Archive for the ‘RVs’ Category
Monday, February 2nd, 2009 |
This article will give you a bit of background and general information about American RV’s or motor homes, the basic terminology and highlight a few things that you will need to consider before investing in one of these vehicles. The majority of the big American manufacturers first started building RVs for sale in the mid 50’s. However, it wasn’t until around the late 1970’s that they started to be distributed on a large scale in the UK, there are restrictions on what can be imported into the UK due to dimensions etc and it’s due to this there are only around 12 manufactures in the UK.
There are quite a few differences between the American RV’s and the European ones, one of the main differences is their size, Americans motor homes will be much bigger than European ones, there are also differences in structure, for example the American motor homes are built with aluminum and fiber glass making them as light, but also as strong as possible, European motor homes are build with wood construction. The engines and the chassis are also different as American motor homes will be much heavier and designed for more heavy-duty use.
Generally, manufactures that offer RV’s will offer them with an engine at the front or an engine at the rear, it is for this reason that they will be referred to as either a pusher or a puller. There are several manufacturers like Four Winds RV, Forest River RV, Dutchmen RV, Flagstaff RV, Heartland RV, Gulf Stream RV, Everest,Holiday Rambler RVs, Keystone Rv etc. Pushers will have the engine at the back and will typically be at the high end of the market whereas pullers will have their engines at the front and would be more entry level; this is because the engine at the back will give you a better quality engine and chassis and gearbox. Although pushers will be at the higher end of the market (and therefore of higher quality) they will be heavier.
Although you can get motor homes in petrol or diesel, these days front engine motor homes tend to be petrol whereas back engine motor homes will be diesel, although front engine diesels are available, manufacturers stopped making these in 2002.
Apart from the price and the location of the engine, pushers and pullers have a few other differences too; a puller would have a lease spring and mechanical suspension chassis whereas a pusher would have an air breaking system and an air suspension system. This is because the pushers are much heavier duty vehicles and therefore the chassis are designed to carry more weight they also have a better turning circle.
There are about five main UK RV dealers, all of whom import direct from the manufacturer and are authorized to do so. A grey import is a term used for vehicles which are not imported by the main agent, a manufacture could sell to a private person for them to import independently, this would mean that it may not have been converted properly if its come from another country. RV’s are an American product so when they’re imported to the UK they need to have professionally carried out conversions to make them safe and legal to drive on UK roads.
American produced vehicles wouldn’t come with a warranty because they would have originally be made for use in America, once these vehicles have imported by a main agent, that agent would then be able to offer the factory warranty. The third implication of buying a grey import would be their re sell value, an RV brought from an official UK agent would hold its value and be easier to sell on than a grey import.
Posted in RVs | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 |
Have you ever imagined waking up at the middle of a forest, smelling the fragrance of pine trees and the thick bushes, witnessing the blue to burnt yellow skies of the early morning sunrise and the orange skies during sunset and hearing the sounds of wildlife but still enjoying the comforts of your home wherever and whenever?
Maybe its time for you to be introduced to the “RV lifestyle”. If you are really committed in looking for something worthwhile to spend your money and time, traveling and communing with nature might just do the trick for you. Of course, as mentioned, there will be money involved but if you are serious in creating quality in your life, then you might want to give the RV lifestyle a chance.
But before you get excited, you have to know what it takes to have a RV lifestyle. You must first have your very own RV camper. RV is the short term for “recreational vehicle”. And this is so hot in the whole of United States because more and more people are attracted to the idea of going out there and experiencing the world in its raw state: the nature.
Recreation vehicles are of different types: the towable and motorized vehicles. The towables are those trailers pulled by motorized automobiles. The important considerations are the size and weight of the trailer and the towing hitch. There are also two kinds of towable trailers: the tent trailer or what is called a tent-on-the-wheel and a hard-sided trailer that can be expanded when docked.
On the other hand, motorhomes are like bus and van conversions. They are categorized into class A, class B, class C motorhomes. They are spacious, have all the amenities and facilities like bathrooms, your own master bedroom, kitchen and even a living room. There is only one word to describe it, “luxurious”. In length, RV campers are usually 18′ to 40′ or even more.
