Today’s motor homes or recreational vehicles have all the comforts of home, and then some. With luxury leather recliners, granite floors, washers and dryers, plasma TV’s and looks of professionally designed spaces recreational vehicles are a stylish and comfortable home away from home.

There are several different types of vehicles considered “RV’s”. The first is a truck camper which is a unit affixed to the bed or chassis of a pickup truck. Then there is the folding camping trailer, or pop-up trailer. A travel trailer is a unit that is towed by another vehicle. A fifth wheel travel trailer is designed to be towed by a pickup truck. A motor home or what is frequently called a RV

RV camping, or “boondocking” is growing in popularity. In fact, the BLM has begun to establish special areas for longer stays, particularly in Arizona. A permit fee is around $140 now, but this allows you to stay up to six months, and you get pump stations, dumpsters and water. People are living in some of these areas. It’s cheaper than paying property taxes or rent for a lot to park on.

RV camping is common in Winter in Arizona. One of the largest gatherings of “boondockers” is in Quartzite. Several hundred thousand people spend at least part of the year in their RVs here. It’s near the California border, on Interstate 10, only 20 miles from the Colorado River. Surrounded by BLM lands,...

With gas prices hitting a seven-year low earlier this year, there's no time like the present to rev your engines for a weekend getaway or extended vacation. (Cue the movie montage: the convertible top’s down, the wind blows through your hair…) Yet, what seems like a budget-friendly jaunt when you pull out of your driveway can quickly become pretty pricey, even with reasonable fill-up costs at the pump. Keep costs down by avoiding these five road trip mistakes:

Mistake #1: Giving a Thumbs Down to the Tune Up

Worst-case scenario: You're on the side of the road with a smoking engine or pancake-flat tire … 87 miles from the nearest gas station. Better-but-still-bad-case scenario: You're burning through more fuel (and money) than you should be. Tuning up your car can improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.2 Same for under-inflated tires—though the savings aren't quite as significant, at an improvement of about 0.6 percent on average. But since every penny counts, don't blow yours out the tail pipe.

Mistake #2: Fueling Up Just Anywhere

Stop settling for the nearest nozzle when there could be a cheaper one right around the corner. How to know? Well, there's an app (or two) for that. Lisa Rowan, lifestyle expert at The Penny Hoarder, recommends downloading the GasBuddy or Waze apps, which clue you in to the cheapest gas prices in the neighborhood. "The cheapest gas prices in town could be two blocks over, and you won’t have to waste time or money driving around to compare prices,” Rowan says.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Hotel Websites

We all know travel aggregation sites are the cheapest places to book hotels, right? Not so fast. In the past year, hotel chains have announced that they will give better prices to people who book with them directly rather than booking through Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline and Travelocity. The reason? Hotels are tired of paying commission to middlemen and losing business to Airbnb. But that doesn’t mean you should skip the travel sites altogether. Instead, use them in tandem with a hotel website to compare and find the cheapest room. “Travel aggregator sites make the price-comparison process way less cumbersome,” says Rowan. “I recommend travelers use them to create a shortlist and then check in with each hotel directly to see if there are special rates or discounts available.”

And if you clock at least a few trips a year at a hotel, definitely join the loyalty program (it’s usually free!). From complimentary Wi-Fi to room discounts, “the rewards can rack up quickly,” says Rowan.

Mistake #4: Snubbing Free or Low-Fee Lodging

Lodging is not only the most expensive line item on any road-trip travel budget—it's also the one with the most savings potential. Often, travelers don't take full advantage of all the cheap options out there. And saving money doesn’t have to mean checking into some super cheap hotel that gives you the willies, either. (Bates Motel? #nothanks). Couchsurfing.com, for instance, allows you to connect with a network of vetted hosts offering up their sofa for no charge. And there's always the great outdoors: If you've already got the gear, camping can be an economical way to see the country without emptying your wallet. One bonus of hitting the open road instead of flying is that hauling your tent isn’t a hassle! Check for free sites along your route with FreeCampsites.net or free (and cheap) options with USCampgrounds.info.

Mistake #5: Buying Every Meal on the Road

Sure, the drive-thru seems quick and economical, but those McNugget® receipts add up fast. Before you leave on your trip, take a spin through your favorite grocery store to stock up on cheap basics like fruit, granola bars and sandwich fixings (PB&J!) to store in a cooler, so you can occasionally make lunch or dinner while en route. "If you make a pit stop at a local park or campsite, you can enjoy your meal in the fresh air,” Rowan suggests. Break out the blanket and enjoy the scenery—you’ll also avoid spilling strawberry jelly on your steering wheel.

Avoid spending more money than you mean to while traveling and take advantage of the best:

Why would you want to own one of the many different motorhomes that are available for sale from many motorhomes dealers? The main reason for this is the fact that you gain access to multiple benefits that motorhomes offer. For example, you will be able to use motorhomes to travel to many outside locations for a long vacation or just a simple weekend getaway. There is no more need to spend all this time planning where you are going to stay, where you will eat and cook food and what car you will have to rent. Motorhomes will provide you with the simple solution for all these dilemmas.

