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Tag: RV Buying Tips

  • Vintage RVs We Love

    Vintage RVs We Love

    New RVs are great – they come with fabulous new technology, and I swear – some of them look like luxury mansions! But, you can’t deny that vintage RVs have a certain allure to them too – and when they’ve been remodeled to bring together their vintage style with a modern design – well, to be honest, we’re in love. We’ve found five vintage RVs (ok – ones from 2006, so maybe not super vintage) that combine the best of both worlds.
    Starting with the pop of green in the awning that carries through to the counters inside – the minimalist design in this unit feels like the design meant for the all-chrome Airstream. We are also impressed that they managed to get two twin beds in here – as well as a work space. Sleek and streamlined.
    The outside of this unit definitely leaves something to the imagination – but once you open that front door, the white walls and light blue accents give this unit a wonderfully light and airy feel. We love the full sized shower and ample seating space.
    The combination of black, red, and metallics in this unit make it feel like a luxury apartment. By using the same tiles in the kitchen and the bathroom – there’s a nice continuity throughout – and for those who might want to work on the road, this unit also has a great work area, complete with huge windows perfect for bringing the outside indoors.
    Full of warm colors and interesting fabrics – this unit has a fun and eclectic vibe to it. We love the shape of the kitchen – and can completely imagine having friends or family pull up a stool while we cook or enjoy a late afternoon cocktail. We don’t get to see the bedroom or bathroom in this one, but we have high hopes that they are just as nice as the main space.
    The back half of this RV is completely updated – with beautiful grey cabinets, light countertops, and funky accent colors – but the front half still needs a little work. But this could be the perfect first unit to try your hand at flipping – all you have to do is finish the great work that’s already been started.

     

     

    If you are looking to flip a vintage RV of your own from start to finish – we think this one would be perfect! The outside looks like it’s in great condition – and you could even paint the cabinets to keep costs down! Add in some nice new fabric and you’ll be well on your way.

    Some things, actually, most things, get better with age – and we certainly think these RVs did. We didn’t get to see them in their heyday – but we love where they’ve ended up.

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  • The Growing Market for Off-Road-Capable RVs

    The Growing Market for Off-Road-Capable RVs

    The Growing Market for Off-Road-Capable RVs

    By

    When it comes to choosing a campsite, most RVers think of a public or private campground: full hookups, maybe a picnic table and a fire ring. Or in a pinch, boondocking at a Walmart.

    But there’s growing number of RVers who rarely set foot (or tire) in a traditional campground. They prefer the wide-open spaces and night skies of the back country — national forests, Bureau of Land Management lands, national monuments and other far-off-the-beaten-path destinations.

    These adventurers are driven partly by youth: According to KOA’s 2017 North American Camping Report, millennials make up 38 percent of active campers, and account for half of all new campers since 2016.

    “Not only are these younger campers highly social, but they’re also more physically active,” the KOA report says. “More physically active types of recreation are increasing in popularity, with mountain biking, hiking/backpacking, and canoeing/kayaking all gaining since 2014.”

    And because they favor remote places often accessible only with four-wheel drive vehicles, a mini-industry has grown up around converting suitable vans and trucks into campers. Depending on the design, specs, and who is doing the conversion, this “upfitting,” can run $50,000 or more—over and above the cost of the vehicle—with a wait time of up to six months, a year, or more.

    Now there’s another option, as one major RV manufacturer has taken notice of the growing movement. Winnebago has just announced the Revel, a new, full-function compact RV built on the Mercedes-Benz 4WD Sprinter chassis.

    With its high ground clearance, beefy stance and no-nonsense interior, it’s clear the Revel is not trying to appeal to the traditional RVer. For example, there’s no bed in the conventional sense. Rather, a platform bed lowers into the gear storage space once the rig is parked. And while it does have a shower, the Revel’s cassette-style toilet eliminates the need for a blackwater holding tank, allowing a larger freshwater tank. Solar panels further hint at the Revel’s off-the-grid capabilities.

    “Americans are hardwired to explore,” noted Russ Garfin, the Winnebago product manager responsible for the Revel. “And there’s so much of America waiting to be explored.

    “But to really get out there, you’ve got to change your priorities somewhat. Living space and, to some degree, comfort and convenience, have to take a bit of a back seat to capabilities. If something is not essential, it’s certainly going to be looked at very carefully. We even made the coach air conditioning system an option — some people don’t feel they need it, and would just as soon have a little more hauling capacity.”

    While Winnebago hasn’t divulged sales goals, it’s clear they’ve put a lot of thought into the rugged little Revel. According to Product Manager Garfin, “It’s the most off-road-capable RV we’ve ever built. We’re excited to see where it can go.”

