Conversations with Explorer RV Club members: Real RV Stories, Tips & Travel Insights

“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey”
– Attributed to Barbara Hoffman

“The Explorer RV Club is committed to making our RVentures more rewarding and to provide opportunities for all RVers – from tent-trailer owners to million -dollar bus conversions and everything in between – to come together, learn, share, get inspired, and to have fun.”

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with seven couples who are members of the Explorer RV Club, to introduce themselves, and tap into their insights about RVing. Everyone was generous with their time and shared wonderful stories, too many to include in this article.

Although from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, I was intrigued that everyone had tent camped in their youth, with the majority then graduating to tent-trailers and progressing to hard-sided trailers or motorhomes. Many got into RVing when their children were young. Jim and Cathy started out even earlier by borrowing a tent-trailer from their brother for their honeymoon.

They talked about the kindness of other RVers. Dave and Debbie try to practice what they call the “Margaret Rule,” in honour of a woman they met more than 30 years ago who helped them out on their first trip in their first trailer. Don and Susan talked about a time when their kids were young and how complete strangers came to their aid when their tent-trailer cable broke. They were able to return the favour years later when in Sibbald Park an older couple who’d never RV’d before, pulled into the campsite next to them, only to discover their dealer hadn’t properly placed a seal; the water intake line was missing a gasket; the sensor on the black tank wasn’t working – and the trailer was full of water.

They also talked about how much they enjoy meeting people at the Explorer RV Club rallies; the friendships that they’ve made (including some that have extended into taking RV trips together and socializing in the off-season); and the opportunities to learn, take guided tours, and tap into the knowledge of fellow RVers.

Many mentioned that although they have enjoyed travelling south for many years, they are no longer travelling to the USA and/or are now spending more of their RV travel dollars in Canada. They also talked about their love of provincial parks, especially those in Ontario.
Other nuggets our members shared include:

What advice would you give to RVers, especially newbies?

• • • Match your truck to your trailer: “You can always have a trailer too big for your truck, but you can never have a truck too big for your trailer.” Buy the trailer first and then choose the tow vehicle with the capability to tow it.
    • An RV is a depreciating asset: Be wary of the 20–25-year loan payment arrangements that dealers will offer. Know what your total cost will be: Don’t be seduced by looking at only the amount of your monthly payment.
    • RVing is a hobby: When you’re in the market for an RV, do your research, talk to other RVers about what you like and need. Take an experienced RVer along with you, someone with no emotional attachment and who can point out the pros and cons to you. Check the counter space in the unit, where the TV is, where you would make your meals, where the bathroom is. Learn how to hook up your trailer and balance your load.
    • Start small: It’s better to get 3-foot-itis and when you really need to, progress to the next bigger unit. If your rig is too big, you’ll miss out enjoying some of the nicer sites.
    • Don’t overload: Less is truly more. You don’t need all those gadgets and a TV! Use multipurpose appliances.
    • Water: Turn off your water each time you leave your rig. Pretend your RV is a convertible car. Always be prepared for rain.
    • Check the traffic signs for height and weight: It’s so easy to get distracted and find yourself driving across a covered bridge when you shouldn’t have!
    • Provincial parks: It’s easier to get into them with smaller rigs. Be flexible when trying to book them. Grab the chance to be a park host; you’ll meet the most wonderful and amazing people!
    • Be respectful to others in your RV: There’s no room for road rage in the RV world.
    • Slides: It’s not a matter of “if”; it’s “when” the slides are going to fail you on your trip. If you do choose slides, make sure that you can access the kitchen and the bathroom in your trailer when the slides are in.<l/i>
    • Take the opportunity: You may not have the chance to do it again. Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path. Set your GPS to no highways and see so much more of the countryside!
    • Keep a journal: It’s nice to have something to refer back to.
    • Plan your trip well: Aim for no more than 300-450 km per day (4 or 5 hours of driving). Plan your outings in advance.
    • You don’t need to keep up with the Jones: Everyone is accepted in the RV world! It doesn’t matter who you are; everyone is the same.
    • Enjoy yourself: Don’t stress over the little things!

How do you see the RV world evolving?