With the help of motorhomes you will have access to basic household items, appliances and amenities and will not have to deal with the uncomfortable hotel stays or even more unpleasant stays in tents. Owners of motorhomes can prepare them in such way that everything that is needed for the enjoyable trip is available at all times. You don’t have many limits to what you can take with you. You can cook food, sleep and even shower in most of the motorhomes. You can even attach other equipment and vehicles (boats, jet skies and other sport equipment, for example) to your motor home.

Motorhomes can be helpful not only for vacation purposes. Even if you are traveling to a different city on a business trip or to visit your friends or family, motorhome will make the ride more enjoyable for you and your family. You will have more freedom to change destinations and will even save money on hotels and restaurants. You can choose which one of the many available motorhomes to purchase depending on your personal needs, size of your family and your travel plans. Motorhomes come in different sizes and variations and will have different amenities and equipment installed. Different types of motorhomes will have different prices so it is up to you to decide which motorhome to purchase.

For more information on Motor Homes please click through to our site.

Jumping in your RV and leaving the rat race for the weekend is an American tradition. Did you know you can provide power to your RV with the sun while getting away from it all?

The Sun is Everywhere!

One of the biggest misconceptions regarding solar power is that it is limited to large panel systems on roofs. Au contraire! With new nanotechnology, solar power systems will soon be applied with the paint you use to improve your home. That’s still two or three years away, so what about now?

If you enjoy taking the RV out for an excursion, you can use solar power to provide your electrical needs. Whether you are going camping or to a NASCAR race, it is an exceedingly simple process.

Unlike homes, RVs run on direct current electricity. This makes them perfect for solar electricity since solar systems produce direct current electricity instead of alternating current. Put another way, there is no need for bulky converters to flip the electricity from direct to alternating. Instead, you can use the sun to power up your batteries directly.

Portable solar systems consist of pop-up solar modules with four or five panels. Essentially, they look like small ladders with solar panels instead of steps. You just pop them up on the roof of the RV or in an area where the sun hits them. The systems tie directly into your batteries and power them up during the day. Super easy and super clean.

The real advantage to solar RV systems has to do with noise. The traditional method for recharging your RV batteries is to turn on a generator and generators can be very loud. Even the quietest generator makes enough noise to make you feel like you live next to a construction site. Solar systems make no noise at all. There are no moving parts, just the sun beating down on the panels. You’ll never know they are even there.

If RVing is your thing, portable solar modules are worth taking a look at. With high fuel prices, you need to save a buck wherever you can.

To begin with, price is going to be a consideration since diesel motor homes will cost more than motor homes run on gasoline. There are new super chassis gasoline models available (Ford and GM) which present excellent buying. They have excellent carrying capacity and are less expensive than diesel. Alternatively, some of the more popular diesel motor homes include, Monaco, Newmar, Holiday Rambler and Fleetwood.

Oil and maintenance are also considerations when deciding whether to purchase a diesel motor home or gasoline model. Generally, oil changes and maintenance are less expensive on the gasoline models with an oil change on a diesel motor home costing between $175-$250. However, diesel motor homes tend to ride quieter because the engine is in the rear on most. Another advantage that diesel motor homes have over standard gasoline models is the cargo carrying capacity. Diesel models can carry more cargo and this includes heavier materials in the interior of the motor home such as Corian counter tops, china toilets etc.

Additionally, diesel motor homes usually have superior transmissions and pac brakes. These are important considerations if you intend to do a lot of mountain driving. Another important factor to consider when buying a motor home is the longevity of the vehicle. Diesel motor homes tend to run forever whereas in the long run, gasoline motor homes will generally require much more maintenance.

So there you have it! Make sure that you fully understand the fundamental differences between a diesel motor home and a gasoline motor home before making your purchase. You will also need to research a variety of companies who offer these motor homes for sale to ensure that you are paying the right price for your vehicle. Whether you decide to go diesel or gasoline, the flexibility that motor homes bring to your holiday adventures will be both exciting, flexible and extremely comfortable.

One of the many reasons why motor homes come so highly rated and recommend is because of all that they can be used for. Motor homes give you the freedom to basically do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do so. For instance, if you were to buy a motor home, you could use your motor home to travel across the country, to go camping, or to live in permanently.

In addition to the large number of uses, motor homes are also popular because many of their features. While it is important to remember that motor homes come in a number of different size, shapes, and styles, there are many common motor home features that can be found in a wide range of motor homes, both ones that are large and small in size. A few of the many features that you may find in some of the motor homes that you come across available for sale are outlined below.

Most motor homes come equipped with bathrooms. These bathrooms are often functioning working bathrooms, with toilets that flush. A large number of motor homes are also equipped with small shower stalls. While showers are common in many medium to large sized motor homes, the smaller sized motor homes may not have shower stalls. Having a bathroom on a motor home is important, especially if you are planning on traveling in your motor home or going camping.