Posted in RVs | No Comments »
Thursday, July 24th, 2008 |
With the advancement of technology and work pressure, life seems to have taken a dull and boring turn lately. People are constantly in search of rejuvenation in their routine affairs. So whatever free time one gets, there is a constant seeking for something new, something different. With people spending a major portion of their lives traveling in a motor car, an idea that happened way back in 1915 by a wealthy New York couple is becoming the rage now. The idea was to combine work with pleasure, traveling with resting and eventually cars with homes. Lovingly coined ‘motor homes’ or more recently, Recreational Vehicles (RVs), this is a dream come true of a blend of the nomad and civilized world. Although devised in the early 1900s, RVs were developed and found their place in the market in the early 60s owing to the increasing influence of television and specifically, the television star - Charles Kuralt. The evolution of RVs from its predecessor, the motor home resulted in a fully functional running home on wheels which boasts of designer interiors, restrooms, couches, mini kitchens, internet accessibility and televisions in the car - everything that a house consists of. These hugely popular RVs find no dearth of buyers in today’s era. The hip and happening crowd of today is continuously seeking freedom from the shackles of fixtures in life. And the Internet revolution is fueling its growth. There are scores of websites that provide listings of cars serving as recreational homes on the road. These sites can provide detailed specifications of the cars which come in varied shapes and sizes and budgets depending on what you want. The basic three types of searching options: Keyword, Brand Type and Advanced Search, helps in retrieving the data for each type of RVs and its specifications. Dealing in both new and second hand motors, this site has a slideshow of the cars and related anecdotes from owners. Whether you want to buy or sell a motor home or you’re just collecting information, the site is a must-see. If you want a comprehensive price listing and comparisons, is a site to watch for. Guiding the potential buyer with all available options, pros and cons of the advertised item, this site displays a manual of troubleshooting of all possible hassles you can encounter with the product. Other than buying the cars, one can also read the reviews, find links to specialized sites, locate and buy spare parts for their RVs. A great site for motor home reviews, is a dealer for both motor homes and plain vehicles. Aided with a slick design and effective browsing facilities, this site is highly user friendly. The listed vehicles are sorted by types and give a wide range of on-sale items to choose from. A dedicated user forum provides an exact first-hand review of the cars. Besides locating the spare parts for the cars, one also finds a listing of motels and hotels enroute in case you should need it. With the renewed interest of people in Recreation Vehicles or motor homes, a huge database of related information is logged on the Internet. It’s the “in” thing in the country today and it open the doors to what fun on wheels can be.
Posted in RVs | No Comments »
Monday, July 14th, 2008 |
Purchasing an RV requires plenty of careful thought and planning. It takes more than visiting the closest lot and writing a check; it takes deliberation and thought. There are plenty of comparison guides to help with this decision and the internet is a good resource as well.When comparing RVs it is important to compare similar RVs with one another. You certainly would not compare a Class A to a Fifth Wheel and vice versa. Keep the comparison in the same category.
Size and weight tend to be common factors, so see if one brand offers more than the other. For instance, a five foot RV could offer just two bedrooms in one brand and three bedrooms in the next, and if you have use and need for that extra room, then your decision is made.
After buying your first RV, you will come to better understand what you need and even develop a loyalty to the brand that fits you best.Features alone should not control how you compare the RV. How well they treat their customers, their warranty policy, and how fast they can take care of any problems need to also be considered.For answers to these concerns, it is advisable to ask other RVers who have first hand knowledge. Some will relate horror stories and cautionary tales, and others will sing the praises and may do so for the brand that you were just warned against. Weigh each testimonial carefully before settling on a brand.
Another factor to consider is if the brands you are comparing will be able to meet the same needs. You do not want to get stuck with something that does not suit you. If you are going to be a full timer, consider brands that cater to this lifestyle. If you are going to only stay on the road one or two months or less, find a brand that is best.
Two of the most popular RV brands on the market today are Winnebago and Fleetwood.
Winnebago is a trusted manufacturer of RVs and have been around for several decades. Fleetwood has been around since the mid-twenties. Both of the brands are trusted by most RVers. Both manufacturers feature deluxe models as well as towed RVs. Their customer service is well received.
Winnebago and Fleetwood are constantly innovating and improving the RV and it may be a good idea to start your RV search with these brands, as they tend to offer something for everybody
Posted in RVs | No Comments »
