4 Essential Services Available From Leading RV Dealers

Not all RV dealers are the same, and it is very important to make sure you are working with a factory-authorized RV center for quite a few reasons. From RV-sized service bays to a staff that can answer any questions you may have, top-rated RV dealerships offer something for every RV owner, including these essential services. 

1. Sales

The first thing that comes to mind when you talk about RV dealers is that they are the best place to purchase a recreational vehicle. Sure, you could buy from a private owner, but that means a lot of going from place to place to tour RVs that aren't quite what you are looking for. Only RV dealers have multiple units on site to see and choose from, plus the experienced staff to answer any questions you may have.

2. Service

After the sale, RV dealers are the only place to find dedicated service bays large enough to handle any RV. And only authorized service centers can take care of warranty service using the parts and products recommended by the manufacturer. That is a very important distinction because having your RV serviced anywhere else would void the warranty and result in higher out-of-pocket costs. Factory-authorized technicians are one of the best features of a leading RV dealership, but far from the only one.

3. Financing

The ability to get your RV financed on the spot is an appealing feature of RV dealers. You still have the option of getting financed through a third-party lender, but it saves a lot of time and effort to get the financing at the point of sale. If you are purchasing a previously owned RV, you may not be able to get the financing you need from any other source.

4. Consignments

RV dealerships that offer consignments can be a boon to RV buyers and sellers alike. For sellers, consignments mean having your RV featured on the lot for buyers to consider. This increases traffic compared to selling it yourself, simplifies financing with no risk to the seller, and may even net a higher sales price. For buyers, consignments mean more units to choose from, lower prices than buying new, and the potential for after-market features that would be prohibitively expensive to install yourself.

Well-established RV centers have a lot of benefits to offer. From consignments and financing to a supply chain that includes hard-to-find parts for older RVs, the best dealers are a one-stop location for everything you need to make the RV lifestyle easier, simpler, and more enjoyable. 

6 Traits To Look For In Great RV Dealers

Working with great RV dealers can really enhance your RV experience. For most of us, choosing the right RV dealers can be a confusing process. To help you know when you have found great RV dealers, take a look at this list of 6 traits that highlight the kind of RV dealership you should be looking for. 

1. Full Service

Beware of motorhome dealers that are only in the business to make a sale. Instead, look for well-qualified dealerships that offer a full range of services. You never know when you will want to upgrade the interior, repair a collision in the siding, or simply have routine servicing done. For all of that, you need an all-in-one RV center on your team.

2. Service Bays

Putting an RV up on a lift means the dealer first needs to have service bays large enough for a motorhome to pull into. Beware of backyard mechanics-turned-RV-techs. Your RV deserves to be treated like the respectable investment that it is, including an RV service center that has the tools, technicians, and experience to take care of anything that needs to be done.

3. Certified Technicians

Just as the ideal RV center has sufficient service bays, they also need to have RV techs who know what they are doing. Look for factory-authorized dealers with certified technicians on staff. Additionally, your dealership should be well enough established that they have built an extensive and reliable supply chain-- and that can be a huge bonus if you have an older RV that may need hard-to-find parts.

4. Location

If you live in Tracy, California, choosing a dealership in Redding would be a complicated relationship. There are times when you will need to leave your RV at the service center, so make sure the one you decide to work with is close enough for you to get back and forth when necessary.

5. Reputation

Check online reviews, talk to your friends and neighbors, and ask about RV dealers at work. The more you know about other people's experiences, the better you will be able to choose an appropriate RV dealer. Look for centers that have been in business for many years, and pay attention to the responses they have gotten from previous customers.

6. Experience

Finally, choosing to work with an inexperienced RV dealership is likely to lead to disappointment. Experienced dealerships can get you into an RV that is perfect for your needs, and offer advice on how to make the RV lifestyle a happier, more exciting experience for your whole family.

Experienced RV dealerships bring a lot to the table. They know their products, understand the RV lifestyle, with the tools and equipment necessary to keep your motorhome running for many years to come.

5 Indicators That You Are Doing Business With Reputable RV Dealers

RV dealers are not all the same. Some have been around for years and have built a long list of satisfied customers while others are only in it for the short term and their primary goal is to make money from your needs. Here are 5 ways that you can tell a reputable dealer from the others so that you have a good idea of what to look for when making the RV dealership choice.

1. Established Location

Reputable RV dealers have usually been in business for many years, often at the same location. In contrast, less reputable dealers may be leasing their RV lot, leading to occasional moves to new locations, reduced space for models that can be toured, and more. If your RV dealer has only been in business for a short time or is new to the area, you may want to examine them a little closer before deciding they are the right dealer for you.

2. Certified Technicians

You don't want a random fellow with a toolbox working on your RV. RVs are expensive pieces of equipment and often have components that were specifically designed for use in an RV. Backyard mechanics aren't going to have everything they need, including things like large vehicle lifts, and may not have supplier contacts to procure specialized parts.

3. Performs Warranty Work

Authorized RV dealers can perform warranty work such as maintenance and vehicle inspections, while fly-by-night companies may be able to do the work, but void your warranty in the process. In this case, you will need to shop around and make sure that your RV dealer is authorized to work on your specific brand of RV because not all dealers are authorized by all manufacturers.

4. Experienced Staff

When you are dealing with a staff that is experienced and invested in the RV lifestyle, you will have more success in finding what you need, having work done expeditiously, and more. A family-owned RV dealer is often the best kind of dealer because everyone at the company has been involved in RVs since they were young. 

