RV Trends: Staying Social on the Road

RVillage.com is taking online interaction and information gathering to new a level specifically for RVers.

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Words by Steve Fennell

From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram – the list goes on how society communicates online. These social platforms have become essential tools of connecting with friends, family, and business associates across the globe to share and gather information, and then share it again. Like any industry, “social” has become popular in the RV space, allowing travelers to connect and find information on the road, practically anytime, anywhere across North America and beyond.

Curtis Coleman has taken this concept a few giant steps further specifically for RVers after launching RVillage.com, a community-based RV network designed to connect; message instantaneously; share a plethora of information; meet on the road; and create or join specific groups related to many travel interests and hobbies. Connect either on a desktop or remotely through its app and your smart device – its quick, simple, and oh so engaging.

In fact, since its launch in 2013, RVillage.com has evolved into a popular go-to social platform for RVers, growing to more than 300,000-plus users with that number growing exponentially every day.

Obtaining all kinds of RV-related information on RVillage.com is not like a typical internet search and is a far cry from similar group pages of other social media platforms. Joining Rvillage.com means meeting new RVers that share your specific interests, finding detailed information (from local restaurants or RV park recommendations to solving plumbing problems), and realizing new, enlightening experiences during a trip.

To start engaging on RVillage.com create a self-identified user name and once it’s active (which is instant), one of the first highlights to discover is its Groups portal, allowing you to browse, and/or join any of the dozens of groups that appeal to your RV interests. Do you like hiking and want join up with other RVers at your specific location during your travels? Join the Hiking Enthusiasts Group. Need information on your new Winnebago Towable? Sign up for the Winnebago Towable Group. Want to reach out to fellow Canadian RVers while on the road? You can join the Canadian RVers Group, too.

From there, you can post and reply to messages; share topical details of your current destination; offer or learn about previous experiences from other users; and trouble shoot any concerns about your RV. While these are just a few of the recent additions to RVillage, more popular and long-standing ones include the Boondockers Group (7,000-plus members); the KOA Fans Group (with more than 10,000 members); the Full-Time RVers Group (with 15,000 members); as well as the handy “Why Didn’t I Think of That” – Tips and Tricks Group that has 63,000 members.

Of course, the list of groups go on as search options within the site include 30 categories, ranging from sports, food/drink, and events to alternate living, best green practices, and even exclusive owner’s groups. You can also create and manage your own group(s), which only enhances the RVillage.com experience, and your times on the road.

“RVing is a very social pastime, but many don’t realize that if you’re full-timing or traveling for a few months, it gets lonely as it’s hard to forge deep relationships when you’re traveling from place to place,” says Coleman, who has enjoyed RVing for several years before going full-time in 2009. “Human interaction is very important. When I first started spending time on the road, I wanted to meet more RVers. That’s when I devised the concept of RVillage.com. It’s a platform that effectively connects RVers and it was something that didn’t exist to this extent.”

Once in the mix among the user groups on RVillage.com, another popular feature is the Get Togethers portal. This is where you can view and attend upcoming “Get Togethers” while on the road or even in a virtual setting. It’s a great tool to find nearby RV rallies and shows, and as the name implies, various get-togethers that involve a series of group interests where ever your travels take you (or even in your local area). You can also view past get togethers or create new one.

Notifications sent to your email to help you stay interactive of your selected upcoming social activities what RVers are in your immediate area for meet-ups, and various updates of information pertaining to your settings and interests. To avoid being inundated with email notifications you can simply de-activate one or all of them in settings.

As meeting other RVers and obtaining information is the main concept, blogs are commonly posted on a variety of topics (that you can subscribe to or bookmark for reference) or write your own. Another unique feature is MarketPlace in the event you’re looking for a tried and tested restaurant, service, or business in your area, complete with comprehensive reviews and recommendations. Again, you can also bookmark the businesses you visited (or are going to visit) for future references or recommend one of your own.

With a host of other interactive features, RVillage.com maintains its helpful, friendly community with a strict set of privacy measures and terms of service. As you are self-identified, you can remain as anonymous as you feel comfortable with as activate/deactivate travel statuses, notices, and view blocked (or block) other members. There’s even comprehensive site support that addresses many questions and concerns.

“Suspect users are always visible pretty quick, based on their messages or initial intentions,” says Coleman. “Users can also report any suspicious users or messages, and we are very aggressive in monitoring based on our terms of service. If any of the terms are breached by any user, they are immediately rejected from the site.”

With the ability to connect with countless of enthusiasts across North America who have the same interests and passion for RV travel, the yearning to learn a plethora of specific RV information, and the chance to create a virtual home base while on the road or home, RVillage.com will certainly meet your needs.

“RVing is not only about the places you go, but it’s about the people you meet along the way, which is the overall key goal of RVillage.com,” says Coleman. “Human interaction is so important and can enhance your destination wherever your RV travels take you.”