years ago I went to camper shows not RV shows.
“Coach” is the word I associate with bigger class A’s, but I hear that being used, especially by sales people, for all types of RVs. Like you, Grumpy, I figure it doesn’t matter. Back in the horse & buggy days, the things being pulled were called coaches…as in stage coach…so something being pulled today would be a coach just the same, I guess! 🙂
I think my mental block surrounds the word “vehicle.” By definition (American Heritage) it’s was a self propelled device or structure that transports people or things. Took me quite ignore that. 🙄
News to me! LOL Our non-RV 17’ Casita must be from outer space.
Maybe it’s just an innocent error and it was meant to read “as long as 33 feet”. While still not totally accurate, it’s at least closer to reality.
I agree with Chuck. You have to be held accountable for what comes out of your mouth/ and printed word. So just like Chuck, check, double check and triple check.
I was searching for an RV question and came across a whole web site of what I assume were AI generated articles. The articles had perfect grammar on simplistic topics, yet used circular logic and ended up being nonsensical. I suspect the articles were used to generate traffic so they could charge higher rates to sell advertising. You also can find whole videos on YouTube that are completely Ai generated.
When on FB or Tic Toc and someone mentions possibly buying an RV I always post recommending this site/newsletter- By RVers For RVers, I add
Thank you, Ed and Mitzi! We appreciate it (and YOU) very much! Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Just plain lazy journalism someone wanting to get X amount of words out on a page and to lazy to actually check their source or information. JMHO
Finally, I understand. One has 5 wheels and the other has 33 feet and it is the hitch that has the motor in it, and if it is really big, it needs a bigger truck because obviously the hitch has to have a bigger motor. This is no different than a 5th grade paper I would have written after reading the Cliff Notes at mid-night. It all depends on how you were edicated. (Do one of those Jhonnie Robot things and you will see one with 5 wheels and one with 33 feet.) They both DO trail though. I’ll still have to figure that one out. Is a wagon really a trailer? I’m so glad that article cleared tings up for me.
Technically, neither a trailer or a 5th wheel are RV’s. They are not vehicles.
An RV is self contained including the propulsion/steering/brakes/etc.
A trailer or 5th wheel needs a vehicle to hitch and pull it down the road.
Good morning, Perry. According to Wikipedia: “A recreational vehicle, often abbreviated as RV, is a motor vehicle or trailer that includes living quarters designed for accommodation.” According to Merriam-Webster: A recreational vehicle is “a vehicle designed for recreational use (as in camping), especially: motor home. Synonyms on Merriam-Webster include: camper, caravan, motor home, RV, trailer. According to RVIA, “A recreational vehicle is a vehicular-type unit primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or seasonal use that either has its own motor power or is mounted on, or towed by, another vehicle.” According to snohomishcountywa.gov (which was listed in my Google search because I live there): “A recreational vehicle (RV) is defined as a travel trailer, motor home, truck camper, or camping trailer that is permanently designed and used as temporary living quarters.” Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Hi Chuck. Since you retired and have nothing to do these days – (Right?) HA!….. you might generate a lot of interest in this newsletter if you were to submit articles on Rv’ing, like the one referenced here – to major news papers for editorial publishing comment or a published article. Like politicians say “I don’t care how you reference me – just get my name right…” errr something like that! Free Advertising by repetition…. say it long enuf – they’ll believe it!
Thank you, Chuck! Happy new year and safe travels!
Classes Of Rvs:
Class A motorhomes
Class B motorhomes
Class C motorhome
Fifth wheel
Toy haulers
Travel trailers
Pop-up campers
Truck campers
Tear Drop Campers
Home Kit Builds
(maybe tiny homes?)
Yeah, we had some friends years ago, (not rig owners) tell us we “should get a real rv” like their friend “who has a motorhome”. Sooo, we have a fake rv then? Is that right?.
Anyway, it’s really just talking about something you don’t know anything about. Unfortunately people do it on the regular. The real problem is the parroting, it just spreads and then magically it’s just “common knowledge” “don’t you know that?”. The general public at large is slippin’.