GET DIRECTIONS
Summer probably seems a long way away to many of you. So spending money now on something you won’t use until
next year might not make good financial sense.
Or does it?
If you’ve ever thought about buying a recreational vehicle – whether it be a camper, a trailer or a motorhome, winter
might be the best time to take the plunge. With 3/4 of our country experiencing snow and cold right now and the average person not even
considering this type of “warm weather” purchase…well…you get the picture!
Travel trailers are sold for much higher margins than a regular car or truck. That may be because the vast majority of the sales occur only in
the summer months. Pay attention to these facts and you will probably conclude that NOW’S THE TIME to buy and save!
BETTER PRICES
As demand goes down, so do prices and the best deals for summer fun can be made when the snow is flying!
Businesses that sell these RVs have costs that don’t go down in the winter. As they become desperate to make a sale to pay on-going monthly expenses
they’ll probably be more flexible with pricing, promotional discounts and financing.
THINK LESS THAN NEW
“Last year’s” inventory could also yield you big savings. Just like car dealers, RV suppliers need to move out the old to make room for the new.
The “old” is still “new” to you…we’re not talking about pre-owned RVs. It’s a new unit, it just has 2019 as the manufactured date, instead of 2020.
But while we are at it, pre-owned RVs have the same cost savings advantages when you buy them in the colder months, also. Ask your local storage
facility if they know of units that are for sale. Current owners looking to sell their units in the spring may see an advantage to getting out from under
a storage contract and may cut you a deal to make that happen.
BE READY TO GO
For those who wait to buy until spring or early summer, prices are not only at their peak but inventory can be slim if you wait too long. You’ll also run the risk
that if you want to add amenities, you’ll have to wait because EVERYONE will be asking for the same attention from the maintenance department.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Shop every single dealership where you live. Then shop those within a 100-200 miles radius.
And know this fun fact: the hub for manufacturing RVs in the America is Indiana. If you find something locally that you liked, it’s worth checking out the model number/name
of the trailer with dealerships around the country. But remember to add the cost of freight into the mix of you don’t plan to go pick it up yourself. And on that note,
maybe you could combine a little vacation with your RV pick up. Warm weather states like Florida and California have LOTS of options, including
lightly used units.
The average RV is traded in or sold every three years. This means that there is usually a high volume of used units on the market. More inventory = Less price.
At the very least, check out your local dealerships, Craig’s List and RVTrader.com.
COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES
Pricing with dealerships can be misleading. Add ons and missing offers can be the reason the exact same RV can have very different pricing at different dealerships.
Here are some things to think and ask about.
• Does the dealership offer free winterizing?
• Does the dealership offer discounted storage?
• Are the freight and processing fees included in the price quote?
• Are the hoses included?
• How many batteries does the unit require and are all batteries included in the cost?
• Check sales tax – states differ.
• Is the spare tire included?
• Is the generator included?
GET ONE LAST THING FREE
If you’re shopping at a dealership that has a parts and accessories department. After you get EVERYTHING you
need at the price you want…ask for one last thing to seal the deal. A $250 gift card for accessories costs them a fraction of that
cost due to markup – but it will save you on the little nickel and dime items you’ll need and want.
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