Are you a motor home owner or would you like to buy a motor home in the near future?
If you are a motor home owner or if you would like to become one, you will need to buy insurance for your motor home. Motor home insurance is important, in a number of different ways.
Although it is nice to hear that motor home insurance is important to have, you may be wondering exactly why so.
If you are, you will find that there are a number of different reasons as to why you should have your motor home insured with motor home insurance. Just a few of the many reasons why motor home insurance is important are outlined below.
One of the many things that motor home insurance can do for you helps you out in the event of an accident.
If you are involved in a motor home accident, your motor home may suffer damage.
Without motor home insurance, you would be responsible for the cost of all damages and repairs. If you do have adequate motor home insurance, you will not be responsible for paying for all of your motor home repairs.
In most cases, you will only need to pay the deductible and your motor home insurance company will cover the cost of the rest of the repairs.
In addition to helping you with the cost of repairs, having motor home insurance can also help you if you damage another vehicle.
If you damage another vehicle in an automobile accident, your insurance company will help to cover the damage to any of the other vehicles involved.
Also, if any of the other car occupants suffered injuries in the accident, your insurance company will help to cover their medical expenses.
This can save you a considerable amount of money in the long run. If you are involved in an automobile accident and you are at fault and without insurance, you may be sued. Having motor home insurance can protect you and your wallet.
Another one of the many reasons why motor home insurance is important is because it is actually required, by law, in some states.
Before buying a motor home, you may want to see if your state requires that you have motor home insurance.
This is important as the cost of motor home insurance should be added to the cost of owning a motor home. It is important to make sure that you can afford the cost of adequately covering your motor home with insurance before buying one.
If you are just looking to buy a motor home or if your current motor home is uninsured, you will want to get motor home insurance right away.
You should be able to find a number of motor home insurance companies by using your local phone book or a standard internet search.
Before doing business with a new insurance company, you may want to see if your current insurance company, like the one that insures your home or your car, offers motor home insurance.
Many insurance companies offer discounts to those who carry multiple policies.
In short, motor home insurance is important. If your motor home is not required to be insured by law, you will still want to think about buying coverage for it. Motor home insurance can protect your motor home and your wallet.
There are some things you need to know before buying motor homes.
Motor homes or motorized recreational vehicles (RVs) come in different classes. Two of those classes are usually confused with each other, those being class A and class C motor homes.
It’s essential to look at the physical appearance of the motor home in order to determine whether it is class A or class C.
Class A motor homes resemble a bus design with a flat or vertical front end and large windows while hand class C motor homes have a truck cab with an over-cab bed, in some ways resembling a camper.
Considered to be top of the line, Class A motor homes measure at about 24 feet or 7.3 meters and can be as long as 40 feet or 12 meters.
Their weight can range between 15,000 to 30,000 pounds or 6,804 to 13, 608 kg; the undercarriage may be custom or a 3 to 10-ton truck chassis.
Class A motor homes come with each of the luxury amenities you can fathom like a kitchen, a bathroom with shower and a tub, and sometimes a separate bedroom at the back depending o the floor plan of the truck.
They also have heating and air conditioning, hot and cold running water, 100-125 volt electrical system, a dinette or living room area complete with couch and recliners, closets and an entertainment center.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, some of these motor homes can be more elaborate than homes themselves.
Class A motor homes are usually utilized by famous bands especially when they are in tour.
There are also some rich families that own Class A motor homes for vacation and travel.
A Class A motor home is perfect for those who can afford its high cost.
Most Class A motor homes have all leather interior, a wet bar, big screen TVs, an advanced sound system and other high technology that may not be available to lower-income families.
Depending on the model and the floor plan a class A RV can accommodate up to 8 people.
But all of this luxury comes at a price.
New, lower-end models are sold at up to $50,000 US dollars while larger and much nicer class A RVs can even cost more than any house in many states coming in at about $300,000+.
Class A RVs are really very expensive; in fact, even used class A RV can still be sold for $30,000-$40,000.
If you prefer luxury lines, you may start saving about $325,000 up to over $1 million if you prefer the crème de la crème of all RVs.
Last but not least are Class C motorhomes.
Class C motor homes can also come in very luxurious models or more economical ones depending on your budget.
They are much lighter in weight, ranging only from 10,000 to 15,000 pounds and generally run from just under 20 to 44 feet in length.
They are constructed on cutaway chassis depending on the model. The cab is usually similar to that of the truck with a bunk above plus a rear bedroom.
Just like the class A, Class C motor homes have all the amenities of home including kitchen, bathroom, dinette, heating and air conditioning system, and an entertainment center for additional cost.
Dinettes are not always present in class C motor homes and if ever there is one included, it usually converts into a double bed.
If a dinette is not present, two captain chairs are available instead. Sometimes, the motor homes contain a couch and chairs instead of captain chairs. The couch may also be turned into a sleeper couch.
Because of the over cab bed, a Class C motor home can sleep more than a comparable Class A motor home, accommodating up to 10 people are accommodated.
The cost of class C motor homes ranges from $50,000 to $170,000.
The common features of Class A and Class C motor homes are their slide-out wherein with a simple touch of a button the wall of the living room expands outwards to extend the living space by several inches.
Another type of motor home is the Class B which is usually referred to as van conversion.
Class B motor homes look like pop-top camper vans and are self-contained but cramped compared to their big motor home counterparts.
The advantage of purchasing a Class B motor home is in terms of handling and size that is if you don’t want a spacious motor home.
They are usually promoted as a place to sleep more than what is deemed comfortable by most people. The class B motor home can also be used as a second car. Its price ranges from $38,000 to $75,000.
Motor homes are great for camping, road trips, or just simply living in style.
If you are interested in purchasing a motor home, it is definitely wise to take time to do some comparison shopping and research as these motor homes can prove to be very expensive.
If you have any other great idea please share in the commits.
I want to talk about one
of the most controversial issues regarding gas or diesel engine. When purchasing
a Motorhome either with a Class A, Class B, or Class C you want to take your
time and make the right purchase for your needs. What will best fit you needs a
gas engine or a diesel engine? Let’s look
at the advantages and disadvantages of each engine.
Having a gas engine in
your motorhome the engine is going to be up front in the coach between the
driver and passenger seats.
Gas Engines
The two most widely used gas engines in a motorhome are the Ford Triton V-10 with 6.7 L and the GM V-8 with 8.1 L. The powerful Ford 6.8L, 3-Valve Triton® V10 gas engine delivers 320 horsepower and 460 lbs.-ft. of torque. The GM Vortec 8100 V-8 16-valve pushrod engine is rated 330 hp at 4,200 rpm and 450 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm.
With the Ford engine still most properly used
today that you will find in the majority of the RVs today. I don’t think the 8.1
l is still being built.
Diesel Engines
The two diesel engines
that are used in the diesel pushers are the Cummins and the Volvo. Cummins
offers many engines rated from 275 hp to more than 600 hp,
Cummins offers power and reliability for every type of motorhome on the market.
