All of us have been through this before… you decided to get an RV but are overwhelmed by the sheer number of styles- let alone makes and models. There are too many “ifs, ands & buts” to make a clear decision this early in your learning curve. So, how do you choose the best one?

In my opinion, the 5th Wheel (or Fifth Wheel) offers a lot of advantages that the other styles do not. Actually, I believe there are 4.5 compelling reasons to consider a 5th Wheel over the main competitors; Class A B and C’s, Travel Trailers, Campers, Camper Vans, Slide-Ins, SURV, or Buses.

Without further ado, here are the 4.5 Reasons to Buy a Fifth Wheel as your RV:

1. You don’t have a cabin ruining your space.

You are only using the cabin while you are driving, which is a rare time in most RVers vacation. So, why have your whole RV built around your cabin? Why not make better use of that space and put a couch or desk up there instead? In a 5th-Wheel, you can!

2. More layout options:

Since you don’t have all of the engine, transmissions, and more, you can design your space to work better for you. There are so many ways a fifth-wheel can be set up, you can find a style that suits you better than in a classic RV.

3. No Need to Tow Another Vehicle:

You have a separate vehicle already with you all the time. All you have to do is unhitch your 5th Wheel and you are off the grocery, a restaurant, or a night on the town. Never worry about your tow dolly, a car-in-tow, or pulling a second vehicle like you would have to with an RV.

4. Provides Better Value:

You already have a truck, so why buy a whole new engine, transmission, and all of that? Using your truck to pull means there is one less vehicle to worry about in your life. Less worry means more time to sit back and enjoy your new 5th Wheel.

4.5 Easier to Inspect and Buy:

You don’t need quite as much information when looking to buy one of these used. Actually, as long as you use your noggin and a good Used RV Buying Guide, you should have no trouble getting a good deal on one of these. But, make sure to get a good buying guide or you might get a lemon!

It is crucial to have some great checklists to go over to ensure you find any problems there might be. Sellers usually won’t tell you each and every issue they know of. Some sellers will try to hide known problems. As the saying goes: “Buyer Beware”.Using your checklist to look over used vehicles at the Used RV Dealer is equally important. The dealer makes his commission no matter how long the RV runs for you, so it’s really up to you to make sure you get a good rig!

So let’s save you time, money, and frustration and give you some of the key things to look over when viewing a used RV, Camper, Motorhome, Class A B or C, or 5th Wheel for the first time:

Oil Analysis - As with any vehicle, oil is the lifeblood of the engine. Checking the oil is a great start to ensure the integrity of the engine. If the oil smells burnt, is unusal in color or consistency, is too low or too high, you may have a problem on your hands.

Rust - Rust is the natuaral breakdown of iron or a metal with iron in it. Rust is much worse in parts of the country with snow and salt on the roads. Purchasing RV’s from the south can help with rust problems, but they will usually cost a bit more. Do a complete rust check. If there is structural rust on the frame, AVOID THE RV AT ALL COSTS. You are buying an RV at the end of its life.

Service Records - These will show whether the previous owners did regular maintenance, on the rig. It will also show you how many previous owners there have been. And, if they don’t have any paperwork- why not?

Important Note: I’ve learned this from EXPERIENCE. Having a complete picture of the potential problems that can happen with your new RV can also help you negotiate the price downward.

Maybe the previous owner didn’t know about the problems and your discovery of it may make them realize that they are asking too much.

If you really want to know EVERYTHING about any Used RV, you’ve got to get Buying a Used RV ebook. It’ll pay for itself hundreds of times over in negotiation if used correctly.

Learn more about Buying a Used Rv here.

Financing your RV – Many companies offer better financing for certain preferred builders and even certain models, especially those that have the lowest depreciation. The purchase of any used rv for business should not be done without a thorough evaluation of the finance options that are attached to it. Some banks won’t finance a commercial vehicle until it has passed a DOT inspection, some offer lower rates for “occasional use”, and some charge a higher percentage rate if you plan to “live aboard”.

RV Insurance – this can be a real “dream breaker”. How will you tell your family that you you got a great deal on the rv for them and fixed it up real nice, but…well nobody will insure it cause it’s too old, or the brakes are after market, or there was a recall on it. Rv converters, how would you like to finish your rv repairs with $30,000 in renovations only to learn it’s uninsurable with normal companies due to “gross vehicle weight issues”.

In my opinion, learning enough about RV’s to make an educated buying decision is just good common sense. What you learn before you get the RV will certainly carry over into what you’ll need to know to keep your new rig in tip-top shape while you are on the road later.

