How To Buy a Used RV - Part 1

If you are on a tight budget and can't afford a new model RV you might consider buying a used RV. Here are a few suggestions for finding a used, affordable RV:

1. Check newspaper listings. Look in the listings of your local or state daily paper's classifieds. Most towns and cities have a free shoppers circular that is mostly classified listings.

2. Check for any consignment lots in your area. RV owners who aren't interested in having strangers to their home often will park their RV at a consignment lot.

3. Run a "want to buy" listing in the classified section of your local paper.

4. Watch for campers parked curbside, in driveways, or front yards with "For Sale" signs posted on them.

5. Drive through local RV and Mobile Home Parks and watch for RV's with for sale signs posted on them.

When you find an RV you are interested in purchasing, don't fall in love with it and be too eager to buy. You could regret a hasty decision for a long time. If you aren't familiar with the functioning of an RV, bring a friend along who is. The chances are excellent that there will be one or more (usually more) components not working that will have to be repaired.

Keep a notebook with you when you do an inspection and make note of every fault. You'll find problems, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. RV's can be repaired and you'll use your inspection checklist to negotiate a price on your terms.

It is a good idea to have the owner with you while you inspect the RV so that he or she can observe your inspection notes. When you have completed your inspection you'll likely have a lengthy list of repairs needed. This will be your leverage to make a low-ball offer on the trailer. After all, you will either have to pay for the repairs or live with them as is.

If the RV owner doesn't accept your low offer, don't worry too much about it and go on to the next RV. Give them your name and telephone number and tell them to call you if they change their mind.

Let two or three weeks pass and call them back to see if they have sold the RV yet. They may be very happy to hear from you and accept the offer you made. If you are really interested in the RV, offer a slightly higher price this time. If they don't accept your offer, don't worry about it and call them back in another three or four weeks.

Sooner or later, you're going to pick up a genuine bargain on an RV. You'll have possibly saved quite a bit of money and in the process learned some negotiating skills.

In part 2 of this article, we'll explore the things you should be looking for when you inspect a used RV you're considering buying.

William Smith lived, and traveled fulltime in an RV travel trailer for over 12 years, and maintains a website dedicated to educating people about the RV lifestyle.

Visit http://www.happyvagabonds.com to learn more about RV living.

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2008-10-12-nuggets-suns-outdoors_N.htmcid=1256388697ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNGqwW6INSZj2rYDzifU7fRzksCFfQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=VOnF2Y9eNcMJimgurl=i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2008/10/11/nba-topper.jpg width=80 height=46 alt= border=1brfont size=-2USA Today/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/2008/10/11/20081011spt-suns.htmlcid=1256388697ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNFNAxleHvXQjUBRuQOgVi365lXa8gSuns fall on chilly night boutdoors/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fArizona Republic,nbsp;AZnbsp;-/font nobrOct 11, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The forecast for the first NBA boutdoor/b game in 36 years was expecting play in the 60s and 70s Saturday night. That nearly held true for the score, too, b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nba.com/suns/news/indian_wells_081010.htmlcid=1256388697ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNHOTM_UBs-W-I0V0aMS18Q5wSwi_AFollowing Busy Year, Suns Ready For Great bOutdoors/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSuns.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nba.com/2008/news/features/dave_mcmenamin/10/12/101108mcmenaminoutdoor/cid=1256388697ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNEIVxfq0crgvSi3D1uUzNikYHSY8wNBA#39;s boutdoor/b game sees shooting, barometer drop/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNBA.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mydesert.com/article/20081011/SPORTS02/810110306/1026/news12cid=1256388697ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNHuneUu_64iBl7eQeLrL-SKmw-bywNBA goes boutdoors/b in historic event/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Desert Sun/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g45h9_YJKOMaxo-NfzVEboMe0DNgcid=1256388697ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNE_bWvZU9Rmg5_hVYS5kvq__R0ccwnobrThe Canadian Press/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/124632cid=1256388697ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNHrKLCnsVctumrh-ilQMrdVVMsutQnobrSportsBusiness Daily (subscription)/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256388697hl=ennobrall 149 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/outdoors/report/6056453.htmlcid=0ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNH-MtEygQYhvoN-xXCddIXi6pw4sQbOUTDOORS/b REPORT: Oct. 14/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fHouston Chronicle,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Guide Paul Stanton of Aqua Safari Charters reported good catches of bull sharks and redfish around the jetty and in state waters. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x1261522125/Valuable-lessons-taught-outdoorscid=1257548662ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNHj3-DF8I7HLoccn2jysq69A_KTRAValuable lessons taught boutdoors/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTaunton Daily Gazette,nbsp; USAnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1“We really encourage boutdoor/b learning about nature, the weather and science.” Recently, her young students learned about the milkweed plant. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://westernfrontonline.net/2008101310345/art-life/cooking-it-up-in-the-great-outdoors/cid=0ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNFpSijaZ4Kwfmuh94gdU09I7aAU_wCooking it up in the great boutdoors/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWestern Front,nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Administrator bOutdoor/b Center employees James White and Ellie Chatman show off cooking gear they will be using for a backcountry cooking clinic they will b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1587342/walking_outdoors_ideal_setting/cid=0ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNEecxaknlWzAmE5tot_FU3gLjHESwWalking bOutdoors/b Ideal Setting/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fRedOrbit,nbsp;TXnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Your mind and your blood pressure would prefer you to put on a cozy pullover and walk in a nice boutdoor/b area, or find a long corridor in your building with b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/outdoors/report/6054839.htmlcid=0ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNEU1jj_scOvpyEp5yz-lfvhGGYMSwbOUTDOORS/b REPORT/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fHouston Chronicle,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrOct 12, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Lots of rat reds along the shorelines of Moses Lake on small topwaters and live shrimp. Tides remain stable with the southerly winds but expect bird action b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.knpr.org/psa/detailNEW.cfm%3FEventID%3D10018cid=0ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNHKZ314Vs7si1-4av6-I56A8OD89wSee #39;Babe#39; boutdoors/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fKNPR,nbsp;NVnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Family films will be shown in the Centennial Hills Park Amphitheatre on October 10 and November 14. Both start at 7:00 and admission is free. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081013/NEWS0103/810130355/1026/ENTcid=0ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNHbRrtD1IGNBBsIOFZ_eEwFeVtZdATavern applies for seats boutdoors/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCincinnati.com,nbsp;OHnbsp;-/font nobr15 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Cindy Schroeder • cschroeder@nky.com • October 13, 2008 FORT MITCHELL - Next spring, owners of the Grandview Tavern restaurant plan to offer boutdoor/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008263498_mountaineers14m.htmlcid=0ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNFmvduxJZWcC7iYrSEvTDQPrB9b-wWith new club, The Mountaineers reach out/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSeattle Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;You can#39;t drive by that building and not see the boutdoors/b,quot; said President Eric Linxweiler. The building, which the Mountaineers will occupy in November, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1453204.htmcid=1257188782ei=THL0SPyZE4mE6QOepdiZDQusg=AFQjCNHNMEgoUg097FDbKW7wJBlqr1qJTABulls amp; Beavers and Henricks bOutdoors/b Join Forces on bOutdoor/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobrOct 13, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1HenricksOutdoors.com), a leading publisher of niche Web sites that cover fishing, hunting, and other boutdoor/b activities, in co-branding and marketing the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
outdoors - Google News


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