RV forever warranty may give you peace of mind

A perusal of most any RV Internet forum shows RV shoppers want to know how well a given motorhome or travel trailer holds up under the stresses of use. It's understandable, because even when you buy a 'brand new RV,' the issues of what part of the RV is warranted and for how long are deep and murky water, at best. A motorhome chassis will be warranted by the manufacturer for a given time; but if the refrigerator breaks, you're stuck heading back to the 'fridge builder; the same is true for the dozens of other components.

Imagine buying a brand new RV and having many of its systems warranted – for life. It appears you won't have to imagine that, because a new warranty program for RVs hopes to offer just that through dealers across the country. Dubbed the RV Warranty Forever program, this new innovation will allow a few, select RV dealers to offer the forever warranty to buyers at no cost to the purchaser.

Of course, the savvy RV shopper is already asking, "What few things are covered, and what's the fine print?" The fine print is fairly straight-forward: The original customer is covered for as long as they own the unit, provided they follow the maintenance schedule included with the program.

Now as to what's covered. Here's the list of covered systems and components:

Suspension
Brakes
Water System
Heating and Air Conditioning
Kitchen Center
LP Gas System
Manual Leveling Jacks

As impressive as the list is, there's plenty of uncovered country. Electrical systems can be a real issue when things don't work right. And as nice as it would be, it would seem that motorhome drivetrain components would likely be left out. Look the list over carefully, then using your experience and that of other RVers, you can probably see where there may be some significant gaps you'd be concerned about.

Despite some shortcomings, the covered list is fairly impressive, provided the dealers that offer the program don't so significantly bump up the sales price of the rig that it negates the warm, fuzzy feeling you'll get buying a "lifetime warranty" unit. Since the program is extremely limited, in terms of how many dealers will offer it, there could be room for footsy. When we say, "extremely limited," the issuing company says you probably won't find more than four dealers in a state that offer the program, and in some states, as few as a single authorized dealer. Program promoters hope to have all their dealerships set up and running the program by year-end – with a total of 75 to 80 dealers.

Not in the market for a new rig? "Gently used," rigs within two years of manufacture are also accepted under the plan, when sold by authorized dealers.

Want to know more? A full list of the specific system components, what constitutes required owner maintenance, and more are listed on the program website.

Tour a motorcoach assembly line -- without leaving home

Motorhome manufacturer, Thor, recently opened a new facility in Wakarusa, Indiana. They'd love for everyone to come and tour the plant, but that's not practical for all of us. In lieu of a hands-on tour, they've released a nine minute video that shows you how they put their motorhomes together. Even if you're not in the market for a new Thor unit, it is a fascinating glimpse into RV assembly.

What's your RV "suit size"?

The American marketing machine churns out the mantra: "Bigger is better." Is that the case for the RV lifestyle? To quote Gershwin, "It ain't necessarily so." One motorhome owner put it nicely when he said, "A size 52 suit is not the best purchase for a person who wears a size 44, even if they both cost the same. Larger does not necessarily mean better when buying a suit or a motorhome."

So what's your "size"?

If you're new to the RV lifestyle, you'll have to do thinking based on your RVing plans. As a general rule of thumb, 'the longer you stay put, the longer the rig.' There are plenty of snowbird RVers who, when bad weather threatens, pack up the RV and head for some place like Yuma or the Texas Gulf. They drive there, park the motorhome in an RV park, and stay put until the weather changes for good back home. Then they pack up and drive back north. For folks like these, a larger RV makes good sense. You can cram a lot of stuff in a larger motorhome or fifth wheel, and it's all there when you want it.

But other RVers have different plans. When we took our first BIG RV trip, one that had us away from home for nine weeks, we wanted to cover a lot of ground. Our travel plans included multiple stops at different venues, sight seeing, and experiencing the open road. Our average 'put down the anchor and stay there' stay-over was only a matter of a few days. For us that rule of thumb translated to a smaller rig. In fact, we made our journey in a truck camper.

For those doing a lot of road miles, a smaller rig makes sense from the perspective of going where you want. Older public campgrounds, particularly those in the National Park system often can't accommodate bigger rigs. Either then camp sites themselves are small, or the roads in the campground are so tight in turns and overhead that you can literally get a bigger rig stuck trying to negotiate the area.

