RVT.com RV Trader Blog

RV Parks Gearing Up for Record Season

Gearing up for an anticipated record-setting RV season, private RV resorts and campgrounds across the U.S. are spending millions of dollars in capital improvement projects to upgrade facilities this year. The good news for RV vacationers comes from a recent survey of independent park operators conducted by the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds.

“The recession is temporary, and most campground and RV resort operators believe that it behooves them to move forward with their improvement plans if they want to remain competitive with other travel and tourism options,” said Linda Profaizer, president/CEO of the Colorado-based organization which represents 8,000 private parks across the nation. Profaizer was quoted in press releases on Wizbusiness.com and other travel-news websites.

Expecting the poor economy to spur heavy interest in economic RV travel, RV resort owners are adding miniature golf courses, skate parks, waterslides, Wi-Fi zones and other desirable and luxury conveniences to lure vacationers this summer. Pool renovations, bathroom and laundry facility upgrades, and road improvements also head the list of scheduled capital improvements at many resorts and campgrounds.

Spacious lots, first-class amenities, and a plethora of available activities have put RV resort vacationing on a par with luxury hotels, at a far more affordable cost, particularly for families. Add in the beauty of vacationing in the midst of nature and the convenience of never having to pack, unpack and tote your stuff around, and the appeal of RV vacationing only increases. With excellent RV prices available online at national sales leader RVT.com, it’s no wonder vacation-loving Americans are turning to RV ownership in record numbers.

Camping in Luxury

Record numbers of people are expected to descend on campgrounds this summer say popular outdoor outfitters REI and Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS). Spurred in equal parts by a desire to experience nature and the lure of cheap vacations in a down economy, first-time campers are booking reservations at campgrounds across the country. New to camping and the outdoors, for many the idea of “roughing it” means bringing along the computer games, TV and DVD player.

It’s now di rigeur for KOA and other popular campgrounds to offer free wi-fi, video arcades, swimming pools and scheduled family and kid activities along with campsites and fire rings. You can even rent a tent with queen size air mattresses, sleeping bags and all the accouterments at many campgrounds or via mail delivery from outfitters. Of course, RVers in the know wonder why rookies worried about staying warm, dry, comfortable and plugged into their creature comforts would choose to tent when they could enjoy the best of both worlds in an RV.

Rental RVs allow campers to enjoy all the advantages of outdoor living surrounded by the comforts of home. And, unlike tents, they dispel rookies’ overwrought fear of bears, which seems to loom large when they enter the woods. “I try to keep a straight face,” REI camping specialist Dave Sayler told Time reporter Kate Pickert in talking about questions he gets from new campers. “I’ve been asked if a tent will keep bears out.” No. Another reason to camp in an RV. For people new to camping, renting an RV is a natural choice and a great way to try out the free and easy RV lifestyle before you buy!

RV Industry Going Strong

Record-setting attendance at RV shows and strong first quarter sales figures indicate that while the rest of economy may be suffering, the RV industry is going strong. People who are looking for RV bargains know a good deal when they see one. Not only do RVs provide inexpensive travel options and living accommodations, but right now both the new and used RV markets offer superior bargains.

Those nice government incentives for RV owners just sweeten the deal. The federal stimulus package allows new RV owners to deduct sales or excise taxes on the first $49,500 of a new motorhome purchase. Many RV buyers are also able to deduct their loan interest on their federal taxes as second-home mortgage interest. Incentives to purchase an RV have never been better. If you’ve ever considered owning an RV or upgrading to a bigger model, this is the time to buy and sell!

Industry watchers report that 18- to 34-year-olds embracing the RV lifestyle for the first time make up the fastest growing RV owner population in the U.S. RV ownership lends itself to their active, outdoor lifestyle and their love of travel. Owning an RV allows you to take a weekend escape or mini vacation on the spur of the moment. No airline schedules to deal with, no high-priced hotel fees to pay. Just rev up the RV and you’re on your way! It’s a lifestyle that’s as appealing to free-spirited young adults as it is to busy families and retirees. With years of quality RV ownership ahead of younger owners, their early desire to adopt an RV lifestyle bodes well for the future of the industry.

If you’re looking to buy or sell an RV, RVT.com is the North American leader in online RV sales.

Eco-Friendly Tips for RV Travelers

There’s a sign you see at the entrance to many national and state parks: “Take only memories; leave only footprints.” It’s the RV credo. RVers account for the majority of campsite users in state and national parks; three times as many people camp in RVs than in tents. As major users of our nation’s parks, it’s the responsibility of RV owners to protect our country’s natural beauty for ourselves, for our fellow travelers, and for future generations.

In our last post, we talked about ways RV travelers can further reduce their already small carbon footprint. Today, we’ll share some tips for living green when you’re traveling in your RV:

* Pack it out. Inspect your campsite before leaving. You should take out with you everything you brought in. Use reusable storage bags for groceries, supplies and gear. Avoid buying products that use unnecessary packaging or that come in packaging that can’t be recycled.

* Recycle. While traveling, recycle cans, paper products and plastic containers. Many campgrounds and parks provide recycling receptacles. Remember to recycle when you perform regular vehicle maintenance on your RV. Many municipal facilities and some service stations will recycle old tires, used engine oil and batteries.

* Save water. Install a water-saver showerhead in your RV to reduce water use and save energy. Water-saving aerators can be screwed into the ends of most sink faucets to reduce water use. Don’t let the water run when showering, brushing teeth, shaving, washing dishes, etc.

* Green clean. Use natural, non-toxic cleaning products to clean up during and after your trip. New products on the market provide dependable cleaning power without using chemicals that harm the environment.

