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25th February 2008

Blue Book Values For RVs

If you are an RV owner and looking to sell your RV, you will probably need to know just what it is worth before you know how much you are willing to take for it. The best place for you to turn is to the trusty blue book. This book is like the bible of RV values. Surely, you have heard of the blue book for cars, well this is relatively the same, but with the blue book price for RVs.

How Is the Blue Book Value Calculated?

The RV blue book value takes a lot of different conditions into consideration. First, it will consider the average price asked by dealers for that specific make, model, and year. Depending on which blue book you choose to use, you may be provided various values, such as retail, private party, and trade-in. The retail price will include profit, advertisement, commission, and other amounts that may be associated with doing business. Typically, retail value is used for selling the RV to a dealer.

Private party will give the value that someone might consider when selling to another person that is not a professional dealer. This value assumes that the RV is in top condition and meets all standards that it originally came with. Of course, there are many things to be considered when determining your selling price.

Some things to consider, include:

- Current Body Condition Is there any rust, dents, dings, or weather related signs?

- Current Mechanical Condition

Does the RV run in top shape? Have you kept up on routine maintenance? Is there anything missing or not working?

- Current Interior Condition

Do all appliances and facilities within the RV function properly? Are there any problems? Does the interior show any signs of wear and tear? Plus the model, the make and the year it was manufactured. It is always possible to get the most out of your RV, match the real value if you find the right buyer, and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that the RV is in top condition inside and out.

Where can I Find Current Blue Book Values?

There are several blue book value guides available for your use. However, one of the most popular is the Kelley Blue Book. This book has been used by dealers and private sellers for many years. What is great about the Kelly Blue Book for RVs is that they offer both a hard copy of the book, as well as an online version that is updated weekly. The actual guide is updated several times per year.

Another great blue book guide is the N.A.D.A. Recreation Vehicle Appraisal Guide. This guide, provided by the National Automobile Dealers Association (N.A.D.A.) offers a wide range of prices that includes suggested listing, retail, and wholesale. This one is updated three times every year. Knowing the RV blue book prices can help you get a great starting point when you are looking to sell your recreation vehicle.

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25th February 2008

Surplus RVs

Looking to take a trip cross-country this year? Save your money on the Greyhound, because investing in a surplus RV might be the best way to go. Many people are skeptical and feel that an RV (a Recreational Vehicles, that is,) is simply too much to handle. For all you naysayers let me assure you that purchasing and maintaining an RV has never been easier. Let me just get out of the way however, that the worst thing about purchasing an RV is the lack of maid service; but if that doesn’t faze you then an RV is a perfect, solid investment!

With an RV, the pros obviously outweigh the cons. RVs are convenient because lodging at motels is not necessary, you get to sleep in your very own bed and kitchens make it convenient to prepare your own food, consequently saving you a ton of money on outside dining. Now while everything about RVs sound peachy keen, the hardest thing about them is finding the right one for you. Fortunately for you there are a plethora of surplus RV auctions are out there and somewhere in this country there might be an RV with your name on it.

The term surplus simply means that excess goods were originally purchased at one point or another (typically by a government agency) and are now being offered up to the general public because they are no longer needed by the agency. Since RVs are normally purchased in lots, many of the excess RVs offered up for sale are brand new and have never even been used! And because government agencies like GSA (General Services Administration) are not seeking to make a profit off of these items, you’re practically guaranteed an amazing deal when you attend an RV surplus auction.

Because of this technological era that we live in, there are a couple of ways to go about purchasing surplus RVs. Aside from the usual live auctions available to the public, online auctions have been gaining popularity as of late. Just imagine going on your computer, finding the surplus RV of your dreams, and bidding on it directly online! Believe it or not this is now a reality and countless buyers and investors are doing it everyday. Anyone who knows and understand how websites like eBay and Amazon operate can truly appreciate these types of auctions that are offered.

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25th February 2008

Classes of Motor Homes and RVs

When considering which motor home or recreational vehicle is appropriate for you, there is a great deal of information to sort through. In Canada and the United States, leading RV dealers supply vehicles made by more than 80 manufacturers, in at least nine distinct classes.

Smaller, used vehicles can start as low as $5,000, while new, high-end models can fetch more than $300,000 at sale. The most gratuitous vehicles which, among other luxuries, are capable of storing a small car within the main “hull” have been known to cost several million dollars! The features offered by the vehicles of different size, class, and make vary a great deal, and it is always wise to make your purchase knowing that you are an informed buyer.

There are nine different RV classes you should be familiar with when shopping around. The first three of these are what are strictly known as motor homes, although it is still correct to call some other classes of RV a motor home. Class A motor homes are usually built around a commercial sized truck or bus chassis and are usually more than 30 feet long. A second-hand unit can be found for as little as $11,000; however, Class A motor homes will be found between $100,000 and $300,000 when new.

Class B motor homes are smaller, usually between 19 and 30 feet long. You can easily recognize Class B vehicles by the more common name of camper vans. Built around a modified conventional van body, a new one will usually cost between $30,000 and $70,000.