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  • 5 Totally Unexpected Benefits of RVing

    5 Totally Unexpected Benefits of RVing


    By Kimberly Travaglino 
    Fulltime Families Co-Founder

    You’ve seen the brochures of RVs parked along the banks of picturesque lakes, and wide smiling faces sticky with fire roasted s’mores. You probably know that RVing is a great way to explore national treasures while still enjoying all the comforts of home. See America mile-by-mile by day and sleep in your own bed each night! Stock up the fridge before you leave and you’ll have all your favorite nibbles wherever you roam.

    You’re probably already familiar with these great benefits of RVing, so we asked 5 families who are “RVing experts” exactly how RVing has benefited their families in unexpected ways…benefits that might be missed during a walk through a dealership.

    A note about these experts: they are all part of an organization called Fulltime Families, dedicated to young, working, full-time RVers. These experts have sold their homes and hit the road in search of a stronger bond with their children, a slower lifestyle… and, ultimately, the adventure of a lifetime.

    Unexpected Benefit #1: Less is more!

    Let’s face it, whether you’re heading out for the weekend, or launching on a summer-long cross country trip, there’s only so much stuff you can bring along in your limited space. Somewhere in the midst of enjoying an evening campfire or an early morning pancake breakfast, you realize you actually have everything you truly need in your RV. You may start questioning why you even have all that “extra” stuff back home!

    Jessica Jeffrey reminds us, “Having less stuff and less to take care of means I get to spend more quality time with my husband and kids.”

    Unexpected Benefit #2: Learning alongside your kids truly is the best way to learn.

    Summer vacation usually means that education is put on hold, but when you go RVing as a family, learning opportunities abound around every corner. How can you not talk Civil War history while picnicking at Gettysburg? How can you not discuss the wonders of creation while unearthing anemones in the tide pools along the Pacific? How can you resist pointing out the constellations while your eyes are raised to the heavens on those incomparably beautiful evenings?

    Kimberly Travaglino, co-host of Roadschool Moms, a weekly podcast for homeschoolers on the road, remind us:

    “You only need to think back to your own childhood to know the best lessons can be taught in pajamas, under a starry sky”.

    Unexpected Benefit #3: Leave your stress behind.


    Did you know there’s no room for anxiety in a hammock? How about that a campfire can melt your worries away? RVing is the antidote to the “busy” so many of us find ourselves stuck in. Instead of spending your weekend at your local home improvement store, drive your RV to your local soul improvement area (i.e., your favorite campground)and spend some time unwinding.

    “Simplifying our life and living a simple life (TV’s have been replaced with board games, puzzles, music at meals, etc) as a family created a noticeable and surprising peace and calm for all of us,” says Eric Benson of RoamingWell.com.

    Unexpected Benefit #4: Have you tried to cook in a hotel room?

    Seriously – have you tried to fit a gallon of milk in that tiny fridge? When you RV, not only do you bring along all the comforts of home, but you get to bring your favorite foods, too. With a refrigerator, microwave, and oven in your RV galley, you can make your family’s favorite meals on-the-go. On a special diet? RVing makes it easy to stick to the foods that fuel your fun! Wanna keep it simple? The @JamesGang suggests: “Why not cook some of your meals over a campfire? You’ll be making cherished memories as dinner becomes an adventure of it’s own.”

    Unexpected Benefit #5: Three cheers for new friends!

    If you’ve never gone RVing, then you may know the most important, most vital and most priceless unexpected benefit you’ll likely encounter are new friends! Remember that 1950s community your grandparents always tell stories about? Well, here’s a secret: it’s alive and well, recaptured in campgrounds across America. You’ll find lots of friendly folks enjoying the simple life as you stroll around the campground. Don’t be surprised if you’re invited to random campfires or if your children strike up friendships at the playground. It’s common for campers to connect and make plans for future RVing adventures down the road!

    So, there you have it – the top 5 most unexpected benefits of RVing.

    We hope you find many more unexpected benefits as you and your family launch your own RV adventures!

  • The Camper’s Guide to Buying a New Home on Wheels: 5 Tips to Find the RV of Your Dreams on RV Trader

    The Camper’s Guide to Buying a New Home on Wheels: 5 Tips to Find the RV of Your Dreams on RV Trader

     

     

    Finding the RV of your dreams shouldn’t have to be difficult.