Volvo D13 offers twelve power ratings from 375 to 500 hp.
Then with the smaller coaches pretty much all class C’s that have diesel will have the diesel engine up front just like in the truck. But a large majority probably over 90% of motorhomes will have a diesel engine in the back of the coach it’s what’s called a rear engine coach or a DP diesel pusher.
Looking at the difference
here the diesel is going to have more power and a lower RPM than the gas
engine. This will put less stress on the diesel engine which will last longer.
Engine Noise
It is call that because
with the engine in the back and is like it’s pushing the coach. The really nice
thing about having the engine
in the rear is that when you are driving it’s very quiet. You really could
barely hear the engine at all.
Now when you have your
engine up front in the coaches then it is going to be very noisy and driving,
you’re going be constantly hearing that engine. Even louder when you are
pulling up a hill. Because the gas engine is going to be struggling to go up
the hill as to the diesel engine.
Here with the diesel engine is placed in the back it is going to be quieter to be able to hold a conversation. Yes, I have heard some people that has a gas engine and they say it is not that bad.
Fuel Mileage
Let look at the difference
between the two on fuel mileage. This is
going to be hard to put a hard number on because the are going to be many
variables.
How much does your coach
weigh? Are you towing a vehicle behind your coach? What part of the country are
you traveling in. Is it flat in the plains or small rolling hills or are you
going thru the Rocky out west? As you can see that it can have a very wide
range. So, your gas engines can be anywhere between 6 to 10 MPG. You will be able to see a higher MPG in the smaller
RVS like the class Bs.
What about the diesel MPG?
The average MPG for a diesel engine is
going to range between 8 to 14 MPG. Like in the gas engine depending on where
you are traveling will determine your MPG.
Here again you are going
to get a better fuel mileage with a diesel engine.
Fuel Prices
Now what is the different going
to be in the fuel price? This is going
to change all the time depending on the economy. But when is am writing this article
the national average for gas is $2.37 per gallon of gas. Saying this it is going
to be higher out west and the north east. And will have lower prices in the
south and Midwest.
Now let look at diesel prices.
The national average for diesel is going to be in the $2.92 per gallon price
range. And again, will fluctuate depending what part of the country you are in.
Ok, here we are going to
see that the gas prices is going to be cheaper than the diesel price.
Let look at some other different
between a Gas coach and a Diesel coach. Like where the generator is going to
be.
Generator
With the diesel engine being
in the rear the manufacture has used the area in the front to put the generator.
But with the gas engine in the front
they have put the generator in the rear of the coach. You may say what make the difference about
that? Well when you are not in a RV park and don’t have full hook ups you may
need to run the generator at night to run the AC to stay cool. So with the
generator in the rear where most beds are it will be noisy for you to sleep.
But with the generator up front it will be a lot quieter.
Frames
What are the differences
in the frame of the coaches?
If you have a Ford V 10 engine in your coach, you are going to have a frame that is built by Ford. Most likely it is going to be the same frame that was built for a F550 or larger Ford. That is going to mean that it is going to be light duty compared to a frame built for a diesel. This means you are not going to be able to care as must stuff as a diesel coach.
Having the engine in the rear and the engine being heavier you need to beef up the frame. Freightliner and Spartan build a lot of frames for the smaller diesel coaches and for the larger coaches they are built by their own manufactures. With the frames built heavier that means you will have more storage compartments and are able to have a larger payload capacity.
Also, with having a diesel
engine you will have engine brakes.
You can push a button in the cab that will engage the engine brakes that is
used to help slow the coach down your coach when you’re going downhill or coming
up to a full stop. Which this will save your brakes, so you don’t have to ride
the brakes.
Maintenance
What is the maintenance
cost going to look like between the two?
The gas is going to be
less expensive because it has less filter to change. It is going to be more
like servicing a truck.
Now for a diesel, the cost is going to be higher. You will have a fuel filters to change that a gas engine will not. Yes, you will be able to go more mile between services with a diesel but is going to cost anywhere from 50 to 100 dollars more to service. Also, with a diesel engine now days with the emissions you will have a added fluid that you will have to buy. It is call Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) for short. This is used to help your exhaust to burn cleaner.
The good thing about the DEF tank you will only need to fill it about every 5th tank of fuel.
Conclusion
I have given you a lot of
information here between the different of the two coaches. And there are a lot more
stuff that is have not talked about here.
What are you planning to
use your RV for? Are you just going to use it to go camping a few times a year?
Or maybe you are planning to live and travel full time in your RV.
Being said I know of
people that travel full time in their gas engine coaches and like it. But owning
a Gas engine coach it is going to be built lighter and you are not going to be
able to have as much cargo as a diesel. It is going to be louder to drive. This will be something you will need to figure
out.
But looking at diesel coach it will cost more to own. The diesel engine is going to give you more power to climb the mountains and hills. You will be able to tow more and have a larger cargo capacity. A diesel coach is going to be quieter to drive.
What I would say is if you
are going to be living full time and traveling in your coach even though it
will cost you $50000 or more dollars to own. I think you would like the diesel engine
coach more. And the diesel engine will hold it resale valve longer than a gas
coach.
Hope this has helped you on
your decision on what you would like to buy.
If you have any tips or
commits that can help others, please put them in the commits section.
If you know someone this
will help make sure to share it with them.
Today I’m going to be teaching
you about all of the different components that are necessary to assemble a DIY RV
solar setup.
This particular blog post is going to
be a very basic parts identification blog post where we will be doing it in a 101-level
fashion on what all of the individual solar components are.
For some of the components, you will
need to do some more clarification for the size you will need.
Like, how do I size my solar
controller to work with my solar panels?
Or, what is the size of wires will I
need in my solar setup?
We are going to dive into each of the topic the best as we can. You may need to do more research to answer the questions you may have for your system.
Let’s dig in and see how it goes.
Solar
Panels
Solar Panels are the most obvious component in a solar system. Panels are used to gather solar energy from the sun. The energy is sent down to the solar controller.
Then that power is sent to recharge the batteries.
There
are three types of solar panels.
Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline and Amorphous
Solar panels.
Amorphous technology is seen in small solar panels, like the ones used in calculators or garden lamps.
Although amorphous panels are increasingly used in larger applications. They are made by depositing a thin film of silicon onto a sheet of another material such as steel.
The panel is formed as one piece and the individual cells are not as visible as in other types of solar panels.
Monocrystalline solar panels are thought of as a premium solar product. To make solar cells for monocrystalline solar panels, silicon is formed into bars and cut into wafers. These types of panels are called “monocrystalline” to indicate that the silicon used is single-crystal silicon.
The cell is composed of a single crystal, the electrons that generate a flow of electricity have more room to move.
As a result, monocrystalline panels are more efficient than their polycrystalline counterparts.
Polycrystalline solar panels are made from silicon. Instead of using a single crystal of silicon, manufacturers melt many fragments of silicon together to form the wafers for the panel.
