Posted by Ashley Gannon on Sep 29, 2010
The Outdoor Foundation recently surveyed outdoor enthusiasts and businesses that cater to outdoor pursuits to see what attracts people to the outdoors. Dedicated to inspiring future generations to embrace outdoor activities, the Foundation’s Outdoor Nation Special Report: Turning Insiders Out provided some great tips RV dealerships can use to attract first-time RV buyers.
Develop partnerships with outdoor equipment and outdoor adventure providers to engage a wider audience. Cross-advertising and co-sponsored events can benefit both partners.
Partner with local celebrities who value the outdoor life, arranging for their participation in ad campaigns and sales events. People are attracted to and influenced by celebrities.
Diversify customer communication to reach different audiences and broaden market presence. Link your website to social media marketing to drive more traffic to your website.
Use social media to reach untapped markets, particularly young adult markets, by creating a presence on Facebook, Twitter and Oodle. Don’t waste time and money developing your own social media network and waiting for an audience to build, create an immediate social marketing presence that tracks back to your dealership website by placing your online RV classified ads on RVT.com. Our RV dealership program lets you tap into RVT’s already-developed, high-traffic social media network to instantly expand your RV buyer audience.
Increase peer-to-peer communication by offering walk-throughs at neighborhood, Scout, senior and outdoor fairs and events. Offer slide presentations on RV life to family-oriented or senior groups.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Sep 27, 2010
Fall is a great time to sell your RV online, and RVT.com has just made it even better. You can now list your online RV classified ad FREE on RVT.com for the first two weeks. According to J.D. Powers & Associates, 80% of buyers start their search for a vehicle online. More than 15,000 of those motivated RV buyers visit RVT.com every single day, that’s over half a million RV shoppers every month! Now, RVT.com makes it possible for you to tap into this incredible RV buyer pool absolutely free for the first two weeks.
What have you got to lose? If your RV sells in those two weeks, it will have cost you nothing. Even if your RV doesn’t sell by the end of your two free weeks, RVT.com offers very affordable renewal rates.
One of America’s leading online RV classified ad sites, RVT.com puts more than a decade of online sales experience to work for you to help you sell your RV quickly and at a good price. With every online RV ad — including our free 2-week offer — you can include 30 photos of your RV, video and unlimited text to describe every unique feature of your RV to potential buyers. When you advertize on RVT.com, your online RV ad receives maximum buyer exposure on our website, Facebook Marketplace, Oodle local classifieds, Walmart Classified, Twitter and YouTube.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Sep 24, 2010
Many RVers are seasonal users, hectic school and work schedules or nasty weather keeping them off the roads in the winter. If you plan to store you RV for the winter, there are a few things you should know about battery storage and maintenance to prevent problems in the spring.
> When placing your RV in long-term storage, whether in your backyard, an RV storage facility or U-store unit, you should remove the batteries and store them separately.
> Batteries can be stored inside your RV only if they won’t be exposed to freezing temperatures during storage. If you cover your RV or store it where access will be difficult or limited, you’ll find it more convenient to store batteries apart from your RV.
> To prevent damage during storage, batteries should be stored in a cool, dry place where they won’t be exposed to freezing temperatures.
> Always remove the negative terminal connection first, then the positive terminal. Make sure you label each battery cable for goof-proof reconnection in the spring.
> Check batteries for corrosion. Use a 50/50 mix of baking soda and water to clean batteries if necessary.
> Check fluid levels in battery cells. If fluid is low, fill to proper level with distilled water, taking care not to overfill.
> Keep batteries charged over the winter. Test batteries monthly. Recharge when charge drops to 80% or below (12.5 volts for 12-volt batteries, 6.25 volts for 6-volt batteries). When batteries lose their charge, they are more susceptible to freezing.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Sep 22, 2010
Nights are getting cooler and the leaves are starting to turn. Fall is here and leaf peepers will soon be crowding states from the Northeast to the Rocky Mountain foothills to marvel at nature’s yearly fireworks display. For many RVers, the fall foliage tour is a highly anticipated annual delight. Traveling by RV gives you a picture window view as you drive over scenic routes through colorful hardwood forests. Each turn in the road brings breathtaking, panoramic displays of undulating hills painted with bright splotches of red, orange and yellow.
RVers who regularly travel the country will tell you that fall in the Northeast is one of America’s most spectacular scenic wonders — and RV travelers have a ringside seat. During the day, follow country roads to drink in the beauty on leisurely drives. At night, settle in amidst the turning trees at comfortable RV campgrounds along your travel route. Compare notes with other RVers to pinpoint observation points that offer particularly stunning views.
