Thunder Inc

Today's economic times are a bit uncertain and the number of trailer repos and foreclosures are increasing. Most people recognize that this is a great time to be a buyer. Buying a trailer repo can be a great way to save money. As we all know, new trailers are not always a great deal. Typical mark ups on RVs and trailers are between 30% and 60%, with the average mark up being around 40%. If you buy a new trailer, you will lose as mush as 30% of its value in the first year. For this reason we recommend buying used and trying to avoid buying at dealerships when it is possible. 9 times out of 10, it is a better deal to buy trailers private party or as a bank trailer repo. Finding a Repo[..]

"Do you know about Wal-Mart camping?" We didn't know, but the old man at the campground in Florida insisted WalMart not only allowed RVs and vans to park overnight, but encouraged it. "Free camping," he told us, and we didn't wait long to take advantage of this new knowledge. Somewhere in northern Georgia we pulled into a Wal-Mart, and sure enough, we saw some RVs off to one side of the parking lot, looking like they were there for the night. We were heading back to Michigan in our conversion van, and free camping sounded good to us. We parked, plugged in our 5-inch T.V., and settled in for the night. Nobody bothered us. In the morning we used the bathrooms inside, and bought some orange[..]

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If you are anything like I was, when you first started thinking about RVs, you had no idea what a diesel pusher was. Then you started shopping around for an RV and kept hearing about these "diesel pushers" but still don't know what they are and what they do. That's okay because this article is here to help. How to Find Your RV Dealer Starting with Cost When you start shopping around for you ideal RV, one of the major considerations needs to be the cost. This is more than just the flat rate of buying the trailer; you will have upkeep, maintenance, gas, and insurance. Diesel pushers are not for everyone because they cost a bit more. However, before you go and disregard these fine pieces of[..]

Recreation vehicles (RVs) are "hot and getting hotter" in the current travel climate, says Arthur Frommer, one of the world's leading authorities on travel. "Concerned about the safety of air and cruise travel, eager to remain within the borders of Southern Africa, multitudes of South Africans are turning to these elaborate lodging machines that carry the comforts of home onto the highways and campgrounds of South Africa," writes Frommer in his recent online column for MSNBC and Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel. According to Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), factory-to-dealer shipments of RVs increased by 20 percent last year and are expected to reach a 25-year high in 2003.[..]

Debt is increasingly a fact of life. Whether through illness, redundancy, divorce or credit cards that are just too plain tempting, we acquire debts. We all know that once in debt, sometimes it can just become increasingly difficult to keep up the repayments on loans. So you acquire bad credit; however that doesn't make an RV (recreational vehicle) any less attractive or practical if you are the type who enjoys the great outdoors and taking to the open road. Despite bad credit, you need an RV loan to get the RV of your dreams. Such lenders won't be put off by your poor credit score. A Step in the Right Direction If your credit isn't so good, an RV loan is provided to you by specific[..]

If you already have the vehicle that you plan to tow with, you need to find a trailer that is within the weight range of your vehicle. This was a common problem I ran into during my days as an RV Sales Manager. Customers would come in to purchase a travel trailer only to find out that their tow vehicle did not have a very good tow rating. It can be extremely frustrating to go out and find the perfect travel trailer or fifth wheel and then be told that you can't tow it. On the other hand it can be worse if you go to a less reputable RV dealer and the sales person tells you that you can tow it! This happens every day, and this is why you need to be armed with the right information before[..]

Con artists have been around for millennia, and always seem to find someone to take their bait. If you are checking out RV sales, you should stay informed about all of the current chicanery and swindling that is going around. Don't believe everything you are told, and be overly cautious whether buying or selling your travel trailer. A general rule of thumb is that if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are a lot of good, honest sellers and buyers of RVs, but it only takes one shyster to steal your money and leave you high and dry. Check it out. Here are some of the games that con men play. Some common scams • If the buyer or seller will communicate only by e-mail,[..]

When you're traveling on the road, you want to feel comfortable with driving your RV. These types of vehicles need to be serviced, to ensure your safety on your trip. These vehicles are usually driven on long trips, so it's important that you keep your RV serviced to avoid breaking down on the road. You should service your RV as instructed by the manufacturer in your owner's manual. By doing so, you can prevent many problems from occurring. Keeping track of your mileage is something that you want to do when you own any vehicle, but especially an RV. Just like your car, the oil should be changed every 3,000 miles. Having to replace a motor in an RV is very expensive as are the fees if[..]

If you loved adventure books and spent your days locating "buried treasure" as a child, go grab the keys to your RV. There's a new sport on the horizon for Georgia recreational vehicle enthusiasts called geocaching. Geocaching is an adventure game that relies on a GPS unit and the Internet to help travellers track down caches (the treasures) that others have set up and shared locations for. There are hundreds of cache sites listed on the Internet right now, and your Georgia RV dealer can probably recommend a website to help you get started. Setting out well armed with a list of GPS coordinates that you'll visit can be a great way to help pass the time on the road. Kids will be thrilled[..]

