Stoness RV Travel

Novels: Thrilling, suspenseful, surprises

Scenic tips guiding you within North America

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Stories and facts about the RV life

Many people see RVing as cheap and glamourous way to enjoy touring the country. One of the ways to learn about the RV Life is to research it before spending a lot of money. You may find the life thrilling and suspenseful, and full of surprises.

It can be exciting and maybe glamorous, but is certainly isn’t cheap. Of course it depends upon your point of view. Spending a week in Algonquin Provincial Park is low priced compared to a week cruise to an exotic island. But there is more too it. RVs are often full of surprises, not unexpectedly with a home that has to make its way along rough pavement and over some very thrilling frost heaves, or construction breaks.

Buying an RV can be pricey, and paying for gas or diesel to get to your destination is not cheap. Campground prices seem to be on a non-ending upward spiral. For instance Ontario camping fees for an electrical site can reach $52 plus tax in 2025. A regular non-electrical site will be approximately $39 to $46 plus tax. In Florida winter sites $100+ per night.

When you return from an organized tour, your responsibilities end. No more bills. With an RV, you may still be paying for it, and it has to be stored which can cost you depending upon where you live. Your investment value drops quickly. Some families use the RV as a mobile cottage. They rent a campsite for three weeks and go home. They may not be paying for a cottage lot, but they are paying for an RV, its insurance and licence, and the RV depreciates quickly in value

Types of RVs

Truck Camper

Trailers

Motorhomes

Truck Camper

Truck campers, a favourite of mine many years ago, is built to slide into the box of a pickup truck. Heavier ones require a ¾ ton truck or upward. The major drawback is the camper is best removed when you want to tour around at your destination, and that often is a chore you don’t want to do. They can include all of your amenities, water, toilet, kitchen and beds.

Trailers

Trailers fall into two groups, hitch towable and fifth wheels.

Hitch Towable

Hitch towables require a drawbar hitch attached to the frame of the towing vehicle. Many people with children like a tent trailer, which is capable of raising the roof and pushing out the ends to create two spacious beds. The sides can be canvas and screen providing a light, and well ventilated unit.

Other people want the standard solid RV trailer they are used to seeing. These have solid sides and maybe a slideout. Usually they are complete with everything you need to live comfortably.

Fifth Wheel Trailers

The cream of trailers are the fifth-wheel trailers which have an overhanging beak front that attaches to a truck bed on a plate that is the fifth wheel. Some are very large, and comfortable.

Motorhomes

There are three classes of motorhomes, A, B, and C-class.

A-Class motorhomes

The A-class is basically a travel trailer bolted to a truck chassis and looks like a bus. These motorhomes are nicely fitted out inside with all the living necessities. Some are diesel powered. They are often expensive and the problems with the lower priced units is the fact that many are not suited for winter travel because their water and sewage tanks are exposed to the elements. You will find most have one, or several slide-outs, greatly expanding the room inside. As major drawback is the necessity of towing a smaller vehicle so you can get around once you arrive at your destination.

B-Class

This group is rapidly growing in popularity. It’s basically a van rebuilt to camp in. For their size they are exceedingly pricey, rivalling many of the A-class behemoths. They are easily disconnected from the camp utilities and can be driven around and used as your touring car.

C-Class

This class looks like a fifth wheel trailer placed on a truck frame. It keeps the original truck cab and the trailer front sticks out over the truck roof. Like their more expensive cousins, the A-class, these have most of the things you need when camping. Problem is, they are usually ill prepared for winter conditions with their water and sewage tanks exposed. Beware if the floor plan that has the bed located off in one rear corner. Try making a bed when you have to kneel on the bed to put on the sheets and quilts because there is no room to stand around the bed.