My First RV Trip – Beginner Guide on How to Pick an RV

With the option of working remotely during the pandemic and my increasing passion of exploring the wilderness, I have been thinking about living on the road with Ariel in an RV and driving across the US. As someone who have never camped before, I decided to rent an RV and try it out in June 2022. My destination? 5-day road trip from the San Francisco Bay Area to Lassen Volcanic National Park and Crater Lake National Park. I included more details about these two parks in another post and will focus on my first RV experience in this one.

Where to rent an RV?

If you have a friend who owns one, that’s the best. If not, no worries. RVs have become very popular since the pandemic and there are lots of options for rental. I used Outdoorsy. It’s an RV rental website and app for people to search for the vehicles that suit best for them based on the size, location, amenities, price, etc. You can also message the vehicle owner directly for more details and arrange the pick-up and drop-off. All the paperwork and payment can be done through the app and the whole process is quite seamless. 

What features to look for in an RV?

As a beginner, I wanted to avoid inconvenience as much as possible and looked for one that was pet-friendly, close by, easy to drive, and well-equipped with modern amenities. Price was less of a concern. So I went with a Class B with indoor shower, toilet, fridge, microwave, TV, and kitchen.

RV Size:

There are several options depending on your appetite. Class A is the biggest, traditional, bus size RV. It has more capacity and offers more living space. But it’s also harder to drive and maneuver in the parking lot. Class B is the most popular size nowadays because it’s usually 19-21 feet long and only slightly wider than an SUV, which makes it the most accessible and easiest to drive. The downside is that the living space is quite limited. I wouldn’t recommend it if you have more than two people. Class C is the middle size and a good compromise between living space and drivability.

Sizes of the vehicle matter, not only for the driving experience and living space but also for the capacity of the amenities. Bigger RVs will have bigger water and waste tanks and more electricity capacity. If you will be off grid for a relatively long time, these can make a big difference.

Toilet:

In my opinion, toilet is a must for RVs. But which one to choose? The most common types are:

• Cassette toilet where your waste is saved in a tank and you will need to periodically take out the tank and dump the waste in designated areas;
• Flushing toilet which are very similar to the toilet we have at home and the waste is stored in what’s called the black tank. To empty it, you need to connect the black tank pose and dump the waste in designated areas
• Compost toilet which is a dry toilet and will convert your waste into compost-like materials. This type of toilets has the least odor, so it feels cleaner. But it’s also more expensive to install, so it’s not as common as the other two in RV rentals.

Showers:

Not all RVs have showers because, to be honest, all the RV parks and most of the campsites are very well equipped and will provide shower facilities. Some RVs have outdoor shower heads. Those are great for a quick rinse after swimming and surfing or if you simply want more space when taking the shower. Some RVs have indoor shower which is great for privacy and will also protect from cold weather.

Fresh water tank and gray water tank:

Fresh water tank stores water for washing hands, cleaning groceries, and flushing toilets. You should not drink the water directly from the fresh water tank. Gray water tank stores used water, so it’s like a sewage without the toilet waste. It’s important to check their sizes. As a first timer, I was surprised by how much water I use every day because a 30-gallon fresh water tank and a 23-gallon gray water tank lasted only about a day for me and my friend. 

Electricity:

Let’s be honest. Who can live without their phones today?! If the RV has solar panels and you will be driving through good weathers, you don’t need to worry about electricity. Or if the vehicle has two generators (one for driving and one for the living space), by driving the vehicle you will be charging for the living space, so no worries for losing electricity in the woods. Some vehicle owners will provide mobile generators for emergencies. Last but not the least, it’s always recommended to plug in whenever an electricity hook-up is provided.

Propane:

Most RVs use propane for cooking, heating, and water heating. Propane lasts a long time. I spent 5 days on the road, showered once in the RV, and cooked for every dinner. It costs about only 7lbs of propane. It can be refilled at Uhauls or some gas stations.

Kitchen:

Kitchen is very important to me because I want to eventually live in an RV for a relatively long time and cooking will be unavoidable. At minimum, I need a sink, a fridge, a stove, and enough counter space for cutting. If you will be driving through cities, this feature may not be as important.

Other features:

I would say these following amenities are great add-ons and different people will have different preference.

1. Pet friendliness
2. Bed size / how many it can sleep
3. Air conditioning (usually there is one in the driving area and one in the living area)
4. Awnings 
5. Appliances like TV, fridge, and microwave
6. Luggage storage
7. Loft
8. CarPlay function for navigation
9. Bluetooth

Price:

The vehicle I rented was $275 per day which I think was about average in the Bay Area. It has a 100-mile limit per day and costs $0.5 for every extra mile. Including insurance, taxes, service fees, and prep / cleaning fees, it cost almost $2,000 for 5 days. This does not include any gas and campsite expenses. It seems expensive. But I liked the convenience and freedom of being able to live in the woods, go anywhere I want, and cook on my own terms.

How to learn to drive an RV?

Once you decide on the vehicle, I recommend googling the model of the vehicle and watching the YouTube video of the walk-through – usually the owner has it in the vehicle description. In addition, before you pick up the vehicle, ask for a thorough walk-through from the owner. If you forget about something, always text the owner to avoid breaking things. You can also ask for help from your camp host or friendly neighbors. I found people are generally very friendly when you are in nature on vacation mode. 

Questions to ask the owner?

Before you hit the road, it’s always good to have the following information in your back pocket.

1. The weight of the vehicle (you should check whether you need a special driver license to drive the vehicle; different states have different rules depending on the weight of the vehicle)
2. The length and height of the vehicle (in order to book the right camp size and park in the right spot)
3. Which gas grade the vehicle needs (some luxury models may require premium gas)
4. Whether the vehicle is all wheel drive or wet / dirt road friendly (avoid those roads if the vehicle is front wheeled)
5. Where the handyman tools and spare tire are (in case anything breaks)
6. Which number to call for towing or accident (no one wants it to happen, but just in case)
7. Whether you need to empty the gray / balck tanks and toilet before return (iOverlander is a great app that the owner of my RV recommended for looking up dumping sites and water supplies)
8. Whether you need to fill gas and water tanks before return
9. Whether there’s mileage limit per day and what’s the cost for each extra mile

My Take-aways from living in an RV?

• Driving a Class B is easier than I thought. After trying it out for about 10 miles, I got used to it and it’s not that different from driving an SUV.
• Taking care of an RV requires some work but is easy enough for anyone. Hook-ups may take extra effort for the first time. You will need to do some research and planning about where to stay, where to hook up, and where to dump.
• Campsites and RV parks are well equipped. Shower and water are generally accessible. 
• Class B is too small for me and my medium size dog, especially the bathroom. I could barely sit down on the toilet with the door closed and couldn’t move in the shower. For 4 out of the 5 nights, I showered on the campsite or in the RV park.
• I do not like cassette toilet. It’s disgusting to dump and smells a little. I used public bathrooms instead most of the time during my 5-day trip.
• It’s important to check where the hoses of water tanks and electricity are located on the vehicle. If they are at the bottom, it’s going to be hard to pull out and put back the hoses, which was the case for the one I rented this time.