We took a day to visit two New Jersey RV rental places. One, it turned out, was just a garage that happened to own two class 'C' RVs and rented them out to unsuspecting families (and maybe hunters). We peeked at them, but given the condition of the outsides, and the condition of the garage, we didn't have a good feeing about them. The main question was, what kind of network could we rely on for repairs on the road, should we need them. In that instance, the answer was: none.
George discovered Roadbear. He was impressed that they were a franchise with locations across the country and a decent support system. We visited them in Middletown New Jersey. They were a clean, well presented facility with many RVs to look inside and friendly, helpful people to answer our questions.
Roadbear's main business comes from overseas tourists who fly in to Newark, rent an RV and see the USA by driving across it. Their secondary market are "tailgater's" who rent for a weekend and park at Giant's Stadium or Penn State or such.
I guess we are in the minority; families who just want an adventurous way to spend a vacation.
The Class 'C's appeared well provisioned, clean, well maintained and inviting. We imagine stocking up on groceries the night before we leave, stowing clothes, games and a few luxury items in the many compartments, and pulling out from Yardley on a clear, early summer morning. By then we hope to be well organized, with meal plans at the ready, camp sites reserved, destinations planned, and relatives and friends ready to receive us in Minneapolis. With all of these positive thoughts in our heads we booked our RV. A small trip in April, and the major trip in late July.
Now the planning starts in earnest.
Ken
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
RV Rental, Harder Than It Sounds.
RV rental places are not as common as Wal-Mart (the ubiquitous free RV campground), nor even of McDonald’s (whose drive-thru one could never actually drive an RV through).
Cruise America , the nation’s largest RV retailer and rental source, says, “There are 130 Cruise America rental centers in the United States, Canada, and Alaska from which you can depart.” Take away the Canadian and Alaskan dealers, and the 16 states that don’t have dealers, and we are left with about 3.6 per state. 3.6 spread across Pennsylvania means one in Philly, one in Harrisburg, one in Pittsburgh … are you getting the picture? We looked east, to New Jersey.
There are basically seven classes of Recreational Vehicles, but since we don’t have a vehicle capable of towing, we are limited to the three types of motorized RV’s. Class ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’. Class ‘B’ is a conversion van. I am the only Duthikin old enough to have been a wild-child hippie of the 60’s (albeit a rather young one) and Kat, Char and George (I’m sure) are beyond the days of van-camping.
Class ‘A’ RVs are those entourage behemoths that only rock-bands, sports teams and super-wealthy vagabonds can afford to own and operate. They are built on a bus chassis and can weigh up to 30,000 pounds. We looked at a few at RV trade shows, and boy can they be decked out with luxurious accessories. We even saw one with a fireplace! Interestingly enough, even though they abound with space, they rarely have enough sleeping berths for six, and never 7.
Which leaves us with class ‘C’ type RVs. These are the cab-over type of vehicle, built on a larger van chassis. The front end usually looks like a Ford or Chevy truck or van. With a master suite in the back (2), a cab-over queen in front (2), a sofa-bed (1) and a convertible dinette (2) it is just the right size for the Duthikins.
Now, if we can all just agree on the sleeping arrangements.
Ken
Cruise America , the nation’s largest RV retailer and rental source, says, “There are 130 Cruise America rental centers in the United States, Canada, and Alaska from which you can depart.” Take away the Canadian and Alaskan dealers, and the 16 states that don’t have dealers, and we are left with about 3.6 per state. 3.6 spread across Pennsylvania means one in Philly, one in Harrisburg, one in Pittsburgh … are you getting the picture? We looked east, to New Jersey.
There are basically seven classes of Recreational Vehicles, but since we don’t have a vehicle capable of towing, we are limited to the three types of motorized RV’s. Class ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’. Class ‘B’ is a conversion van. I am the only Duthikin old enough to have been a wild-child hippie of the 60’s (albeit a rather young one) and Kat, Char and George (I’m sure) are beyond the days of van-camping.
Class ‘A’ RVs are those entourage behemoths that only rock-bands, sports teams and super-wealthy vagabonds can afford to own and operate. They are built on a bus chassis and can weigh up to 30,000 pounds. We looked at a few at RV trade shows, and boy can they be decked out with luxurious accessories. We even saw one with a fireplace! Interestingly enough, even though they abound with space, they rarely have enough sleeping berths for six, and never 7.
Which leaves us with class ‘C’ type RVs. These are the cab-over type of vehicle, built on a larger van chassis. The front end usually looks like a Ford or Chevy truck or van. With a master suite in the back (2), a cab-over queen in front (2), a sofa-bed (1) and a convertible dinette (2) it is just the right size for the Duthikins.
Now, if we can all just agree on the sleeping arrangements.
Ken
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A New Adventure Awaits The Duthikins
It is interesting how friendships form. School mates can carry the bonds of friendship for life. Cousins, work acquaintances, church parishioners, team mates, next-door neighbors, pen-pals; people meet and connect.
For the Duthikins, as for many others, our friendship began through a chance meeting of our children. A daycare friendliness grew into a school camaraderie and then to a sibling-like closeness. As our kids grew together we parents found ourselves in the same social circles again and again.
Eventually we took vacations together. The Poconos, resort vacations, holidays away in the mountains.
Since a very young age the kids talked, almost mythicaly, of "The Mall of America", a vast shopping center surrounding an amusement park. And so sprung the idea of the Mega-Trip. Like Clark Griswold's cross-country trip to Walley World we are making 14 day RV pilgrimage to Minneapolis and back.
Chronicled here are our thoughts, experiences and challenges of putting 7 people (4 adults and three children) in a class 'C' motor home and celebrating the limits of our friendships.
If this works out, there is nothing we can't get through together.
Ken
For the Duthikins, as for many others, our friendship began through a chance meeting of our children. A daycare friendliness grew into a school camaraderie and then to a sibling-like closeness. As our kids grew together we parents found ourselves in the same social circles again and again.
Eventually we took vacations together. The Poconos, resort vacations, holidays away in the mountains.
Since a very young age the kids talked, almost mythicaly, of "The Mall of America", a vast shopping center surrounding an amusement park. And so sprung the idea of the Mega-Trip. Like Clark Griswold's cross-country trip to Walley World we are making 14 day RV pilgrimage to Minneapolis and back.
Chronicled here are our thoughts, experiences and challenges of putting 7 people (4 adults and three children) in a class 'C' motor home and celebrating the limits of our friendships.
If this works out, there is nothing we can't get through together.
Ken
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