Wednesday, January 7th, 2009
To people unfamiliar with “the RV lifestyle”, towing capacity may not seem all that important. However, to regular RV’ers, towing capacity is a big part of “the RV lifestyle”. After all, companies like FLEETWOOD persuade consumers to part with large six-figure sums not just based on buying a particular vehicle, but also on buying the whole supposed lifestyle that goes along with RV for sale.
For many Americans, “the RV lifestyle” is their dream retirement, traveling wherever they would with no time constraints, meeting both new faces and old friends along the way, spending months at a time with grandchildren or favorite nieces and nephews…It sounds all so leisurely.
But there’s one very important ingredient to this “RV lifestyle”: you need a car, which you tow behind your RV. RV’s cannot run downtown for a quick cup of Starbucks or a stop into Pollo Loco—they’re too big and there’s nowhere to park. You cannot park at a theater or most restaurants with an RV. Other than WalMart and a few others, there are few retailers with parking lots big enough for RV’s. Thus, almost all RV’ers park their RV’s at RV parks and jump into passenger cars or pick-ups for a night on the town, or just about anything other than driving on the highway.
This is where towing weight comes into play. Most or all Class A RV’s come with a tow hitch so the owners can tow a their pick-ups or passenger cars behind them as they drive down the highways. (“Class A” refers to the “bus” style of RV, where the engine and drivetrain and living compartment are all a part of one big bus-sized unit. In contrast, Class B RV are usually “fifth wheels” which are towed behind, or sometimes on top of, a pick-up truck, and a “Class C” RV is more of a sleeper van conversion, much smaller than a Class A.) So, Class A RV’s need to be able to tow the types of vehicles which RV owners use when they’re not driving their RV’s.
FLEETWOOD’s 2005 and 2006 Providence, Discovery, Excursion, Fleetwood Expedition RV and Bounder Class A RV’s all were sold to consumers with a sticker advertising a towing weight capacity of 10,000 lbs. A 10,000 lbs. capacity would allow towing not only of smaller cars but also larger sedans and small- to mid-sized pick-up trucks.
Now, suddenly, FLEETWOOD has issued a “recall”, telling consumers that the 10,000 lbs. towing capacity was a mistake and offering a new sticker, to be placed over the old sticker, indicating a tow limit of only 5,000 lbs.
“This is not a recall; it’s a cover-up,” comments prominent consumer protection attorney Robert F. Brennan of the La Crescenta, Ca. law firm Brennan, Wiener & Associates. “A recall is used where the manufacturer can do something to fix the problem. Putting a sticker on the RV for sale, stating that it now has one-half of the towing capacity that was represented when it was sold, is more of a fraud than a fix.”
Posted in Fleetwood Rv | 1 Comment »
Thursday, January 1st, 2009
RV vacations are becoming a more popular and economical way to go for many families who want to see all they can on their holiday.
If you stick with flying from one destination to another and then renting a hotel room and car for that town, it can be budget breaking and inconvenient. On the financial side, there are the expenses of various airline tickets, then a number of hotels and all the car fees to have a vehicle to get around. Why not just be in a mobile hotel and have all your accommodations with you as you go from place to place. That is what an RV provides. You can unpack just once, and still visit town after town that you can explore at your leisure, and at the end of the day, return to the RV which has all the comforts of home, get a little shut-eye then head out to the next town without having to repack your bags or deal with time-consuming airport security.
If you travel a lot, purchasing an used RV for sale may be a wise investment. Likely when you first look at the price tag of a large recreational vehicle you may think it’s too much to pay for a vehicle, but traveling by road trip instead of by air will save you money in the long run. It’s an investment that will pay for itself every time you don’t have to purchase an airline ticket or hotel room. In addition, every meal will not have to be an expensive restaurant meal since most RV’s have a cooking area where you can still enjoy home-cooked meals together.
There are several manufacturers like Four Winds RV, Forest River RV, Fleetwood RV, Dutchmen RV, Flagstaff RV, Heartland RV, Gulf Stream RV, Everest, Holiday Rambler, Keystone Rv etc. If you have kids, an RV holiday has many benefits. Think of the last time you tried to get the kids to sit still while you waited hours for a flight, or while you were checking in to the hotel. They are fidgety, fussy and a handful. But, if you were in a RV there is room for games, TV, DVD players and all sorts of things to keep them entertained throughout the trip.
When planning a RV trip, you will be pleased to know there are places to stop for the night almost everywhere. If you really want a great location to stop, check out the directory of National Parks and State Forests where you are planning to be and see if you can stay on the property. Parks such as Yellowstone allow you to camp there with your RV so you can enjoy the breathtaking view and history of the location and already be home at the end of the day instead of having to drive to a hotel.
