Tennessee Traveler Motorhome from RV-MH Hall of Fame

MSNBC posted an article yesterday about the RV industry turning 100 years old. Seems that soon after the automobile was introduced, people found ways to adapt them for camping. In 1910, campers and trailers were mass-produced for the first time, and the rest is of course is history.

Summertime travel season is upon us once again and as we all head out on our long adventures, we marvel at those who paved the road before. These days of course we follow the turn-by-turn instructions with maps on our GPS to get to our destination. Along the way, we may enjoy some ice cream from the freezer. Once we arrive, it’s time to plug in the electric, and slide out the slides. Ahh, now there’s plenty of room to enjoy a movie with surround sound, or maybe just check email on the computer.

The wanderlust spirit is as alive today as 100 years ago. And while I may joke about our creature comforts as compared to previous generations, our quest for adventure has not changed. Thank you to the RV Industry for 100 years of fun vacations, happy family memories, and for some, a life on the road.

Jonathan Dickinson SP Woodpecker

Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound Florida offers RV and tent camping, cabins, kayak rentals, bike trails, hiking and fishing, and pontoon boat tours. Go for the day or stay for the weekend, you’ll find plenty to do and explore here. It’s situated on over 11,000 acres on the Loxahatchee River, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River.

Located in Southeast Florida, between Stuart and West Palm Beach across from the Atlantic Ocean, there are nearby grocery stores and restaurants available. Once you’re in the park, you may not want to leave though. You’ll be captivated by the drive through sprawling acres of pines on the way to camping, the museum, and the river day use and playground areas.

Enjoy the peaceful surroundings and watch wildlife in their natural environment. Bring cameras and binoculars to spot bald eagles, woodpeckers, sandhill cranes, alligators, tortoises, and more. Yes, there are gators in the river here, and in fact you should always assume that any inland water in Florida has them.  Check at the concession store, or talk to a Ranger about precautions to take before letting the kids and dogs near the water.

Watch this four minute video to get a sense of the campgrounds, amenities, and surroundings. This is a wonderful destination or a terrific stopover if you are heading to the Florida Keys for a visit from out of state.

To learn more about this park and others visit Florida State Parks, or check camping availability go to Camping Reservations. Note that the River Campground, one of two campgrounds, is close to the river but there are no campsites on the water.

Call the park concession store, The River Store, at 561-746-1466 for information and reservations concerning

• cabin rentals
• tour boat
• rental boats (canoes, kayaks, motorboats)

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

16450 S.E. Federal Highway
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455
Phone: 772-546-2771

Soccer Players Barely Visible Below Fall Colors

Use your small RV to get away for the weekend and see the beautiful colors of Fall. If you’re not sure where the best colors are, go to The Weather Channel to find out.

The Weather Channel's Fall Foliage Map

The flexibility of a small RV makes this the perfect vehicle to escape to view Fall colors before they disappear. In the blink of an eye, colors are past their peak but you’ll be able to enjoy them before their gone. If the best colors are farther from home, you can still get there by utilizing overnight parking spots along the way.

To see the leaves change we went to North Carolina, and on the way parked overnight at this Walmart Super in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Their phone number, by the way, is (803) 366-9431 if you’re headed that way and want to verify with the manager on where to park. It was a perfect stopover spot. Just a few minutes off Interstate 77 and surrounded by nice restaurants.

Small RV Stopover On Journey to See Fall Colors

We enjoyed a very nice dinner at LongHorn Steakhouse that was practically across the street and stored our generous and delicious leftovers in the refrigerator for later. The restaurant gets very busy, but they allow call-ahead seating at (803) 980-6255.

The morning is even more convenient as you’ll find both gas and diesel located in the parking lot as you leave. You can stock up on supplies at Walmart or nearby grocery stores, or choose to have breakfast at a nearby restaurant.

All of this convenience means that you can pack up and leave home in a moment’s notice because you can get whatever perishable items you need while you’re out and exploring. You can pack a lot into a weekend by taking advantage of your RV.

So get out into the mountains and witness the changing of the Seasons.

Florida Scenic Hwy Overlooking Tampa Bay

Every so often I’m reminded of how convenient it is to have a Small RV as a mobile office. Today was one of those days. As I downloaded pictures from my camera, I saw photos taken last week of a terrific lunch spot that I found when returning from an out-of-town meeting. During that lunch break I was able to both recharge, and get work done, all in the privacy of my 24 foot Class C Diesel RV.

The meeting was at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Florida, which is a few hours away. I stumbled upon a great spot overlooking Tampa Bay, and only later discovered that it is designated as one of Florida’s Scenic Highways. Normally I don’t take photos of lunch stops, but life is different now with the small RV as my office.

How to Stay Productive

As most business travelers will tell you, out-of-town meetings can be very disruptive to productivity. That of course is a big problem when your income depends on being productive. Here’s one way I use my mobile office to combat the problem.

I take advantage of traveling in my RV, by locating areas to park and work out of my mobile office during the business day. As I get closer to my destination, I scout out potential parking places that I will return to after my meetings are finished. I also get a lay of the land by keeping an eye out for favorite sandwich shops or grocery stores. Although I use GPS extensively, there’s nothing like your own two eyes to best guide you.