Polycrystalline solar panels are referred to as “multi-crystalline,” or many-crystal silicon. There are many crystals in each cell, there is to less freedom for the electrons to move.
The main difference between the two is
their efficiency.
Let’s take a look at these two solar panels that are made from the same company.
The Renogy polycrystalline 100 W Panel
Specifications
Maximum Power: 100W
Maximum System Voltage: 600V DC (UL)
Optimum Operating Voltage (Vmp): 17.8V
Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc): 22.4V
Optimum Operating Current (Imp): 5.62A
Short-Circuit Current (Isc): 5.92A
Weight: 16.5 lbs
Dimensions: 39.7 x 26.7 x 1.4 inches
The Cost of this panel is $ 125.99
The Renogy monocrystalline 100 W Panel
Specifications
Maximum Power at STC: 100W
Maximum System Voltage: 600V DC (UL)
Optimum Operating Voltage (Vmp): 16.4V
Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc): 21.1V
Optimum Operating Current (Imp): 6.1A
Short-Circuit Current (Isc): 6.6A
Weight: 14.3lbs
Dimensions: 41.6 X 20.7 X 1.38 In
The Cost of this panel is $ 127.99
You can see by the specs that the monocrystalline panel makes more power than the polycrystalline panel. Yes, there is a slight price difference between the two. You may be able to find different prices on the internet. These are the prices I got from Renogys Website.
Another thing, I’ve seen in articles and videos talking about how these two technologies of panel function in terms of shading or cloudy days.
Now, there have been a lot of opinions
given on this, and I have yet to see anything really, really conclusive one way
or the other, which leads me to believe that perhaps neither one does a very
good job in the shade, and perhaps you need sunlight for solar panels to work.
Since roof space on camper vans is
incredibly limited, go with the monocrystalline solar panels. You’ll get more
power out of the same space leaving more room for vent fans.
The polycrystalline will also be fine if you are trying to save pennies. When spending all this money to build a system isn’t the place to skimp as it’s going to likely be one of the more difficult components to replace on own the road.
Save your money and do it right, do it once.
Charge Controller
The charge controller takes the solar
power from the solar panels and then converts it into a form of more organized
and useful power. The power is coming from the solar panels at varying
voltages, anywhere from 16 volts to potentially in the hundreds of volts, depending
on the setup.
The charge controller regulates that voltage down to the 12 to 15 volts ballpark if you’re on a 12-volt battery bank, to properly charge the said battery bank.
There are two main types of charge
controllers on the market, MPPT and PWM.
Pulse
width modulation (PWM) is a powerful
technique for controlling analog circuits with a microprocessor’s digital
outputs. PWM is employed in a wide variety of applications, ranging from
measurement and communications to power control and conversion
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPI) is an algorithm that included in charge controllers used for extracting maximum available power from PV module under certain conditions.
The voltage at which PV module can produce maximum power is called ‘maximum power point’ (or peak power voltage). Maximum power varies with solar radiation, ambient temperature, and solar cell temperature
Let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each of these style of charge controllers. I’m also going to give you a good idea of how to calculate what size charge controller you need for your system.
PWM charge controllers are the more basic of the two charge controllers. What they do is it will match the solar array voltage to the voltage required to charge the batteries.
This will be depending on what state of charge in the batteries. How it works is turning on and off that’s why it’s called pulse width modulated it turns on pulsates on and when it is on it is sending energy to the batteries. When it’s off it is monitoring the capacity of the batteries to make sure that it’s properly charging the batteries.
MPPT charge controllers
are the more advanced and feature-rich of the two charge controllers. Now keep
in mind both of these charge controllers are going to prevent overcharging of
your battery bank as well as unnecessary discharge of the battery banks so that
energy can flow really only in one direction.
With the MPPT charge controller, the added functionality comes with the ability to electronically track and deliver the most optimal amount of energy from the solar array to the battery bank.
Just like the PWM charge controller the MPPT charge controller can monitor to the capacity of the batteries. Then match the necessary voltage needed from the solar array to charge the batteries. This is depending on what the state of charge is.
Now that is why it’s more optimal is the fact that it can account for differences in voltages coming from the solar array and then manipulate the number of amps or current that’s sent to the batteries. By doing this the batteries are actually getting charged more during the same amount of time as with a PWM charge controller.
The advantages and the disadvantages
Three different
categories I’m going to talk about it’s going to be the efficiency of each
charge controller, the functionality of each charge controller, and then as
always the price.
When it comes to
efficiency the PWM controller as you may have guessed is less efficient than
the MPPT charge controller.
This has to do with the
fact that it doesn’t have the electronic tracking capabilities and the ability
to optimize the amount of energy going to the batteries.
What this offers to the
MPPT charge controller is the ability to increase the efficiency by anywhere
from 10 to about 40 percent depending on external variables such as temperature
charging capacity of the battery.
There are many variables
on top of that when it comes to functionality MPPT charge controllers.
Yet again they’re able
to accommodate for differences in voltages between the solar array and the
battery banks.
If you
have a 24 volt solar array charging a 12 volt battery bank you need to have an
MPPT charge controller.
If you have a 12 volt array and a 12 volt
battery bank you can get away with having a PWM charge controller.
Another added functionality
benefit to MPPT charge controllers is the ability to detect and modify the
charge going to the batteries when there is a DC load or an appliance attached
directly to the battery.
So if you have some sort
of appliance or anything that’s attached the positive and negative side of the
battery and it’s being powered directly from that battery the charge controller
can monitor it
Then compensate for the amount
of charge needed to charge both battery bank as well as power that DC appliance.
The last category I’m
going to talk about is the pricing differences between these two charge controllers.
The MPPT charge
controller can be nearly double the of PWM charge controllers.
Now this has to do a lot
with the fact that there’s added functionality and efficiency benefits, but it
also has to do with the fact that there’s a higher manufacturing cost when it
comes to MPPT charge controllers.
When it comes to the
initial cost it may look like PWM charge controllers are the advantage, but you
have to consider the fact that they are less efficient.
If you’re trying to gain
the maximum amount of power from a small system if you’re limited on space or
anything like that you definitely need to go with an MPPT charge controller.
If there’s any voltage differences from your
solar array to your battery bank you need the MPPT charge controller to
increase the efficiency.
Oftentimes the
differences in price between these two charge controllers can be made up in
having to buy less of the other components like less solar panels and less
batteries. To account for the differences in efficiencies between these two
charge controllers.
Okay now that I’ve got
the advantages and disadvantages out of the way I’m going to go ahead and show
you guys how to get a good idea of what size charge controller you need for
your system.
When it comes to sizing
for a charge controller it’s a lot easier than you might think.
What you need to do is take
the total wattage of your solar array.
Here we will say 600 watts and then you’re
going to divide that by the voltage of your system. We are wired in 12-volt
configuration.