Checklists will save your butt sometime. That I can promise you.

With all of the things you have to have on your mind when you are moving from one campsite to another, maintaining your rig, spring cleaning or winter storing, you can very easily forget something!

Forgetting something small might not be a big deal… but if you incorrectly flush your septic system you can get really sick. Or, if you incorrectly install your battery you could blow your main fuse and be stuck looking for an Auto-Parts store in the middle of the night.

Check out this example of a good checklist:

This wonderful woman, Malia, has come to the rescue and created checklists for every part of your RV lifestyle.

Now, I know you might be saying… “Awe, I don’t want an eBook, I like the feel of a real book.”

Yes, if there were a novel I would agree whole-heartedly with you. But, with this ebook you can print out as many copies of any page as you need and mark all over them with pens and pencils and never run out of pages!

You might also be thinking (especially if you are a guy like me), “Yeah, I know a lot of new folks who are new to RVing that will need one of these. I feel for those poor, poor souls who forget everything.”

But you know what? We all forget something. Heaven forbid you have something on your mind while you are moving the RV and forget something. Or, worse yet, what if you have to leave in a hurry or in inclement weather?

Do you really want to remember something you left when you are 2 states away?

I would suggest that anyone that owns an RV, Motorhome, Travel Trailer, Camper, Class A B or C, or even a Camper Van get a copy of Malia’s RV Checklists. It’s only 11.95 and you can have it in 5 minutes.

Learn more about the RV Checklists now!

I think there are two ways to approach this:

To sell your RV quickly, do it locally at Craigslist.org. Go there and pick your city and then click POST and you’ll find it easily from there.

To do it for the highest price, go to Ebay Motors. You might have problems getting payment or even getting the high bidder to come pick up the RV, but you’ll likely get a higher price.

And, there are a few places where people look who are looking specifically for RV’s and Motorhomes.

Google any of these sites:

RVTrader
SellRv
RV ListingsOnline

There are also RV brokers out there, but they’ll list them online just like you could and charge you a FAT fee, I wouldn’t do it!

If you are thinking about selling your RV, I would suggest doing a bit of fixing and cleaning before you sell it. Let’s say you are going to ask $5000 for your used RV. A little work and general cleaning will likely give you a 10% higher price. Let’s look at the numbers…

Average RV only cleaning the regular stuff: $5000

Your RV, with Everything clean in all the spots an informed buyer will check: $5500

So how do you take your RV from Regular to Beautiful? Get this ebook. The eBook I’m talking about here is Maila’s RV checklists. It is a TRUE lifesaver and for only 11.95, you stand to MAKE $488.00 when you buy the book and use it’s checklists to REALLY clean your RV right before selling it!

Learn more about Malia’s RV Checklists here!

Buying a used RV isn’t as simple as it may seem. It can be especially difficult are you are going to be living in the camper or 5th wheel for any amount of time. It could be likened to buying a car and a house at the same time, except this house has wheel and goes 65 miles per hour, and this car has a stove and shower.
For that reason, when it comes to looking over a used RV before making an offer, it’s important to get a professional opinion. You can rely on friends or family who have limited experience with RV’s. You could listen to the opinion of a seller who is surely looking to get this RV sold. Or, you could become a professional yourself.

In my opinion, learning enough about RV’s to make an educated buying decision is just good common sense. What you learn before you get the RV will certainly carry over into what you’ll need to know to keep your new rig in tip-top shape while you are on the road later.

Being “armed and dangerous” with some knowledge can save you the wasted time and money of getting a lemon. And, more importantly, it’s going to save you the stress of having problems while you are out on the open road.

So where do you go to get professional knowledge about finding a great RV for the right price? Right Here. Someone has already done all of the hard work and put together a great ebook that you can download immediately that’s going to make sure you get a gem of an RV.

Some of the good things about this ebook over the other resources out there are that it contains:

* The insider secrets of RV inspection
* The Truth About How To Buy A Used Rv
* Proven Tips, Tools and Tactics To Buy A Used Rv
* Step by step road map to the selection of a trouble free used RV.
* How to spot problems before you buy!
* What-to-look for and especially what to look-out for!
* Download over the Internet – get yours instantly!

So if you are even considering getting a Used RV, 5th Wheel, Trailer, Camper, or Caravan anytime soon then head over and see if this ebook is for you.

