Posted by Shawn Friesen | Vice President of RVT.com on Mar 11, 2009
You’ve decided to embrace the RV lifestyle enjoyed by more than 8 million American households, but how do you decide which type of RV will best suit your needs and lifestyle? Think about how you plan to use your RV.
If you plan to travel extensively in your RV, you may prefer the home-away-from-home luxury of Class A and Class C motorhomes. If your needs are simple, Class B motorhomes combine living space with car-like drivability. Snowbirds planning to park their RVs for extended periods may opt for towable or fifth-wheel travel trailers that allow use of the tow vehicle for local transportation. Weekend campers may choose a truck camper or folding camping trailer.
The next step is to gather information so you can make an informed choice.
The more you know about the RV lifestyle, the easier it will be to choose the RV that’s right for you.
Posted by Shawn Friesen | Vice President of RVT.com on Mar 09, 2009
Before you start shopping for a RV on RVT.com, it helps to know a little bit about the many different types of RVs that are available. In our last couple of posts (March 4 & 6), we’ve provided you with a snapshot view of the two basic RV types — motorized and towable — and the many options available in each type.
Motorized RVs combine living quarters with a vehicle chassis in one unit and include Class A, B and C motorhomes. Towable RVs offer a greater range of choices from motorhome-like travel trailers and fifth-wheelers to truck campers and folding camping trailers. You’ll find excellent prices on new and pre-owned RVs of every type on RVT.com.
Today, we complete our review of RV types with a look at the least expensive towable RVs.
Truck campers clamp a removable camper body onto the bed of a standard pickup truck. Popular with weekend RVers because they’re easy to install and remove, truck campers provide compact facilities and can sleep 2 to 6. Cooking facilities, fridge, sink/faucet, heating/cooling, self-contained toilet, water and LP gas are usually provided with a separate electrical system. Prices range from $5,000 to $30,000 new with great bargains on used models.
Folding camping trailers, also called tent trailers or pop-up trailers, are the least expensive RVs. Inexpensive and light weight, most can be towed by a standard mid-size and sometimes compact car. Built like a collapsible tent, they can sleep up to 6 on convertible/pull-out beds. Newer models feature a rigid roof and easy lift-assist setup. Compact facilities include basic cooking, fridge, sink/faucet, heating, water tank and LP gas with separate electric. New, prices range from $4,000 to $25,000 with excellent used prices available.
Posted by Shawn Friesen | Vice President of RVT.com on Mar 06, 2009
Choosing your first RV can be a daunting task. There are so many different types of RVs offered for sale on the RVT.com website; it can be difficult to decide.
There are two basic types of RVs: motorized and towable. Last time we talked about top of the line Class A and C motorhomes. Today we continue with the final class of motorized RVs and a look at towables.
Class B motorhomes, or van conversions, are the smallest motorized RVs. Built on a van chassis, they weigh 6,000 to 8,000 pounds, are 17 to 19 feet long, and have elevated roofs to allow comfortable standing. Living space is compact with convertible/folding beds that sleep 2 to 4. New, prices range from $40,000 to $100,000, but used prices are quite reasonable.
Towable RVs are pulled by a separate vehicle, allowing you to unhitch the tow vehicle and use it for transportation when you reach your destination. Choose a tow vehicle with the engine/towing capacity to handle the fully-loaded weight of your RV. A load-distributing hitch will be needed to control trailer sway when you’re on the road. Most full-size sedans, vans, SUVs and pickup trucks can do the job. Towables provide cooking facilities, a refrigerator, heating/cooling, toilet/shower, water and electric systems, and LP gas supply. The extent of amenities depends largely on size.
Travel trailers range from compact 10-footers to deluxe 35-footers comparable to Class A motorhomes. Many have slideouts to increase interior living space. They sleep up to 8 and offer full amenities. New, prices range from $10,000 to $100,000 but used prices are quite reasonable.
Fifth-wheel trailers are similar to travel trailers. They have a bedroom extension over the cab and most have slideouts. They can sleep up to 8 and offer full amenities. Prices range from $15,000 to $150,000 new with good buys on used trailers.
Continued on Monday
Posted by Shawn Friesen | Vice President of RVT.com on Mar 04, 2009
The first time you click onto the RVT.com website to check out RVs for sale, it can be a little overwhelming. It’s easy to feel like a kid in a candy store. With so many choices how do you figure out which RV is right for you?
It helps to understand a little bit about the RV options that are available. RVs provide transportable living accommodations running the gamut from campground pop-ups to luxurious motorhomes with all the comforts of home. Within the two broad RV categories — motorized and towable — you’ll find a range of vehicle types and prices. For more detailed information, visit our website.
Motorized RVs combine living quarters with a motor vehicle chassis in one unit. Divided into three classes — A, B and C — all provide cooking facilities, refrigerator, toilet/water facilities, electrical system and LP gas.
Class A motorhomes are the pinnacle of RV luxury. These deluxe units are 30 to 40 feet long, weigh 15,000 to 30,000 pounds, and are usually constructed on a truck chassis. Capable of sleeping 8, many feature an automatic slideout that expands the interior living space with the touch of a button. They come with a full array of appliances and entertainment features, providing all the comforts of home. Prices range from $100,000 up to $500,000 new, but nicely priced used models are available.
Class C motorhomes are smaller versions of Class As. Stretching 20 to 31 feet, they weigh 10,000 to 12,000 pounds and are built on large van chassis. With a sleeping bunk that overhangs the cab and a rear bedroom, they sleep up to 10. Many feature a slideout and offer a full array of appliances and entertainment features. New, they’re priced from $50,000 to $150,000 new, but you’ll find great deals on used models.
Continued on Friday
Posted by Shawn Friesen | Vice President of RVT.com on Mar 02, 2009
Housing sales may be in a slump, but RV sales are on the rise. The poor economy has an increasing number of Americans turning to RVs, not just as recreational vehicles but as primary residences. Singles, young families and empty nesters, in particular, are tuning in to what many retirees discovered long ago: RVs offer comfortable living on the cheap. And because they’re mobile, if jobs dry up in one area, you can pick up and move where there’s work.
“It’s a buyer’s market for RVs right now … there are some great deals out there,” Dave MacNeill of Boise, Idaho told reporter Brad Talbutt in an article on the Idaho Statesman website. MacNeill and his wife, both self employed in businesses that have been hard hit by the floundering economy, have found that they can buy a used RV and pay for campground rental for far less than they now pay for their rental home. For the MacNeills, the decision was a no-brainer.
The MacNeills are not alone. More people are turning to RVs as a reasonably priced housing alternative. Fifth-wheel trailers, the large RV homes designed to be towed by pickups, typically offer 275 square feet of living space, as much as many apartments. They have the added advantage of allowing you to move your equity with you. RV owners point out that they’re not at the mercy of the disastrous housing market.
RV parks are allotting more space to full-time residents. “There have been working-age people who can’t afford a home move in here,” Calvin Cummings, Manager of Boise Meridian RV Resort in Meridian, Idaho told reporter Talbutt. With lot rental running about $400 a month, including sewer hookup and water and another $100 for propane heat, Cummings said, “It’s a fairly inexpensive way to live.”
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