Experienced RVers often tell those thinking about getting into RVing to come in with a smaller rig, test out the lifestyle, and then see if the need to upsize. That's not a bad idea in principle, but it does mean you may have to buy rig after rig until you find "the right fit." If your budget can afford it, another approach is to rent RVs in various sizes and configurations and try them out to find the right fit. Perhaps it's a shame that RV dealers aren't more like shoe stores – try it out for a fit.

Speaking of fit: If you're shopping for a rig for just yourself and maybe a traveling partner, your worries are fewer. If you're looking for a rig to take the gang with you, be it your family or frequent traveling guests, shopping for the right fit also entails shopping for sleeping comfort. A smaller RV is OK during the day – the kitchen table may be additional counter space when making meals. Later it becomes a card table for a big game. Maybe the kids use it later for coloring projects. But don't think that having a bed do multiple duty will work the same way. A bed should be a bed.

Yes, the couch in many RVs often doubles as a "bed." But how many will it sleep, and how comfortably? A lousy night's sleep can spoil an RV trip. When shopping for an RV, if someone will be using the couch or dinette for sleeping, have the seller set it up as a sleeper, take off your shoes, and lay down on it. Will that "bed" actually allow someone a good night's sleep?

Keep your eyes open, and don't be in a hurry to buy the first rig or two that comes along – unless as Goldilocks found, "This one is just right."

Upgrading to a new RV? Tips for readying your old RV for sale

Time for a new rig? Selling the old one may be one of your top priorities – and of course, you want top dollar. Here's some ideas on how to make your RV have plenty of eye-appeal, and get your potential customers off on the right foot.

Clean as a whistle: Obviously both outside and inside cleaning is a must. Pay particular attention to "first impressions," meaning, the outside of the rig. If the inside of your rig is pristine but the outside has a visible flaw, your customer may just drive on by.

Odors: The nose knows. Lingering odors can kill sales. Most obvious suspects include the toilet and the refrigerator. Dump your holding tanks and flush them well. Some RVers put deodorant treatment down the black tank, and even the gray. If the refrigerator has a smell, put a few charcoal briquettes inside.

When a customer is coming, put your rig in the best light: If weather permits, roll out the awning, and consider putting down your grass carpet.  Make sure the shades and blinds are open. Turn on the interior lights. Turn on the stereo to SOOTHING music, but keep the volume low. Make sure the refrigerator is running and cold. If weather is anything but pleasant, set the air conditioning or furnace to make the interior cozy.

Walk through: Demonstrate that all appliances and electronic goodies operate. Got automatic levelers? Run them up and down. Show that slideouts are operational. If you've got a motorhome, offer a test drive.

Make the sale? Don't get burnt by a scammer. Money orders and cashier's checks are a red flag, especially if written for more than the sale price. "Just provide me the change," could turn into a bummer when the check or money order is fraudulent to start with. Make it clear to the customer that you'll need to verify the funds before you turn over the rig and title. Check with your bank about how long items will take to clear.

Customer want to pay cash – and large quantities of it? Be happy to take him to the bank with you as you make the deposit – and verify that the cash is indeed, real cash, not counterfeit.

Always get your customer's signature on the "bill of sale," make them duplicate, and some advise it's best to have them notarized. If your state requires notification of a sale, be sure to fill out the form completely and get it filed promptly.

RV tech shows "watch outs" for used RV buyers (video)

If you're shopping for a "good deal" on a used RV, don't let your heart get ahead of your head. Here's an interesting video from an RV technician who walks you through someone's "great deal" that really turned out to be a lemon.

Shopping for a used RV? Check for recalls and complaints.

Shopping for a used RV? There are plenty of things to be "looking out for," but let's just focus on one for a second: How about recalls? Recreational Vehicles, like cars and pickup trucks, are subject to federal oversight.

The agency involved is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and they have a handy database that keeps records of recall campaigns clear back to 1966. If you're seriously looking at a given unit, you owe it to yourself to look at the NHTSA recall database to check and see if the rig you're interested in has any listed recalls. It's simple and easy to do.

Log on to the NHTSA data base (at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchVehicles). Simply input the manufacturer name and the model year of the rig. You don't need to have the specific model. Press the "GO" button and the system will send a list back of any hits.

What information might you find? We input our rig's model year and manufacturer, and sure enough, we got back two recalls, one of which was for our particular rig: A wiring harness issue could lead to pinched wiring, which could end up in brake failure. Since our unit is an "orphan," the company out of business, we quickly checked on our own to make sure the problem had been repaired. The system will also list "complaints," "investigations," and "service bulletins."