It’s that time of year again; time to get ready for another great camping season. We need to wake the RV up from its deep winter sleep and give it a good spring check up. If we take a little time and check everything out now, the RV will be ready to go when you’re ready to hit the road. In the military this is referred to as preventive maintenance. Maintenance you can perform on your RV before a problem exists. Maintenance designed to prevent or identify potential problems that could lead to mechanical breakdown, malfunction or failure of a component or system on your RV. Basically it consists of cleaning, inspecting, lubricating, adjusting and servicing your RV. Let’s get started.

*Depending on how your unit was winterized it will need to be de-winterized. If you used non-toxic RV antifreeze you need to run fresh water through the entire system until the antifreeze is gone. To remove it from the 12-volt water pump add water to the fresh water-holding tank, turn the pump on and open all of the water faucets. When the antifreeze is out of the system turn the pump off and take the water heater out of the by-pass mode (if applicable). Replace any water filter cartridges you removed for storage.

*At this point I like to sanitize the water system. Make sure all of the drains are closed and drain plugs are installed. Take a quarter cup of household bleach for every fifteen gallons of water your fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach with water into a one-gallon container and pour it in to the fresh water holding tank. Fill the fresh water holding tank completely full of water. Turn the pump on and run water through each hot and cold faucet, until you smell the bleach. Close the faucets and let it sit for twelve minutes. Drain all of the water and re-fill the tank with fresh water. Turn the pump on and open all faucets until you no longer smell any bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process to eliminate all signs of bleach.

*With water in the fresh water holding tank turn the 12-volt water pump on and pressurize the water system until the pump shuts off. If the water pump cycles back on, even for a short period of time, there is a leak somewhere. Locate the leak and repair it or take it to an authorized RV service center to be repaired.

*Check the operation of the toilet. Add several gallons of water to the black water holding tank and treat the tank with holding tank chemicals.

*Wash the unit thoroughly. This is a good time to inspect the roof, body seams, and window sealant for cracking that would allow water to get in. Inspect sealants everywhere the manufacturer cut a hole in the RV. Consult a dealer for sealants compatible with these materials.

*Inspect the operation of the awning, clean and check the awning fabric for any damage. Inspect the tires for signs of dry rot. Inflate all tires to the recommended cold tire pressure. Lubricate all hinges and locks with spray lubricant.

*Remove any tape or protective covering you may have put over LP gas vents to keep insects and rodents out. Check any mousetraps you may have put out. Open all doors and compartments and check for rodent intrusion and water damage.

*Inspect and clean the interior of the RV.

*Plug in any appliances that you unplugged for storage and replace any dry cell batteries you may have removed. This is a good time to put new batteries in items like smoke alarms.

*Test the operation of the carbon monoxide detector, LP gas leak detector and smoke alarm.

*Check the fire extinguisher. Be sure it is fully charged.

*Reset any breakers you may have turned off. If you removed any fuses for storage re-install them.

*Clean or replace air conditioner filters if it wasn’t done prior to storage and remove any covers that were put over air conditioners.

*Open vents and windows and air the unit out.

*If you removed the coach and chassis batteries for storage install them. Whether they were removed or not check the electrolyte levels, clean the terminals and clamps, and check the state of charge in all batteries. Recharge batteries as necessary.

*Check the operation of the electric steps if applicable. Lubricate step mechanism.

*Test the operation of the hydraulic jacks if applicable. Check hydraulic fluid level.

*Test the operation of the back up camera and monitor if applicable.

*If you didn’t change the oil and filters in the generator prior to storage this is a good time to do it.

*Inspect the generator exhaust system for any damage prior to starting it. Start and run the generator for one hour with at least a half rated load on it. Consult the generators owner manual for proper load ratings.

*Turn the generator off and plug the unit in to shore power. Turn the refrigerator on in the electric mode. Allow sufficient time for it to cool and check for proper operation.

*Check all 12-volt interior lights and accessories.

*Test the monitor panel for proper operation.

*Check the operation of slide outs if applicable.

*Check the remaining 120-volt appliances for proper operation.

*Test the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) for proper operation.

*Turn the refrigerator off, leave the doors open and allow sufficient time for it to get to room temperature so it can be checked in the gas mode.

*Before I use the LP gas system I have a leak test and gas operating pressure test preformed. A qualified technician with the proper equipment should do these tests.

*Turn the LP gas valve on and check the operation of all LP gas appliances. Be sure the water heater is full of water before testing the water heater. If a gas appliance is not operating properly have it inspected by a qualified technician. Insects are attracted to the odorant added to LP gas and build nests that can affect the appliance from operating properly.

*If your unit was in long-term storage and you didn’t change the engine oil and filter prior to storage this would be a good time to do it.

*Check all fluid levels in the transmission, power steering, engine coolant, engine oil, windshield washer and brakes. Consult vehicle owner’s manual.

