WEnRV travel news, products, and industry trends

A toy hauler travel trailer is an excellent option if you want a great way to upgrade your family vacations to the campground taking home. These incredible RVs feature garage spaces with power ramp doors, making loading even your heaviest outdoor equipment easy. Learn more about the toy hauler travel trailers with sleeping for 6+ available near you.

This Cruiser Stryker ST–2714 toy hauler travel trailer is available today.

Cruiser Stryker ST-2714

When you take home a Cruiser Stryker ST-2714 toy hauler travel trailer, you will have everything you need to keep your outdoor toys fueled and ready for the trails. The 30-gallon fuel station in the garage space gives you plenty of room to refuel. You’ll love a 19-foot power awning with LED lighting pre-lit to give you a space to rest and relax after you’re done exploring.

Additional Features:

30 Gallon Fuel Station19′ Power Awning with LED Lights8 Cu. Ft. RefrigeratorKing-Size Folding BedResidential Microwave OvenThese recliners are a great place to kick back after a long day.

Coachmen RV Adrenaline 27KB

The Coachman Adrenaline 27KB toy hauler travel trailer is another excellent option for families. You’ll love that this unit features a queen bed in the master bedroom, a power bunk in the garage for additional sleeping, and plenty of seating space throughout. The almost 16-foot garage space gives you plenty of room for mountain bikes, kayaks, ATVs, and more.

Additional Features:

Heading into another travel season, now is the time to evaluate your travel setup, including the protections that prevent you from additional expenses due to an unexpected incident, like travel assistance and travel insurance.

RVers and travelers today can invest in any number of auxiliary support plans like roadside assistance, RV-specific insurance, and other asset protection plans. It can be confusing to determine where to invest and how to be best prepared. 

Knowing the difference between what’s offered — and identifying potential overlaps — can help you get the most for your money. Here we’re looking at travel assistance vs travel insurance. Both are important services that save travelers money every year. You can determine whether you require one, both, or neither as we walk through what each offers. 

What is travel assistance?

As travelers, we make negotiations all the time between cost and comfort, risk and adventure. At the end of the day, you make decisions on what you value. And that’s how you should approach travel assistance. 

There’s nothing like exploring the back roads independently in your RV. Because of this you oftentimes find yourself at a new destination every day.  The risk is that weather changes too, sometimes in an instant, and not all RVers pay attention to weather conditions when traveling or spending the night. RV’s are great, but they are not safe in severe weather, like lightning and thunderstorms with high winds, tornadoes and hurricanes.

This Spring season, awareness is key. Consider a few of these tips to help keep your rig safe as you’re traveling through various and changing weather conditions.

When you travel hundreds of miles a day in your RV, weather conditions can change several times. When you stop for the night — boondocking, staying in a parking lot or campground — all you want to do is get set up quickly and get some rest. The weather is the last thing on your mind. The problem with this is severe weather can occur without much warning, and if you are caught in it, it can be disastrous.

So what’s the plan? Plan is the key word here. RVers need to have an emergency weather plan in case of a severe storm. To start with, the more you know about the weather around you the more you can react.

Whether you’re looking for a family RV or something to help you enjoy your weekends away at the campground, these class super C diesel motorhomes for sale near you will help you get there. Learn about six of our favorite floorplans available today and find your perfect RV in this class C diesel motorhomes review.

Take home a class C motorhome today and enjoy stress-free vacations.

Thor Motor Coach Delano Sprinter 24FB

This Thor Motor Coach Delano Sprinter 24SB class super C diesel motorhome is on sale today. This RV features a Murphy bed to give you plenty of space in the living room and a built-in skylight for plenty of natural light. You’ll love this RV is fully equipped to give your family all the space they need for family vacations.

Additional Features:

Built-In Cap SkylightLarge Slide OutMurphy Bed32″ LED TV in Living AreaThe interior living space is open and airy.

Winnebago Navion 24D

Another excellent option for families is the Winnebago Navion 24D class super C diesel motorhome. This RV has a Murphy bed that easily folds up during the day to accommodate guests and friends. The rear bathroom allows you to burn dark on your way to your destination.

Additional Features:

 

Buying an RV is an important if not daunting financial decision. It’s a significant purchase in price alone. And then you have to consider the lifestyle costs, including everything from fuel to RV-specific insurance to maintenance to off-season storage. The key to a financially successful RV lifestyle is an in-depth knowledge of what things cost, what you can afford, and what steps you can take to budget. And that’s especially true when it comes to financing the purchase of an RV — the most significant cost of the lifestyle.

