Resources for Buying an RV

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Also see Choosing an RV for more information

Before you buy an RV

These sites will help you learn all you can:

New or Used? You might want to read up about depreciation before you decide.

Find a good deal on line? Do you need a mechanic that will check the vehicle and email you a report with photos? Try
http://www.phrannie.org/buyRV.html

Check out tow ratings here:

http://www.trailerlife.com/towratings/tr_index.cfm http://www.aweighwego.org/

These groups rate RVs and produce helpful materials:

http://www.rv.org/

http://www.rvgroupwise.com/

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association offers a free "Go RVing Video" that answers many questions beginning RVers ask. Information on local dealers and campgrounds is also included. Go to http://www.gorving.com/ to order, or call 1 888 GO RVING.

Find links to RV manufacturers at http://www.rvia.org/.

The Better Business Bureau offers a video called "Buying a Recreational Vehicle, " to help in choosing the right RV and the right dealer. You can order it for $49.95directly from the BBB at http://www.bbbvideo.com/recveh.html, but check the library first. If they don't have it, perhaps they can get it for you through an interlibrary loan, or order it for you.

Used RVs

Search for Used RVs:

How do you know how good a price is on a RV especially when searching on eBay?

"Look at prices for similar rv's new or used at rv sale stores. Then go to eBay and start scanning the auctions every night. Do *not* bother looking at anything still up for auction. Click on "advanced search" and click "show completed listings only". Now you can see the actual *sold* price for the type of rv you want. The prices in green sold, and the prices in red ended without selling. You will see far more red than green, as the good buys on eBay are listed among a lot of overpriced dealer listings.

You'll just need to develop a sense for this. We've been watching auctions for about 8 months and have a good idea now of what a "great deal" would be on what we want."

~Jessica

Check the value of used RVs

Bus Conversions

Many traveling families have found that converting a used bus is their best option. Here are some helpful sites:

Customize RV

For ideas on how to customize an RV, check out http://www.worldwideclassified.net/rv design and join the Housetrucks email discussion list at http://www.egroups.com/group/housetrucks

Dreaming of the perfect RV? horizonsrv.com will help you custom build the RV of your dreams.

RV parts and accessories

check http://www.jcwhitney.com

Family Size RVs

New RVs

Here are a few RV manufacturers who make two-bedroom RVs, or offer other floor plans suited to fulltiming families. Please let us know of other manufacturers that belong here.

Trucks

Medium-duty trucks such as those made by Freightliner, Kenworth and International, are often recommended for pulling larger fifth wheel travel trailers. Here are a few companies who customize these trucks for RV towing:

Be sure to check out the personal home pages of other traveling families, for more ideas!

RV Rentals