Have you heard? 2020 it is the year of the RV. After all, having a camper is the ultimate in social distance vacationing. If I haven’t mentioned it I am the parent of two young boys. Boys that love dirt and the outdoors. I too love some outdoor, off the beaten path, time to recharge adventures. However, I also live in Florida. It is hot. Like, camping here is really hot!
For the past few years actually, we have been kicking around the idea of a pull-behind travel trailer. We have been really looking at options. Boy, are there a lot of options: travel trailer, pop up, class A, class C, you get the idea. Once we finally had a tow vehicle we were able to seriously think about a camper. However, no one expects a global pandemic, am I right?
So with 100% transparency, it’s not the best time to buy an RV. The stock is low and demand is high. We watched a lot of youtube, read a lot of blogs and we bought one anyway. The benefit of a camper for me was: 1. Air conditioning, 2. Air conditioning and 3. a bathroom. I really despise trying to find my glasses, shoes, and flashlight as I stumble over my family to unzip the tent in the early hours of the morning. Also, As I mentioned it is hot in South Florida. The camping season is in the winter. As I write this post it is almost November and 89 degrees out.
Before you stop reading this because making an investment in a camper is not for you, I have an alternative. Renting. That’s right there are several sites that function like the Air BnB of RVs. You can rent an RV of any size or style and you can even have it delivered to your campsite. We did just this to “try it out”. Let me tell you, it was awesome. Imagine showing up at your campsite, everything is set up and hooked up! They even had chairs for us to use. They also tore it all down and took care of “dumping” ( cleaning out the potty).
We used a site called Outdoorsy, although there are a few others out there. If you use the link you will get a $50 credit off your first rental. Renting is a great option if you want to try it out but are nervous about driving or towing a rig. It’s also a great way to experience camping if the great outdoors is really not your thing.
After trying a rental we had so much fun we were convinced to pull the trigger and get one of our own. A few months later we really started the process of locating the perfect travel trailer for us. I am not an expert but I have learned a lot about different types of campers. The options are endless. Do you want something you can drive or something you can tow? How much weight can your vehicle tow?
We needed something small, lightweight, and with a bunkhouse for our boys. We were able to find just the thing after a few starts and stops. The camper has everything I wanted, ice cold AC and a bathroom. The shower isn’t perfect, especially since my husband is 6’3″. Since I live in a house of boys I am determined that the camper will have a “girl’s” name. I am still working on finding the perfect name. Do you name a camper like a person? or as a boat with a clever “punny” name? Stay tuned we are still working that out.
So this is now going to be the year of exploration for us. The year of the RV. Visiting state parks and enjoying some camping close to home. For now. Any questions about campers or camping drop them in the comment. Also, I would love to hear from any campers out there where your favorite camping places are located. I am also open to name suggestions!