The experience of buying an RV falls somewhere between buying an automobile and buying a house (appropriately). It’s a significant investment because of the sheer dollar amount and because of its long-term value. What you pay now will be relevant in ten or twenty years when you are either still paying off a loan, selling the RV, or trading it in. But pay the wrong price or get the wrong financing term and it could affect you later. 

You can secure good financing terms now that will be of considerable benefit further down the road. There are things you can control to impact your terms. Here, we’ll cover factors like down payment amount, credit score, loan type, and financing options — all of which play an important role in determining what you will pay overall for the RV portion of the RV lifestyle. 

Daunting? Nah. Empowering. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be at the dealership to find the RV that makes the most sense with your budget and to secure terms you understand and are capable of maintaining. 

Are you ready to pack up the kids and the RV for summer vacation? There are a lot of great destinations to explore across North America — the only problem is picking just one and planning YOUR ideal vacation.

My sons always enjoyed the Phineas and Ferb cartoon, and as summer approaches, I always think of the theme song: “There are a hundred and four days of summer vacation ’til school comes along just to end it, so the annual problem for our generation is finding a good way to spend it.” Since my husband and I are both teachers, we’ve always tried to make the most of those 104 days each year. Our RV took those adventures to a grander level.

Start planning today, because reservations fill up quickly. Here are a few of my best tips and some destination inspiration for your summer RV vacation:

5 Tips for Picking a Summer RV Vacation Destination

1. Consider the age of your children. Some destinations are more child-friendly than others. For example, Yellowstone National Park is truly amazing, but it’s better for older kids due to the open boardwalks perched over boiling springs. On the same token, teenagers may or may not be feeling the theme park vacation.

Saddle up for a stay at Quiet Woods Green River Stables Horse Camp & RV Park in Campbellsville, Kentucky. Located south of Lexington and Louisville, the equestrian-friendly campground welcomes both horses and their human counterparts, with 50 stables and 93 sites for RVers.

The park sits near the shore of Green River Lake and serves as the perfect spot for horse lovers visiting the Bluegrass State, which is known for the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Horse Park, and a slew of equestrian-related attractions.

When visitors aren’t riding or hiking the many trails that wind through the nearby forest, they can launch a boat on Green River Lake, with fishing and waterskiing. 

Western-style Fun

The park serves folks who travel with their horses; it’s ideal for those who travel in hybrid horse trailers with living quarters for people. The park has several big rig sites and many sites with full hookups. Wi-Fi is available at several sites and supports streaming. Seasonal sites are available for long-term guests and fire rings help keep campers warm.

With so much uncertainty in the market, it’s no secret that people are thinking a little more critically when it comes to spending their hard-earned dollars. Yet vacations are still an essential way to relieve stress, re-energize, and find new inspiration — even on a budget. 

 

So what’s the most economical way to travel? What’s the least expensive way to take in the sights and explore new cities? And how do you make the most of your time off without breaking the bank? 

 

To shed a little light, we put together a list of considerations when comparing costs between traditional vacations and camping.    

Hello everyone, and welcome to the second installment of the RV and camping news and events for March 2023. Here we’re following up with Starlink after pricing changes earlier this month and now that they’ve introduced new pricing and service for RVers and campers. Then we head to Austin, Texas where 2023 South by Southwest has been the launching pad for two new innovative RVs, including the premier of the first all-electric RV. Plus, we take a look at Yosemite National Park as a bellwether after recent storms in California have caused massive flooding and record snowfall.

Starlink Roam

Starlink RV has now been rebranded as Starlink Roam, and it will offer two different pricing and service plans. Subscribers can pay $150 each month for regional roaming services, or they can choose global roaming and pay $200 monthly to be able to receive internet service traveling to other continents. Both will require the base Starlink Kit, which runs $599, or the high-performance antenna at $2500. This change comes less than a month after a price change to the Starlink RV plan.

All-Electric RV Premiers at SXSW

Lightship L1 made its debut at this month’s 2023 South by Southwest festival as the only all-electric RV of its kind, featuring a classic pop-up design and flattening to only six feet 9 inches when being towed for superior aerodynamics. The RV also comes equipped with an electrically powered powertrain, which assists the tow vehicle to optimize either gas mileage or EV range.

Once parked, the RV’s battery system is designed to offer about a week’s worth of off-grid power, which won’t go unnoticed by frequent boondockers. The L1 starts at $125,000 but can be available for $118.400 after a tax credit is applied.

We’ve all seen the real estate signs along the highway that proclaim, “If you lived here, you’d be home by now.” Many parks make good on the promise of the ideally located home. When parks offer RV lots for sale, travelers can find the comfort and security of ownership in some of the most beautiful parts of North America.

It hasn’t always been this way. A few decades ago, only a handful of parks offered RV lots for sale. RV travelers who purchased this property in those early stages were thought by some to be crazy. Well, it turned out that these early purchasers were quite level-headed. The concept took off and the values climbed, rewarding many of the early buyers with nice profits when they sold their lots.

