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.