Recreational vehicles or RVs come in many different shapes and sizes, from compact mini-vans to ones as big as buses or lorries. Some are trailers that have to be towed using a truck cab. In Europe, recreational vehicles are usually called camper vans.

Which RV is right for you and your family depends on your budget, driving ability, where you plan to go with your RV and where you will store it. Your first task is to work out how much you can afford to pay for your new RV and how much you can afford to pay to run and maintain it. Insurance premiums will be high, far more than for a family car with a similar sized engine. Most RVs are not very fuel-efficient their MPG is usually very poor.

To drive some larger RVs or camper vans may need you to hold a HGV licence. Even in countries where you can drive any RV without having to pass any special tests you need to consider whether you are confident enough to drive a large RV. The bigger the RV is the more important a factor your driving ability and confidence is. The other factor that governs what size RV you need to buy is how many people you want to use it. The larger the RV is the more comfortable your family will be when staying in your RV.

When you are not using your RV it needs to be securely stored. If you are very fortunate you will be able to keep it on your drive. Parking in the street is often not a viable option, but you are likely to find that neighbours will complain and on some housing estates, bye-laws do not allow you to park RVs on the street. When you are travelling the height of your RV can also narrow down where you can park, because some car parks have height restrictions are too low for most RVs.

Where you want to travel with your RV should is something else you should consider before buying one. If you buy a large bus like RV, using it to stay on small camp-sites off the beaten track is unlikely to be an option. The cost of ferry crossings for large RVs can also be very expensive. Often it is often cheaper to fly or drive to your destination and hire a large RV when you get there.

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