Joining the Marketing Department of a RV dealership brings a whole new meaning to the word “camping”. Ten things immediately jumped out when the job began about all of the details that distinguish each RV, and the major eye-catching amenities that campers drool over. First came the most basic two categories igniting debates at campsites: motorhomes vs. trailers.
1. To Tow or Not to Tow
The motorhome is made for the entire trip to occur in one vehicle. Motorhomes are self-propelled, so the driving of the RV is done by the driver sitting inside it.
2021 Jayco Redhawk 22C
The trailer, however, provides more flexibility, but without being able to run to the bathroom as easily at a red light. It is a non-driving vehicle that must be towed by a driving vehicle, usually a pickup truck, to get anywhere. The major perk of owning a trailer is being able to detach it: once you’re at a campsite, you can take your car off the trailer and head to a nearby attraction without having to move everything you’ve brought along on the trip with you.
2021 Jayco Jay Feather X213 travel trailer.
2. The Mutual Love of Airstream and their Fans
The fabulous and aesthetically pleasing Airstream brand is more than just a hand crafted RV from Ohio, it’s an entire lifestyle enjoyed by thousands. You don’t often spot the people who have made a full time home in their Airstreams if you aren’t frequenting camping areas, but they are out there, floating around from one beautiful campsite to another. There are so many, in fact, that all 2021 Airstreams currently being built are sold out until the end of the year.
Airstream is very aware of these “off the grid” customers who live full time inside their product. Their Airstream Ambassadors program profiles stories of many people living regularly in their Airstream vehicles. The brand even started an Airstream Customer Council in 2019, consisting of twelve members given regular contact with the Airstream executive team on product quality, dealership experience, and service experience.
3. The Many Sides of Forest River
At any given moment, hundreds of Forest River RV’s are eagerly waiting for you in Pete’s RV Center’s extensive inventory. Within Forest River, there are dozens of different model brand types available, each with their own array of different floor plans and features.
The quantity and diversity of model types within the Forest River empire are astounding, and it would shock the casual RV consumer just how many different RVs one brand can produce each year. From the Wolf Pups to the Vengeance Rogues, Forest River has an RV for any customer’s interest type, with their brands listed here.
4. Indiana: The World RV Headquarters
Frequently dismissed as a “flyover state” by nonresidents, there aren’t many facts that come to mind when an outsider wonders what’s going on in Indiana. But mention the state to a RV enthusiast, and their eyes light up at the thought of thousands of new RVs coming out of the state each year.
Indiana is the RV capital of the world. Over 80% of RVs are made in the state, with an entire 128 page guidebook written by RV historian Al Hesselbart about Indiana’s thriving RV industry. Elhart, Indiana even holds the RV and Motorhome Hall of Fame Museum and Library, a charming stop with RVs from several iconic eras.
5. Off the Grid Actually Means Better WiFi than at Home
Full-time RV enthusiasts who live and travel in their units love to show the world their photogenic “off the grid” experiences. And many of us are jealous of their frequent scenic stops! But off the grid doesn’t mean what it once did.
With the rise of remote workers, office space built inside of RVs, and increasingly high quality WiFi systems built into new RVs each year, one can live off the grid of traditional neighborhoods while remaining completely in touch with the rest of the world, online. In a way, you’re choosing which grid it is you are on or off of–avoiding troublesome neighbors while hopping from one faraway campground to another, but still keeping up with that daily news podcast that keeps you in the loop.
6. The Childish Joy of Bunkhouses
Every kid who’s ever laid eyes on a bunk bed has strong opinions about them, from the eternal debate of whether the top or bottom bunk is the better option to whether they even want to sleep that close to a sibling in the first place. Surely, a bunk bed where you can wake up in a new place everyday is the content of many childhood dreams.
Naturally, some genius RV designers have taken this into consideration. “Bunkhouses”, which are often separated from the rest of the unit by their own door, are quite possibly the best feature for a camping family.
Bunkhouse in the 2021 Forest River Arctic Wolf 3880SUITE.
Looking at these as an adult, childish instincts quickly kick-in and excite campers of all ages.
7. Storage is King
A bunkhouse would be in chaos without appropriate room to store all the toys, gadgets, and snacks that join kids on a trip. Each year it seems that RV manufacturers become more innovative with how much storage room can be neatly packed inside.
A plethora of cabinets and a loft area in the 2021 Keystone RV Montana High Country 377FL.
8. The 2020 RV Boom
In a year where most vacations came to a screeching halt, RV sales exploded. RVTravel.com said that “The 507,200 units projected for 2021 would represent the best annual total on measurable record for the RV industry, eclipsing the 504,600 units shipped in 2017.” This is remarkable, especially considering that RV manufacturing was shut down for a full two months of 2020 due to the pandemic.
And it makes sense that in times of isolation, people would turn to RVs. Staying in your camper creates an automatic barrier of social distance from everyone else that is impossible to achieve in a hotel. Campers are often found parked far away from highly populated areas, with many campgrounds occupying some of the most remote areas of the United States.
9. The Amazing Quality of Luxury RVs
The peak of RV design is seen in the most luxurious units, the kind of RVs that make you think, “Wow, why am I paying for an apartment when I could live in this?”. Not only are the sleek features of these vehicles superb, they are illuminated by some stellar lighting.
This Party Deck option on the 2021 Jayco Seismic 4125 looks like something out of a modern California coastal home built hundreds of feet above the ocean. The Seismic 4125 also has one of the finest walk-in showers in a 2021 RV, and a beautifully lit bedroom hidden away from the party.
You can tell by a quick look at the floor plan how much luxury can really fit into one unit.
In the quality-of-life Olympics, this stacks up far better than most apartments–and many homes.
10. The Magic of The Slides
Holding down the button to open the slides of your RV is a very similar feeling to being a child and choosing which bunk bed belongs to you, some scientists believe. These seemingly magical slide-out walls increase the RV’s size significantly, providing more than enough room to stretch your legs after a day on the road.
Not only are slides a neat feature to flex at the campground, they turn a vehicle into a classy home.
If you saw a picture of this kitchen and dinette in the 2021 Keystone Montana 3231CK without context, how would you know that it’s in a RV and not a high-end kitchen store? The transformation that slide-out walls created here give the kitchen the ability to hold such large dimensions.
At Pete’s RV Center, we bring all of your favorite parts of RVs to you. With a wide variety of RVs with many features in stock, now is the time to check off your own list of the best features that belong in your RV.