5. Customer Satisfaction

Online reviews and testimonials can help you weed out dealerships that don't care about their customers. Look for people who have been going to the same dealer for years, and pay attention to what services are getting the most attention from customers. Look for dealerships that strive to make their customers feel comfortable and have a history of getting work done right the first time.

Before you choose a dealer, take a little time to read online reviews and testimonials, talk with the dealer about manufacturer certification, and make sure that you feel comfortable working with the staff.  Once you have made the choice, you are going to be interacting with that company for years to come, so choosing the best dealership for your needs at the beginning can make RV ownership a lot more enjoyable and exciting.

Travel Trailer or Motorhome? Which is Best for My Family?

There is a distinct choice between camper types, with travel trailers being more fitting for some and motorhomes fitting other tastes more closely. There is not a cut-and-dried answer to which is best because how you use the RV determines what works best for your family. Travel trailers are more robust, but deciding which is your best choice comes down to how you answer these questions.

Where Will You Camp?

Travel trailers tend to be a little more robust than a motorhome and make a great fixed camp at your travel stops. On the other hand, a motorhome is an all-in-one residence, restaurant, and gear storage. If you enjoy mingling with other people and visiting major attractions, motorhomes are the way to go.

Easy Access or Off-Road?

If you dream of getting off-grid and in touch with nature, motorhomes may be difficult to maneuver into tight places or along winding mountain roads. You can buy a travel trailer with heavy-duty suspension and large tires that go almost anywhere, but you cannot reduce the weight or change the suspension of a motorhome. 

What Will You Do?

Motorhome living areas are accessible while the vehicle is in motion, which means passengers can remain a little more active. Travel trailers are off-limits when they are in motion, but trailers make an excellent base camp when the family wants to explore an area in the tow vehicle. Having a parked campsite is also beneficial to families with pets. It allows the people to visit locations where their pets may not be allowed without leaving the pet in an uncomfortable environment.

Cost Considerations

Considered alone, a travel trailer is much more affordable than a motorhome. It contains a living area and perhaps a storage unit on the back, compared to a motorhome that has living and driving built into a single unit. However, if you have to purchase a towing vehicle for your trailer, such as buying a fifth-wheel trailer that requires special equipment, the cost of that vehicle has to be considered as part of the RV investment. Because you are then buying 2 vehicles of different types the cost could very easily surpass that of a motorhome.

Fuel Cost

Motorhomes are not known for getting great gas mileage. Travel trailers require a tow vehicle that begins with a much higher range per gallon, diminishing as the load of the trailer increases. This can save you hundreds of dollars on a long excursion, or on a trip where the trailer is often parked and the vehicle used as transportation without the cost of pulling a residence along.

The choice between a motorhome and travel trailers leans toward the camper trailer being a more robust option. Motorhomes excel in luxury and convenience if that is your primary goal, but a towable camper is the most applicable for most other applications. The final decision will depend on your own preferences for RV travel, and what you need your RV to do.

5 Ways That Choosing the Right RV Dealers Shapes Your RV Lifestyle Experience

If you have been thinking about taking up the RV lifestyle, authorized RV dealers can be a huge asset. They know what kind of equipment you need for the kind of traveling you want to enjoy, they can offer tips on selecting the best RV or travel trailer, and the best RV centers have a knowledgeable staff that can answer all of your questions about RV ownership, Seeing the country in a motorhome, and much more. The best way to show you how important your RV dealer can be, it's best to look at some of the ways the dealership you choose is going to affect how much you enjoy your new lifestyle.

1. Better Selection

Leading RV centers are typically authorized to sell multiple brands of motorhomes. Even more importantly, they can help you find the model you want, and work with the factory to get your RV built and delivered ASAP even if it isn't already on the lot.

2. Experienced Staff

Having a staff of knowledgeable people available who know the RV business inside and out can help you start your RV lifestyle on the right track. They can give you information that only comes from years in the business, and provide you with tips and hacks that simplify RV life. These tips are themselves garnered from years of dealing with customers who have already been there, and learning from others will save you a lot of guesswork and mistakes along the way.

3. RV Service Bays

An ordinary auto shop is not usually the best place to have RV repairs made. Their bays are designed for much smaller, lighter vehicles than RVs, and a motorhome requires a different range of skills than just automotive repairs. RV centers have large bays that accommodate larger vehicles, technicians who are familiar with the motor, chassis, and construction of the whole motorhome. RV centers repair everything from balding tires to water tanks, and that includes working with both AC and DC electrical current.

4. Onsite Warranty and Maintenance FulfIllment

Auto mechanics are not the same as authorized RV repair centers. If your motorhome is still under warranty, you need an RV dealer to honor the warranty, perform warranted maintenance, and generally make sure that everything that gets done to your RV is in conjunction with your warranties rather than voiding them away.

5. Building RV Relationships

A working relationship with a good RV dealer can be like joining a network of RV-minded people. The best RV dealers have been in business for many years, have developed a network of partners, and discovered the best places to get even the most difficult-to-find parts. A dealer that does not have RV bays, can't locate rare parts, or doesn't know how to replace the faucet in your kitchen sink, is not offering you a full range of services and that will make your adventures less enjoyable.

The RV lifestyle is a lot of fun, but you will enjoy it more by starting out with an RV dealer that already knows where to go, how to avoid breakdowns, and what to do when something goes wrong will ultimately lead to a more exciting, less stressful mobile lifestyle.