Find a rig to get away from it all

With all this snow and cold temperatures, it’s only natural to daydream a little about warm, summer getaways to secluded beaches or clear mountain streams.

If you don’t own a cabin on the lake or a cottage on the coast, don’t despair. There are numerous recreational vehicles that offer many of the same amenities.

From the largest diesel pusher motor coaches to the smaller fuel-efficient vans, most rigs come with fully-equipped kitchens and baths, rooms that slide out at the touch of a button, and central air and heat.

An excellent place to wander through hundreds of the latest models is the Inland Northwest RV Show, beginning its four-day run today at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

Wear your comfortable walking shoes because the 20th annual RV Show extends over 16,000 square feet of exhibit space in eight buildings, according to organizer Steve Cody.

“A good percentage of the people that come to the show come to buy a self-contained RV,” says Cody. “They may take it out to a campground for a long period of time or they move their home-on-wheels to different locations.”

RVers can easily take their little rolling home to the mountains, beaches and out-of-the-way small towns whenever they want, without giving up creature comforts.

If you decide to go to the RV Show to check out all the different models, be sure to “kick the tires and sit on the couch,” says Chuck Woodbury, editor of RVtravel.com and the host of the Better Business Bureau DVD “Buying a Recreational Vehicle.”

“Pretend you are cooking a meal to see if there is enough counter and cupboard space,” says Woodbury. “Lie down on the bed. Sit on the commode: can you shut the bathroom door when you do? Is the shower stall big enough for you? Take a look at all the construction. Check out everything.”

Remember that you will be living in this space, so be certain the designs and floor plans work for you.

If you are interested in purchasing any motorized unit, drive it. Most dealers can easily arrange for a test drive. If the dealer resists, it’s a signal to walk away.

With regular gasoline hovering around $3.15 a gallon, people are demanding more fuel-efficient RVs.

Manufacturers are taking notice and introducing European-style motor homes that can get up to 18 miles-per-gallon.

“The Winnebago View and Itasca Navion are among the most popular of these coaches,” says Woodbury. “They are powered with a fuel-stingy Mercedes engine and built on the efficient Dodge Sprinter chassis.”

Travel trailer manufacturers are also increasing production of lightweight and ultra lightweight RVs.

“Many of the lightweight trailers can be towed with passenger vehicles or lightweight trucks,” says Woodbury.