Are any RVs truly four season RVs for RV living?
The answer to that question is yes, most-definitely, but that answer comes with a qualifier: there are a lot of RV manufacturers which claim to make four-season RVs, but very few that actually do.
How can the average RV buyer know which RVs are actually four-season, and capable of providing a pleasurable experience all year long during RV travel? This article will answer that question for you.
What does four season RV refer to?
A general definition of a four season RV is one which provides comfort for the owners in all types of weather, from 20 degrees F to 90 degrees F. It is not enough to provide shelter in all manner of weather, but more importantly that an RV provide comfort during all types of weather.
Back in the old days of RV travel, the only way RVing was possible during the heat of summer or the cold of winter was to travel to warm climates in the winter and cooler climates in the summer, but advancements in construction have made it possible for RVers to live a comfortable RV life in most climates, thus saving thousands of miles of travel in search of moderate climates.
What style of RV is best-suited for all-season RV travel?
Generally speaking, the style of RV is not important when talking about four season RVs. A truck camper can be four season, as can a travel trailer, as can a Class A motorhome. The important factor in being four season is the construction of the RV, not the style. About the only type of RV which cannot be four season is a pop-up tent travel trailer, and if we are being true to the definition of an RV, a tent-trailer is not a recreational vehicle anyway.
What is necessary to be called a four season RV?
Now we are getting down to the nitty gritty of this discussion. Several criteria lead to a good four season RV, and they are the following:
- Insulation
- Wall structure
- Window size
- Venting and heating and cooling systems
Regarding the construction materials used in an RV, all manufacturers use their own types of materials in constructing their RVs, but what you should look for are better sidewalls and roofs, thicker insulation, insulated roofs, insulated pipes, and enclosed and insulated holding tanks.
Rating system
RV Consumer groups have a set of ratings to help consumers determine whether an RV is worthy of the label “four season,” and that rating system looks like this:
- WE . . . weekend use in 40-80 degree temperatures
- VA . . . vacationing use, extended stays of more than two months in 30-90 degree range
- RT . . . RV trekking, for offroad adventures; all in this rating should be comfortable in most temperatures
- SB . . . snowbird RVing, more than six months, temps 30-90 degrees
- FT . . . full-timing in an RV in all types of temperatures and conditions.
The bottom line regarding four season RVs
Do your research. There are countless articles, online and in print, and videos on this topic. Gather as much information as possible, from reliable sources, and then you can feel comfortable in making your decision based on budget and preferences. Relax, enjoy the process, and know that once your decision is made, you will greatly improve the quality of life when RVing.
