RVing - the now American vacation
RVing has always been a great way to see this wonderful country, but the reasons to go RVing may be amplified in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. While we rarely make predictions about the future of StressLess Camping, this is going to be a big exception.
We think RVing could explode once we’re back to normal. And so does the RV industry.
When you go RVing you are in your own vehicle with your own linens and your own food. If you’re a meticulous housekeeper your RV will reflect that. If you’re less so, you don’t have the consequences of the previous guest to worry about. This has been your space since you took delivery of it.
And, oh the places you’ll see! Whatever style of place you like to enjoy, there’s likely a spot to park your RV nearby, if not smack in the middle of it. If you love the peace of the forest, there are both paid and off-grid camping opportunities among the trees. If you love the ocean, there’s a place where opening the door of your RV means taking in the view.
Where to stay
We’ve stayed at RV parks in the middle of cities where you get the full dose of the hustle and bustle and all those great restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and museums just steps away.
There are services like Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome where you get to spend the night at wineries, breweries, historical places, people’s yards and more so you can get a full dose of just the type of experience you enjoy.
And you’re doing it all within social distancing ideals. You’ve got your four walls and lots of space between you and the next camper with their four walls around them. Yes, there is time by the campfire but those other campers are around their own campfires. RVers have been social distancing since the first pandemic in 1918.
But RVers are also a really friendly bunch. If you can’t figure out your water heater or your slide room is making a funny noise or you’re not quite sure if backing in is going to be possible, just stand outside your RV for a few moments with a puzzled look on your face. Someone will offer a solution - sometimes many people will. While I’m sure that they will now adapt and do so from a socially acceptable distance, RVers love to help other RVers.
Why shared travel is gross
Let’s face it, cruises, airplane flights and even hotels force people to gather together in one place and share common space for extended periods of time. In both cruises and airplanes, you’re in a closed vehicle for extended periods breathing recirculated air. Ew. Really ew.
Having come from the hotel business, I can say that the degree of cleaning of hotel rooms varies widely from one organization to the next. But hotel chains have a corporate culture of minimizing expenses while maximizing revenues and that means the less time any individual housekeeper spends cleaning a room, the more profitable that room sale is. Having owned a hotel I can say that smaller, individually-owned properties aren’t as focused on tightly managing these expenses.
I know it was our policy to very thoroughly clean the rooms at our resort and we even used FDA-approved anti-microbial cleaners that were not hazardous to the health of our staff, but not every property is this meticulous or cares about their team as much as we did.
Even vacation rentals can vary widely in the type of cleaning they do between guests. You’re still sleeping in the same mattress as 100 people before you. If that doesn’t bother you, cool. But having an RV means that mattress is your mattress.
Before the Coronavirus hit, RV sales were actually heading down and some of the industry pundits were concerned. Sales had been at record levels for some time and, frankly, there are only so many people who want to go RVing.
However with the change in our reality the number of people for whom the RV experience holds intrigue is likely going to increase dramatically. The only real question is how those people will get into RVing. If the economy takes a big enough hit, new RV sales could suffer as well.
Which would make used RVs more popular. And, if the economy really takes a hit, there are going to be a lot of used RVs on the market as people may hope to get out of their RV loans as a first course of action.
What about used RVs?
In fact, when I was selling RVs, it was common knowledge that, when the economy goes south, RV loans are the first thing a lot of people try to get out of whether that be by selling the RV or simply no longer making the payments. This is also why RV loans still have higher interest rates (greater risk for banks) than some other types of loans.
This could be a glut of relatively new previously-owned RVs on the market. It remains to be seen.
When you consider RVing as a vacation, you can tailor your experience to your desires and reality. If you work a lot and need a quick getaway, an RV is there waiting for you. Just hook up and go.
We like travel trailers just because we already own a pickup so we keep our trailer pretty ready to bug out. It’s got all its own amenities and all we need to do is add cold food and clothing and we’re off. There are towels, sheets, dry foods, utensils and more always in the RV so we can be ready for a getaway in minutes.
But motorhomes afford the same freedom. The configuration that is right for you and your family is a whole series of articles we won’t attempt to cover here.
Travel tips
Another plus for the RV vacation is that you can travel close to home and experience what your region has to offer at a very, very affordable price. If you consider boondocking and traveling within a few hours from your home base the cost of a whole weekend of RVing is probably less than a meal with the family in a restaurant.
But remember the flexibility - you can travel cross country, travel to must-see destinations, travel for short jaunts and lengthy journeys. The commonality of all of this is that you’re sleeping in your own bed, using your own restroom and shower and managing your own shelter.
If you’ve never experienced an RV getaway before, there are services where you can test out the experience such as Campendium and RVShare. These are “matchmaker” type services where you can rent RVs from others. If you’re a prospective RV owner these services will let you try out a variety of configurations to see what’s right for your circumstances.
Whatever suits you, RVing is a great way to see the USA. With so many options, choices and resources now might be the best time to consider joining over a half a million other Americans who bought into the RV lifestyle in the past year alone.
Oh, and follow StressLess Camping for deals, discounts, tips and more. We’re here to help you out.
Our partner, RVShare, is reporting incredible rental numbers. You can read that story here.