*Start the engine and check for proper readings on all gauges. Check for proper operation of the dash air conditioner.

*Chassis lubrication should be preformed if it wasn’t done prior to storage.

*Check the condition of windshield wiper blades and replace if necessary.

*Check the operation of all chassis lights.

*Make sure the vehicle emissions / inspection sticker is up to date.

In addition to this if you have a pop up or travel trailer the wheel bearings and brakes (if equipped) should be inspected at least once annually. Inspect any canvas for dry rot and tears; inspect all hitch work and the coupler for any damage. Inspect the breakaway switch and pigtail for proper operation. It really doesn’t take a lot of time to get your RV ready for another camping season, and you can rest assured that when it’s time to go camping your RV is ready too. Now for the fun part, load your clothes, food, and personal belongings, hit the road and have fun exploring this wonderful country we live in.

Happy Camping!

Mark

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America’s most highly regarded series of DVD’s, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/

So you’ve decided that running the rat race isn’t meeting the spiritual and emotional bills anymore. Or, you retired and discover that sitting on your buns and playing golf a couple of times a week isn’t enough to keep you occupied. Or, just maybe, you are a twenty-something individual that doesn’t want to get locked into a life of servitude to meet the mortgage payment.

These are all possible reasons to join the ranks of a growing group called “Fulltimers”. As a fulltimer, you live “fulltime” in an RV, Camper, Class A, or motorhome. You might travel from state-to-state or sit stationary. You might work or you might live off of a pension or trust fund. Heck, you could live a million different ways, but as long as you live in an RV then you are a fulltimer.

If you are already a fulltimer, then this isn’t the article for you. I am hoping to talk to the millions of people who are considering the jump to the other side. See, if you are already a fulltimer, then you know how easy it is to just “make the leap”. You would think that what I’m saying here is just too darn easy. You would tell me that all of this is common sense. But if you think back far enough, you can probably remember a time when making the move was just a twinkle in your eye… a time when not getting stuck in rush hour twice a day seemed impossible.

Having weeded out the people who have already made the move, I am now speaking directly to those of you who want to become a fulltimer but is on the fence. That’s you, right? Well the good news is: It is easier than you think. Here are:

4.5 Simple Steps to Becoming a Fulltimer:

1. Get Control of Your Spending: I like to look at my finances like a bucket with a whole lot of leaks. My bucket is my bank account, the leaks are where my money flows out, and the water in the pail is how much money I have. Now, the idea is to get the money to be overflowing like the universe (or God) intends for all of us. In order to get to that abundant place, we have to fix the leaks. Leaks might be a mortgage payment, a cell-phone bill, a cable bill, eating out, etc. I consider a leak anyplace that your money flows out because of bad habits or unconscious spending or monthly recurring bills. This type of spending needs to get nixed and fast. If you are going to be living on the road, you have to learn to spend smart and to cut down on superfluous spending. Truth be told, you don’t have a basement to fill with all of the junk you don’t need to buy anyways. Realize that this is the longest step and may take up to a year to do, but it will be well worth it when it’s all over.

2. Research Your Reasons: If you are hitting the road because you are having problems at work, home, school, relationship problems, or so the bill collectors can’t find you, then you have got to remember the old quote: “Wherever you go, there you are.” Quite simply, if you are running from a situation then you might as well stay at home because wherever you go you are going to find the same problems. In short, the problem is you. Well, more accurately, you are creating your problems. So the point here is to look at your reasons for doing this and ensure that they are good reasons like “adventure”, “exploration”, or something constructive. If that describes you, then read on.

3. Chart a Trajectory: Some people call this setting goals or making a plan. I call it charting a trajectory because trajectories can change and are prone to be more fluid. Whatever you call it, you’ve got to get your thoughts on paper. Some of the things you might want to chart down are:

-When are you leaving your job?
-What does my budget look like?
-What type of rig are you going to get?
-How are you going to keep in touch with family and friends?
-How long are you going to live this way?
-What do you hope to learn from the experience?

Get everything written down and put this sucker on your bathroom mirror to see ten times a day to keep you on track.

4. Quit the Job, Move into the RV, Hit the Road: Now is the time to just do it. A march of one thousand miles begins with one step. So just do it!

4.5 Realize it was a great decision: It’s going to take you a few months to get used to life on the road. It’s OK- you have plenty of time. Enjoy the ups and downs and ride the wave of life. There is going to be a learning curve, but remember that there are plenty of fulltimers out there to keep you safe, comfortable, and happy on this trip to nowhere we call life.