NBC WEEKEND TODAY: RVs

Thanks to the aging boomer population one of the fastest growing outdoor leisure categories today is the recreational vehicle, or RV industry. Currently there are a record 8.6 million RV-owning U.S. households and 9.3 million RVs on the road and it’s predicted that the number will rise to 10.4 million by the year 2010 -- a gain of 21 percent. Reflecting an increasingly younger, family-oriented RV market, almost half (45 percent) of today's RV owners are between 35 and 54 years old, outnumbering those over 55 (40 percent).

There's an RV for every taste and budget, starting from about $3,300 for a folding camping trailer to an average of $14,000 for a travel trailer and $64,000 for a motor home.

BestStuff’s own Corey Greenberg has rounded up a regatta of RVs big and small for every taste.


Starcraft Constellation NOVA Folding Camping Trailer
Folding campers, better known as pop ups, are the most affordable of RVs. They start in price at around $4,000. Easy to tow (they weigh about 3,000 pounds), these units pop open to reveal all the amenities of home. Complete with refrigerator, kitchen dining room table, shower and bunks on either end, the Nova on display sleeps 8 comfortably, has 6’9” height, a sunroof and plenty of storage underneath for all your gear. It sells for $9,500. www.starcraftrv.com




LA West Excalibur Van Conversion
One of the hottest categories of vehicles are van conversions, souped up vans with home theater, hi fi systems, video games systems, plush leather seats and more. Companies like LA Van conversion take stock vans and allow you to custom outfit them for camping, cruising or day-to-day drive or with every luxury imaginable. Cost is around 30-50 thousand. www.lawest.com



5th Wheel RVs


Fleetwood's Avion Platinum
5th wheel type RVs are RVs towed by larger pick up trucks. They weigh between 10,000-15,000 pounds. The ultimate 5th wheel RV is the Avion Platinum equipped with eight and ½ foot ceilings, a king bed, a queen bed, bathrooms, closets, dressers, full kitchen, living room, recliners even ceiling fans. $60,000 +. www.fleetwoodrv.com



Motor Home


SportsCoach Luxury RV motor home
This “sell the house” “cash in the kids inheritance” RV motor home is luxury RV’ing at its finest. It features walnut cabinets, wood plank kitchen floor, recliners, sofa bed, tiled kitchen w/double door refrigerator, living room, extra wide interior, washer and dryer, bedroom and living room TVs, stereo, satellite dish, plus a new lower dash panel for better driver visibility. $100,000 +. www.coachmenrv.com

For more information on RVs visit www.gorving.com.