Once you get parked and set up, it's time to explore your surroundings.  You may want to get some exercise, too.

Many RVers prefer to carry bicycles on the back instead of towing a car behind their motorhome.  Bicycling is good exercise, plus you don't have to be concerned about getting in a spot where you can't back up the RV because of the car on the tow bar.

Another alternative -- if you want motorized transportation but don't want the hassle of towing -- is to carry a small scooter on the back bumper. 

Using a hitch extender, I both carried a motorcycle and towed a car when we were full time RVers.  There are a lot of different ways you can carry a second mode of transportation.  For sure, having a way to get around at the campground will come in handy!

While today's RVs come equipped with all the conveniences of home, sometimes you want to make use of everything you've got even when you're boondocking miles away from the nearest power pole.

Buying the right size portable RV generator takes a bit of mathematics -- because when it comes to having enough electricity to do the job, size does matter! 

You want a generator with a high enough wattage to do the job, but not so large that it's excessively noisy or consumes too much fuel.

Keep in mind that if you want to keep your RV generator working properly, then you need to maintain it regularly.

This video will help answer all your questions as to what you should be looking for in portable RV generators.

The biggest thing for new full time RVers to wrap their head around is how drastically you must downsize and reduce your lifelong addiction to "stuff."

Learning how to live simply within the confines of an RV doesn't come naturally.  It takes making a few mistakes before you really get comfortable with the notion that less is more.  I don't mean a little less, I mean 95% less -- or more!

There are other pitfalls to becoming a full time RVer, but rest assured as you go along you will be leaving more and more behind.  As time goes by, you will further realize that you can get by just fine without it and the storage space is more valuable than the things.

Of course you can buy a teardrop trailer all ready to go, but you'll pay accordingly.  Maybe building your own -- either from scratch or from a kit -- would be a better way. 

The advantages of building your own teardrop trailer are:

• You can reduce the cost of a teardrop trailer by 75% or more.
• It can be a good father/child project for the winter months.
• You can add or subtract as many bells and whistles as you like.
• You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out.
• Oh, and did I mention you can reduce the cost by 75%... or more?!

Does your job have you traveling from construction site to construction site?  Maybe the construction site is your new home being built. 

Why travel back and forth from a rental apartment or motel when you need to be there quite a bit while your home is being built?  Living on-site in an RV makes it easier for the work crew, since any questions or problems that come up can be immediately resolved.  Job site security will be better too -- which will keep vandalism down. 

You can also use your RV as a disaster shelter in times of need.  That might be during floods or hurricanes or maybe just when the relatives come to visit.  (That can be a disaster too, you know.)

RV companies like Roadtrek, a well-known Canadian  manufacturer, now offer RVs that get as much as 24 mpg (imperial) while still maintaining a full range of amenities and comfort items.

Though the Sprinter is priced well above the standard American-made cargo van, the longevity provided from the 154 hp diesel engine under the hood will offset much of that expense. 

The Roadtrek Adventurous, sure beats living in a van down by the river.

You just can't beat the livability of a large fifth wheel trailer when the slide outs are opened and the utilities are hooked up. 

By far, a 5th wheel trailer is more like an apartment than a camper.  I know from experience because I lived in one for a period of 3 years.  We had all the amenities and comforts of a stationary home while retaining the ability to suck in the walls and leave in a very short amount of time.

Be sure to follow proper procedures when hitching up, or you may find yourself wondering what you did wrong when the trailer falls off the hitch and damages your truck!  Yes, I dropped a trailer once because I took a shortcut and thought I could get away with it. 

You might be thinking that camping season is winding down for the year as snow starts to become an issue, but have you ever considered winter camping?  A teardrop trailer might be just the thing to get you interested! 

Here are 4 reasons why teardrop trailers are great for winter camping:

• Being small, you can get your RV trailer into just about any spot.
• Being lightweight, if you get stuck you can push yourself out.
• Keeping a small space warm is a lot easier than heating a larger RV.
• No matter what, it sure beats sleeping in a tent on the cold ground!

Staying at an organized RV campground has its pitfalls:

• Other peoples' kids racing back and forth making noise
• Over-exuberant partying going on right up until curfew or later
• Unskilled drivers trying to maneuver large RVs uncomfortably close to yours
• Neighboring RVs so close you can see what they're eating for breakfast

Maybe you should consider choosing a spot that's off the beaten path and away from the crowds.  It's called boondocking. In this case it's call extreme boondocking!

Simply match a small RV survival trailer designed for extreme terrain with a 4x4 that's capable of pulling it way off the beaten path. Then pick your camping spot miles away from anybody.

Built with the rear portion designed as a garage, a toy hauler allows you to bring along all the toys that will enable you to combine camping with your favorite hobby.

Whether it be an ATV, dune buggy, or motorcycle, whatever your favorite outdoor toy is a toy hauler can tote it safely!

This past weekend I saw a large triple axle 5th wheel toy hauler backed up to the water's edge. They were unloading a boat off the end of the dropdown ramp that made up the rear wall of the trailer. 

Where is the camera when you need it?

Even owners of motorhomes have latched onto the toy hauler idea.  While still maintaining the level of luxury expected in upper level motorhomes, you can step through a door going toward the rear and walk into a sizable garage space with a full rear wall dropdown  ramp.

How cool is that?

The RV industry aims at satisfying the needs of most of the people most of the time.  That said, no matter how many new RVs you look at, there will be something lacking or not to your liking in every single one.

Why not buy a used RV and remodel it to your specific tastes?  The cost savings will be significant and the satisfaction that you have exactly what you want will make it even better!

Here are 10 reasons remodeling an RV makes sense (just in case the money savings alone didn't catch your attention).

As these wandering fair weather flocks start to age, that annual trek to the southwest becomes more of a chore.  The trip isn't nearly as fun as the time spent at Quartzsite, so many are finding it easier to leave their RVs parked in the desert sun year round.  Then, they return when the festivities start back up in late fall, only to fly or drive north again by early spring.

However, Arizona is known for having some quirky laws that tend to trip people up now and then.  One of them is if an RV stays in the state more than 6 months, the RV must be registered in the state of Arizona.  There are financial repercussions if you try to ignore this bit of legislation.  Oh, and yes they do actually come looking to make sure you have Arizona tags!

Did you know that an inexperienced vacuum truck operator could apply too much suction and collapse your tanks?

Just to be safe, have the disposal service provide a written guarantee that they will pay for any repairs that may be the result of their services.  Be sure to do this before they hook up to your RV!

RV shows are a great place to get acquainted with what’s available in the world of RVs. 

The newcomer can wander in and out, inspecting and exploring without having a salesman hanging right over your shoulder.  The salesmen at RV shows know that the crowd is more interested in looking than buying, and they will typically hang back until you go looking for them.

Here are some things you should know before you attend your first RV show...

Many on the financial banana peel are looking for ways to avoid having their RVs repossessed. 

You may think that leasing your RV would be a way to stay solvent, but you could also be taken for an expensive ride.  Unfortunately, many companies that are approaching owners with this leasing idea are simply looking to make a quick buck -- fully knowing that your RV will be in legal limbo once they've gained control of it.