What we do is we take 600
watts and you divide that by 12 volts. That is going to give you a 50-amp recommendation
on the size of the charge controller.
So, our charge
controller needs to be at least 50 amps awesome.
Batteries
Batteries are simply like a storage
tanks for power. They store the power that the solar panels and charge
controller have made.
Then when you are ready to use the
power to run computers, charge phones, brew coffee, whatever may have use for.
There are three main types of
batteries on the market.
Lead Acid
AGM
Lithium
The lead acid battery require maintenance and they vent corrosive
hydrogen gas.
The basic lead acid battery chemistry has been the workhorse
of the automotive engine start and traction vehicle industries for a long, long
time. When used in engine start applications, the batteries are referred to by
the acronym SLI, which stands for Starting Lighting & Ignition. Even with
all the new, exotic developments in battery technology within the last decade,
lead acid still offers one of the most economic alternatives for many
applications.
AGM or Absorbent Glass Mat batteries.
In AGM batteries (also called starved electrolyte), there is
a thin ultra-fine fiberglass mat sandwiched between the plates that are
saturated with battery acid to about 95% of what they can hold. This mat is
then packed in between the plates and slightly compressed, then welded/soldered
in place.
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) is an extremely stable
lithium chemistry when compared to almost all other lithium chemistries. The
battery is assembled with a naturally safe cathode material (iron phosphate).
Compared to other lithium chemistries iron phosphate promotes a strong
molecular bond, which withstands extreme charging conditions, prolongs cycle
life, and maintains chemical integrity over many cycles. This is what gives
these batteries their great thermal stability, long cycle life, and tolerance
to abuse. LiFePO4 batteries are not prone to overheating, nor are they disposed
to ‘thermal runaway’ and therefore do not over-heat or ignite when subjected to
rigorous mishandling or harsh environmental conditions.
Lithium batteries are significantly more
expensive up front, but they’re cheaper over the long run.
It’s lighter, it’s more powerful, you
get bigger bang for your buck in the long run.
Inverter/Charger Combo Units
Now, I really like inverter / charger combo units. It’s pretty much just that, an inverter and a charger all wrapped up into one box.
Your battery stores power at 12 volts. If you
have something, say, a coffee maker or an instant pot, you’ll need 110 volts a
normal household plug to get your power.
The inverter takes the 12-volt power
stored in the batteries and converts it into 110-volt power so you can power
your household appliances.
Inverters come in a few different
types.
The square wave inverter is a type of inverter which converts solar DC power to AC power. The squarewave inverter is simpler in
design and more efficient than a sine wave inverter. However, the squarewavewill not be appropriate for some loads,
because the large harmonic content can cause interference.
Modified Sine Wave
In pure sine wave inverters, the AC power produced by the inverter very closely matches an actual sinewave. Since producing a
modified sine wave is a much
simpler process than creating a pure sinewave, modified sine wave inverters are typically much less expensive.
Pure Sine Wave
These inverters use more sophisticated technology to protect even the most sensitive electronics. Pure sine wave inverters produce power which equals – or is better than – the power in your home.
Appliances which may not function properly, or which may be permanently damaged, without pure, smooth power will be safe with pure sine inverters. Use these inverters for televisions, laptops, digital microwaves, fridges, and other sensitive electronic equipment. Pure Sine inverters can power just about any AC appliance without risk of damage.
We aren’t going to talk about the
first two.
Essentially, the power they make isn’t
a clean power and can damage certain electronics.
I don’t like recommending products
that have an inherent risk of damaging other equipment.
We are going to be looking for a pure
sine wave inverter.
This inverter actually does the best
job of making the same kind of power that is actually coming through a standard
110 wall plug.
The pure sine inverters come in sizes
from small, portable, 300-watt models all the way up to 5000-watts. But to get
by with modest usage like running a coffee pot, Instant pot, or induction
stove, the most common size that I’ve seen and the size we have in our camper
van, is a 2000-watt inverter.
But if you want to learn in more detail, how
to accurately size an inverter for your setup, you can dig deeper on the
internet.
Keep in mind when plugging into a
campground power pedestal or even, simply a plug in at somebody’s house.
Yes, shore power is, basically, just
an external plugin somewhere on the grid. You can get these in a separate unit,
sometimes called a converter. But
typically, it’s easier and it’s cheaper to just get the all-in-one
inverter/charger combo package. They
charge your batteries at a rapid rate. Anywhere from 40-70 amps.
You really just have to ask yourself, “What
do I plan on powering and how much “like home do I want this to
feel?”
That’s actually all of the major components in
a camper solar setup.
But we have a lot more very small
items that you’ll need to complete the build.
Wires, lugs, fuses, switches, breakers, and bus bars just to name a few.
The bus bar is an extension of your battery terminals. When we’ve got a
dozen different wires and components that need to be connected to the battery
directly, the top of the battery terminal can turn into a giant bird’s nest of
wires in a hurry.
These just give you a little more room
to work with your wiring and make it easier to see exactly what you’ve got
going on and what wires are going where.
The battery monitor tells you the status of your batteries. Like, their capacity, their voltage, and how much power is actively being generated or lost. The monitor is able to tell us this information by the information provided by the. If the battery monitor is the brain, the shunt is the body.
The shunt is physically responsible of counting the amps that are
either coming or going in either direction and reporting that to the battery
monitor. The shunt sits in line of the negative battery terminal and the bus
bar. All loads should be on side of the shunt that is away from the battery.
The fuse block is the easiest way to make fused connections to these
low amperage devices and keep everything safe, tidy, organized, and safe.
So, now I guess we should talk about, Fuses are what protect your wires in case of an over-current situation, aka, a malfunction. If
there are too many amps flowing through too small of a wire, or something is
malfunctioning, the wire can melt and possibly start a fire.
Quick note, fuses and breakers are
kind of, sort of, the same thing.
If a fuse blows, you can’t reuse it.
If a breaker, trips, you can just
reset it.
And I kind of use those two terms interchangeably, depending on the situation.
Don’t let that confuse you, since they
kind of do the same thing.
So, the fuse is designed to blow or
trip at a current lower than the melting point of the wire.
Which will cut the flow of power, effectively
shutting off the hazard.
There are three types of DC fuses that
I find myself using.
Spade fuses, resettable breakers, and
ANL fuses.
The type and size of fuse that I pick
varies depending on how it’s being used, the current going through the wire as
well as the size of the wire it’s attached to.
Wire
lugs are the ends of
the wires.
They let you make nice clean
connections to the bus bars or distribution blocks. And they’re sized according
to two measurements. They will have a gauge, which is the size of wire that the
lug will fit on to, and it also has a stud size diameter.
Like quarter inch or 3/8 or the number
eight which is the size of the bolt that the lug is designed to fit around.
Depending on the inverter/charger you
get, it may or may not have come with an AC breaker installed.
If not, and you’re wanting to hard
wire 110 volt plugs throughout your camper, you’re going to need to add an AC
breaker.