• • • The quality of new rigs has diminished substantially, especially since COVID.
    • It seems that there are fewer transient sites available. Perhaps it’s more beneficial for the campsite owners to have more seasonal sites?
    • You hardly see a tent or a pop-up trailer anymore. RV equipment has really changed; there’s less desire to rough it out there.
    • Seasonal sites are becoming more popular, they’re easier to get to and less hassle than being on the road so much.
    • Booking campsites and planning your travels will continue to be easier with so much information available online.
    • Working remotely in RV’s is more feasible now, especially with better connectivity and access to Starlink.
    • Several campgrounds won’t accept units that are 10+ years old. As more campgrounds become affiliated with dealers, long-term seasonal campers may be affected by these limits as well.

Nearly everyone who shared their insights here will be attending the Explorer RV Club Rally in Miller Lake September 17-20, 2026. I encourage you to reach out to Wayne and Elaine Bradt; Karen and Jeff Forcier; Willie and Nettie Van Dyk; Don and Susan Dorval; Richard and Sylvie Quenneville; Jim and Cathy Rowaan; and Dave and Debbie Blaser, to continue the conversations!

Wayne and Elaine Bradt

What type of RVer are you?
Part-time jamboree followers!
Who travels with you and what do you travel in?
It’s the two of us in a 24-foot travel trailer with slides. We often travel with friends who have their own units.
How long have you been a member of the RV Explorer Club?
21 years
What’s your most memorable RV moment?
The trips we took with the Romankos when they hosted caravan tours

Karen and Jeff Forcier

What type of RVer are you?
Go-with-the-flow travelers
Who travels with you and what do you travel in?
We sometimes travel with other couples. We have a truck camper as well as a 5th wheel at a seasonal site.
How long have you been a member of the Explorer RV Club?
3 years
What’s your most memorable RV moment?
We found a lovely off-road site in Utah with a creek and a nice fire pit. The next day we drove to Zion National Park with the intention of heading to the Grand Canyon later that day. We’d set our GPS to “no tolls” and to our great surprise, instead of being in the Grand Canyon, we ended up back at the same site in Utah, having driven 500 kms in a circle!

Willie & Nettie Van Dyk

What type of RVer are you?
Highly experienced, active, regular RVers, averaging 60-100 nights a year
Who travels with you and what do you travel in?
Just the two of us, in a 2015 Dodge ram 2500 pickup towing a 33-foot Keystone Cougar 5th wheel
How long have you been a member of the Explorer RV Club?
4 years
What’s your most memorable RV moment?
The rally in Gaspe in 2024 and then a whole month travelling throughout NV, PEI, NS, and the Cabot Trail.

Don & Susan Dorval

What type of RVer are you?
We chase music festivals
Who travels with you and what do you travel in?
The two of us plus our dog Diego and sometimes with family and friends, in a 24-foot travel trailer
How long have you been a member of the Explorer RV Club?
17 years
What’s your most memorable RV moment?
When we took our 2 young teenage daughters to PEI and had 11 days of rain which curtailed our beach plans. We still talk about that trip and how we took advantage of the opportunity to do things we’d not originally planned to do such as stopping to talk with someone who was harvesting Irish moss and going to see the theatre performance of Anne of Green Gables.

Richard & Sylvie Quenneville

What type of RVer are you?
Destination people
Who travels with you and what do you travel in?
Just the two of us in our 5th wheel
How long have you been a member of the Explorer RV Club?
3 years
What’s your most memorable RV moment?
Getting caught in Hurricane Dorian in PEI in 2019.

Jim & Cathy Rowaan

What type of RVer are you?
Occasional RVers
Who travels with you and what do you travel in?
Usually just the two of us in our 2022 StarCraft trailer. We occasionally also travel with others.
How long have you been a member of the Explorer RV Club?
9 years
What’s your most memorable RV moment?
Standing on the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks in the Bay of Fundy

Dave & Debbie Blaser

What type of RVer are you?
Weekend & vacation destination travelers. We also have a seasonal site and sometimes work remotely from there.
Who travels with you and what do you travel in?
The two of us plus our dogs Katie and Kali, in a 27-foot Fun Finder Cruiser RV
How long have you been a member of the Explorer RV Club?
10 years
What’s your most memorable RV moment?
Staying in an Oklahoma State Park while attending a conference. There were herds of deer in the campground and so many new things to see and do that we wouldn’t have if we’d flown down and stayed in a hotel, like everyone else.