Last week we talked about going to that Promised Land called the RV SHOW! We looked at some of the features to be aware of for safety on the outside of a camper. Now, I am not going to recommend any particular brand or type of camper (what stirs my gravy might not even begin to excite you!). But today I want you to think of the inside. They do let you go inside the campers at the RV shows; they look at you funny when you start playing house, but they do tend to let you alone as long as you don’t start getting too ready for bed.
But that is what I really do recommend to check out a camper you like. PLAY HOUSE! Don’t just sit in a chair and think of all the good things. Think about where people are going to sit and what they are going to be doing. Pretend to make a meal and serve it to people. Does the kitchen have enough counter tops and storage? Is the stove big enough for you to make your favorite foods? How about the location of the stove? Is it only a few inches away from the towel rack? How well do the doors close on the cabinets? Will they hold your glasses in or will you walk into broken glass after that bumpy road on the way to Lake Gotta go Camping? Can you reach the microwave to take out hot liquids? My co trip planner is only 5 feet tall; the one camper we looked at, the microwave in it, she couldn’t reach the buttons! Go into the bathroom and sit on the throne. Take your shoes off and get in the shower.
What else do you look for? Why, everything of course. When you are sitting eating dinner, does your hip turn on the fresh water pump. (One model every time we sat down for dinner someone turned on the water pump, I am sure that could have caused problems for us, or at least burned up the water pump!). When you open the cabinets, do they hit electrical equipment? Again, not a good idea. Where are the controls for lights? Are you going to fall down stairs at night before you can turn on a light? Will you fall out of the shower because you are too big or the shower is too small (I still think they are making them smaller; my girl friend at 5 foot thinks they are getting bigger, someone is wrong!). Are you going to hit your head on shelves or doors? Are there open wires or plumbing to snag in the storage compartments?
What about Safety Exits? Can you find them and reach them at night in case of a fire? Put a blindfold on and see if you can open or at least find the safety exit! What about the smoke alarm or alarms, do they have enough and are they loud enough? What about fire extinguishers? Your new camper has to have smoke, propane and carbon monoxide detectors but does it have enough of them and in the right places?
What about the heater and air conditioner? Are they big enough for the unit and the type of camping you do? A small size furnace and a large camper in very cold weather may not be a good idea. On the other hand, a small air conditioner and a large camper and someone who has problems with heat isn’t a good combination either. Where is your fuse box? And how big is it? Can you run your microwave and hair drier while the kids watch movies and play on the laptops at night? And speaking of electricity, where is the generator located? Does it have enough ventilation? I have mine outside, but some of you have to think of these things especially those who have class A’s!
Do you or your fellow campers have any special needs? Do you find it hard to go up steps? I have seen pictures of one gentleman’s deck that pulls out like a slide out, with a wheel chair ramp up to it so his disabled grandchild can go camping… now that is planning ahead for safety! He can make me cry with the stories of their trips, the love and caring on both sides is amazing … you can’t tell me or him it isn’t worth the effort!
Now that I have about nagged you to death and made you think you are going to be killed by your new camper, take a deep breath and relax. Most modern campers are very safe. Safer than most peoples’ homes I would wager. The camper you decide you want may have all these things very well thought out and the biggest question maybe if you should get it in Pear or taupe! But at least you will have thought of some of these things and may be able to weed out some of the ones you don’t like. Now when you go to that great Promised Land called the “RV SHOW,” at least you will be able to drive the salesman absolutely insane asking questions!
Your obedient servant
Gary Smith, Jr.
P.S. One last thing How HIGH is that wonderful new camper? If your favorite campground has a underpass you have to go under that is 1o’ 6″ Please don’t buy a 11’4″ camper! I am sure you can go under it, if you drive fast, but the sun roof you create would be kind of hard to cover up! We are going to have to look for a new storage area for our new camper it seems we are 8 inches too high to use our old one!