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September 15th, 2008 by admin

Buying a used recreational vehicle is a bit like gambling at the race track: When you win, you could win big. But, there’s always the chance you could lose! Fortunatately, unlike at the race track, with a little homework and patience, you can increase the odds of winning dramatically. When buying a used RV, you gamble that you’ll get a well cared for rig that will serve you well.

A used RV has already depreciated considerably in value, even if it’s still the current year’s model with barely any miles. The fact is, once a new RV is driven off the sales lot, it’s a used vehicle, and its value nosedives. That’s bad for its current owner, but good for a buyer. This applies to all RVs, whether travel trailers, fifth wheel trailers, motorhomes, truck campers, etc.

Buying a used RV makes sense for RVers on a budget. Dollar for dollar they will get more RVs for far less. Instead of a brand new 24-foot Class C, the same investment may buy a recent model 30-foot Class A packed with extras. And if the used RV has been well cared for, it may look and drive virtually like new, and reward its new owner with years of service. RVers on a tight budget can often buy a well cared for used pop up trailer for a fraction of its price when new.

It’s essential to examine a used vehicle with a fine-toothed comb, whether it’s being purchased from a dealer or a private party. Generally, you will have some guarantee from a dealer about the quality of a used unit. If the refrigerator quits 100 miles down the road, you will likely have some recourse. But if you bought the RV from a private party, you’re goin’ to either pay for the repair yourself or dine on warm food.

The best advice on buying a used RV is to examine a potential rig carefully, from top to bottom, front to back, and inside out. If you’re not an expert on what to look for, hire someone who is. To just take a fast glance and trust what you’re being told is like betting on a three legged horse. You’re cruisin’ for a brusin.”

And have some patience when looking for your rig. Start your search for a travel trailers, fifth wheeler or motorhome well before you need it. Look at dealer’s lots and shop the newspaper classifieds. Don’t buy something off the corner of a shopping center parking lot. Con artists operate from places like this, and you could get taken for a very bad ride.

The best deals are often on a rig being sold by a private party who bought his or her RV and then couldn’t use it, or who used it very little. Some older couples buy an RV for fulltiming and then discover the lifestyle is not their cup of tea. So they sell their RV, sometimes in just-like-new condition. Other times, people buy on impulse and then discover they don’t have time to use the vehicle. In either case, you may “steal a deal” on a barely used RV.

Another valuable book, available both as a download or in print form, offers step-by-step instructions on how to negotiate with an RV dealer for a new or used RV. Author Bob Randall is a former RV industry executive and sales manager for a large RV dealer. In this book, he spells out exactly how an RV dealer makes his profit, and how much of a price reduction a buyer can demand and still get the deal. Anyone who is planning to buy a recreational vehicle should get this.

September 11th, 2008 by admin

When you are buying a used RV or Recreational Vehicle it is really advisable to measure every step that you take forward. You should check each and every part of a used RV because buying a used RV is a huge temptation and a smashing deal only if you get a RV in a good condition that is when you get worth of your money. The trend of owning RVs is really catching on but do not hurry. Do not buy an RV if you have never traveled in one since there have been people who made the mistake of buying an RV and then they had to sell it off because they did not like it.

Used RV: Value and Budget
Buy used RV and if it is done with a lot of analysis the kind of money you gain is just unimaginable because newer models of recreational vehicles are coming in the market everyday. Therefore the value of a new RV depreciates as soon as it is drove out of the dealership so the one who is buying a used RV is almost buying it for half the price and believe me, there have been numerous cases wherein the used RV was sold off after an year in the same price as it was bought. But everyone doesn’t strike a gold pot and there are scientific reasons behind that. If you just look at the exterior of the vehicle and do not pay attention to the details of its parts and accessories, then that is what will take your happiness miles away from you.

When buying a used RV do keep in mind your requirement as to which kind of RV you want for yourself considering the places you venture into and the place you would garage it in. You also have to chalk out a budget accordingly that would not tighten up things too much. Look for an RVs that has been well maintained; ask for records, paperwork and the recent repairs that the RV went through so that you can look through at the potential problems. Check the basics and not the cosmetics, which you can get done later if the vehicle runs fine.

Used RV: Accessories and Parts that should be checked

* When you are buying the RV check the year, make and model of the RV so that you have a fairly good idea about the features that your vehicle would have.

* Look for dents, dings, scratches and stains on the surface of the RVs.

* Leaks can be detected if the walls are warped or stained usually in the corners, near the windows, vents and along the floor of the RV.

* Check if the generator works right which would show when the RV is started. The right voltage should be 110 to 125 volts.

* The lighting should also be working fine at least the fluorescent ones should be bright. Fans in the RV should be well lubricated.

* The hinges of the door should work fine and there should not be much rust or wear.

* Do check the engine and see if it starts at the first try, if it doesn’t then it is not worth it. The best thing would be to ask for a test drive which would expose all the drawbacks that the RV has and when you are driving listen for some bumping, grinding, creaking or clanging, if you can hear any of this do not take it.

* When driving it also check if the RV has power enough to take you up a steep hill or if the engine behaves weirdly when hot and worked.

* Check if accessories like refrigerators and air conditioners by switching them on for fifteen minutes and then check if the interiors remain cold or not. Check the stoves and ovens as well along with the water faucets, Flooring, windows, seating, microwave, television, stereo and phone, though all of these are secondary.

* Check if the locks and the controls of the RV are working fine. Parts like the steering, the tires and the exhaust should be in a very good condition.

* The battery of the RV, the rear ladder and awning should also be in good condition.