     

    Traveling in the 21st century can be described as rewarding, adventurous and fulfilling — but when it comes down to it, traveling can also be expensive, exhausting, and chaotic. Packing, airport hopping and moving between various hotels can be a hassle that takes away from your travel experience and lessens your ability to enjoy yourself on your trip.

    That’s why we, as RVers, are able to take back the travel experience.

    Whether you are planning to be a weekend warrior, a full-timer or just use your RV to check out the best tailgating events across the country — RVing in your own unit can redefine your travel experience, giving you the freedom to roam with your own personal hospitality suite right behind the wheel.

    But the idea of purchasing an RV can be overwhelming in and of itself — so RV Trader has put together the resources and tools you need to research, plan for, select and purchase the RV best fitted for your budget and lifestyle. No more running from dealership to dealership to figure out what will work — we’ve got you covered. And with all the extra time you’ll save, you can start dreaming about and planning your next big travel adventure.

     

    Step 1: Determine your budget.

    We can’t stress the importance of determining a budget before you begin browsing units. Just like when you plan for purchasing a home, you don’t want to tour a house, fall completely head over heels for it — only to find out it’s $75,000 over your budget.

    Whether you’re making the purchase on your own or need to discuss what you’re willing to spend with a partner or family member, take some time to sit down, research, and develop a plan for your target price range. That way, you’re as prepared as possible to compare features, amenities, and prices when the time comes.

    A few budgeting and planning tips we like to give our users:

    • Use our nifty Price Checker to determine an estimated price for the model you like — so you can be wary of whether dealers are overcharging for a model, or undercharging — in which case, there may be damage or production flaws in the unit.
    • Understand your payment options. One big advantage of buying a unit through a dealership, rather than a private seller, is access to financing. To understand what your payments would be, take advantage of our useful loan calculator to get a full understand of how this unit will fit into your budget.
    • Think about insurance early and often. When you come up with your budget, there’s nothing worse than finding out insurance costs put your dream vehicle out of reach.
    • Estimate shipping rates with our convenient shipping calculator. If you do decide to ship a unit from across the country, you don’t want to be caught off-guard with a $5k shipping fee.
    • Make sure you understand what warranties are available. Again, this is a reason to check out your local dealership for your next unit. Dealerships offer warranties that will protect you as you head out on your next adventure.

     

    Step 2: Decide which model is right for you.

    After you’ve decided on a budget, it’s time to choose what type of RV will best fit into your life considering how you plan to use your RV. We’ve outline the 11 primary types of RVs to help narrow down which models are best for you to consider.

    • Class A – Large living space with luxurious amenities
      • Sleeps: Up to 6
      • Average New Unit Cost: $58,000 – $400,000
    • Class B – Also known as “van campers” since they are driven like large vans
      • Sleeps: Up to 4
      • Average New Unit Cost: $41,000 – $74,000
    • Class C – Luxurious amenities with useful sleeping space over the cab
      • Sleeps: Up to 8
      • Average New Unit Cost: $48,000 – $140,000
    • Pop Up – Conveniently foldable for lightweight towing; comfy ‘outdoor camping’ feel
      • Sleeps: Up to 8
      • Average New Unit Cost: $4,000 – $13,000
    • Travel Trailer – Offers a healthy variety of size and floor plan options
      • Sleeps: Up to 10
      • Average New Unit Cost: $8,000 – $65,000
    • Fifth Wheel – A two-level floor plan that comes with plenty of room and is towed behind a pickup truck
      • Sleeps: Up to 6
      • Average New Unit Cost: $13,000 – $100,000
    • Toy Hauler – Incredibly useful and affordable considering the amount of extra space they provided for motorcycles, ATVs or other powersports vehicles
      • Sleeps: Up to 8
      • Average New Unit Cost: $21,000 – $58,000

    As you are searching RV Trader, check NADA Guides to see what their estimation tool says for the value of a used unit.

     Step 3: Save your Favorite Listings.

     

     

     

     

    With RV Trader’s handy star and save feature, you can easily bookmark your favorite listings for comparison later. No more opening 10 tabs at a time to compare campers!

    Once you save a listing, we can also send you a notification when the price drops on it and share other units that might work for your budget and lifestyle.

     

    Step 4: Decide on a Dealership. 

     

     

    Sometimes, multiple dealerships in your area may be offering the same models for similar prices. All of the dealers on RV Trader dealers provide a great buying experience — but check for the special ‘Trusted Partner’ badge next to their name. These dealers have been working with RV Trader for 5, 10 or even longer and have become known to us as trusted partners.

     

    Happy RVing, folks!
    Be sure to tag us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #rvtradernation when you are on the road. We can’t wait to see where your adventure takes you.