RVT.com RV Trader Blog

State Fairs Deliver Fun for RV Families

Looking for a quick RV trip that’s close to home but miles away from ordinary? Take a trip to the fair. August is state fair month. Where else can you find something for everyone in the family practically in your own back yard? Because many farm families and fair vendors travel by RV, state fairs usually offer RV campsites close to the action with ample parking for day trippers. If you want a break from the crowds, it shouldn’t be hard to find RV campgrounds in the vicinity.

State fairs offer an abundance of things to do and see, and there’s nothing like the smell of fair food to whet your appetite. We’ve been regulars at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus for years. We start at the barns to admire — and pet — all the animals. The kids try their hands at milking and check out the butter cow before we take an ice cream break to watch the barrel races. After a lunch of corn dogs and grilled corn, we say “hi” to Smokey and take in the lumberjack show at the Natural Resources Pavilion. The kids try their luck at fishing before a climb on the giant corn wall. Then it’s time to admire the giant pumpkins and pat the bunnies before we hit the midway.

The giant slide, tilt-a-whirl and Ferris wheel get a workout before we head back to our RV. Tired but happy and still a little sticky from the cotton candy, it’s only moments before our tired crew is tucked into bed for a good night’s sleep. Because bright and early tomorrow, we’ll be up, ready to do it again! One day is never enough when you go to the fair!

More Folks Adopting Full-time RV Lifestyle

Once considered the domain of gray-haired retirees, full-time RVing is gaining greater appeal among a broader cross section of Americans. A growing number of singles, couples and families are turning to RVs for affordable housing during the economic downturn. Trading in a high maintenance home for an economical RV cuts monthly living expenses dramatically while leaving a nice nest egg to invest for the future.

No more staggering mortgage payments, no more outrageous utility bills, no more lawn mowing, no more painting. In comparison to the regular maintenance required on a typical home, the upkeep on an RV is negligible. The full-time RV lifestyle is a smart choice, particularly for empty-nesters who like to travel, home-schooling families who want their children to experience America firsthand, and laid off workers who need the flexibility to go where the jobs are.

While mobility is a factor in most people’s decision to RV full-time, it’s economics and convenience that lure others. Following in the footsteps of construction workers and field scientists who favor full-time RVing as a sensible and comfortable way to live near their workplace, Los Angeles airline pilots have welcomed an RV town a half mile from LAX. With lots running just $60 a month, pilots and other airport workers, most of whom have been forced to accept pay cuts to keep working, are finding it not only extremely convenient to work within shuttle distance of their jobs but very affordable to embrace RV living.

Providing affordable RV housing options for workers could become a new national trend. Businesses, particularly those that depend on a fluxuating work force, could lure seasonal workers by offering RV hookups and services onsite. Given the comfort, convenience and affordability of RV living, more people are making the choice to go mobile as full-time RVers.

Swim, Boat Free Next Week

The Dog Days of August are nearly here. What better way to beat the heat than frolicking in the water. To help the nation cool down, the government is temporarily waiving daily use fees at rec sites across the country. Swim and boat free next week at a host of parks and recreation sites managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It’s a perfect opportunity to pack the family into the RV and head to the nearest lake for a little R&R.

During the week of August 1-9, all-day use fees will be waived at swimming beaches and boat ramps on lakes, rivers and reservoirs across the country. On or in the water is a great way to spend those first sweltering days of August. Take the family for a dip in the lake. Try waterskiing or wake boarding on the smooth waters of a reservoir. Head out for an early morning of fishing. If you want to make a weekend of it, you’ll still have to pay for RV camping, but camping rates at federal rec sites are very affordably priced.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages more than 30% of federal recreation facilities and is the greatest national provider of water-based recreation. If there’s a lake, dam, reservoir or river in your area, it’s most likely managed by the Corps. Most rec areas offer swimming beaches, picnic areas, boat ramps and docks, and fishing. Many offer boat rentals as well as other water sport rentals. Many swimming areas also provide changing/shower rooms and snack bar facilities, often in conjunction with state parks. Click here for a regional list of Corps-managed sites to find a recreation site near you.

Tips for Buying New RV Online

There are plenty of new RVs available online at RVT.com. The economic slowdown has left some dealers with brand new vehicles sitting on their lots waiting for savvy buyers to take advantage of bargain prices. To increase their potential marketplace, these dealers are offering premium new RVs for sale online at RVT.com. RV buyers can find great opportunities to own a new 2007, 2008 or 2009 RV with all the extras for nearly used prices when they shop RVT.com’s new and used classified listings. To find new RVs, just click on “new” in the category you’re interested in.

When shopping for a new RV, don’t be afraid to deal. Any new vehicle loses 25% of its value to depreciation the minute it’s driven off the lot. Use NADA price lists to research average purchase prices and resale values before you negotiate. Dealers may be willing to cut prices even more or throw in a few plum options to clear their lots before the new 2010 RVs arrive.

Before purchasing a new RV, do your homework to determine the RV type, model, manufacturer and size best suited to your lifestyle. Don’t forget to consider exterior and interior color, storage and amenities. Make a list of the features you’re looking for. You can use RVT.com’s handy price checker to find and compare possible purchases online. Before buying, visit a dealer and walk through the vehicle to get a feel for its size. Make sure you and any other potential drivers take it for a thorough test drive.

