RV Renters Soon Become Owners

Posted by RV Pro on Aug 21, 2009

Try before you buy. That’s the advice a lot of experienced RVers pass along to folks who are curious about the RV lifestyle. Renting an RV for a weekend getaway is a great way to try out the RV lifestyle before you plunk your money down. Once you choose your dream RV, rent it for an extended vacation trip — at least a week — to get a real feel for RV ownership. Most renters enjoy the convenience and comfort of RV travel so much, they soon become RV owners.

You may want to try out several different RV models to see which one best meets your traveling needs. If you enjoy the simple life, a “pop-up” folding trailer or truck camper may be all you need. If you plan to do a lot of touring once you reach your vacation destination, a detachable travel trailer might be your best bet. If you’ll be traveling with kids, you may want the extra space found in a Class C motorhome. If you like long vacations or plan to retire to an RV, you may want the roomy luxury of a Class A motorhome with a slideout or two.

RVT.com makes it easy to rent an RV and take it for a spin. Use RVT.com’s handy state-by-state RV rental locator to locate RV rentals in your state or arrange a rental in a distant state if you’re planning a fly/drive vacation. Then book your RV rental online on RVT.com and start packing!

Camping in Luxury

Posted by RV Pro on Apr 27, 2009

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

Posted by RV Pro on Apr 24, 2009

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.

RV Rental Saves Family Vacation!

Posted by RV Pro on Apr 13, 2009

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!