Top Used RV Buying Tips

Posted by Captain RV Dave on May 31, 2011 under RV Guide | Be the First to Comment

The Best Used RV Buying Tips

By following these used RV buying tips you are sure to make a great investment in the future recreation fun for the whole family. The secret is to take your time get the information you need to make an informed decision on your RV purchase. Many will say get educated first and do your research on all the options then decide on the facts not just on what a salesman tells you.

Best RV Buying Tips Will Guide You

The best place to begin is to set a budget for your family. Start with all the basics. Fuel costs, RV Insurance, storage, RV park fees and maintenance costs. You will need to be very realistic with the costs. Recreational Vehicle price ranges very on the class RV you decide on. If you’re the large family Class A type in the uses class the price range can be almost anything you can think of. Used Class A RVs can run from about $29,000 into the millions of dollars depending on the size and the options installed.

 

The Ten Top Used RV Buying Tips

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To start with size does matter. What are your families requirements when it comes to space needed to accommodate them? If they are cramped their activities will be very limited. Too much space is just throwing your money away. Sleeping quarters for family members and guests for as few as three or as many as you need, will determine the size required.

Begin your research online once you have a size and type in mind. RV websites offering free information are all over. Most of the RV dealerships have websites with lots of great information. Don’t be afraid to search in other states for what you want. You would be surprised at the special packages RV dealerships have to accommodate RV buyers. Many will offer to provide for your travel to their site so you can drive the new or used RV home.

Used RV Buying Tips

Price guidelines are a subject you must be on top of at all times to insure you are getting a fare price. NADA can provide a good baseline price range and it is the publication most often used. Armed with the NADA numbers a little research online with some price comparisons to verify the price ranges of some of the models will keep you up to date.

The buyer inspection is very important for both new and used RVs to insure everything is serviceable and in good working order. If unsure hire an RV inspection service or a very good mechanic that has RV knowledge. New will include Factory Warranties used can get extended warranties. But get all the details up front like where the RV needs to go for service and just what it covers.

Before purchasing a used recreational vehicle, have it checked out fully by a professional mechanic who has a specialty in RVs.  If you decide to finance through a bank or lender, the lender may require this inspection before granting you financing.

One of the Biggest Used RV Buying Tips

All families should consider renting the RV of their choice before buying. Used RV Buying tips will help with the big investment in the family’s future and it is best to try and RV on for size first to be sure it is going to meet the family needs. There are many high quality companies across the country that will rent you and RV. The top listed are Cruise America and Freedom Roads plus there are many others to choose from.

Many used RVs carry warranties that can be transferred to new owners. Make sure you have all the details first. Is it transferable and what does it cover and for how long. You may like the idea of an RV service plan or extended warranty program. Many times they can save some costly repairs that may be needed unexpectedly.

If you live in an area with more than one RV dealer carrying the model you want visit them both and let them compete for your business. You can bargain your way in to some great deals using this method. Buying an RV, Boat or Car always required some wheeling and dealing to get a good price so keep the salesman on his toes.

Remember these Used RV Buying Tips

The price is a lot more appealing because there is no depreciation. The first owner paid this for you. Used more often than not happen to be well cared for with all the new bugs worked out already. Bugs and the standard water leaks and electrical problems bad connections and shorts that come with any new RV. Are you considering buying a used RV? Used RV buying tips will save you from having to work them all out yourself.

Solar Trickle Charger for Recreational Vehicle Use

Posted by Captain RV Dave on May 20, 2011 under RV Guide | Be the First to Comment

Looking for another reason to appreciate the sun? How about keeping the batteries in the recreational vehicle charged with a solar trickle charger? The Sunforce 5-watt solar battery trickle charger does the job every time. Over time all those gadgets’ with backup memory and clocks among other things will discharge your batteries sooner or later. With the benefit of the sun you can add 5-watts or 350mA to make up for the constant drain not to mention the natural drain that occurs over time.

With Sunforce convenient power keeps your batteries charged all the time. The 5-watt solar trickle charger is easy to install and very compact. The charger allows you to easily harness the power of the sun for clean no cost green energy. The sun is a very powerful energy source and the best part is it’s free. The great part is your don’t need a long extension cord to make use of it and its pollution-free. Your new trickle charger is maintenance free and only needs the sun to operate.

The Sunforce solar charger is made of ABS plastic that is very durable. The ultra-bright blue charging indicator will let you know that the amorphous solar cells are charging. For mounting the panel there is pre-drilled holes in the frame for easy installation. It is weatherproof and waterproof so permanent outside installation is perfect and it works even on cloudy days.

If you are looking for the perfect trickle charger for your recreational vehicle then this is the one. The unit has built-in overcharge/discharge protection that prevents overcharging and reverse-current drain. Many find this charger to be perfect addition for cars, boats, motorcycles, ATVs and tractors.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

I have a 22' motor home with a Ford 350 V8 engine, and keep forgetting to disconnect the battery when I store it, so it's always dead when I go retrieve it from the storage lot in the spring. So, I decided to buy this to keep the battery from dying. Needless to say, I am 100% thrilled with this item. (DebbieTheDogged)

Review paraphrased for size — view original review here.

Amorphous Solar Power Design

The method used for amorphous solar power; silicon is sprayed in a very thin layer onto glass to create thin film solar

panels. The design is exceptional at generating electricity even in the lowest lighting conditions. They even work very well on cloudy days and shady environments. The operating environment temperature will cover most all conditions. Down to -40 degrees and up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit and still require no maintenance even on the cloudy days.

The solar panel does not store electric currant but the solar cells convert sunlight to electric energy. The purpose of the solar trickle charger is to maintain a battery charge not to charge or recharge a battery. So it can be permanently installed with no adverse affect to operation and electrical components. A permanent mount used on the exterior can be used while the vehicle is in motion otherwise remove while the vehicle is in motion to prevent damage.

All that is needed is to plug the trickle charger into the RV’s lighter socket and place the solar panel to get the most sun possible. Alligator clips directly to the battery or permanently connected which ever method you prefer. It does not matter how it is connected to the battery as long as it remains connected you will never be without starting power.