You will need the breaker box, as well as a breaker to protect the wiring of your 110-volt circuits.
Keep in mind that you will most likely you are going to have to build your battery cables and cables going to each of the components. The larger the cable the harder it will be to work with if you don’t have the right wire. Look into buying welding wire because it is made to be more flexible. This will help you when making your wires to route them and make the job look nice and professional.
Well you can see that there is a lot to learn and do when
installing a solar system. Before trying
to tackle the task by yourself make sure to do your homework. And that will include before you buy the
product make sure the company will still be there for you to work out any
problems. The worst thing is not to have any help to solve a problem.
Like I said in the beginning that this was going to be a
brief over view on how to build a solar system for your RV. I hope this has help you on your decision on
your system.
If you have any helpful tips, please put them in the commits
to help others. If you think it will help someone else, please share to post.
You are ready to go buy a motorhome, so you go down to the
bank and get a wheelbarrow full of money. Sure, we all know that isn’t going to
happen. Most people don’t have that kind of money sitting around to just go pay
cash for and RV.
If you have bought a home car boat before you know it can be
difficult to get financing.
What do you need to know about financing? Let’s take a look to make sure you will get the best deal possible.
Let’s look at some factures on how to
get financing for your RV.
Did you know that there is a difference in interest rates
from a used RV and a new RV. What are the factors on the financing you will
need there are several?
Current Interest Rates
Interest rates will go up and down by what the government
fills they need to adjust for inflation. But interest rates for cars and homes
are different. Certain times of the years you will be able to get a better
interest rate on a car loan. I guess that is when the dealers are trying to
move old inventory to make room for the new models. This is a good time to buy
a RV also because you will be able to find better rates then.
Credit Score
No, we didn’t say credit score! Yes, your credit score will
be a big factor. The higher your credit score is the better rate you receive. A
lower credit score mean that you will have a higher interest rate. Don’t get
discouraged if you don’t have the best credit score. You can shop around, and
you will find someone that will work with you. And If not take some time as you
are looking for the perfect RV for you and your family.
Down Payment
Your down payment will also determine what kind of rate you
will get. The large down payment will help you to get a better rate. Most financial
institutions will see that you have a higher investment into the RV then they
know you will have a loss also so they will give you a better rate.
If possible, try to put at least 10% down payment. This will
help with a lower down payment and also help you with negotiating on the final
price.
What Are the Different Ways to Finance
an RV?
There is a couple way you will be able to do your financing.
When you are purchasing a new RV, the manufacturer can offer you financing. The
dealer will have several bank or credit unions they work with to get financing.
Or If you have a good relationship with your bank and want to work with them,
they can be an option. Let look closer at each option.
Financing Through the Dealer
Don’t be rushed into getting your financing through the dealer.
Sometime the salesman needs to make a sale so they could pressure you into
signing a contract and you didn’t get the best deal. I hope you have had some
time to see what the reviews are with the dealer before you buy. You can always
use google, yelp to look up what everyone is saying how their experience was.
With that said it can be a good choice and a bonus to get
your financing through the dealer. They will have several financial institutions
they deal with on a daily basis. They will know what kind of financing the bank
or credit union will offer you. Keep in mind that the dealer will also try to
use the bank that is going to give them a better deal. The dealer doesn’t just
make money off the sale they will also get money from the bank for making the
deal.
It can be convenient that it will be quicker because there
will not be as much the financial institution on the price.
Remember this, the first thing the salesman is going to ask you is what is the payment you are looking for. And this is where they have you because they will use the bank that will fit the payment. The only thing is this might not be the best deal and be a higher rate. You could not be getting the best rate.
Only do your financing through the dealer if you feel they
are working with you and are trying to give you a good deal.
Financing Through a Bank
Dealing with the bank has its own Pros and Cons. Like I had talked
about before if you have a good relationship with the bank or credit union it
can be a good experience. With a relationship built they will know you and your
payment history so having them lend you the money can be easy.
Working with the bank you will know all the options and will not
have to worry about paying the dealer mark up on their financing.
Disadvantages with dealing with the bank is it can take a few days to get your financing because they may have to consult with other members at the bank to agree on the financing. Another Disadvantage is when they offer their best deal that will be it. So it will be deal or no deal.
How Should You Finance an RV?
Well what I would do myself is do my research. You will need to
search out what is the right price is to offer for the RV. Talk with your bank
before hand a see what kind of deal they can offer you before going to the
dealer. This will help you not getting a the best deal.
Don’t let the salesman pressure you into buying anything before
you know this is the exact RV you are looking for. The best thing to do is go
home and think about it before you jump in. The are not going to sell the RV overnight.
I hope this will help you on your journey on becoming an RV owner.
Let us know how you did with your purchase or if you have any tips
that can help other.
Are you looking into traveling across the country in a motorhome?
Well, you are not alone this is coming more and more popular every day and are not just reserved for the retired. It would be great to be able to travel around in style see the country.
This sounds so great, but I don’t have a motorhome to make this dream come alive.
Going out and buying a motorhome would be great but buying a motorhome is not in the budget.
Well, I have good news, buying a motorhome is not today is not your only option.
Traveling by RV is a great way to reduce travel expenses, as well as spend quality time with close friends and family members.
For that reason, there is a good chance that you may be interested in planning an extended RV trip.
Although traveling by RV is a great way to travel, there are many individuals who did not know that it was even possible for you to rent a motor home.
This common misconception typically involves those who do not own motorhomes.
Although there are a number of benefits to owning your own motor home, it is important to know that owning is not your only option.
In fact, many individuals, especially beginners and those who only take limited RV trips, often find the best success when dealing with rentals.
One of the many reasons why motor home rentals are so popular is because they are affordable.
Instead of buying your own motor home, you are just renting one from someone else for the time being. This is great if you are taking your first cross country trip or if you are going on your first motor home camping adventure.
Buying a motor home can be expensive, especially if you unsure as to whether or not a motor home is really what you want. That is why a large number of individuals make the decision to rent a motor home first.
Many who were satisfied with their experiences later buy their own motorhomes and you can do the same as well.
Now that you know that it is something that is doable, you
may be wondering exactly how you can go about finding a motor home to rent.
There is good news There are a number of different ways that you can go about
finding motor home rentals.
If this is your first time trying to find and reserve a motor home rental, you may be unsure as to how you should proceed. Instead of heading on down to your local motor home rental company, you may want to take the time to examine motor home rentals, namely what you should look for in one.
One of the easiest ways for you to make your decision is to examine the pros and cons of both buying your own motor home or renting one.
By taking the time
to examine your wants, as well as your needs, you will likely find yourself
traveling or camping in a motor home that is perfect for you and the rest of
your group.
If and when you decide to rent an RV, you will find that you have a number of different options.
To get the best deal, as well as the motor home that is best for you and your needs, it is important to take the time to familiarize yourself with these options.