Today, throughout North America, you can find RV lots for sale in several RV resorts. Similar to the housing market, RV lot real estate has a wide range in selling prices. You can find some sites in the $40,000 range and others that push the one-million-dollar mark. This price variation is driven by factors similar to the home sale market, with a special focus on location, location, location.

Lots come in all shapes and sizes. Some include amenities like carriage houses, multilevel decking, outdoor kitchens and even private swimming pools, all dramatically influencing price. Quite frankly, there are some jaw-dropping parks in North America that house some of the most palatial RV sites that one could imagine.

Carmen and her family were able to spend some time having a luxury vacation in beautiful Hilton Head, South Carolina, their experience proved to them that they can get everything they want in a luxury trip while renting an RV. Watch the family’s adventure below.

 

What defines a luxury vacation?

Let’s face it, free time is a luxury. That’s exactly why we should indulge when we can. A luxury vacation is an investment of time in ourselves and our loved ones, and it shows we value experiences spent together. More than physical things, those experiences extend beyond the trip, which is why you should strive to experience more on all your vacations.

Few people know this more than Carmen Sognonvi of Top Flight Family. These days, she and her jet-setting family frequently travel the globe in luxury style. Their Top Flight lifestyle began with that first fateful trip.

“We had some credit card points saved up and booked a vacation to Cabo,” Carmen said. After three straight years of growing their business without a day off, this was their first-ever trip as a family of four.

If you’re anything like me, you have a tricky relationship with fitness. 

 

I tend to either set my goals way too high (like signing up for a half marathon in a month even though I’ve never ran more than a few miles) and then become discouraged when I can’t maintain them, or I don’t set any at all and therefore have no plan — becoming aimless.

 

However, in this past year I took tremendous strides in my health. And it was certaily no thanks to my travel schedule, considering I was away from home almost as much as I was there. But even with interrupted schedules, changing rhythms, or limited equipment at campgrounds and hotels, I feel healthier than ever.

Since 1966 travelers have trusted Good Sam more than anyone else, making it the largest RV organization in the world. And for good reason. With discounts on retail, fuel, campgrounds, and more — as well as tools to make planning your next trip a breeze — it’s no wonder why over two million members trust Good Sam every year.

 

But is a Good Sam membership right for you? How much will it cost? How much will you save? What are the benefits?

 

To start you off on the right foot, here’s the ultimate guide to a Good Sam membership.

Fifth wheel campers are known for spacious interiors and luxury amenities. With that comes a heavier overall weight, requiring a big truck with a higher towing capacity. 

But not all fifth wheel campers need heavy-duty trucks. Here’s a collection of small fifth wheel campers we love. 

Who Might Like a Small Fifth Wheel?

Many current travel trailer owners eventually transition to a fifth wheel. Once you’re comfortable towing, fifth wheels offer more spacious floorplans and luxurious amenities. However, you’ll need to know your vehicle’s towing capacity and be familiar with RV weight ratings to select a 5th wheel your vehicle can safely tow.

Use our Towing Guide to check your vehicle’s towing capacity.

Here are a few trucks that may be able to tow the following campers (tow packages vary; always check your vehicle’s weight ratings):

Everyone is feeling the inflation pinch right now. Thankfully, we RV owners don’t need to put the brakes on our adventures. You can save money on RV trips if you learn how to lower the three biggest RV costs; lodging, fuel, and maintenance. No, that doesn’t mean you need to dry camp at a big box store or park in a relative’s driveway. There are far better ways to minimize RV expenses so you can embark on this fun lifestyle with more confidence and less financial worry.

Tame the 3 Biggest RV Expenses for Happier Travels

Knowing how to lower the biggest RV expenses is why my husband and I are still full-time RVing after 15 years. This knowledge didn’t come naturally to us, and in my experience, most RVers don’t get it at first either. Like many new full-time RVers, our first year on the road was expensive. We cringed when we filled up our Dodge fuel tank. Checking into RV parks for a few nights was painful. Each time I looked at our bank account I wondered “Where’s all that cheap RV living people talk about?”

I wasn’t alone in believing that saving money RVing is as easy as free camping on public lands, or staying overnight in Walmart parking lots. Over time I learned that free camping as a way to save money is possible, but in the long run, it’s a very short-sighted approach to paying for the RV lifestyle. The three biggest costs of RVing often knock the wind out of unprepared RV owners.

