This is a very large paperback RV book of some 400 pages written by Brent Peterson. Our copy came from Amazon.com and ended up costing $45.00 with postage. We got off on the wrong foot with this book as the author confesses to being an RV mag editor with no RV experience. True he does get his experience along the way and hence the book. Sorry folks but to write about something properly you really need to have been doing it for years to really help others. The writing style and language is very flippant and hard to follow, and you find yourself constantly rereading sections and then sometimes being none the wiser. The book covers all the topics from To RV or not to RV, Choosing your RV, Buying your first RV, What's what onboard, Your first trip, and Life on the road. The info on modern diesels we feel is misleading and could be off putting particularly with regards to noise. This is definitely not a technical book as advice is not offered on exactly what to look for electrically or solar wise.

The best chapter by far in the entire book is the one on Weight. It is covered in great detailed in an easy to understand format and tables of examples provided. The advice on weighing your brand new RV is very sound. If you are new to motorhoming and thinking about visiting the States then this book could be useful. However for Aussies taking up motorhoming you could be better off "staying Australia". Maybe we have been spoilt by the excellent books published by Collyn Rivers.