Someone e-mailed me recently and wanted to know what my thoughts were on extended service plans for RV's. I replied that I thought extended service plans offered great protection as long as you understand a little about them and how they work. When you are doing the finance paperwork on your RV most RV dealers will offer you some type of extended service plan that you can purchase. Before you agree to purchase a plan make sure you understand all of your options. You should not be pressured into buying an extended service contract. If you buy a new RV and purchase an extended service plan that covers both the coach and the chassis, the plan would take over the day after all of the[..]

If you're thinking about taking a road trip and seeing the country, while camping all the way, you need to have a look at Wildwood Travel Trailers by Forest River. Your dream of cutting loose and wheeling around the country can become reality. For quality and convenience we feel they can't be beat. With a huge selection of floor plans, including bunkhouse campers, the options are endless. You could be out on the road traveling safely in comfort and style in no time. Wildwood Travel Trailers provide RV owners with the assurance that their particular trailer is built from the best available components from the wheels up. They are engineered and manufactured to the most exacting and[..]

This article explains 5 different ways to find RV discounts and get a great deal on the purchase. There aren't very many websites that make finding your ideal discount on an RV very easy. Getting a good deal on an RV can be easy if you know where to look. Below we discuss five different ways to get a great discount on your next purchase from your local RV dealer. Timing - June is usually the best time of the year to find an RV on sale at a dealership. Sometimes if the market is really slow, you can find great deals at other times of the year. But June is always a GREAT time because it is the end of the dealer's season. At this time they are trying to sell off all of the models on their[..]

There are so many good reasons to travel by RV. The first is the savings over traditional travel. Secondly, there's a freedom of exploration. There are no deadlines, no set schedule. If one place isn't what you hoped for, move on. There's an entire country awaiting exploration. You won't be the only one. With 8.2 million households in the US owning an RV, there will be plenty of adventurers to share experiences with. Thirdly, RV enthusiasts have their own on-line communities that share places to stay, RVing stories and more. RVIA found that close to half of current used and new RV owners are planning on traveling more by RV this year than last year. Those that have tasted the RV[..]

Each year, around this time, the RV show season starts. RV shows, like boat shows, are intended to introduce the new model year RV's and to help disseminate RV related information to the consumer. These shows are usually scheduled during the slower time of the year, the winter months, to help jump start the selling season. RV dealers from miles away will bring their wares to these shows. For the buyer, RV shows put everything you need to see and learn about RV's under one roof, making it the ideal forum to conduct research and make informed RV buying decisions. I mentioned that RV dealers will come from miles around. This includes many local dealers from the area in which you live. If at[..]

"body"> It seems like when we purchase an RV we overlook something, forget to check something, or possibly we were not properly informed about something. Whatever the case may be you don't realize it until after you buy it and then it's to late. If you already own an RV you know what I'm talking about and this article won't be of much help. If you don't already own an RV read on and learn some things to consider before you buy. A good example of this is a couple I once had shopping for a travel trailer. The one thing they were sure of was that they wanted bunk beds for their three young children. I had several floor plans available on the lot, with bunk beds, to choose from. I showed[..]

RV Satellite TV Systems In the good ol' days, before DISH Network and DIRECTV made satellite TV available everywhere in the U.S., RVers had to find an RV park that had satellite hook ups, then spend time hooking up their systems. Today, RV satellite TV systems are totally self contained. You can watch satellite TV anywhere, and setting up a satellite system is a piece of cake. All you have to do is aim your dish toward the area of the southern sky where you get the best reception and your done. In addition to the hundreds of entertainment, news, and sports channels you get with satellite TV, you can also get Internet service so you can check your email or surf the web while you're on the[..]

"body"> Just as the RV Dealer isn't your enemy - the Private Seller can be your best friend. They don't have ANY appreciable overhead built into the sale, other than the cost of their advertising, and/or any repairs or refurbishing to be done to the RV. The private seller is usually much more motivated than a dealer. They only have ONE unit on which to concentrate their efforts. Many times their sole intention is to rid themselves of the burden of their no-longer-needed RV. In RARE cases, they are WISELY selling by owner so they can move on to a unit more suited to their present needs and desires. This allows them to sell their RV for a higher price than a dealer would allow them on[..]

"body"> From cars to minivans to sport-utility vehicles to trucks. Ford Motor Company simply has it all. Each vehicle made to do a different type of job - just like Ford's customers who have varied and changing lifestyles, and who have different purposes for their vehicles in mind. As for the Ford Super Duty, this truck delivers just its specifications offer. Patrons of this Ford truck rely on this to get the job done. And this truck does it with unsurpassed gas and diesel power, more toughness, and useful new features that makes work easier, and also makes recreation and play time more enjoyable. Frank Davis, Ford vehicle programs director for pickups and commercial vehicles claims,[..]

cl Europe’s largest automaker Volkswagen AG inked sales record of 6.2 million vehicles last year thanks to the strong demand in Brazil, China and eastern Europe. The German automaker said last Monday that the sales figure represents an increase of eight percent from 2006 with all of Volkswagen's brands contributing to the results. The brands include Audi, Skoda, Seat, Bentley, Lamborghini et Bugatti. Group deliveries surged 7.9 percent in 2007 to 6.19 million cars and sport-utility vehicles from 5.73 million in 2006, Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn said at the North American International Auto Show. “They do have some momentum,'' said Rebecca Lindland, a senior[..]