Motor homes are also regularly equipped with kitchens. As with bathrooms, the size of the kitchen in question will all depend on the motor home in question. Most motor homes will have small ovens, stoves, microwaves, cupboards, and sinks. The size of these kitchen items will all depend on the size of the motor home. For instance, smaller sized motor homes may have smaller sized refrigerators, sinks, and so forth. If you are looking for a lot of room in your motor home, you may want to think about purchasing a full sized motor home, which may have a full sized or at least a more spacious kitchen.

Sleeping areas are also common fixtures in motor homes. Most motor homes come equipped with at least two or three sleeping areas. In all honesty, you will find that it depends, once again, on the size of the motor home in question. Many smaller sized motor homes may have areas that double as couches and beds or double as kitchen tables and beds. In most full sized motor homes, you may find yourself presented with rooms. Many large sized motor homes have rooms that actually have doors on them! This is great if you are looking for privacy.

The above mentioned features are just a few of the many that you may find in motor homes that are available for sale. If you are looking for something in particular, like a motor home that is equipped with an entertainment system, you will want to keep that in mind when you start your shopping.

You’re driving down the highway in your RV; your eyes are getting weary, your back is getting tight; you need some tunes to keep the spirits up. Here are some great songs to help jumpstart your Road trip playlist (in no particular order of course):

Life is a Highway - Great song that both the adults and kids know. Tom Cochrane’ song saw a resurgence in popularity after it’s appearance in the Pixar film Cars.

Take me Home, Country Roads - John Denver…. Enough said. There is nothing like driving through a scenic route with John Denver playing.

Promised Land - The King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley’s spin on Chuck Berry’s song is a powerful and fun performance. Elvis truly makes the song his own.

Sharing The Night Together - One of Dr. Hooks big hits; a nice melody and a fun song that is perfect for a late night drive.

Carry on Wayward Son - Kansas’ smashing hit. The perfect song whether you’re in your RV or an 67’ Impala —like the brothers of Supernatural— searching for your next adventure.

Don’t Stop Me Now - The truth is that you could add any Queen song and it would be perfect for your road trip. This is just one suggestion.

On The Road Again - Is there a more quintessential road trip song than Willie Nelson’s hit?

American Pie - Sometimes there’s nothing better then a long song that you know every word of that you can belt out and help pass the time. Don McLean song is exactly that, running at nearly 10 minutes, making it a perfect song for the road.

Take it Easy - Though Hotel California is just as great a choice for an Eagles song, Take it Easy takes the cake when it comes to road trip songs. The song is literally all about driving.

All-Star - After appearing in Shrek almost 20 years ago, Smashmouth’s All-Star has almost become an anthem for the younger generations. It’s a perfect song to get everyone in an upbeat mood.

A Toy Hauler is an RV that has a specially designed area to store your favorite ‘toys’. This area is generally called the garage and is placed in the back of the RV, with a ramp-door feature which allows for you to get your ATV, Kayak, Bikes, or anything else you wish to take with you, on and off the vehicle quickly and efficiently.

You can find a Toy Hauler variant of nearly everyone of your favorite RV’s: from Motorhomes to Travel Trailers. This means that not only can you store your favorite toys, but you still have the other amenities of an RV like sleeping quarters, kitchen, and bathroom.Though the garage does cut into the living space on the RV, the storage makes up for it in other ways —allowing you to add an entire new dimension to your trip.

Toy Haulers are very flexible to the user. Some choose to store their toys, other individuals choose to use the garage as a workspace or an additional room on the RV. So if you’re planning to take a trip, but don’t have anything to take with you, there’s always the option of getting creative with your newfound space.

Toy Haulers are a great choice for those looking for an RV —especially those with the desire to make the most of nature with something like a bike or ATV. They aren’t the right choice for everybody, but definitely have their niche in the RV market. Ultimately, it’s up to you and what you’re looking for when it comes to picking your dream RV.

Do Your Research on Where You’re Going!
You want to make sure the beach you have your eye on has accommodation for RVs. The best way to do this is to call ahead. Other beaches may also require you to have a permit. Nothing would be worse then to get to your destination just to be turned away; so always double check your location!

Keep Sand Out of the RV!
Before getting back into your RV after time on the sand and in the water, make sure to do your best to remove excess sand. A basin of water and a dry towel by the front door is a great reminder to wash your feet off before entering. Also, wash off with the beach showers before having a deeper cleaning in your RV shower; sand is terrible for your RV’s septic system so always make sure to wash as much off as you can before entering!

Prepare Your RV for the Beach!
In addition to setting up water and a towel by the front door, there are a couple other steps to take. Just like you want to Winterize Your RV, you also want to… beach-erize your RV for the sand and salt water in the air. Make sure to thoroughly wash your RV and take measures like adding protective waxes to minimize the damage that sand can cause. Also it might be worth investing in blinds and windshield deflectors to ensure your RV doesn’t let the sun get it too hot, while you’re out on the sand.

Now that you have a few precautions in mind, you’re ready to hit the beach and build memories building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and anything else your heart desires.