The RV, an American icon, driving away

FOREST CITY, Iowa - In the realm of conspicuous consumer consumption, few things are larger than the RV, the multi-ton vehicular brontosaurus that has motored generations of families on the great American highway adventure.

[wow]

Perhaps more research was needed on this subject. As I understand it, 50% plus of this industry is done as a cash transaction. Additionally, if you look around at new models and designs you note that the RV industry is changing rapidly. Lighter more efficient and more user friendly designs are coming of age. Many new motorized RV's are on diesel Sprinter chassis’s that improve mileage. Many towables are so light that they can be pulled by any small minivan.

[Outside Guy]

Good riddance! RVs have ruined "camping" in this country. There are still some of us that like to sleep in a tent and sleeping bag. Ever try to sleep while surrounded by a gaggle of RVs, generators and air conditioners running full blast, while the occupants sit inside watching television? Why not just go to a hotel?

[driverdan]

Outside Guy wrote:

Good riddance! RVs have ruined "camping" in this country. There are still some of us that like to sleep in a tent and sleeping bag. Ever try to sleep while surrounded by a gaggle of RVs, generators and air conditioners running full blast, while the occupants sit inside watching television? Why not just go to a hotel?

amen !!! my family started tent-camping at these rv parks for the ameneties they offer. after 3 visits to these "parks", we decided that state parks with camping grounds, or state forests were the much better way to go for family fun. never regretted the switch, my kids are all adults now, and take their kids camping now and they enjoy it immensely. plus it is more of an adventure for kids, and i think it is better learning, or enriching, for them,,,,,, guess i better stop as the advantages far outweigh the comforts of an "rv" trip.

[October 14 1908]

driverdan wrote:

<quoted text>amen !!! my family started tent-camping at these rv parks for the ameneties they offer. after 3 visits to these "parks", we decided that state parks with camping grounds, or state forests were the much better way to go for family fun. never regretted the switch, my kids are all adults now, and take their kids camping now and they enjoy it immensely. plus it is more of an adventure for kids, and i think it is better learning, or enriching, for them,,,,,, guess i better stop as the advantages far outweigh the comforts of an "rv" trip.

Let 'em die! A RV at a campsite? Get real! I hope they're gone forever----they're just a testament to American wastefulness, greed and more!

[JRobert]

October 14 1908 wrote:

<quoted text>
Let 'em die! A RV at a campsite? Get real! I hope they're gone forever----they're just a testament to American wastefulness, greed and more!

"testament to American...greed and more?"

Now, that's ridiculous. I'm a wilderness tent camper and I dislike the RVs as much as anyone, but to use them as a symbol for some kind of anti-American rant is nutz.

[Bink]

usually tents and RV's are not grouped together in camp grounds it would seem to be easy for tent campers to find an area not accessabile to an rv

[spec4]

Tents and motor homes are two very different animals. In my experience, most (not all) tenters are younger folks. Most campgrounds have the tents and motor homes in different area.

[reality]

Many of the RV owners are people who worked their entire lives without much time off and want to see the country during their retirement. They won't be tent camping. No need to bash them.

[Coleman Stove]

Back in the day I used to think that if it didn't fit into a backpack or the bottom of a canoe, you had way too much. Kids are grown now and my wife and I bought a 22' trailer. Best move we ever made. We go everywhere. The Smokey Mnts, Florida beaches, shores of Lake Superior, state parks, private RV parks. In June we are heading to Yellowstone and the Bad Lands. We sleep on a comfy bed. After a long day of hiking and exploring we can take a nice shower in our own shower. We have our own flush toilet. On those days when it's pouring rain, windy and cold we can sit inside and play some cards and stay nice and dry. We can camp with full water, sewer, and cable. Or we can go to any primitive site and run off of our batteries and solar on the hottest of days and still have a nice cold beer from the refrigerator when we get back. To each, their own.

[Sigh]

With the economy so bad I've been thinking of selling my home and living in a RV. That way if I lose my job my expenses are less and I can just drive my home to my new job location.

[Al Johnson]

Outside Guy wrote:

Good riddance! RVs have ruined "camping" in this country. There are still some of us that like to sleep in a tent and sleeping bag. Ever try to sleep while surrounded by a gaggle of RVs, generators and air conditioners running full blast, while the occupants sit inside watching television? Why not just go to a hotel?

We were up in Door County camping along the lakefront on a really nice campground, when suddenyl we hear a huge commotion. Up the tiny one lane road comes this enormous RV the size of a semi-truck, snapping branches and crushing brush along the side of the road. We were strolling along the road but had to make our way into a camp site to stay clear. Yep, nothing like enjoying the good outdoors in your 3 MPG monstrosity. I could just imagine the retired white fella driving the thing playing Ludacris'
Move Out the Way B**** as he steamrolled everything in his way.

[Rob]

Good riddance. I can't tell you how many times we've been incessantly stuck behind one of those ridiculous behemoths being driven by some fat, lazy, retired software engineer.

My personal favorite is when you see one of these fatsos towing a full-size SUV behind their moving pile of worthless, unnecessary crap.

To have a TV in the outdoors defeats the whole purpose. Get a motel or stay at home and get a clue pathetic losers.

[DBX]

When you're talking a 13-ton tin palace that gets worse gas mileage at 65mph than a CTA bus, while carrying just four people instead of 40, you're talking a lifestyle that is going the way of the horse and buggy.

I wonder if we'll see a diesel hybrid Winnie, as sort of a last stand against rising fuel costs?

[moto homeboy]

Jealous little tent people... RVs have come back before... they'll do it again... jealous little tent people...

[Karl Marx -I oughtta know]

Sambo sez wrote:

time for obama bailout

These people are Americans.........

Obama doesn't care.

Unless they have already given him a bribe/bonus.

[JRobert]

moto homeboy wrote:

Jealous little tent people... RVs have come back before... they'll do it again... jealous little tent people...

Jealous? Hardly. The only ones not laughing at you insecure Turtles are other insecure Turtles.
:^)

[Quintus]

Damn a LOT of hate here.

[driverdan]

moto homeboy wrote:

Jealous little tent people... RVs have come back before... they'll do it again... jealous little tent people...

just don't ask me for help when u break down no jump-start for the haughty clueless dumb-azz, u can change your own flat tire or walk to the closest gas station when u run out of gas cause u r too busy lifting your nose in the air to look at the gas gauge! hahahahaha u r too out-of-shape to do anything.

[driverdan]

Quintus wrote:

Damn a LOT of hate here.

welcome to america, not hate, just venting.

[driverdan]

Coleman Stove wrote:

Back in the day I used to think that if it didn't fit into a backpack or the bottom of a canoe, you had way too much. Kids are grown now and my wife and I bought a 22' trailer. Best move we ever made. We go everywhere. The Smokey Mnts, Florida beaches, shores of Lake Superior, state parks, private RV parks. In June we are heading to Yellowstone and the Bad Lands. We sleep on a comfy bed. After a long day of hiking and exploring we can take a nice shower in our own shower. We have our own flush toilet. On those days when it's pouring rain, windy and cold we can sit inside and play some cards and stay nice and dry. We can camp with full water, sewer, and cable. Or we can go to any primitive site and run off of our batteries and solar on the hottest of days and still have a nice cold beer from the refrigerator when we get back. To each, their own.

i am "grown" now too, when i do not feel like packing, i get motel/hotel, usually switch-off between the two in my "grown" age, but it is still better for your body (probably mind too) to be exposed to the environment rather than constant temp/humidity, so u build resistance to viruses.