Foreigner and Newbie on RVs
Hello all, I'm a newbie on RVs and also chilean. I'm planning a San Francisco-Miami holiday trip next summer, renting an RV for 20+ days, 5 adults, we want to hire a C class. RVs are not common ...
Forum Discussion
Good summary so far. You will need electric hookup of 30 amps or more to run air conditioning, but most private campgrounds have that, as do many state parks. (Older campgrounds may have only 20 amp hookups.)
"Dump" refers to a place where you can dump your RV's wastewater tanks. FHU (full-hookup) sites include that at your site, but most campgrounds also have a dump station for all campers to use; best time for that is upon departure from the campground. By "Hydro" I think you are referring to water hookups, which is how that will be listed. That is not the same as "dump" or "sewer".
It will very likely cost more to rent an RV in one place and drop off in another, but that should still work out all right for you. Correct that 5 people in a Class C will be a bit tight. When campers are stated to "sleep 5," that usually doesn't mean 5 adults. Some of the couches and other alternate sleeping platforms in an RV are too small for anyone older than 10. :)
Depending on what it costs, you might consider joining Good Sam, as membership will get you a 10% discount on campgrounds that are allied with Good Sam. You might save a little money that way, but in 20 days, you will more likely just break even.
An alternative to private campgrounds which you may want to consider is to stay in state parks, national parks and national forests along the way. Friday and Saturday nights will usually be full in state parks especially, but Sunday through Wednesday nights you may find campsites available. They would provide a different kind of atmosphere - more nature and less like a trailer park - in many cases, and could be a welcome change. They will have fewer amenities - some may not have any hookups at all, toilets may be "vault" or pit toilets instead of flushing ones, you may have to carry water back to your campsite from a central location, etc., but again, you have the opportunity to be closer to nature in many such campgrounds.
Washing RVs is generally not permitted in campgrounds of any type. Occasionally a campground will allow it; they will state one way or another in their rules.
"Dump" refers to a place where you can dump your RV's wastewater tanks. FHU (full-hookup) sites include that at your site, but most campgrounds also have a dump station for all campers to use; best time for that is upon departure from the campground. By "Hydro" I think you are referring to water hookups, which is how that will be listed. That is not the same as "dump" or "sewer".
It will very likely cost more to rent an RV in one place and drop off in another, but that should still work out all right for you. Correct that 5 people in a Class C will be a bit tight. When campers are stated to "sleep 5," that usually doesn't mean 5 adults. Some of the couches and other alternate sleeping platforms in an RV are too small for anyone older than 10. :)
Depending on what it costs, you might consider joining Good Sam, as membership will get you a 10% discount on campgrounds that are allied with Good Sam. You might save a little money that way, but in 20 days, you will more likely just break even.
An alternative to private campgrounds which you may want to consider is to stay in state parks, national parks and national forests along the way. Friday and Saturday nights will usually be full in state parks especially, but Sunday through Wednesday nights you may find campsites available. They would provide a different kind of atmosphere - more nature and less like a trailer park - in many cases, and could be a welcome change. They will have fewer amenities - some may not have any hookups at all, toilets may be "vault" or pit toilets instead of flushing ones, you may have to carry water back to your campsite from a central location, etc., but again, you have the opportunity to be closer to nature in many such campgrounds.
Washing RVs is generally not permitted in campgrounds of any type. Occasionally a campground will allow it; they will state one way or another in their rules.
