You could start at examining the market place as this will give you some idea as to what is available. Well in the UK there are around 12 manufacturers, although some of these are the same vehicles under different brands. The RV's they produce fall into 4 classes, from A to C.
The A class is the biggest; they have an all in one body and are pushers or pullers (more on this later), whilst the B class is a smaller version of an RV, similar to a campervan. The B+ class is a variant of the B class, it is coach built, has a curved sidewall body complete with pull outs (more on this later too). Finally the C class is a coach built motor home built on a van chassis and has a bed over the cab.
Technical Terms..
Now you will probably have noticed a few terms here, like "pushers" and "pullers" and "pull outs". Well the first two are all to do with where the engine sits, at the front in the case of "pullers" and, you guessed it, at the back when it comes to "pushers". The latter are always used in the big RV's and normally have the associated refinements of air suspension and breaking systems.
The term "pull outs" on the other hand is all about those "sliding rooms" you many have seen on the posh horseboxes, and is where a part, or the whole sides of an RV litterally slide out increasing the size of the living space many times over.
So now you can act all "technical" like when you're chatting down the pub, and better still you have an idea of just how complex the market is. But you have only just started, there is more, much more to consider...
So How Much Time Will You Spend In It?
Of course a big factor in the choosing of an RV must be just how much time you are going to be spending in it, after all some people, particularly those in the warmer climes, live in their RV the whole year through, it being in fact their home. But whether you live in a hot place or a cold place, insulation is key and there is not doubt that the true American RV is constructed for the longer term use and has thicker walls and better quality roofs and chassis, so if you intend to spend a lot of time in your RV, I'd go for one of the bigger higher quality units.
Running Costs
Of course the bigger units need bigger engines and surprisingly these tend to be petrol which could get a little expensive at 10-15 mpg. However there is a way around this, most in the UK getting their RV converted to LPG which effectively gives them a running cost 25-35 mpg, not a big difference from the family car.
Driving an RV
OK, so now you have looked at the market place and decided on the size of the RV you want, but can you drive it?? Well there are two things to bear in mind here. The first is about the legalities. It will not surprise you to learn that some of the bigger RV's are quite heavy, and if they go over 7 and half tons you can't drive them in the UK on a normal license (this limit dropping to just 3 and half tons if you passed your test after 1997).
With the legalities over, the question remains "can you drive one", they are after all much bigger than the family car... The answer, with a little help, is a BIG YES, as once you've got the hang of it they are a piece of cake to drive, what with their power steering, automatic transmission, and wait for it, reversing aids that often include cameras, you just can't go wrong.
So now you know the basics at least and can start the first part of your "RV journey", so go ahead, look around at the alternatives, and above all have fun and take care.
