Dennis Dillon RV & Marine Center

New & Used Motor Home RV Values - Blue Book & NADA
By Nina Romanov

Unlike the guides for automobiles which are based on analyses of actual car prices, the Blue Book and NADA guides are based primarily on a percentage of the manufacturer's suggested retail price (M.S.R.P.). These guides may be nowhere near the actual current resale value.

The guides include many options in the M.S.R.P. so it is hard to know which, if any, options you should include. This makes it easy for options to be charged twice. A better way to find the resale value of RV's is to look at other mobile homes of the same class, make and model. Check for similar amenities and base your price on that. If you are looking to buy a used RV, these comparisons can help you determine if the price quoted to you is a fair and reasonable price.

Motor home RV values should be based on actual selling prices of similar mobile homes, taking into consideration factors like age and overall condition. Are there dents or leaks? Has the unit been properly maintained on a regular basis? Do all of the appliances work? If this is a motorized rig, what is the mileage? Is it above or below the average? Does it run well for the mileage? Check all accessories that came with or were added, such as the air conditioner, satellite dishes, back up mirrors, awnings, solar panels and kitchen appliances. Does it all work? If you are selling your rig, making sure all of these items are in good condition can greatly increase your selling price.

Use the Blue Book and NADA values as a starting point and then adjust your price, or offer if you are buying, up or down according to the condition of the RV. You can increase the value of your motor home by sprucing it up. Add new curtains, makes sure it is spotless and update appliances. These simple maneuvers can add hundreds to your selling price. There are many variables in motor homes to be considered. Is it a towable or motorized? How many can it sleep? What appliances are included? What does the maintenance record tell you? If you have a late model motor home to sell, you may want to have an appraisal done to insure that you bet the best price possible. Some large RV dealers provide this service and will even broker a deal for you for a small fee.

The type of RV you want to sell or buy also has an influence on your profit or cost. Obviously, a luxury motor coach will garner a larger selling price than a travel trailer or pop-up camper. As a potential buyer you need to just decide how much you can spend for an RV, what type of motor home you want and what amenities you consider necessary, than with all of this in mind start looking around. There are dozens of online sites you can browse and check out the class of mobile home you want. Many of these sites have interior and exterior pictures along with a list of amenities. Of course you will want to find a dealer in your area so that you can physically inspect the used rig yourself before you buy. Ask to see the maintenance record if available. If you are buying from a dealer ask about a warranty.

The Blue Book and NADA guide are useful tools as a starting point. You need to take into consideration the age and condition of the unit, as well as amenities available.

Dennis Dillon RV & Marine note: An additional consideration is current market conditions. Namely, what are similar units bringing at auction? This variable, more than any other, will affect the price of your trade--sometimes adversely, but many times favorably.

Original article available here:  Ezine Articles

Posted: 1/4/2012 4:45 p.m.

Water: An RV's Worst Enemy

As we enter into "wet" months and that time where some RVs end up with snow piling on the roof (if not in enclosed storage), it's a good time to remember that water is the worst enemy an RV has. Some things to think about as you decide how that RV is going to spend its winter months:

·         Check any seams for wear, cracking or anything else that looks "suspect." Reseal as needed with a quality sealant. Our man Casey can help you decide what's best for your make and model of RV. He can be emailed at cstewart@dennisdillon.com or call him at x113.

·         Check inside for any signs of leaking. Whether it's "soft spots" in the cabinetry or discoloration in the wallpaper, a small outward sign can mean big trouble inside.

·         Pay special attention to any water-bearing areas like plumbing, pipes, shower, vent openings and the like. Water may not only be trying to get in from the outside. It may be trying to exit your RV through unauthorized channels!

·         Got a window on your Class C in the bed over the cab? Check that area again and again. Water likes to get in, but when it's driven at 65 mph, it finds it all that much easier to do so.

If you're wary of walking on the roof, or if you roof is not a full walk-on roof, give us a call. We'll take a look up top for you and show you what we've found. We want you to enjoy your RV for years to come.

Posted: 12/28/2011  4:20 p.m.

Decoding a VIN - A Little-known Web Tool
Looking to get a little additional information--or just confirm the information you've already been given? Sometimes, a nice place to start is to check the VIN. This number will tell you a variety of things. Here's a sample VIN for a Class A motorhome:

Region:	1	5	North America
Country:	1-2	5B	U.S.A.
Manufacturer:	2-3	B4	Unknown
Model Specific:	4-8	MP67G	Unknown
Check Digit:	9	9	Valid
Year:	10	8	2008
Assembly Plant:	11	3	3
Serial Number:	12-17	431505	431505

With RVs, sometimes the Manufacturer and Model Specific data don't register, but most of the other data will. This unit shows a US manufacture, year, location of build and a serial number. (Incidentally, what you don't see here is that this unit is a National RV Seabreeze--just in case you were curious.)

Want to see this tool in action? Here's the URL to run the VIN yourself: http://www.analogx.com/contents/vinview.htm. Go and use the tool, but promise us you'll come back to DennisDillonRV.com!

As always, if you have any questions on your RV, an RV that you are looking into, or anything else RV- or boat-related, please give us a call. We'll be glad to help!

Posted: 12/23/2011  12:05 p.m.