Motor Home Ownership
Today's motor homes or recreational vehicles have all the
comforts of home. If your wallet can afford it, they come with
plasma TV's, washers and dryers, ceramic tile floors and granite
countertops and with spaces that are professionally designed.
The best known type of motor home is the Type A, or recreational
vehicle. This is the roomiest of all motor homes, the largest,
and the most expensive. They come fully equipped with all the
luxurious amenities as listed above, plus some. Some
recreational vehicles come with custom stained glass and large
garden/tub showers. Recreational Vehicles come up to 45 feet in
length and generally range between $85,000 used and $400,000
new. Don't forget, they get somewhere between 5 and 8 miles per
gallon. This is another consideration. If you can't swallow that
type of gas mileage you may want to consider another form of
motor home.
A Type B motor home category includes van campers and travel
trailers. The van campers generally range from 18 feet to 22
feet in length and can comfortable sleep four. A fully contained
van camper can have a shower, toilet, kitchen, TV, couches and
beds. The beds are close together, affording less privacy than a
travel trailer or recreational vehicle. Most only have enough
head room to allow for full standing in the center of the
vehicle. Much smaller than the Type A motor homes they have less
storage area. The van campers range in price between $43,000 and
$70,000.
Travel trailers come in sizes 16 feet to 38 feet. They range in
price from $6,000. for a used trailer upwards to $45,000 for a
new travel trailer. You can generally find a fairly wide range
of amenities in travel trailers. The larger the size the more
you can sleep and the more likely you will be to have a private
bedroom area.
A lot of travelers like the fact that they can park their travel
trailer in a trailer park and take their vehicle touring the
area. It does however take lots of practice learning how to
properly drive with a travel trailer hitched to the back of your
SUV.
When you are considering the purchase of a new motor home there
are some of the same considerations you have when purchasing a
new car. Remember, a dealer can take advantage of an uneducated
customer. Do your homework. Know how much you should be paying
before you visit the dealership. Ask to see the MSRP
(manufacturers suggested retail price) for the vehicle.
Remember, dealers receive nice incentives from manufacturers so
they have a 15% to 35% mark-up.
Don't take the first deal that you are offered. Visit two or
three dealerships. Make sure that the dealership you buy your
motor home from has good follow up service. A lot of dealers are
your best friends while you're buying the motor home. Once
they've sold you the motor home they don't want to be bothered.
Check with the Better Business Bureau and family and friends who
have motor homes.