Motorhome Ownership

Today's motor homes or recreational vehicles have all the comforts of home. If your wallet can afford it, they come with plasma TV's, washers and dryers, ceramic tile floors and granite countertops and with spaces that are professionally designed.

The best known type of motor home is the Type A, or recreational vehicle. This is the roomiest of all motor homes, the largest, and the most expensive. They come fully equipped with all the luxurious amenities as listed above, plus some. Some recreational vehicles come with custom stained glass and large garden/tub showers. Recreational Vehicles come up to 45 feet in length and generally range between $85,000 used and $400,000 new. Don't forget, they get somewhere between 5 and 8 miles per gallon. This is another consideration. If you can't swallow that type of gas mileage you may want to consider another form of motor home.

A Type B motor home category includes van campers and travel trailers. The van campers generally range from 18 feet to 22 feet in length and can comfortable sleep four. A fully contained van camper can have a shower, toilet, kitchen, TV, couches and beds. The beds are close together, affording less privacy than a travel trailer or recreational vehicle. Most only have enough head room to allow for full standing in the center of the vehicle. Much smaller than the Type A motor homes they have less storage area. The van campers range in price between $43,000 and $70,000.

Travel trailers come in sizes 16 feet to 38 feet. They range in price from $6,000. for a used trailer upwards to $45,000 for a new travel trailer. You can generally find a fairly wide range of amenities in travel trailers. The larger the size the more you can sleep and the more likely you will be to have a private bedroom area.

A lot of travelers like the fact that they can park their travel trailer in a trailer park and take their vehicle touring the area. It does however take lots of practice learning how to properly drive with a travel trailer hitched to the back of your SUV.

When you are considering the purchase of a new motor home there are some of the same considerations you have when purchasing a new car. Remember, a dealer can take advantage of an uneducated customer. Do your homework. Know how much you should be paying before you visit the dealership. Ask to see the MSRP (manufacturers suggested retail price) for the vehicle. Remember, dealers receive nice incentives from manufacturers so they have a 15% to 35% mark-up.

Don't take the first deal that you are offered. Visit two or three dealerships. Make sure that the dealership you buy your motor home from has good follow up service. A lot of dealers are your best friends while you're buying the motor home. Once they've sold you the motor home they don't want to be bothered. Check with the Better Business Bureau and family and friends who have motor homes.