Our own experience points to an issue that many RV shoppers are dealing with: What to do if a manufacturer has gone out of business? It's a situation where you have weigh outcomes. In our case, the company was not only out of business, no other company had "picked up" responsibility for a fix. Had we been shopping for this trailer and found the problem, we would have had to weighed in the added cost of getting the problem fixed. It's a leverage point when negotiating a sales price. Is the seller willing to get the problem fixed, or will he adjust the sales price accordingly?

Should you buy an extended warranty for your RV?

Should you buy an RV extended warranty? In this video aimed at brand new RVers and RVing novices, RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury covers the pros and cons of buying an extended RV warranty. So should you but one? Here are some thoughts.



Sponsored by Explorer RV Insurance

Buy an RV through Craigslist?

Shopping for a used RV can exercise your PQ--patience quotient. Many RV shoppers have a list of "just what" they're looking for and high hopes they'll find it in a hurry. But talk with any group of experienced RVers and you'll find that most looked a while, and probably drove more than a few miles to find what they were looking for. Here's a few tips on how to go about looking.

When asked where they found their RV, a surprisingly large number of folks say, "On Craigslist! Yep, that widely known Internet classified service has lead to many a happy transaction for both buyers and sellers. Still, some are concerned about being scammed. Should you decide to go RV shopping on cragislist, watch these tips:

1. Scam artists rarely post a telephone number for contacts.

2. Have a handle on prices. If the price listed for a given RV is much lower than what you've been seeing elsewhere, it's a good bet you're onto a scammer.

3. Look out for ads that use terms like, "certified seller," or "buyer protection." There are no such things on craigslist, it's definitely a "buyer beware" situation.

4. Look the photos over carefully. Some cheats have been known to steal photos from legitimate RV dealers, post them as their own, and try and sell a phantom RV. While there are plenty of good photographers out there, if you see other RVs in the picture (looking like the "for sale" unit is parked at an RV dealership) go carefully..

5. Never send money--not even to "hold" a rig until you have personally inspected the rig yourself. While it sounds a bit scary, there are plenty of RVers who've bought their RV through a craigslist posting and come away happy--we include ourselves in that number.

Still, don't drive down the street with your money in your hot little fist. It can be tempting to buy the first RV that "sort of" meets your needs. But our experience in shopping for a used RV is like the girl who wants to marry a prince. You may have to kiss a lot of toads along the way. Well, you won't have to kiss them, but be sure, you may have look at a lot of junk along the way.

To weed out some of the trash without having to make a drive, we find it best to talk directly by telephone with a seller. They'll be more than happy to tell you all that's right with their RV, but you need to ask, "Now tell me, what's WRONG with this rig?" Specifically ask if the roof leaks or HAS EVER leaked. A water leaked RV is one that's best avoided--hidden damage can come back and haunt you very expensively.

If you find a rig you like the sound of and it's a bit of a drive, ask the seller to e-mail you more pictures--lots of them. If the seller is reluctant, take that as a hint that the rig may not be all that it's held up to be. When you do make a personal walk-through, follow all the hints we've given you elsewhere in this series. Before you begin to hash out price with the seller, look him in the face (making direct eye contact) and ask him, "Is there anything else about this RV that we haven't talked about that I should know?" Keep you eye on the seller until (and while) he responds t the question. Trust your gut--if you think he's hiding something, he probably is, and whatever it is is likely costly.

Motorhome shopping? Check out the "previously a rental" market.

In the market for a motorhome? There are plenty of manufacturers who'd like you to look their way. Problem is, brand new motorhomes are definitely pricey, and they loose a lot of value the moment you step on the accelerator the very first time and drive them off the lot. For some shoppers this means hitting the used motorhome market.

Among the host of sellers who'd have you buy their rigs are "pre-owned" units that lived their first life as rental units. With a couple of major motorhome rental chains in the U.S. and scores of mom-and-pop operations, there are lots of used rental rigs finding their way into the resale market. Are they worth looking into?

