RV owners travel in style

There's a whole community of travelers out there who take their accommodations with them, going where and when they please without worrying about finding the kind of room they like, and making friends no matter where they end up.

It takes an investment, and there's a lot to learn, but you could join the thousands of people who hit the road with recreational vehicles ranging from pop-up tent trailers to luxurious motorhomes.

Get a glimpse into the RV community by browsing RVers Online -- www.rversonline.org/ -- which offers "RVers helping RVers" information. Read their articles and travelogues, open the menu headed "Open Agenda" for tips on ownership, and ask questions of their volunteer advisors. And if you plan to travel with your computer so you can keep up with e-mail, open the "Information Resources" menu and click on "modem-friendly RV Parks."

Take a look at the RV Zone -- www.rvzone.com/ -- where you can use their search engine, or scan directories of links to clubs, dealers, campgrounds, online chat rooms and five Internet newsgroups. It's like a big bookstore; you could spend hours browsing in there.

For people thinking of taking the plunge and buying an RV, the RV Consumer Group -- www.rv.org/ -- has tips and a newsletter. And the Web link compilers at About.com have a set of links -- http://camping.about.com/cs/rvresources/ -- with advice for new RVers, links to online magazines and more.

Then take a look at the ownership and maintenance "RC Tips & Tricks" at RV USA -- www.rvusa.com/ -- which also provides forums where you see what other travelers are saying about RVs. They have links to manufacturers and dealers, and a "Destinations" section with campgrounds, maps and tourism links. If you want to look over the latest motorhomes and trailers, click on "Show Dates" to see if there's an RV show or rally near you.

Wondering how much work goes into the care and feeding of an RV? Visit New RVer -- www.newrver.com/index.htm -- and click on their "Index of Articles." Learn about the advantages of towing a trailer versus driving a motorhome, along with reviews of new models.

You might already belong to AAA for its travel assistance and road help. For RVers, there's the Good Sam Club -- www.goodsamclub.com/ -- which says it has 1 million members. They offer a trip routing service, discounts and even mail forwarding.

Search for RV parks that welcome pets at Go Camping America -- www.gocampingamerica.com/ -- from the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. They have message boards, including one for new RVers, and a clickable map of RV parks and campgrounds.