When an RVer encounters one of these expenses, sometimes they get stuck in locations they don’t want to be in because they can’t afford to cover expensive repairs to their rig. In other cases, RVers stop traveling because RV vacations and maintenance cost way more than they anticipated. That’s too bad because these costs of RV ownership are quite predictable. When you budget for them, they’re also manageable for most people. Let’s dive into each RV expense category so you can learn how to save money RVing and keep your wheels turning no matter what the universe throws your way.

There are certain must-have RV tools that all RVers need. Unlike emergency essentials you should keep in your RV, these tools help you camp smarter.

Some of these RV tools will help in an emergency, but most are designed for routine maintenance. Don’t believe us? – Take the advice of experienced campers.

Before diving into this RV tool checklist, download our customer reference handbook to track your RV’s seasonal and annual maintenance needs. Keeping up with RV maintenance helps you enjoy safe adventures while maximizing your RV’s resale value if you eventually decide to upgrade. 

Use the Good Sam Valuator to check your RV’s market value in seconds. 

Must-Have RV Tools for Safe Travels

Without further adieu, here’s your checklist of must-have RV tools.

Welcome to the Good Sam camping news spotlight, where we cover some of the month’s notable trends, events, news stories, and information helpful to campers and RVers. This month we’re taking a look at the pricing changes for Starlink customers, an ambitious new trail connecting two national parks, BLM updates to the beloved Alabam Hills, and more.

 

Starlink adjusts their prices 

In a recent email to Starlink customers, SpaceX revealed that they will be adjusting their prices for residential users based on capacity. 

The message noted that residential users finding themselves in a “limited capacity” area can expect to pay $120 a month ($10 higher than the previous cost), while those in excess areas will actually be paying $20 less at a total of $90 a month. With that, RV customers can expect a $15 increase to $150 a month.

Additionally, they announced that plans with portability (allowing you to move back and forth from a home address) will no longer be available; and you will essentially need two different plans in order to maintain that level of flexibility.

Tent campers (also called pop-up tent campers and tent trailers) are a nice go-between for those that still love tent camping but want to be off the ground when they sleep. The thing is, all kinds of critters also love pop-up tent campers. 

Because many folding tent campers feature screens and fewer hard materials, they’re easier for pests to invade – and they love chewing through the screens. That said, some of these tips apply to keeping critters out of all types of RVs. 

How to Critter Proof a Pop-Up Tent Camper

Here are a few tips to help you critter proof your pop-up tent camper, whether you’re putting it away for the winter or getting it ready for a trip.

Store Food Properly

Photo by Camping World

Food is the biggest reason critters make their way into your camper. Be it insects, mice, or something larger, the aroma of something delicious will bring them out in droves. 

Spring in North America officially arrives when the Earth’s angle to the sun appears directly over the equator. This is the equinox and happens on March 20 this year. Also, Around this time, snowbirds heading north start their long treks home.

For lovers of the outdoors, spring engenders feelings of delight as the temperatures slowly increase and trees and plants start budding. The spring thaw slowly sweeps north as each day passes. But even as the weather improves, some potential snags may stand in the way for travelers.

Spring Forward (With Caution)

The spring thaw can present certain challenges to road travelers. Northern-bound snowbirds traditionally encounter much heavier traffic as they make the long trip home. This higher volume of RV traffic fills many of the available campgrounds relatively early as dark falls. RV owners that forge on into the night hoping to gain a couple of extra hours often have trouble getting a campsite.

Additionally, most RV owners are used to arriving at their destination RV park well before sunset. This is probably due to the night falling dark later during most of the summer season. However, for those traveling a long journey, as many snowbirds heading north, keeping such arrival habits may be difficult. This leaves the challenge of backing onto an unfamiliar campsite in the dark. Here, the driver and parking spotter should agree on a communication signal, with a flashlight or similar device, to ensure safe docking.

Packing your RV trip-by-trip is a good habit. You bring only what you need and stay organized. In this way, you ensure food isn’t wasted by creating a meal list with needed ingredients. You plan out your activities to know what supplies and equipment to bring. And you pack appropriate clothing for the expected climate. But what do you bring for unexpected emergencies? An emergency supply kit is what you pack to ensure you have essential supplies for an emergency, and it’s important to include one on every RVing trip.

So as you prep for spring and summer RVing this year, carefully consider the items you should carry if for any reason your trip goes awry. There’s a difference between having sufficient backup supplies and overkill, and building an emergency supply kit is a good way to decide the difference.

So what do you include in your emergency supply kit? Here is your step-by-step approach to building out an emergency supply kit to keep in your RV with just the right amount of gear and supplies to be at-the-ready for the unexpected.

When would I need an emergency supply kit?

 

Things go wrong: breakdowns, bad weather, acts of God, strandings. In these emergencies, we might end up somewhere unfamiliar with fewer resources than we expected and with fellow travelers and family members relying on us for basic necessities.