RVs & Campers For Dummies

Make yourself at home on the road

Live down by the beach one week and way up in the mountains the next? It sounds like an impossible dream, but motor-homers do it all the time.  Whatever draws you to the mobile lifeadventurous domestic vacations or permanently itchy feetRVs& Campers For Dummies helps you feel right at home. The book explores the key aspects of glamping-with-wheels.  Discover how its possible to bring beauty spots right to your doorstep without sacrificing domestic comforts like a comfy bed, private bathroom, and wholesome, healthy home cooking!

In a down-home, friendly style, mobile-living veterans and husband-and-wife team Christopher Hodapp and Alice Von Kannon welcome you inside to discover everything from deciding to rent or buy the vehicle that best suits your needs to planning and prepping your first journey and then setting yourself up wherever you arrive at the perfect spot. Along the way youll learn how to adapt your driving skills to pilot your home on the road, as well as how to keep every aspect of it shipshape and ready for action.

• Explore your RV and camper options
• Stock up with the right supplies
• Get a snapshot of the mobile home lifestyle
• Troubleshoot common problems

Getting there is half the funand this guide shows you how to do it safely and in style. So, buckle up (or relax in the back)  its going to be a wild but incredibly comfortable ride!

Christopher Hodapp andAlice Von Kannon are a husband-and-wife team whove had a lifelong love affair with the RV lifestyle. Alice grew up with travel trailers, and Chris traveled and worked out of a motorhome for many years as a commercial filmmaker. Veteran RVers, theyve explored 44 of the 50 U.S. states so far, staying in literally hundreds of campgrounds and parks.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with RVs and Campers 7

Chapter 1: Joining the Cavalcade of Rolling Nomads 9

Chapter 2: Surveying the Wide World of RVs and Campers 25

Chapter 3: Decisions, Decisions: Knowing What You Need 55

Part 2: Buying Your RV 73

Chapter 4: Fitting an RV into Your Budget 75

Chapter 5: Doing Your Homework 85

Chapter 6: Dealing with Dealers 99

Chapter 7: Adding a Tow Vehicle to Your Trailer 111

Chapter 8: Getting Hitched and the Alchemy of Weight 127

Part 3: Taking Your First Camping Trip 139

Chapter 9: Stocking Up on Accessories: What Your RV Didnt Come With 141

Chapter 10: Packing for the Road 159

Chapter 11: Driving, Parking, and the Dread of Backing Up 173

Chapter 12: The Shakedown: Your Maiden Voyage 193

Chapter 13: Setting Up Your Campsite 209

Part 4: Understanding How Your RV Works 227

Chapter 14: Electrical Systems 229

Chapter 15: Water World: The Wonders of Plumbing 247

Chapter 16: The Propane Gas System 279

Chapter 17: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning 301

Part 5: Tackling Some Advanced RV Topics 313

Chapter 18: Storage and Old Man Winter 315

Chapter 19: Tow, Tow, Tow Your Toad: Towing Your Car Behind Your Motorhome 333

Chapter 20: Boondocking and Living off the Grid 343

Part 6: The Part of Tens 357

Chapter 21: Ten Potential RV Catastrophes and How to Avoid Them 359

Chapter 22: Ten Smartphone Apps You Cant Live Without 369

Chapter 23: Ten Great Attractions Just off the Highway 375

Index 383