Happy Friday Good RV Turners!!
I received a nice note from Lisa Harris today (see below) who's really getting into RVing. Lisa attended the GRNARR -- Great North American RV Rally -- last week that was held in Redmond, OR. Remember, next year they're just going to call it The Ralley. Makes me want to say: GRNARR!! Lisa's email on the event are provided below.
NOTE: Lisa, thanks for your kind words about the site, and thanks again for you note. Oh, Lisa also sent a photo of the King of the Rig content too.
Have a great weekend!
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I felt like a kid at camp at Great North American RV Rally in Redmond, Oregon. The weather was great, the setting was beautiful, everyone was friendly, and nobody left empty handed. In fact, I won some great prices too!!
As a newbie to the RV world, I went to learn about RVing from the greatest experts around – RVers themselves!
Good Sam VIP’s “King of the Rig” contest was a big draw – the grand prize winner won $5,000! Not a bad way to leave a rally!
I would definitely attend the Daytona rally after this great experience. As a start to my future in RVing, I bought a Good Sam Club Membership, and have started actively reading the postings on RV.net to learn as much as I can before I become a full timer.
RVers are the nicest people in the world – I made new friends, got a wealth of information, and had the best time!
Thanks for letting me share my rally experience on Good RV Turns! I am a big fan of your site!
Lisa Harris
Santa Barbara, CA
Newbie RVer ;-)
RVing is red hot, and RV travel in the coming months is expected to outpace traditional travel by 33 percent. Plus, RV sales are booming. What does this all mean? If you're in the insurance bix it means more insurance claims.
Do you know what top 5 claims are processed the most? Go on -- make a few guesses!
You might be surprised to learn that the top five claims includes things having to do with pets, gas stations and refrigerators among others. The unofficial list was published by GMAC Insurance. If you don't already know, GMAC services Good Sam's Emergency Road Service, VIP Insurance as well as the Continued Service Plan. In fact, Good Sam offers special discounts to Good Sam Club members that you can't find anywhere else.
The list and the press release are provided below.
Hope you're enjoying a great holiday and Summer!!
Todd
ST. LOUIS -- 4th of July Vacations: RV Travel Soars, On-Road Safety More Critical Than Ever
Fourth of July is the unofficial start of the summer vacation season, and this year, more Americans than ever are touring the country in Recreational Vehicles (RVs). RV sales are at a 27-year high, and the increase in RV travel in the coming months is expected to outpace traditional travel by 33.5 percent (source: RVIA.org).
As more people jump into RVing, it's critical to know the basics for driving and operating these big rigs. To help keep the roads safe this summer, RV experts at GMAC Insurance, the nation's leading RV insurance specialist, issued the top five RV claims along with tips to avoid getting into these situations.
GMAC Insurance top five RV claims:
1. Refrigerator fires and propane tanks. GMAC Insurance receives at least 400 claims per year due to refrigerator fires caused by leaking propane tanks. A rig can burn up in as fast as six minutes as a result of leaks in the propane tank system. Another problem: Tailgating sports fans wanting to show their support have even painted their tanks the teams' colors. Dark colors more readily absorb the sun's rays and can cause the tank to overheat and explode.
-- How to avoid it? First, don't paint your propane tank. Second, have propane tank lines and connections checked by a certified RV dealer each year.
2. Hitting gas station overhangs and bridges. Forgetting the RV's height and getting lodged under the gas station overhang has ruined more than one vacation.
-- How to avoid it? Create a constant reminder by posting a sticky note with your RV's height on your dashboard.
3. Forgetting to retract steps and awnings. Just as some of us forget to take our gas caps off the top of our cars, RVers often forget to retract the steps and awnings on their RVs. Open attachments can be torn off the side of an RV, leaving gaping holes.
-- How to avoid it? Use a pre-trip checklist that includes a reminder to retract the awnings and steps.
4. Tire blowouts. The three major causes of tire blow-outs are: over or under inflating tires, old tires wearing out and water tank damage.
-- How to avoid it? Clean your tires and keep them blocked from the sun's damaging rays whenever possible. Also, check your tire pressure regularly and purchase new tires every seven years, regardless of mileage or visible wear.
5. Animal infestation. When RVs sit over the winter months, mice and squirrels like to make your RV their home. They chomp through wires and lines, debilitating the entire vehicle.
-- How to avoid it? Start your RV every week to scare the animal guests away.
Information, information, information.
Trailer Life Directory is packed with information on the best RV Park, campgrounds and RV travel resources.
In fact, the new 2005 Trailer Life RV Parks, Campgrounds & Services Directory is your own personal portal for complete campground and RV Park information. The Directory lists all Good Sam Club discount locations and full details for over 1,000,000 RV Park Sites in the US, Canada and Mexico.
There's also an Exclusive Triple Rating System with over 300,000 changes since 2004. As Dad always says "Know before you go!" So hit the road with the right resources full of great information with Trailer Life.
I ran into this blog -- Flying Cloud -- about a couple that is restoring a 1963 Flying Cloud Airstream. This thing is going to be beautiful.
Brian and Leigh look like they are having a blast but have certainly hit a few road bumps before the start of their journey. I'm going to drop them a line about Good Sam Club's Emergency Road Side Assistance. Oh, they've also posted a schedule of their trip on the blog as well.
You can also read my post on RV insurance here.
Are you paying too much for your RV Insurance? Click here for a free quote from Good Sam VIP
If you're looking to gain access to millions of people who want to buy or sell new or used RVs this summer you'll need to visit www.rvsearch.com
Here's a favoriate I'm adding to my wish list a 2003 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40' W/3 Slides:
In addition to some great spotlights on current RVs for sale, I recommend taking a look at the buying and selling tips that offer some tips.
RVSearch.com has Six Great Tips When Buying an RV:
1. Be just as careful as if buying through your local newspaper.
2. Don't put your money down until you do the following:
i. Acquire and verify the seller's address, phone number and e-mail address
ii. Match the address to the title to the RV, and if they don't match, find out why.
iii. Get a detailed statement from the seller that specifies whether the RV is being sold to you with a warranty or "as is". This can be in addition to the receipt, or included on the receipt.
3. Consider having a professional inspection performed by a qualified RV mechanic on any vehicle you plan to purchase.
4. Know what your state requires to transfer the title to the RV from the seller to a buyer, and fulfill those requirements. This information can usually be found from your local Division of Motor Vehicles.
5. Consider using an escrow service to smooth the transition of goods between you and the seller. They will hold your payment until you receive the RV you purchased. Be sure to find a reputable escrow service before turning over any money; your Better Business Bureau and/or your attorney may be able to help with this. In addition, be sure you understand all the terms of any escrow agreement.
6. Don't allow yourself to be tempted by a deal that seems too good to be true, unless you have enough facts to assure yourself of a good result. Be skeptical, be smart, and you'll be successful.
