RV Shopping? Consider the Costs!

Shopping for an RV?  

Some Things to Consider!

An RV is one of the biggest purchases you may consider over your lifetime.  It's not the same as purchasing a car, and in some instances, RVs can cost more than purchasing a home.  Make sure you know all of the "hidden costs" that can be associated with an RV purchase.  Here are some things to think about. 

• Maintenance – The bigger the RV the more things that can go wrong! Motorized RVs seem to require more maintenance than the average car. Unless you're mechanical, this can turn out to be a considerable expense. Travel trailers and fifth wheels do not require as much (engine) maintenance, however, they can potentially have many of the same issues that you have in your home. After all, they have many of the same components that your house has.  If your RV is permanently parked, keep in mind the costs that can arise for a service call from a local dealer or service professional for repairs that may come up. Seasonal maintenance such as winterizing and summerizing are also points to ponder. 
• Insurance-The bigger the RV the bigger the bill for RV insurance. You will find that insurance, especially on motorized RVs, will be more expensive than its passenger commuting counterpart. Do your research!
• Fuel/Oil -The RV world is still waiting on a Prius motor-home. Until then expect to get fuel economy between 8-20 MPG depending on the RV you choose. The same can go for tow vehicles in the case of travel trailers and fifth wheels. Fuel economy will also go down in your tow vehicle even when pulling a lightweight travel trailer or tent camper. 
• Towing– If you will be towing either your travel trailer/fifth wheel or towing a vehicle behind your motor-home you need to consider if you have the vehicle or equipment to do so before the purchase of your camper.  Make sure you know what you need for towing before you buy.
• Place to Park Your New Ride –When you are done camping for the season, you may need to store your RV in a place other than your own property, because of space restrictions or local ordinances. You should look into the cost of storage.  Many places that store RV's will also pick up in the fall and deliver your camper in the spring for a fee.
• Where Will you Stay- It's very safe to assume that you will have to pay a fee when staying at a campground. Whether it's a fee for a seasonal site or just overnight, this is an expense that you need to consider. 
• Meals–Even though RV's offer all of the conveniences of home, you will still need to look at the cost of meals while you are traveling. Whether it be the cost of groceries to stock your camper pantry and refrigerator or meals out with the family when you just aren't in the mood to cook, meals definitely become a part of the expenses that need to be considered. 
• Connectivity –Let's face it, most of us can't go anywhere without being able to stay connected or entertained! Mobile Internet, Wifi Booster, GPS, Satellite TV,  Netflix etc are just some of the amenities we want to have while on the road. If you are interested in having connectivity while on vacation, you need to consider some of the costs associated with staying connected. (Here is a helpful Guide)
• Educate Yourself-Before you get started you may want to look over a Glossary of RV Terms. 

The more informed you are before you start the purchase process, the better questions you can ask along the way. Information helps to head off any unexpected expenses and you can truly enjoy your vacation to the fullest.  If you have any questions, we are here to help! 

 Call Greeneway RV and ask to talk to one of our service advisors or salesmen.  Our knowledgeable staff is here to take the surprise out of RV shopping! 

"In fact...I did NOT know that!"

Here are a few interesting facts that\
were passed onto me recently.  

What IS an RV? 

Recreational Vehicle (s), RV (abr) Any enclosed vehicle used for camping which is more elaborate than a simple truck or car, such as a pickup truck with a camper body, pop-up tent trailer, travel trailer, bus, motor coach, mobile home etc.
Source: National Park Service

How many households in the U.S. own RV's?

In 2001 there were 7.6 million.  In 2011 that number rose to 8.9 million!
Source: rvda.org  

So, who ARE these people?

Most RVers are over the age of 55, married, employed full-time, have a high school degree, are Caucasian, are Republicans (really?) and come from a 2-person household.  Most RVers are from rural areas in the western part of the United States. 
Source: goRVing.com 

What are they doing?

RVers travel an average of 4, 500 miles per year.  54% of them travel with their pets.  The most popular destination is Yosemite National Park.  19% of RVers like to stay in places other than campgrounds. 
Source: rvda.org

Sometimes bad things happen on the road!