A Working Lunch With a View

Getting back to the Clearwater trip to use as an example. Since the refrigerator wasn’t stocked, as I was about 20 minutes from my destination, I began looking for cool restaurants and/or a great parking areas and sandwich shops. There were two restaurants that stood out, one overlooking the water and the other a tastefully themed Mexican restaurant. Additionally, there was a long stretch of a paved trail directly on Tampa Bay, just off the bridge, that looked incredible.

My meetings ran a little long and I decided that answering emails and making a few pressing calls were more important than new restaurants. So I headed back to the bridge for water views, and picked up some ready made chicken at a grocery store along the way. As luck would have it, the paved trail was very convenient to find again and parking could not have been easier.

A restful, yet productive, hour later I headed for home. The small RV as a mobile office fits perfectly in my life. It allows me to find chunks of time to conduct business during business hours – even when traveling.

As a Medical Manufacturer’s Sales Representative in Central Florida, my territory covers the west coast of Florida through Orlando to Daytona Beach, along the Interstate 4 corridor. I am given a car allowance, but many of the perks have been cut out of the budget. Just like everyone else, I needed to find ways to cut expenses to make ends meet. After doing some online research for a small RV that gets good gas mileage, I went to several RV dealerships that carry the diesel Sprinter camper vans (a Class B RV) and the Class C RVs.

Class A RV

I determined early on that the Class A RVs were much too big to park at many of the hospitals and doctors’ offices I visit. Besides it is overkill for my “mobile office” needs, and the fuel economy is poor. One promising Class A though is the upcoming Sprinter based 2010 Via by Winnebago. It is a 25-foot motorhome that looks interesting, but might still be a bit too big for work travel. The available floor plans look less promising though as a set up for a “mobile office”.

Class B RV

The class B RV was too small and I think I would get cabin fever after a few days. The floor plan was not comfortable for a mobile office setting, and the shower was virtually unusable. The fuel economy was attractive, but not worth the sacrifice on space. Once filled with my products and equipment, this set up clearly would not work.

Class C RV

The Class C RVs were just right. Although the fuel economy is not as good as the Class B, they have the best floor plans, with adequate storage and a comfortable “mobile office” workspace. Several months ago I purchased the Winnebago View 24H that has a dinette, which works well as a desk, and a couch so it doesn’t have a bedroom feel. It is one of the best small RVs, in my opinion, and is the perfect “mobile office” for me.

I use my travel coffee maker and head to my first meeting of the day. By the time I arrive, I am able to go in the back of the RV to use the restroom. I check my e-mails on the computer, grab something from the refrigerator and heat it up in the microwave. Then when I meet my clients I’m refreshed and at my best.

When I need to stay overnight, just like any other of the small RVs that are self contained, I can watch a little TV, sleep, shower and shave, and I am ready for the next day. I have even stayed for free in the parking lots of some of the hospitals with the permission of the administrators.

My wife likes to go to a beach campground and then go to the local seafood restaurants on the weekends. She grew up with a small RV, visiting the Florida RV parks. I guess I need to give her all the credit for telling me to forget the Lexus, and get one of the Class C RVs. With the Sprinter model RV, I now have a fuel efficient ‘motoroffice’ during the week, and a fun ‘motorhome’ for the weekend. It’s the best of both worlds, 7 days a week!

Now just what do we mean when we say, ‘Small RV’? Travel trailers, pop-up campers, truck campers are included, but let’s talk about two of the most popular, the Class C RVs followed by the Class B RV.

Class C RV

Class C RVs, also called the mini-motorhome, is built on the chassis of a van and typically has the distinctive sleeping area above the cab. RV manufactures start with a chassis, which is the base frame, engine and wheels from the auto manufacturer, and then essentially builds a home on top. Most models now offer slide-outs that noticeably increase the living space comfort while parked.

Sprinter-based Diesel Class C RV

Class B RV

Class B RV, sometimes referred to as camper-vans, is actually a highly customized cargo van. These too are generally complete with kitchen, bathroom and sleeping facilities. Below is one of many Small RV’s that Roadtrek offers. Notice how the van is still intact and Roadtrek has customized practically every aspect of it. Keep in mind that the picture below is zoomed in a bit more, but the unit is smaller than the Class C above.

Sprinter-based Roadtrek Diesel Class B RV

The Mercedes Difference

The Mercedes-built Sprinter van has revolutionized the Small RV in recent years. Finally the power of diesel, with its improved fuel efficiency, is available from a variety of RV makers in smart and comfortable motor homes. Not long ago, few would have imagined the full line up of Class C Diesel Motorhomes and Class B Diesel Motorhomes that we see today.

Not only do these Small RVs have power and good looks, they are a pleasure to drive. Whether you’re going down the highway, driving through narrow roads, or making a u-turn, you’ll be surprised at the car-like experience.

But that’s not even the best part, the best part is how convenient and comfortable it is to enjoy while parked.

You’ll discover ideal picnic spots with incredible views for your enjoyment. And pulling into a campsite is a snap! In most cases you’ll just back in using the rear-camera monitor, and then plug in the electric, and if desired, hook up the water hose. That’s it. This means that packing up is just as quick and simple. Don’t feel like cooking dinner? Just drive over to the restaurant that a local highly recommended. Now that’s freedom to roam.