Foliage color peaks from the end of September through mid-October, peak viewing times arriving earlier the farther north you travel. Shorter days and colder nights trigger the break down of chlorophyll, which gives tree leaves their green color, and an increase in the production of anthocyanin, the pigment that turns leaves red. Chemistry aside, predicting peak color is a multi-million dollar business. To determine the best time to plan your fall foliage tour, check state websites for updated foliage maps.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Sep 20, 2010
RV dealers were cheering the end of the recession — at least for the RV industry – at last weekend’s RV show in Hershey, PA, saying sales are booming. Orlando RV in Florida reported selling out of some ultra-luxe, top-of-the-line RV models that retail for $454,550. Product manager Robin McCracken said they had nearly doubled their sales goal of $36 million with a quarter of the year still to go!
More than a thousand RV dealers exhibited at this year’s Hershey RV show, the nation’s largest, compared to only 660 exhibitors last year. In fact, the show sold out dealer space and had to turn dealers away. RV interest — and sales — are up across the country. After a 2-year recession-driven downturn, RV sales were up 81% for the first two quarters of 2010 compared to the same period last year. By the end of the year, annual RV sales nationwide are expected increase by 45%.
Most RV dealers are reporting increased traffic at retail stores and online RV sales sites. Airstream said they are experiencing the greatest market growth in younger, creative buyers, many of whom are repurposing recreational vehicles as guest houses, home offices or art studios. The biggest buyer segment remains outdoor enthusiasts, followed by retirees looking for affordable travel; but upscale buyers well shy of their 40th birthday are rapidly increasing. All in all, the future looks bright for RV dealers.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Sep 17, 2010
Your RV has given you years of pleasant memories, but it’s time to trade it in. Maybe you and your growing family are ready to move up to a larger Class A motorhome. Maybe the kids have flown the nest and you’re ready to downsize. Perhaps you’re attracted to the fuel efficiency and sustainable building materials of new “green” RV models. Whatever your reason for selling your RV, there are 5 important tips that will help you sell your RV fast.
- Sell your RV online to increase your potential buyer pool. For example, online RV ads on RVT.com attract more than half a million motivated RV buyers and generate hundreds of RV sales every month.
- List your classified ad on a website that works hard to help you sell your RV. RVT.com maintains a dynamic website, publishes an informative blog, issues daily Twitter feeds and offers a free iPhone app to attract buyers.
- Spend some time writing your ad. Use adjectives and share a memory or two about your RV experiences. Highlight unique features and provide a thorough list of amenities. RVT.com gives you unlimited description space on your ad; use it.
- Post plenty of photos of your RV. Give your RV a good scrub, pick a sunny day and attractive background and click away. RV buyers want to see what they’re getting; the more photos you post, the better.
- Add a video of your RV to your ad. For buyers, a video walk-through is the next best thing to being there.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Sep 15, 2010
If you are planning to sell your RV online this winter, use these final fall excursions to look for attractive settings to use for your “RV portrait.” When potential buyers start scanning online RV ads, their eye is first attracted to ads with bold black or red type; but it’s the photo of your RV — your “RV portrait” — displayed on the search page (and at the top of your detailed ad profile) that makes RV buyers want to click on your ad for a closer look at your RV. A well-planned RV portrait will help you sell your RV faster and is likely to earn you a better price.
You want your RV portrait to do two things:
1. Display your RV to its best advantage.
2. Make RV buyers see themselves behind the wheel, heading for adventure.
Accomplishing the first item is pretty straight forward. Make any necessary repairs, then wash and polish your RV until it gleams.
Getting potential RV buyers’ to make an emotional investment in your recreational vehicle is a little tougher, but the key is choosing the right background. While you’re cruising on your final fall trips, scout attractive background settings. Scenic roadside pullouts, local state parks and scenic RV campgrounds are good places to look for the perfect background for your RV portrait. Look for a natural setting (rolling hills, lake, forest) with a sunny, uncluttered panoramic view that has an open space big enough to pull into and position your RV.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Sep 13, 2010
Auto manufacturers are building cars and trucks that are smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient – and RV makers have been paying attention. Several towable RVs that are light enough to be pulled by new fuel-efficient cars are already on the market with more in the works. Innovative designs and use of state-of-the-art composite materials are allowing RV manufacturers to cut weight while still producing high-quality, functional and affordable recreational vehicles.
Many of the new fuel-efficient cars and trucks have towing capacities that range from 2,500 to 4,000 pounds. Quite a few folding trailers and a number of small travel trailers meet those towing criteria. To determine whether your vehicle has the power to safely pull a specific RV trailer, ask the following:
1. What is the gross weight your car or truck is designed to tow? If this information is not included in your operator’s manual, check with the vehicle manufacturer.
2. Which RV travel trailers and folding trailers have a matching Gross Vehicle Weight Rating? Purchase an RV with a GVWR that is compatible with the gross weight towing capacity of your tow vehicle.
3. How much hitch weight can your tow vehicle handle? If not in your operator’s manual, check with the vehicle manufacturer.
4. Will trailer brakes be required for the RV you want to purchase? Brake requirements are based on a trailer’s GVWR. Check with your state DOT as requirements vary from state to state.
Check RVT.com for more helpful information on choosing an RV tow vehicle.
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