Don’t rush your decision. Think it over for a day or two. It’s a buyer’s market and you’ll find plenty of great prices on new RVs on RVT.com.

RV Selling Tips: Negotiating Price

Setting the listing price is a critical decision when selling your RV online. You want to price your RV competitively enough to draw maximum traffic from serious buyers while ensuring that your RV sells for the highest price. Pricing your RV too high discourages potential buyers, driving them in search of better deals. Pricing your RV too low limits potential profit, drawing bargain hunters without the resources to close the deal.

To aid you in setting the optimum selling price for your RV, RVT.com provides a handy, free price checker service that pinpoints the high, low and average selling prices currently listed on our website for RVs like the one you want to sell. Using the price checker is easy. Simply input the requested information — make, model, length, age, location, etc. — and our price checker lists the number of ads currently running on RVT.com that match your criteria, along with the high, low and average prices being advertised. You can instantly view competing ads to check out your direct online sales competition.

When setting the selling price for your RV, leave some haggling room. People love to feel like they’re getting a bargain, so price your RV a little higher than the price you’re willing to accept to allow some negotiating room. When you receive a buy offer, don’t automatically accept or reject it; always make a counter offer.

Be patient. Most online sales take a few weeks, sometimes longer. Follow our pricing tips and you can get top dollar when you sell your RV on RVT.com, the North American leader in online RV sales.

Conquering RV Claustrophobia

Even long-time RVers have occasional days when the walls start to creep in and the space inside your RV seems to shrink. For me it happens on rainy days when the kids are bouncing off the walls and three children magically morph into a small army of busy, noisy bodies. Time to break out the board games or, if I’m desperate, plug in a movie. When all else fails, I send them outside in search of mud puddles and gear myself up for bath time.

RV claustrophobia can strike at any time, but is most likely to plague new RVers still adjusting to the RV lifestyle. The compact space inside an RV isn’t a problem when you’re off on a weekend trip or even a week or two. Most RVers enjoy the outdoors, and most of the day is spent hiking, riding, swimming, boating, etc. When the family has the whole outdoors to spread out in, and you’re really only gathering in your RV to sleep, space ceases to be an issue.

But the desire for more space is the reason most full-timers who live in their RVs buy larger RV models that can accommodate full-size kitchens, big screen TVs, spacious bathrooms, extra storage space — all the comforts of home. Most motorhomes and travel trailers feature one or more slideouts that extend exterior walls up to an additional 3 1/2 feet, significantly increasing the amount of living space and giving families plenty of extra room.

Before buying an RV online, give serious consideration to how long and how often you plan to travel and the number of people who will be sharing your space. It will help you determine how big an RV you should be looking when you check out the selection on RVT.com.

RV Oasis Succors Nature-Thirsty RVers

In this economy, few people can afford a vacation home; yet they dream of a summer cabin in the woods or a lakeside cottage to escape to on the weekends. After days of baking in hot, noisy, smoggy, concrete-wrapped cities, they thirst to immerse themselves and their families in the soothing, cool, green lushness of nature. With the growing popularity of RV resorts, RVers are discovering that they can afford that idyllic vacation home they always dreamed of — despite the economy!

Popping up across America and Canada like an oasis in the desert, RV resorts are growing quickly in popularity. Generally located in pristine wooded areas or along lakes within a short drive of large cities, RV resorts allow families to escape the city while keeping the cost of towing and gas low. RVers purchase a resort site or rent one long-term. While some drive out whenever they get the chance, many resort dwellers park their RVs on their site year-round. When they arrive to relax, everything is set up and ready to go.

At many resorts sites include decks, firepits, storage sheds for recreational equipment, boat docks, even fencing for dogs. At some resorts, you bring your own RV; others feature RV park models with all the amenities. Resorts of this sort are generally upscale with RVs finished and laid out to resemble a community of cedar-shake cottages or log cabins. Artful landscaping and swales provide privacy screening for each lot. Communal amenities often include walking paths, recreation centers, swimming pools and planned events.

Whether you opt to join a designed community or just find a beautiful place to escape to, RV resorts make it possible for you to enjoy the benefits of a vacation home for a tiny fraction of the price.

Boomers Hit the RV Trail

They may have given up their psychedelic VW vans, tie-dyed t-shirts and love beads for a job and family life in the suburbs, but they’ve never let go of their sense of adventure, their zest to explore life, or their love of the new and different. The first of the Baby Boomers are just stepping into retirement and many of them are hitting the RV trail.

Comfortable, casual RV life with its opportunity to travel when and where the spirit moves you seems tailor-made for active, fun-loving boomers. America’s most populous generation, 350,000 baby boomers will retire each year from now through 2030. RV industry experts expect many to embrace the RVing, drawn by the freedom,  adventure and economy of life on the road. 

The generation that changed America is expected to do it again, turning retirement expectations upside down. These fit and active retirees won’t be sitting home puttering around the lawn and garden. They’ll be traveling the depth and breadth of America in their RVs, dirt bikes and kayaks in tow. Having devoted a lifetime to work and family, boomers are ready to cut loose and have some fun. But their idea of fun is a long way from the staid bridge games and golf outings that defined their parents’ golden years. Boomers are more apt to try white-water rafting or climb a mountain or, like the senior President Bush, jump out of an airplane. The generation that broke down barriers and refused to accept limits on what they could or should do is still at it; but in a nod to their senior status, they’re doing it from the cab of an RV instead of the back of a Harley!