Go Green Tips for RV Travelers

It’s no surprise that RV owners are environmentally conscious. When you spend your time traveling and living in the great outdoors, it pays to be kind to Mother Nature. Perhaps because they spend more time with nature than most other travelers, RVers have a reputation for being eco-friendly.

RV living produces an admirably small carbon footprint. Not only are RVs inexpensive to heat and cool, but they use far less energy than the typical home. According to RV Living Magazine, you’d have to drive your RV across the country four times — 12,430 miles — in one year to equal the energy use of the average American home.

You can make your carbon footprint even smaller by buying an RV manufactured from renewable resources, choosing an engine that runs on biodiesel fuel, or installing solar panels on the roof. Solar panels can generate enough energy to run appliances and RV systems, eliminating as much as 90% of generator use. 

Here are a few more tips for going green in your RV:

* Flip the switch. Save energy by turning off electronics when they’re not in use.

* Plan ahead. Cut fuel consumption and travel time by planning trip routes in advance to avoid backtracking. Map your route with an internet mapping program (Google Maps, MapQuest, etc.), take advantage of auto club or AAA trip mapping, or use a GPS to find the most efficient route to your destination.

* Lighten the load. You’ll get better fuel mileage if you relieve your RV of unnecessary weight. Remove out-of-season gear, sporting goods, etc. Take things you don’t use out of closets and storage compartments. Only carry what you need and use. Even removing excess drinking water — which weighs 8.2 pounds per gallon — can make a difference in your mileage.

More Go Green tips Wednesday

Why Join RV Club?

Like any enjoyable activity that active people flock to, RVing has spawned its own gaggle of online clubs. There are RV clubs that cater to the special interests of families, retirees, Baby Boomers, campers, African-Americans, certain brands of RVs and even specific vacation destinations. If you RV or are thinking about buying a RV and joining the legions of active U.S. RVers, you should consider joining one or more of the many RV clubs available. You’ll find a list of links to great RV clubs on RVT.com.

RV clubs provide an opportunity for RVers to share information about everything from travel tips to maintenance solutions to dinner recipes. Some host rallies and events that provide opportunities for like-minded RVers to gather and meet. Some have local branches that sponsor group tours or camping that encourage members to meet and socialize.

RV clubs have informative websites with plenty of useful information on a wide range of topics of interest to RVers. Through blogs and forums RV clubs allow RVers to connect with fellow travelers to share and learn from each other’s experiences. Wonderful articles about interesting travel spots and festivals around the country will encourage you to broaden your travel horizons. You’ll find plenty of first-hand, practical advice on maintaining your RV and RV systems. Recipes designed for and tested in compact RV kitchens will tempt your tastebuds. Fun games and activities for kids from other parents will help keep the kids entertained, both while you travel and after you reach your destination.

News important to RVers, campground ratings, scenic drives, safety information, RV lifestyle tips, maintenance reminders — the lengthy list of valuable information available from RV clubs is reason enough to join. But it’s the opportunity to connect with and learn from other RVers that will make you a fan.

Time Share Your RV

Necessity is the mother of invention. Today’s tough economy has people searching for creative ways to get what they want at a price they can afford. Financially wary RV enthusiasts are taking a page from the vacation timeshare industry. Instead of putting their RV purchase plans on hold until the economy improves, RVers are joining with other RV families in fractional ownership agreements. Time share RVing is gaining in popularity!

The same time share concept that has allowed people to vacation in exclusive settings around the world for a fraction of resort prices is being applied to high end RVs. Instead of shelling out the full price for a luxury RV that they may only use for a few months out of the year, families purchase a part ownership in a RV that guarantees them exclusive use of the vehicle for a set number of weeks per year. Ownership costs are based on the cost of the RV divided by the number of weeks of use plus an annual fee to cover maintenance, administration, insurance and licensing fees.

The time share concept makes particular sense for people who enjoy the RV lifestyle but have a limited number of vacation weeks per year. Time sharing guarantees families use of a superior quality vehicle when they vacation without the expense of maintaining an idle vehicle for the other 48 to 50 weeks per year. RV time share management firms generally take care of routine cleaning, maintenance, repair and other mundane ownership chores, including pre-trip delivery and post-trip pickup of the vehicle.

Since the average RV owner uses his RV 21 days a year, according to a University of Michigan study, fractional RV ownership makes sense for many families, particularly in the current economic environment.

RV Rental Saves Family Vacation!

When I was a kid, the folks packed the six of us into the station wagon and headed west one summer. Over the next six weeks, we visited every national park west of the Mississippi. Because WWII had filled my dad’s lifetime tolerance for camping, we stayed in a series of offbeat motels and relatives’ rec rooms. Cereal in the hotel room and bologna sandwich picnics allowed us to sample local diners at suppertime. It was a memorable trip and not just for the scenery. While my love of national parks began with that trip, I have never owned a station wagon and haven’t eaten bologna since.

Life comes full circle. My sister is planning to repeat the grand tour of our youth, heading west with her hubby and three kids this summer. They’re big campers and have a van; but even so, the thought of three kids within touching distance of each other for hours in the car was giving her nightmares. Then there’s the packing and unpacking, setting up and striking camp, jamming six weeks worth of stuff into the car every day — the whole trip was beginning to sound less like a vacation and more like an ordeal.

RVT.com to the rescue. My sister decided to rent a RV on RVT.com. The whole family is excited about the trip now. There will be plenty of room for the kids to spread out, a kitchen for fixing everyone’s favorite foods, plenty of storage space, and no packing and unpacking every night. They’ll be picking up the rental RV in their home state, loading up and heading out this June. Look for them on the highways. They’ll be the happy family waving out the windows as they travel in RV comfort!