The Complete Idiot's Guide to RVing

by Brent Peterson

Updated and revised, this guide is for the more than 30 million Americans who are living the RV lifestyle and the millions of others who are thinking about taking the plunge. It provides the necessary information to get the most out of the RV experience, including basic facts regarding the different types of RVs, advice on buying an RV, driving tips, information on how to choose a campground, and much more.  

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Reference

404 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2001

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lays down the physical basics of RVing.

I am looking forward to other books however, to explain what life is actually like on the road. This book has what looks like good advice on maintaining the quality and function of your vehicle, so I would probably refer to it once I have an RV.

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really really helpful. It's pretty clear that the writer of this book uses a fifth wheel which was kind of helpful since that's what we want to get.

Aside from some skip-able parts (because every Complete Idiot's Guide has that since not everything pertains to everyone), there is much in here that helped me and thus took lots of notes. I'm now off to read even more, jot down some things, know more questions to ask, things to look for and better info on how to run and operate an RV. I feel even more confident, going into this abyss of which I'm brand new, with this set of information.

[Jade Pham Gift · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very informative book about RV and quite fun to read. There are so much to consider when it come to the idea of having an RV for living or vacationing. So it would be best to study up and learning as much as I can before making such a huge commitment. This book provides all the information I need to know before purchasing, renting, traveling, and/or living with an RV. I am going to purchase a copy of this book for the hubby's birthday. We got a few years before retirement, so this book is a good investment on our time between now and then. :)

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author told lots of jokes that were not necessary but at the same time they wore on me because it made the authors personality come through the pages like an old friend. Found lots of helpful info about RVing for a new person. Pretty well rounded info provided.

[Bill Rand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent review of potential RV trips, but I was looking more for something that might help me learn how to RV.

[Acacia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like useful knowledge. I haven't been able to apply it yet.

[Jim Short · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful, basic information. A good place to start to learn abiut RVs but not "complete" by any means.

[Philbeert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit dated, I love all of the ‘you may finally decide to buy a cellphone’ comments, but overall exactly what I was looking for when researching, purchasing & owning a camper. An excellent reference!

[JHM]

This is the best, most helpful book I've read so far in my quest to educate myself about buying and living in a motorhome. It is encyclopedic, covering everything from the basic terms to getting the best deal, to getting ready to go on a trip, to dealing with emergencies, to campground etiquette -- and it has a light sense of humor, which adds some entertainment value.

One of the most valuable aspects of the book for me was how it contributed to the list of features and accessories I will need to assess and prioritize when I start actively shopping. I've toured a couple of dozen motorhomes now, and the basic amenities and lay outs have been very similar. Thanks to this book, I can be more aware of things like the capacity of the tanks, back-up cameras, the size of the side-view mirrors, and other details which had not previously registered with me. Knowing what is available and deciding how important (or not) those features are to me will help me make my decision when the time comes.

I checked my out from the library but will be buying a copy for myself so I can highlight it and keep it around for reference.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, this book wasn't particularly helpful. I was looking at buying a "classic" RV, and this book assumes that you will be looking at newer (late 90's at least) models. I'm looking at an RV that is a year older than I am! So, not very helpful there.

Therefore, it didn't discuss much in the ways of repair and maintenance for my vintage model. Or what I should look at for anything predating, roughly, 1998. It also, while true for me but maybe not for others, that I was looking at a motorhome style and not a travel trailer. With TTs are mentioned, they aren't mentioned with any regularity. There was a much higher assumption that the readers were operating MHs.

Over all, the book was fine, just not what I needed in particular. If you're looking at newer MHs, borrow this from your library. But don't buy it unless you find it really useful.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good basic info

My husband and I are in the preliminary stages of thinking about purchasing a used travel trailer. We want to make an informed decision when we actually buy.

There is a lot of good info in this book. Granted, most of it seems to be targeting motor home owners/buyers but there's still plenty of ideas and suggestions we can use.

There's a lot of info crammed into this 360+ page book. Five separate parts; with 19 subsections under those. There are some pictures that are helpful but most of the book is easy-to-read text.

Another book we have found helpful is "The RVer's Bible: Everything You Need to Know About Choosing, Using, & Enjoying Your RV (1997)."

Between both books, we found lots of useful info.

[Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It is extremely useful to someone looking to upgrade from tent camping. The authors cover the different types of RVs and point out the pros and cons of each. As the title suggests, this is for beginners only, which is perfect for my needs.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro! Lots to know about the RV lifestyle.