We've poured over experiences of folks who've bought rental units, and from those who've worked in the RV field. Here are some ideas culled from their thoughts and experiences:

Many previous rental units on the market are pretty plain. Don't expect to find a lot with awnings, wheel covers, power steps, 'day and night' window blinds, or much else in the way of upgrades. The rental folks aren't interested in maintaining these items, nor do they feel that they'll gain much in the bargain by providing them. That being said, customers typically said that the money they saved by buying rental rigs more than made up for the cost of having buying the upgrades after purchasing the RV. What's better, you get exactly what you want, and those add-ons are brand new.

One thing to keep an eye on: Many "fleet purchased" RVs are specifically built for the rental outfit. While they may be the "same year and model" as units built for the retail trade, the specifications may be different. One buyer almost signed on the line for what he thought was a choice motorhome, only to find that the black water tank in the rental rig was a miserly 18-gallon capacity. Read the specifications carefully, especially comparing the gross vehicle weight rating and the actual weight of the unit. You may find the actual "net cargo capacity" – the number of pounds for gear, food, etc., far too low for your needs.

In terms of prices, mostly we heard that units purchased from the rental chains were definitely bargains. Compared with NADA book prices, many reported whacking off a third or even more and coming out with what they felt was a good unit.

What about mileage? One observer who checked out a lot of units from Cruise America noted they were all fairly high miles – easily over 120,000 or better. But that wasn't the experience that all buyers had. Depending on the seller, some outfits had rigs with less than 50,000 miles. This caused some to worry: 'If these rigs have such low miles, are they lemons?' Just as you would find when buying from private parties, there are good motorhomes, and there are those that have been beat to death. Regardless of the number of miles on a rental unit, the universal advice is simple: Hire an independent RV technician to look at any rig you're seriously thinking about buying.

Remember, it doesn't pay for a RV rental company to have customers stranded with breakdowns, or units sitting idle for repair work. As a result, most rental firms do keep up with maintenance. It's not always easy to prove. When shopping a used rental rig lot, you may be hard pressed to get the salesman to cough up the maintenance records. Some reported that if they couldn't get the local guy to do it, a phone call to the national headquarters (if dealing with a chain seller) would often yield up the desired results. Much better responses were noted from mom-and-pop rental outfits.

What about extended warranties? The chains will be happy to sell you an extended warranty – for what is often a very hefty price. If the miles are low enough on the rig, you may do better purchasing an extended warranty from someone else, Good Sam for example. Whomever you buy an extended warranty from, look at the contract closely to see what's included, and especially for what's NOT included, and for how long.

Inspect any rig you're interested in closely. Most outfits will promise you that their unit has been "completely refurbished." One buyer got a bit suspicious when the salesman refused access to the roof to inspect the topside. When pressured, they finally got access, only to find that while the edges of the roof – visible from the ground – had been "redone," the rest of the roof was sadly neglected. A loud complaint to the national office had the roof completely redone at the seller's expense. If you find other problems, ask for them to be fixed. Many rental sellers will be happy to comply to make the sale – just get work done before you sign the papers.

One other interesting though: What if you're a "Mr. Monk Germophobe"? Buying any used RV could make you shudder. After all, somebody else has stored their food in the refrigerator, slept in the bed, sat on the throne. If the deal you cut is good, you may be able to buy a new mattress and toilet. In some cases, folks have said that they negotiated a brand-new mattress into their deal, and later tossed out the old "bend over to flush the terlit," replacing it with a new foot-flush model. It's up to you.

Were we in the market for a motorhome, we'd surely look at the rentals-for-sale lots. They may have just what you need.


photo courtesy elmonte rv

Used RV shopping? Look out for water damage.

Not everyone can afford a brand new RV, and many first-time RV owners buy a pre-owned rig, often to make sure the lifestyle is a good fit for them. There are plenty of things to be considered when evaluating a used rig--far too many to cover in an individual article. But with your money (and happiness) and stake, one of the first things to watch out for when used-RV shopping is water damage.

Where does water damage come from? Water, obviously, but the source may not be so obvious. Water from outside the rig is often the most damaging; but water from inside, leaky plumbing for example, can cause problems, too. When inspecting an RV, do the "top to bottom" search method.

When you step inside the RV, first use your nose. You shouldn't smell mold or mildew. If you do, there are problems afoot. Many folks will simply turn on their heel and walk away from something that smells.

Nose test passed? Look up as you walk through the rig. Notice any discoloration in the ceiling? It's a tip-off to leakage; but don't contain your ceiling checks to what's immediately visible above your head. Open all cabinets and take a good look at the ceiling inside. Sidewall-to-roof leaks are often hidden in cabinets. Any discoloration is likely a sign of a leak.