For starters, you may find that you have a number of different RV rental companies to choose from. You can easily familiarize yourself with local RV rental companies by performing a standard internet search, using a online business directories, or by examining your local phone book.
If possible, first research the reputation of local rental companies online. Rating and reviews can give you good insight into the company you are about to do business with.
When looking for a motor home rental company to do business with, it is also important to examine average prices. To quickly compare prices, choose a specific type of RV, such as one that sleeps six.
When comparing the rental rates of multiple companies, be sure to stay with that same example. This will give more accurate rental rates to compare.
The internet is also a great way to find information on RV rental companies. In fact, when using the internet, you may be pleased with all of your options. One easy way to familiarize yourself with RV rental companies online is by using a business directory.
Business directories allow you to search for a particular business, like a motor home rental company, and in a specific area, like your city and state. If the company in question has an online website, you may be provided with a link to that website. If not, the proper contact information will be listed in its place.
In addition to seeking out businesses that specialize in the renting of motor homes, you may also want to think about contacting some of your local motor home dealers. As the popularity of motor homes continue to increase in popularity, many motor home dealers are realizing how profitable it can be to rent out some of their motor homes.
That is why many motor home dealerships have started their own motor home rental programs. As with finding a motor home rental company or station, you should be able to get the contact information for motor home dealers by using your local phone book.
What you will want to do is contact the motor home dealer and ask if they have a rental program.
When looking to rent an RV, you will also find a number of options with rental dates. It is not uncommon for a rental company to have rules and restrictions concerning rental lengths.
With that being said, you should be able to find at least one RV rental company that would be willing to accommodate you and your needs.
For example, some rental companies will let you rent a motor home for a few as a couple of days, but as long as a month or even longer!
You also have options in term of the RV that you choose to rent. Always remember that motor homes, literally, come in all different sizes and styles.
For extended trips, many find the best success with luxury and modern RVs. The first step in choosing the perfect motor home involves examining your traveling party.
Make sure that your rental is large enough to comfortably fit everyone you will be traveling with, like your family. What will the sleeping arrangements be like?
In keeping with motor home options, be sure to examine features. As previously stated, luxury and modern RV rentals are often the most sought after.
This is due in part to the features provided. For example, a twenty-year-old motor home is less likely to come equipped with a television and movie player, when compared to newer models.
In addition to television and movie players, other features, such as showers and full dining room tables, should also be examined.
When performing a standard internet search, tailor your search to your area. For example, search with a phrase such as “New York RV rentals.”
This should bring you to the online websites of rental companies that operate in New York State.
Examine all websites that you find to see what is available, get an idea of average rental rates, as well as get a phone number to make additional contact.
Another great way that you can go about finding motor home rentals is by asking those that you know for information, as well as those that you don’t personally know.
As for those that you do know on a personal level, you will want to see if your friends, family members, co-workers, or neighbors have rented a motor home in the past or if they know of someone else who as.
If they do, you will want to ask to get the name and the contact information for the company in question. As for those that you don’t know on a personal level, you may want to think about stopping by or calling some of your local campground parks.
Many times, you will find that the staff of a campground park is familiarized with camping gear rental companies, including companies that rent out motorhomes.
As for the choosing of a motor home rental, you will want to make sure that the motorhome you rent is the right size for you and all of those who thanl be joining you on your next adventure.
Of course, you will want to find a motor home rental that is cheap and easy to drive, but you also need to take the number of people that you will be traveling with or camping with into consideration.
Motorhomes are nice ways to travel and to camp, but there is nothing worse that being stuck in an overcrowded motor home.
Before agreeing to rent a motor home, you should examine the features of the motor home in question.
You will want to make sure that the motorhome you want to rent can provide you with everything that you need, as well as everything that you want.
For instance, if you are looking to travel across the country, you may want to make sure that your motor home has a working bathroom, particularly one that includes a shower.
Other features that you may want to look for in a motor home rental include a kitchen, spacious sleeping areas, an eating area, as well as a small entertainment center.
The above-mentioned points are just a few of the many points that you may want to take into consideration when looking to find a motor home rental.
As a reminder, it is important that you remember that renting a motor home isn’t your only option.
If you would like to do so, you may want to look into buying your own motor home.
With a large selection of new and used motorhomes to choose from, you may very well find yourself getting a great deal on a motor home that you can call your own.
If you found this article helpful please share it with someone that could use the information.
Post any of your experiences of renting a motorhome
Are you and your family are looking into get yourselves a
motor home in order to have more family bonding time and travel with ease and
comfort?
Well, before you make the finally deciding on the RV you would like to buy, it is essential that you do your research into the different types of motorhomes first.
There are several different styles to choose from. Each type
is distinctive from the other in terms of capacity, build and purpose of use.
You might want to make a list of your requirements first
before you browse into these different types of motor homes.
This way, you will be able make the right decision on the
perfect priced RV to bring your family many years of joy, entertainment and
excitement to your family travels.
Here are the
different types to become familiar with:
For many years’ campervans
are iconic to be Volkswagen models. They are still mass-produced and have a
range of magazines and clubs for its hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts.
This type can easily accommodate three to four persons and
it is small enough for drives in both cities and open roads. This type of RV is
ideal for those who have intense enthusiasm to tour around the World.
Campers have a range of nice and ideal features – windscreen
sun visors, roof racks for surfboards, raising roofs, chrome fittings and
trims, etc. These features may be a direct conversion of Volkswagen or from
several noted campervan specialist converters.
This type is often called the panel van conversion and can be available at medium to large sizes. Well-known commercial vehicles are the base units for building this motor home type.
Almost every unit released has a sliding door feature. But
in today’s world it is coming more common for people taking these vans and
converting them into campers. Which the manufacture are seeing what is
happening and they are making their versions also.
They have excellent amount of space inside and most have
spacious washrooms, well-equipped kitchens than the micro-sized or smaller van
conversions.
Many models also feature double beds at their rear, which
runs across the van’s width. If owners are taller, they may have difficulty in
fitting inside.
As such, it is also essential to check out the dimensions
and layout of a motor home, first before purchase.
Class A Motor Homes
falkirk.americanlisted.com
These are common type of motor home that can be seen on the
roads all across America. They usually look like a large rectangle Greyhound
bus that can be a luxury coach all the way to a less expensive motorhome.
Class A Motor Homes – this type are very big and
recognizable because they do not have a detached cab area. Models of this type
usually have big front windscreens, like those in buses.
Class A
motorhomes are commonly be referred to as coaches or luxury coaches depending
on what kind of amenities they may have.
There are one that burn regular gasoline, which you will find in the smaller and less expensive
coaches. But in the larger coaches they use diesel
fuel, these Class As that use diesel are known as diesel pushers.
You will find Tag Axle or Twin Axle usually the
manifestation of a very big coach-built motor home that already requires
another set of wheels to amply support its length and weight, similar to the
twin axle caravan. The third axle has become known as the tag axle. They are a
lot more spacious though it could be tricky to drive because of the twin axle
at its rear.
