| .... By NOT trading your RV! Don't trade, do an RV | | | | treatments. Swap the hide-a-bed couch for a pair of |
| Makeover! | | | | chairs. Recarpet or change to 'hard' flooring. Install a |
| For many of the people retiring to the RVing and RV | | | | larger water tank. Rework some of the cabinets for |
| Boondocking road, the need to efficiently manage | | | | greater efficiency. Replace the axles with some of |
| the money spent on their rig is a top priority. Trading | | | | the better torsion axles, even including disc brakes. |
| your RV every few years is really not the way to be | | | | Install solar power. Put on a leveling system. Pull out |
| efficient! Unless your bank account is a lot deeper | | | | that bunk bed in the back where your, now grown |
| than mine, you could bankrupt that puppy in short | | | | up, kids used to sleep, and install a desk! .... or maybe |
| order with too many, "too soon" trades. | | | | your fly tying bench! .... or her sewing machine! |
| "But" you say, "the rig is 'worn', and we really need | | | | There are a huge number of upgrades, RV add-ons |
| some changes to it, to make it fit how we live now. | | | | and accessories available to improve your RV for |
| Is there really an alternative to trading your RV?" | | | | maximum service while squeezing the most from |
| You bet! Stretch your RVing dollar with good RV | | | | every dollar. |
| maintenance and then think refurbish and upgrade, | | | | Upgrading a good RV is, almost always, the most |
| instead of trade. You already have a solid structure in | | | | inexpensive way to get a better rig. It is almost |
| your existing rig. Simply maintain and improve it to | | | | always, in my opinion, the way to get the RV that |
| meet your changing needs. | | | | suits you the best. You can add the RV equipment |
| First, simply take good care of the RV you have. Do | | | | you want, piece by piece, far cheaper than the price |
| the scheduled, routine RV maintenance religiously. | | | | you'll have to pay for a new rig. |
| Thatin itself is going to save gobs of cash in reduced | | | | How many Diesel Motorhomes have you seen with |
| repairs and extended lifespan. Second, you need to | | | | 450,000 miles on them? That's the point, with a |
| resist the temptation pounded into your brain by the | | | | properly maintained and operated rig, that you may |
| endless droning of the marketing wizards. Every time | | | | expect to have to do some significant engine repairs, |
| you turn on the TV, or pick up a magazine, you're | | | | like doing a "top end" overhaul. With gas rigs that |
| bludgeoned with the message to buy, buy, buy. | | | | number is much lower, but still up in the 150,000 mile |
| "Hurry in now before the sale is over, or you'll lose | | | | range. The point is, these rigs will go a lot farther |
| out on the savings on a 'better' RV!" | | | | than most of us run them. So why take the financial |
| Don't hurry in, and save even more! Think about it. If | | | | hit, when they have so much life left? |
| you drove that brand new RV off the Dealers lot, | | | | Trailers and Fifth Wheels, with proper handling and |
| did a U turn in the road and pulled right back in and | | | | care, will endure almost indefinitely. Occasional |
| traded it back, you just lost a minimum of 25% of | | | | appliance replacement, a roof every 10 years or so, |
| the purchase price, and sometimes nearer 50%! 25% | | | | some tires, wheel bearings and brakes every once in |
| of a new RV is one sizable chunk of a persons | | | | a long while are what you'll spend. One heck of a lot |
| savings. | | | | less than the many thousand dollar hit you take |
| Also, simpy being newer, is not necessarily better. | | | | every time you push pull or tow a new RV off the |
| Just newer. Is it really better if it costs you thirty or | | | | dealers lot! |
| forty thousand dollars, for a 'cheapie' trailer? Over a | | | | Trading your RV, when simply upgrading your existing |
| hundred thousand, as you start into the higher grade | | | | rig would actually provide the better RV, only costs |
| outfits and into the Motorhomes. You'll also have to | | | | you precious savings while giving you less for your |
| work the 'kinks' out of a new rig. It's a fairly common | | | | money. |
| and arguable belief that the workmanship of many | | | | My last thought on the subject is one of emotion. Do |
| RV manufacturers leaves something to be desired. | | | | you really want to sell off the rig that has taken you |
| Think what it would do for your budget, if instead, | | | | to so may wonderful memories? I would feel like I |
| you spent only 10 or 15% of the cost of a new rig, | | | | was trading a friend. If you really do want that new |
| (often less!) reworking your "Old Reliable" RV. Well | | | | rig, by all means go for it! Just make sure you really |
| thought out, and properly executed, you can actually | | | | want it, and are not just surrendering to the |
| 'recreate' an RV of better quality and function, than | | | | marketing blitz! |
| that new rig, for a fraction of the money. | | | | Save that "New RV" money and you can buy more |
| Would you rather depreciate maybe six or seven | | | | fuel, that will take you to more places, where you |
| thousand dollars, for a thorough refurbishing, or many | | | | can photograph more sights, with that fancy new |
| thousands more? (15% OF A $50,000 Trailer = | | | | digital camera, you can now afford.... While loading |
| $7,500) | | | | more memories into your good Ol' RV! |
| Replace the worn upholstery. Update the window | | | | |