Not everyone likes to rough it when they are out on the road, and if you’re one of them, you may need to choose your RV camping area a little more carefully. Check ahead to make sure they have hot showers and other facilities you and your family would like. Some even have restaurants, lounges and bars for the adults as well as play areas for the kids.
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Friday, November 21st, 2008
When selling an RV or rv bus conversion follow these guidelines to ensure your motorhome sale goes well. Sellers want maximum profit in the shortest time while incurring the least hassle and cost. The buyer wants the same. Everything you as the seller do, must be designed, angled, prepared, presented and directed at the BUYERS point of view in order to net you the best results.
The biggest problem encountered when you go to sell an rv is that there is a very limited market for such luxury purchases. Plus EVERY RV is custom. There is no such thing as a “stock” rv. This means you are selling a very particular item to a minuscule or sometimes nonexistent customer and most importantly you have to FIND that customer.
Disadvantages - never address the disadvantages listed unless the buyer brings it up. Be prepared if they do though. Sometimes it is best to simply reply using the least words possible.Visit the RV for Sale Guide website for a list of the advantages and disadvantages of selling the RV yourself verses listing it with a used RV dealer.
Service Records - Many buyers feel very wary of purchasing anything without paperwork. Provide everything you have like repair receipts, title documents, service records, consumer reports, to help sell your RV.
Pricing - the buyer doesn’t usually care how much you owe, so instead figure out the real value of the vehicle and adjust lower depending on how fast you want serious offers. Do not bring up what you paid for the rv unless it is relative to the current value and in your favor to do so. It is rare that an rv, motor coach or bus is sold by a private individual at a premium price. Today’s buyer has substantial resources available to them in determining what they feel your motorhome is worth. Be ready to discuss this with them. Be ready to substantiate everything you say when it comes to price.
Condition - Everything should work on your rv. If something is broke, either fix it or disclose it to the prospective buyer. This will validate your trustworthiness and add value to everything you say afterwards. If possible have a quote ready to show the buyer what the repair will cost if you don’t want to have it done yourself.
Preparation - Clean everything out of the RV before showing the RV for sale. This will be especially difficult for a full-timer living in their motorhome. Full-timers should simplify and get rid of absolutely everything that is not completely necessary for day-to-day living. Put the rest in storage. That way they can see that it is not crowded. Buyers expect that the RV they buy should be ready for them to drive away because they are used to making purchases at automobile or RV dealerships where preparation is taken seriously. This helps with first impressions, which are very important. Rarely will a vehicle be purchased without a good to excellent “first look”. Make sure the RV is perfect when the prospective buyers show up. Polish, clean, repair. If something doesn’t work, tell the buyers upfront. Give them a copy of your descriptive list with pictures. Give them a quick tour of the RV then leave the buyers alone. This is VERY important. Buyers will often be shy about snooping around but if they are really interested, and given the chance to look at everything without you staring at them, they will be more likely to turn into a real buyer.
Buyers will often come in pairs. Serious buyers will discuss features they like, and since they have traveled to see your RV, let them spend as much time as they need to look at what they are considering. Tell them where to find you for questions and tell them to TAKE THEIR TIME. Be in the “rv sell” frame of mind but not pushy.
Marketing - take 100 photographs using a digital camera. Shoot close-ups, full views, bays, storage, engine compartments, tire depth, dash close-ups, special or significant features of the RV, upholstery, floor plans, new or upgraded items. List every feature of your RV for sale. You cannot be too redundant. If your list is long, and makes sense, the buyers will read it and be impressed or glance at it and say to themselves “hey this person is thorough and probably took care of this RV” Either way you win. List how many air conditioners you have, heating units, entertainment and electronic equipment, lighting, furniture, engine, transmission, exhaust, chassis, roof type, and flooring. Pick up a brochure from the original manufacturer like Fleetwood, Gulfstream, Keystone, Airstream etc for your exact RV. If it’s too old for that pick up an equivalent modern version and use it to build your amenities list.
Closing the Deal - if the buyer just will not make the purchase and you have done all you can do, make sure you FIND OUT WHY! Sometimes they are just tire kickers and dreamers, or maybe they had a problem behind the scenes that came up during the negotiations. But then again maybe not. Maybe there was a real legitimate reason why they didn’t buy your RV for sale. Make them tell you truthfully what you could have done differently or what you could do to the RV to help you sell it to the next guy. This is valuable information. Do not waste the opportunity to get it from them. Sometimes it is better to call them later as they will be more candid when they aren’t standing in your front yard.
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