Class C motor homes are more similar to Class A, being built on a truck chassis between 21 and 35 feet long, costing anywhere over $50,000 new. They are distinctive in that they always have a section which overhangs the truck’s cabin, making the most of the available space.

The next largest class of recreational vehicle is what is known as a 5th wheel trailer. This is an RV trailer which hitches onto the back of a truck with a semi-trailer coupling. These are typically the heaviest-duty trailer hitching available, used by the largest trucks, and suitable for a large RV with a relatively heavy load. 5th wheel trailers are often modified from some other original vehicle, so prices and sizes vary, but they are usually between 30 and 40 feet long, fetching anywhere between $30,000 and $100,000.

Fifth wheels have the advantage of being able to unhook from the vehicle towing it, giving you much greater flexibility in how you use both your motor home, and your towing vehicle. Note that a 5th wheel coupling is unsuitable for retrofitting to most types of vehicle, so the preferred towing vehicle is a light commercial truck or something similar.

Next, are the smaller caravan-style trailers ranging from 13 feet to around 30 feet. These include the smallest class, folding campers, that have extensible fold-out awnings when deployed, and can be found for between $5,000 and around $20,000. These represent the lightest type of RV you can normally find. Slightly larger are bi-fold, conversion vans, and travel trailers - each of these is typically sized less than 30 feet.

Conversion vans resemble a really large camper van or light bus, and are available for around $90,000. Bi-fold RVs are large trailers of around 30 feet when deployed, but which are towed when ‘folded’ to make them much shorter and lower profile which makes them lighter, and easier for you to tow. Bi-folds and travel trailers are each usually found for between $15,000 and $40,000, and like conversion vans, may need external hookups for water, waste, and power, frequently available at properly equipped trailer parks.

With dozens of different types of RVs available, you are sure to be able to find a motor home or other recreational vehicle to suit your needs, whether you’re a retiree, camper, on a college road-trip, move around a lot for work, or you’re after a low-cost housing solution. Budgets can range anywhere between five thousand to three million dollars, depending on your needs.

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25th February 2008

Repo RVs - Buy A Cheap RV From Auction

According to recent surveys, people prefer buying RVs since according to them having a motor home nearby makes it easier for them to go away over the weekend which in the long run will help contribute in creating stronger bonds among family members.

But brand new RVs costs a lot. That’s why buyers are looking for cheaper places to buy their own RV. They look at dealers of second hand RVs as well as repo rv auction. Repossessed RVs might be the better deal between the two.

When you look for an RV, whether in a repo rv auction or in a dealership, it should contain the basics. A minimal RV normally has beds, food preparation and storage areas and at least one table. The bigger the RV the more equipped it becomes. There are RVs that have full bathrooms, living areas, refrigerators, and even master bedrooms.

You might also chance upon more elaborate RVs in a repo rv auction. These RVs features satellite TV and internet access. Some even have slide-out sections, and awnings. But the more the amenities the more expensive the RVs become. A typical RV can reach between $10,000 to $500,000 when brand new. While some still costs more than that.

Just imagine how much you’ll save if you buy an RV from a repo rv auction. The basic thing to remember when you go to a repo rv auction is that to be focused and determined. Give yourself a ceiling on how much you would bid for a RV unit. Never join a bidding war since this is a sure way to lose money rather than to save some. Decide on the matter before you go to the auction and stick to it.

Make sure that you inspect that conditions of the RV as well as the amenities or equipment inside. If you have time, which in a repo rv auction you usually don’t, give each equipment a thorough check. Each not working or damaged equipment brings down the overall value of the RV.

You should also need to have a basic guide book on how much a used RV should cost, how much if damage to it or the equipment inside are substantial. This will ensure that any bidding you do in a repo rv auction is based on facts and not mere speculations.

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25th February 2008

Where to Rent RVs

Recreational vehicles, better known as RVs, have become popular leisure options. It has gained immense popularity in America, Australia and other places. A recreational vehicle is more like a house on wheels. It provides the comfort and convenience of traveling, second to none. RVs are an expensive buy. Their prices average between $40000 for a cheaper vehicle, to $1000000 for an expensive option, fully loaded or a custom built RV. It is not possible for every one to purchase a RV, but the logical solution to enjoy the pleasure of a road trip and not buy a RV, is to rent one.

People, who have never owned a RV or are thinking of buying one, may consider renting a recreational vehicle. It could be taken on a prolonged test-drive, with family and friends. Travelers, both leisure and business, find it more economical and easier to rent RVs for a weekend, the entire week or longer.

There are more than 450 national outlets and local RV dealerships that offer cheap and expensive, state of the art vehicles. The rise in demand for renting RVs has triggered an increase in the number of camps offering on-site rentals. One of the most convenient ways of looking up a RV rental is to search through the yellow pages under “Recreational Vehicles: Renting and Leasing” or by calling a local RV dealer.

It is a good idea to rent an RV, before purchasing a new vehicle. It allows the prospective buyer to inspect the vehicles suitability, in accordance to his intention. In other cases, people may know and enjoy the RV experience, but are not ready to buy a new one.

RVs are rented by many for the purpose of having fun and the liberty of taking RV trips to a special event or destination.

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