6 Awesome Books for RVers

Have you just purchased your first RV? Congratulations! RVs offer a great way to explore the world, but they can be challenging to manage without some training. Here are six books that will get you started on your new life as an RV owner. A quick search of Amazon or Barnes and Noble for books on RVing will reveal a long list of titles to choose from. With so many choices, where do you start?

This article is designed to help new RVers find the best beginner's books for RVers.  In this post, we will review some of the most popular and highly-rated books that can be found in any library system or bookstore.  We will also offer a few recommendations based on what type of RVer you are: someone who wants to learn more about living life while traveling, someone who wants to save money by fixing their own rig, or someone looking for inspiration as they plan their next adventure to a campground, a national park, or a Harvest Hosts location. The world is waiting! Let’s step out into it with your dream rig and make some memories. We recommend:

1. "The RV Book" by Mark J Polk
2. "RVs and Campers for Dummies" by Christopher Hodapp and Alice Von Kannon
3. "A Beginners Guide to Living in Your RV" by Alyssa Padgett
4. “50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do” by Joe Yogerst
5. “A Kitten’s Quest“ by Cees & Madison Hofman
6. “Mobile Solar Power Made Easy!” by William Errol Prowse IV

1. “The RV Book” by Mark J. Polk

“The RV Book” is one of the most comprehensive RVing books in existence. Written by RVing expert Mark Polk, “The RV Book” is a must-read for any RV owner who wants to take their rig to an RV park or campground, one of the most amazing parts of RV life! Mark is an RVing veteran of over twenty-five years. He also runs an extremely helpful website, RV Education 101, to help RVers answer their most pressing questions.

This book is a favorite among RVing enthusiasts because of its wealth of information about RV setups and maintenance, as well as its chapters about what to expect in RV parks! “The RV Book” is available on Amazon and most online retailers for $16-25, depending on the edition purchased.

2. “RVs & Campers For Dummies” by Christopher Hodapp and Alice Von Kannon

“RVs & Campers For Dummies” is a great place to start for RVers who don’t want to get too deep into RV repair and just want to read a non-specific overview of general RV living. This book is part of the ever-popular “Dummies” series, so it’s not overwhelming with detail but rather designed in an easy-to-read format with sidebars, charts, and photos throughout.

This book is an essential read before even heading to the dealership. “RVing for Dummies” is available on Amazon and most other online retailers. The RV For Dummies ranges from $16-25, depending on the edition purchased.

3. “A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV” by Alyssa Padgett

“A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV” is a great RV living resource written by RV expert and author Alyssa Padgett. This book is perfect for RVers who love exploring the country, like to live off-grid or enjoy “boondocking” – parking their RV in remote locations without hookups! In this book, Alyssa covers all the things she wish she knew before moving into an RV. She describes things she learned the hard way in hopes that you, the reader, can learn from her experiences.

“A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV” is available on Amazon and through most other online retailers. This RV living book starts at $25-30, depending on the edition purchased.

4.  “50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do” by Joe Yogerst

“50 States, 5000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See and Do ” is a fantastic travel book by Joe Yogerst, a travel expert who has lived in his RV for years.

This RV-specific resource includes five thousand ideas for RVers of all types! Topics covered include state maps with destination locations such as RV parks, RV dealerships, campgrounds, state parks, national parks, roadside attractions, and so much more.

This book is perfect for RVers who have been on the road a while but want to see more of America than just their state (or two!). Yogerst’s “50 States, 5,000 Ideas” is available on Amazon and through most other online retailers. This book starts at $20-25, depending on the edition purchased.

5.  "A Kitten’s Quest" by Cees & Madison Hofman

This adorable children’s book is perfect for RVers with kids. Cees and Madison Hofman’s book tells the story of a kitten trying to convince his parents to purchase an RV and visit national parks in the United States. It then follows along with the kitten through all of his fantastic adventures across America and through many amazing national parks.

“A Kitten’s Quest” is available on Amazon and through most other online retailers. This RVing children’s book ranges from $16-25, depending on the edition purchased.

6. "Mobile Solar Power Made Easy!" by William Errol Prowse IV

“Mobile Solar Power Made Easy!” is an educational book for RVers who want to install their own renewable energy. Written by RV expert William Errol Prowse IV, this RVing resource is perfect for those looking to live off-grid or reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, thus making boondocking more simple and efficient.

This book includes step-by-step instructions and illustrations to help RVers learn the basics of RV solar panel installation and maintenance. “Mobile Solar Power Made Easy!” is available on Amazon and through most other online retailers for $20-25, depending on the edition purchased.

Learning the ins and outs of RVing can be a daunting task. Luckily, there are plenty of resources out there that help make this process easier. The books we’ve mentioned should give you a good starting point and will provide the knowledge you need for your own journey down the road less traveled!