Class B Motor home
www.dreamstime.com
Like
the Conversion vans the Class B motorhome looks very much like an oversized
van. They are also commonly known as camper vans.
Inside,
the van is tall enough for standing room being the roof have been extended up
for the head room. Even though there is a kitchen, living room, and a bathroom,
it is very small. The toilet and shower are combined into one space.
Most Class B motor homes will not have slide outs.
Parking
the vehicle also isn’t a problem because of its size. However, there is very
little room for storage as the interior doesn’t afford much space.
If you value how economical the Class B motorhome is, then this is the one for you.
Class C Motor home
www.freedom-motorhomes.com/freedom-elite/
The Class C motorhome is the compromise between the Class A and the Class B. They are built on a truck chassis. They are easy to pick out by their pickup truck nose with the camper nose over the cab of the truck. This is normally one of the sleeping areas allows for more room in the living area.
The Class C
motorhome is able to tow a separate car so you can leave the motorhome parked
while exploring the city in the car. The Class C motorhome has gas mileage
somewhere between the Class A and the Class B motorhome.
Truck Camper
A truck camper is temporarily mounted into
the bed of a pickup truck and secured against any tipping or wobbling
while the truck is in motion.
When buying a
truck camper, you will need to make sure your truck has a camper package to
support the top heaviness. Great care must be taken in matching the weight and
center balance point of the truck camper with the capabilities of the pickup
truck itself in order to maintain safe handling of the vehicle while driving.
Truck campers
are much favored by those who do not wish to own a motorhome or trailer for
only part-time use when the need for a truck is otherwise present.
Common uses are for backwoods travel, hunting, fishing, and
particularly in North America on four-wheel drive vehicles for off-roading or
via rough roads to campsites
Popup Camper
Are also known as a folding trailer, tent camper, tent trailer, or camper trailer. A popup
trailer is a light-weight unit that collapses for
towing and storage.
Popup camper are like a tent and a
camper that you will pull-out bunks. Even that they are light weight and easy
to travel with they can have all the convenient you will need.
Nowadays they have units that will have their own A/C units on the roof. They have a small stove a refrigerator also in them.
These are suitable for towing by most
vehicles, particularly compact cars, minivans, SUVs, or small pickup trucks.
Travel Trailer
Travel trailers are the most
popular of RV on the roads and in campgrounds today.
A travel
trailer is designed to be towed with a frame hitch. Also known as the bumper
hitch but will need to be frame mounted because the bumper is not built to
handle the weight.
Travel trailers are designed to fit all types
of RVers in mind. Multiple floor plans and styles are available to suite your
every need. They come in many sizes and lengths to fit most needs.
oday manufacturers are building more lightweight models so you can still tow with a ½ ton pickup all the way up that you will need a 1-ton truck.
Travel trailers are favorites amongst RVers who
enjoy the freedom of having a vehicle to enjoy their destination and a complete
home unit wherever they are.
5TH Wheel Camper
Designed to be towed by a pickup or medium duty
truck equipped with a fifth wheel coupling that is mount in the center of the
bed of the truck.
Part of the camper body extends over the truck
bed, shortening the total length of the vehicle and trailer combined.
Some larger fifth-wheel trailers, usually over
40 feet (12.2 m) in length and 20,000 pounds in weight, are often pulled by 1ton
truck and larger.
Fifth-wheel
trailers have become increasingly popular since they first became commercially
available in the late 1960s being, they are like having your own traveling
apartment.
For some
pickup truck owners, the downside of a Fifth-wheel trailer versus a
conventional frame-hitch-mount travel trailer is that the former takes up
valuable space inside the bed of the truck with the special hitch. So if you
want to uncouple the trailer at a remote location in order to use just the
truck with its empty bed it will take a great deal of work and time to remove
the hitch.
Toy Haulers
A toy hauleris built like
the name says they are built to haul all and accommodate all of your toys.
They are perfect for those RVers who want to
hail snowmobiles, ATV’s, four wheelers, or even motorcycles.
A toy hauler RV’s have a large cargo garage in the rear of the RV and are available in a toy hauler, fifth wheel, or even motorhome styles.
One thing to keep in mind is a toy hauler is very
heavy and when you are hauling your toys will mean you will need a larger truck
to tow it.
Before you purchase your motorhome or trail trailer don’t
rush into buying it. Take your time and study everything carefully. Make sure
it is what you want and will fit the needs of you family.
Don’t be like me and not know what my truck was capable
of towing and lost money in having to go buy another truck to tow my camper.
Keep in mind that the RV dealer is out to sell you a
camper and most salesman are not educated enough to know what you truck is
capable of towing. Or even the car dealer.
If you would like to explore the country or just have a motor home to camp in, you may be in the market a new motor home.
If you are looking to buy a motor home, you are urged to avoid making one of the most common motor home buying mistakes.
That common mistake involves going into the situation uneducated.
Instead, you should take the time to research motor homes, before you decide to go right out and buy one.
As nice as it is to hear that you should take the time to research motor homes before you go about buying one, you may be wondering exactly why that is.
What you need to remember is that motor homes are just like cars; they are sold in all different conditions. Just because a motor home looks nice or looks like it is new, it doesn’t mean that it runs nicely or runs like it is new.
You will want to spend your money on a motor home wisely. By taking the time to first research motor homes online, you may be able to prevent yourself from wasting your money on a motor home that doesn’t last long or one that is considered a poor investment.
Another one of the many reasons why you should take the time to research motor homes before you decide to buy one is because that research is easy to do online.
When you use the internet, you have an unlimited number of motor home research tools right at your fingertips. A few of the research approaches that you may want to take are outlined below for your convenience.
One of the easiest ways that you can go about researching motorhomes for sale is by performing a standard internet search. If you have already found a motor home that you would like to buy, you will want to perform your standard internet search with the make, model, and the year of the motor home in question.
Your standard internet search will likely lead you to online websites where that exact motor home is being discussed, often by other owners.
You will want to read any information given to you and you will want to be on the look for any motor homeowners that have a number of complaints about their motorhomes, namely the one or ones that you are interested in buying.
You can also use the internet to find information on Kelley Blue Books that are designed for motor homes.
You may even be able to find an online version to read through. If you are unable to find an online version of a value guide for motorhomes, you should be able to order one online.
These recourses are important ones; therefore, you will either want to examine them online or buy printed copies. By having the estimated value of motorhomes at your fingertips, you can prevent yourself from spending too much money on a new or even a used motor home.
There are also a number of consumer reporting websites that you may want to think about visiting. These websites can often be found by searching with a phrase like “motor home consumer reports.”
What you will want to do is try and see if any of the motorhomes that you are interested in buying to have been recalled in the past for needed repair or updates.
Although recalls are becoming common in the auto industry, you will want to try and find a motor home that has not been recalled or at least one that was properly fixed.