The sport utility vehicle (SUV) has the highest rate of death in rollover accidents. According to government tests, SUV rollovers are almost three times more likely to occur than in the average passenger car, and the most stable SUV is still more unstable than the most unstable car. In 2002, nearly 11,000 people died in rollover accidents, 61 percent of which occurred in SUVs. With the number of people killed in SUV rollovers increasing by 14 percent per year, consumers should be aware of the risks SUVs pose to their families. Even more alarming than the rising rollover statistics is the withholding of rollover information by the government and auto manufacturers. Sobering Statistics[..]

These days, maintaining a fleet of golf carts and utility vehicles is more likely to be a matter of topping up battery cells than checking spark plugs and mixing fuel and oil. The vast majority of golf carts sold in the past decade or so has been electric. Electric golf carts, goes the traditional wisdom, are cheaper to maintain, easier to manage and less trouble in the long run than the models powered by small gas engines. Despite the popularity of electric golf carts, however, most pros agree that there are some jobs that require the power of a good gas engine. It's not unusual for most course fleets to include at least a few gas golf carts that have been converted to utility vehicles[..]

Summary   August, car sales continue to maintain good posture, still not short off-season, then over 1 million sales month, 6 months in a row in more than one million level, still high growth year on year. From January to August, vehicle sales growth has improved more in July, up 36.84% passenger cars, commercial vehicles also increased by more than 10%, the market has clearly improved.     General overview of marketing: in August, automobile production 1.1407 million, growth of 2.62%, up 86.10 percent; sales 1,138,500, growth of 4.71%, up 81.68 percent. The main species in the car, passenger car production of 857 500, growth of 0.75%, up 97.23 percent; sales 858 300, growth of[..]

SUV rollovers are notoriously dangerous. Thousands of motor vehicles are involved in rollovers every single year, and the unfortunately thing about that is not only are many of these accidents preventable, but also that once people get into accidents, they have absolutely no idea what to do. If you own an SUV it is important to learn about rollovers so that you can avoid them and, God forbid your SUV does rollover, you know what to do. SUV rollovers occur because Sport Utility Vehicles have a high center of gravity. Think of a car like a typical Christmas tree and an SUV as an upside down Christmas tree. You'll have to push a lot harder to get the first tree to topple over! To find the[..]

Many large families don't want to make the transition to driving minivans, so several are curious about the ins and outs of 7 passenger sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Most are curious as to which car companies make them, if they always seat 7 or adjustments have to made, such as third row seats installed, the price ranges they come at, and about the gas mileage they provide. Most of the car companies produce 7 passenger SUVs in different size ranges. SUVs' such as Fords Flex and Explorer, Jeeps Grand Cherokee, and Toyota's Highlander are some of the smaller options of 7 passengers. When wishing to utilize that option in those vehicles, a third row seat option will have to be purchased.[..]

When driving your car during the winter months, it is very important to understand that operating your car safely is even more important than other times during the year. Why? Because your car reacts much differently when presented with snow, ice, and slippery roads. What are the tips you need to remember when driving during these hazardous conditions? Here are four tips to keep in mind: Tip #1: Always drive at a slower speed. This may sound overly simple but it is a much forgotten tip in the hustle and bustle of modern day life. Most of us are busy with our day to day lives. Running the kids to school, going to the grocery store, and commuting to work. What do these things have in[..]

As everyone knows Ford is one of the leading card manufacturers in the world. They have designed and sold so many trucks, sport-utility vehicles and cars which have been sold all over the world. When compared to other car manufacturers, most of the customers had good impression about Ford. However in 2007 everything changed when almost 5.5 million cars were recalled by Ford. Do you own a Ford?? YES - or - NO (win a $1000 Walmart gift card for voting) There were many cars which had already experienced problems and the engine getting fire because of this cruise control. Mexico and Europe alone had sold over 200,000 vehicles. Ford was left with no option other than to take back all the[..]

Getting more done with less equipment is one of the best ways for turf maintenance crews to cut costs and remain profitable even in tough economic times. It is always a smart business decision, regardless of a specific industry, to purchase machines that can perform more than one task. When it comes to diversifying a mower fleet, there are many ways to get more done without investing in more equipment. Combined with affordable and high quality pre owned turf equipment, it is not difficult to cut maintenance costs for dedicated crews dedicated to one course or field or to start or expand an independent company. Let's take a look at how to accomplish this task. Accessories And Attachments[..]