The five most common causes of RV accidents are:
1. Fires from leaking gas or propane
2. Tire blowouts
3. an awning or steps that are not properly stowed away
4. Driving and clearance errors such as hitting bridge underpasses or gas station overhangs
5. Overloading or uneven weight
source: rvia.org

Knowing about number four...we will leave this fun fact page with this picture!

"You CRACK Me Up!"

"You CRACK Me Up!"

"YOU CRACK ME UP!"

Normally when you hear a line like that, something funny has just been said.  However, when you're talking about the flooring in your camper, there is nothing funny about it!  A recent cold snap here in Wisconsin left several floors in our stock units with cracks.  If you are in an area where the temperature falls well below freezing in the winter, you may want to check your camper flooring so that you don't have any surprises come spring.  

WHY does this happen, anyway?

When there are extreme temperature changes vinyl and even sometimes linoleum flooring will contract and expand. If you have severe cracking issues in your flooring, it is most likely temperature related. With temperatures dipping to -40 degrees here recently, we definitely saw an increase in cracked flooring when the temps returned to "normal". 

What KIND of flooring do you really HAVE?

To find out if your camper flooring will be susceptible to cracking in the first place, you need to find out what KIND of flooring you have.  Many people believe that vinyl and linoleum are the same thing. This is not the case. Vinyl flooring is more susceptible to temperature extremes and has a tendency to get very brittle and crack when exposed to cold temperatures.  True linoleum doesn't expand and contract nearly as much and as a result is not as brittle in the cold. 

How is your flooring installed?

How the flooring in your camper is installed can also affect whether you will have problems with cracking or not. There are some manufacturers who only glue the edges of the flooring which allows the center of the flooring to "float" on top of the floor base. Those floors that are completely glued will tend to not have the same issues with cracking.

It's not a house!

Another problem when it comes to RV flooring, is that most linoluem and vinyl floors are not specifically designed for campers-they are made for home use.  The temperature in your home is much more consistent and of course, much warmer than a camper being stored for the winter. Like just about anything, there are different qualities of flooring.  If you are going to be storing your camper in an environment where cold temperatures are going to be an issue, you may want to look at putting a little bit more money towards good, quality flooring.

So NOW what?

Our advice, here at Greeneway, is to put on a warm coat, lace up your boots and head out to your camper.  Take a peek inside and see if your flooring weathered the weather!  There's nothing like an unexpected repair to ruin an otherwise great vacation.  If you have cracks, give us a call!  Our Service Department is working with a flooring specialist to have floors replaced while keeping costs at a minimum.  Ask about options that will head off this same thing happening again when the next cold snap hits.  And you know it will....we live in Wisconsin after all!

Backyard Winter "Olympics"

Backyard Winter "Olympics"

The Winter Olympics are coming up in February, as most people are aware. It's a great time to focus on the efforts that the athletes put in to their sports both as teams and as individuals.  

With that same thing in mind, why not create your own Backyard Olympics? Get the kids off the couch and outside in the snow with these great winter games and activities.

1. Tow The Line

Put two teams (they don't have to be huge) together for a slip-sliding variation of Tug-O-War! Tamp down a wide, shallow trench in the snow to serve as the middle line.  Then, take up positions at the ends of a long rope and let the tugging begin!  Whichever team pulls the entire opposing group over to its side of the trench wins!

2. The Hat Trick

Build a nice, plump snowman in the yard and then make a game out of adding his head gear. Take turns trying to land a hat on his head by throwing it Frisbee style.  

3. You're On A Roll

Have players pair up for a contest to roll the biggest snowball possible.  The contest ends and the judging begins when the teams can no longer roll their snowball or they run out of snow. 

4. Zoo Sculptures

Create a wintertime zoo out of snow.  Have each team decide on what animal they want to make.  Things like turtles, otters or penguins are great choices.  You can even add color by mixing food coloring with some water and putting it into a spray bottle.  

5. Last (Snow) Man Standing

Each team builds five small snowmen and lines them up.  Then , team members stand about 10 feet away and take turns throwing snowballs at the snowmen the goal being to knock them down.  The first team with all of their snowmen knocked over wins. 

In a day and age where it seems like kids have forgotten how to play without some sort of device in their hands or in front of their faces, this is a great way to get them out into the fresh air.  So, unplug for a day and play together as a family-OUTDOORS!