If you know the make and the model of the motor home in question, you may want to perform a standard internet search with that information, as well as add the word “recall,” in your search box as well.
Even if you have yet to start shopping for motorhomes, you can still use the internet to find and research motor homes that come highly rated and recommended. In short, the internet is a nice, easy, and convenient way to go about researching motorhomes that you may be interested in buying.
In fact, the internet can also help you find motorhomes for sale. If you do not have internet access at your home, you may want to think about visiting your local library.
Are you interested in buying a motor home? If you would like to buy a motor home, you will need to make an important decision.
That important decision is whether you would like to buy a new motor home or a used motor home.
If you are like many other hopeful motor home owners, there is a good chance that you would like to buy a brand new motor home, but the question is should you?
When it comes to determining if you should buy a new motor home, you may be wondering what you should do.
One of the many ways that you determine if a used motor home is right for you is by creating a list of the pros and cons.
Examining the pros and cons of buying a brand new motor home and then applying those pros and cons to your own personal situation is a great way to see if a new motor home is right for you.
There are many individuals who can’t explain their need for wanting or needing a new motor home. Perhaps, it is the newness of everything.
As for the pros or the plus sides of buying a new motor home, you will find that there is just something about owning a brand new motor home.
There is just something exciting about knowing that you are first person to ever own something, like a motor home.
The number of options that you have are just another one of the many pros or plus sides to buying a new motor home. When shopping for a new motor home, you will find that it is a lot easier than it is to go shopping for a used motor home.
When buying a new motor home, you can decide ahead of time what you want to get out of your motor home, like what features you would like it to include.
There are even a number of motor home manufacturers that allow you to create or custom design a portion of your motor home. Of course, if you are able to find this custom design service, you may find it costly.
One of the greatest pros or plus sides to buying a new motor home is the guarantees that you are given. When you buy a used motor home, you are responsible for that motor home and all of the needed repairs.
If you find that your motor home breaks down a few weeks after buying it, you are out of luck. However, the same isn’t said for new motor homes. When you buy a new motor home, you will likely be presented with a warranty.
This warranty may last for as short as a year or for as long as five years. Owning a new motor home with a warranty on it is nice, as that warranty helps to protect your motor home investment.
Although there are a large number of plus sides to buying a brand new motor home, there are also a number of cons or downsides to doing so as well. One of those downsides is the cost.
New motorhomes are expensive. Yes, you will be the first owner of the motor home, but are you willing to pay thousands of dollars extra just to be the one and possibly the only owner of a motor home?
Despite the high costs of most new motorhomes, you may able to find smaller motorhomes or standard model motorhomes available for more reasonable prices.
As outlined above, there are a number of pros or cons to buying a new motor home. You will not only want to take the above-mentioned pros and cons into consideration, but you will also want to take the time to examine your wants and your needs.
For instance, if you want to buy a new motor home and you can afford the cost of one, you are advised to do so. Yes, any motor home may do, but why would you want to be stuck with a motor home that isn’t your “dream,” one.
The Pros and Cons of Buying Used Motor Home
Are you interested in buying a motor home? If you are, you will have to decide whether you would like to buy a new motor home or a used motor home.
While many hopeful motorhome owners want to own their own motor homes, some are unable to afford the cost of doing so. If you would like to own a motor home, but you cannot afford to buy a new one, you may want to think about examining used motor homes.
Although it is nice to know that you should think about buying a used motor home, instead of a new one, you may be wondering if going with used is really right for you.
To determine if a used motorhome is right for you and your needs, you may want to think about examining the pros and cons of buying a used motorhome. A few of the most influential pros and cons are outlined below.
One of the biggest pros or plus sides to buying a used motor home, instead of a new one, is the cost. It is no secret that used motor homes are more affordable that new ones.
In fact, did you know that as soon as you drive a new motor home off the dealership lot, the value of it decreases? That is why you may want to think about buying a used motor home, especially if you are shopping for a motor home on a budget.
In addition to being affordable, buying a used motor home is nice if this is your first time owning a motor home. Many motor home owners have great hopes for their new recreational vehicles.
For instance, some motorhome owners want to go on cross country trips and others just want to go camping.
Unfortunately, many motorhome owners do not always end up using their motorhomes as much as they had originally hoped to and many end up selling them.
If you find this happening with you, you may lose less money if you buy a used motor home, as opposed to a new one.
Although there are a number of pros or plus sides to buying a used motor home, there are also a number of cons or downsides to doing so as well.
One of those downsides is the selection that you will have to choose from. While it is more than possible to come across a number of used motorhomes that are for sale, it is often harder to shop for a used motor home than it is for a new one, especially if you are looking for something in particular.
What does this mean for you? It means that you may not be able to get your “dream,” motor home.
Another one of the downsides to buying a used motor home, instead of a new one, is the risks that you end up taking.
Of course, there are risks associated with buying a new motor home, but the risks are higher when buying a used one. When buying a used motor home, you never really know what the previous owner did to their motor home.
Just because a motor home looks nice on the inside, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it runs great or is dependable.
To minimize the risk of purchasing a poor quality motor home, you will want to try and research each motor home that you are interested in online.
Look for motorhomes that do not have any complaints by owners or ones that haven’t been issued any recalls.
If you would like to buy a used motor home, you will want to keep an eye on your local newspaper advertisements, namely the advertisements in the automobile section. You may also want to visit any motor home dealerships in your area.
While a large number of motor home dealerships sell new motorhomes, many also have a selection of used motorhomes available for sale.
Please post your experiences on buying a motorhome.
We have had a long winter and springtime is here all we are looking to do is load up the R V and go camping. But springtime brings warmer temperature that brings added storms.
Even thou all we want is to get out of the city and away from the rat race go for a fun getaway weekend for a week-long vacation. But in the spring we need to keep a close eye on the weather. The warming temperature with still the cool temps we see the weather reports about all of the server storms and tornadoes that come with springtime.
Make sure you have a safety plan all set up and every family member know what to do in case of the unsuspected emergency.
Do you have a safe place to shelter down in until the storm passes?
Do you have a weather radio or app saved on your phone to receive warnings?
Do you know the county of the state you are in to make sure the level of danger?
Is your First aid kit expired? We all think of we do not use it it is will be OK but the thing in the kit do expire.
Some people like to boom docking. Does a family member or friend know where you are going?
All of us that have grown up in the Midwest know how fast a storm can come upon you. While you are out on the highway always be looking for some kind of shelter. Whatever you do don’t think you will be able to outrun a storm. That will put you and your family in a danger situation real quick.
Always look for the lowest place you can find.
Some people think an overpass is a good place to go. But that is not true if it is going to be in a direct path of the storm because it will create a wind tunnel and can pull small children or pets right out of your hands
If there is no place to go is in the ditch and try to get away from your vehicle so you don’t get hit by flying debris.
There are many more safety things you can do to protect your family than I have listed or talked about. I hope this sheds some thought and in site for you to make your own plane for yourself.