Lower your sights, this time check around all windows and anything else (range hood vent) that makes a hole in the walls of the rig. Many RVers aren't aware of it, but windows need periodic maintenance to keep water from seeping into the rig from between the window and the rig sidewall. Warped wallpaper or discoloration is again a sign that there could be a problem with water infiltration.

Finally, get down low. Peek inside lower cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom. Open spots where equipment is located. Look for any sign that water has been where it should not have been. Step on the floor wherever possible--it should be firm with no "give" and no soft spots. Leaky plumbing can drip onto floor level and run downhill.

What if you find evidence of water leakage? If you really "love" the rig and don't think you'll find anything else like it, then you've got a decision to make. It's probably well worth the investment of having a qualified RV repair technician take a look at the rig. Water damage not only looks bad, but can compromise the integrity of the rig, rendering it useless for use, or costing seriously large amounts of money to repair. Mold and mildew inside a body cavity can send out spores that can create health issues. Buying a rig that has water damage is a gamble, at best.

Shopping for RV insurance -- what all those terms mean

Owning an RV can be a big financial investment. Keeping it financially secure only makes sense. But when it comes to buying insurance, it can be a bit tricky -- the terms can be so daunting. Just what are you shopping for, and what does it cover? In this and our next installment, we'll walk through some of the seemingly mysterious terms that come with RV insurance.

First, a word of advice: RVs are a special breed--not just any old insurance company will adequately cover an RV. It would be rare if the same company that covers your car or truck will be able to provide good coverage for your RV. Searching the Internet for "RV insurance" will help you track down specialty companies. Now, on to those terms.

Agreed Value
You think your RV is worth X amount of dollars. Get in an accident and total it out, you may find the settlement check is a lot smaller than what you thought. Agreed value coverage means you and the insurance company agree, up front, on what your RV is worth when you buy the insurance. You'll need to hire an appraiser to have an agreed value.

Attached Accessories
Just because your RV awning is a "part" of your RV doesn't mean your insurance company will cover damages. Here's an example: We encountered a terrific rain storm on one RV trip, and despite having "set" the awning to run off rain, the torrent was so strong it filled the awning fabric so full the arms bent, and the whole awning was totaled. Happily, our insurance company covered it as part of our standard policy.

Not every company is so generous. Read the fine details, and you may need to opt in for the "attached accessories" coverage that handles not only awnings, but TV antennas, satellite dishes--maybe even roof mounted solar panels. Ask plenty of questions.

Diminishing Deductibles
If you're a good and safe driver, selecting the diminishing deductibles means that every year you go without a claim the deductible that you have chosen for comprehensive and collision decreases every year until they reach zero. It could save you a lot of scratch.

Emergency Expense Coverage
Getting into a wreck with your rig is traumatic enough. Now imagine watching as your motorhome is towed away to the scrap yard and you're stuck in the middle of nowhere. Emergency expense coverage should pay for motels, meals, and alternative transportation to get you home, or back into your rig if it's fixable. Some RV towing insurance polices already include this as a benefit. Don't pay twice for the same coverage.

Full-Timer Liability Coverage
Given up on the "sticks and bricks" home and moved into your RV full time? Congratulations! You no longer have liability insurance. Sure, you'll have liability insurance on your vehicle insurance, but what is something bad happens to someone while visiting your RV or camp site? In this litigious society, covering your tail with liability insurance is a must. It does more than "vacation liability coverage," which we'll describe later.

Full-Timers RV Insurance
This is a term some companies use, and it can be a bit murky. One outfit describes it this way: "In addition to full-timers liability, there is other coverage that protects those that are spending more than six months a year living in their RV. Coverage for things such as stored personal contents, and additional living expenses coverage is available with full-timers RV insurance coverage." You'll need to read and question the fine print where this is offered.

Guaranteed Loss Replacement
This is NOT the same as "agreed value coverage. As your RV ages and loses market value, the payoff if the rig is totaled goes down accordingly. Guaranteed loss replacement means you have a total loss, typically within the first five years, you get a new RV of like kind and quality. Generally speaking, if the RV is older than five years and is totaled, then the purchase price of the unit will be paid.

Next week, we'll round out the list with other policy talk.