Category: The RV Blog

Motorized RV traveling through Yellowstone National Park on camping trip.

The best part of owning an RV in the United States are the perfect camping locations around every corner of the country. From north to south, east to west, there’s a beautiful campground to visit and enjoy the great outdoors. But when it comes to planning the perfect trip, you can’t beat RV camping in national parks. With 59 national parks to visit, how do you choose where to start? Read our take on the best national parks for RV camping, plus a few bonus tips for planning your trip!

Congratulations, you are a new RV owner! With a season full of excitement and travel plans, you may simply be storing your RV in your driveway between camping trips. It’s possible you haven’t give much thought to what you’ll do with your RV when the camping season is over and the snow starts to fly. However, RV storage is a big part of RV ownership, so it’s important to know some of the ins and outs of RV storage so you can make your post camping season plans.

Congratulations, you are a new RV owner! With a season full of excitement and travel plans, you may simply be storing your RV in your driveway between camping trips. It’s possible you haven’t give much thought to what you’ll do with your RV when the camping season is over and the snow starts to fly. However, RV storage is a big part of RV ownership, so it’s important to know some of the ins and outs of RV storage so you can make your post camping season plans.

Why You Should Care About RV Storage

Your RV is a big investment. Storing it properly will keep it protected from the elements as well as theft and damage. Properly stored RVs maintain their value much better than those left out to face Mother Nature unprotected.

Proper off-season RV storage can also reduce maintenance needs. For example, when tires are protected from UV damage while they are being stored, they will last longer and require less frequent repair or replacement.

During the colder months, RV storage helps prevent issues that may arise from improper or non-existent winterization. When the camping season kicks up again, the RVs that have benefitted from proper RV storage will be ready to hit the road.

Common RV Storage Locations

On Your Property

The most logical place for RV storage is on your own property. The question boils down to whether you have enough room or not. An ideal RV storage would be in a large barn, garage, or outbuilding if you have one. If not, RVs can be stored outside. When storing outdoors, it is a good idea to invest in an RV cover as well as wheel covers. If it is feasible, store along the east side your home or garage to protect it from the wind and weather as much as possible.

Rented Storage Unit

When you don’t have room on your own property, you can look into rental space for your RV storage. It is common for self-storage companies to offer storage for large RVs. There may be indoor, outdoor or even carport-type covered outdoor RV storage options depending on the company. You can choose the type of storage depending on what is available in your area and what fits your budget. No matter which kind of storage you decide upon, it can be a good way to protect your investment.

Should I Store My RV Inside or Outside?

Unless you already have a large enough facility on your own property to store your RV inside, cost is generally the determining factor. When it comes to RV storage, the biggest reason RV owners choose to store outdoors is to save on storage costs. While indoor RV storage offers more protection from the elements, it is still possible to protect your RV by parking it away from direct sunlight, using RV covers, and protecting the tires. Tires should be protected from direct contact with the ground as well as using covers to block sunlight. RV skirting is another layer of protection that can be utilized when it comes to outdoor RV storage.

Before You Put Your RV into Storage

There are several things you need to do prior to storing your RV for the winter. Just like pipes in your home can freeze and burst causing all kinds of trouble, water left in the plumbing lines in your RV can freeze when temperatures drop and cause them to burst, too. Your water tanks are also vulnerable, as well as the fittings. So you can see why one of the most important steps in winterizing for RV storage is bleeding the water lines and know how to winterize your RV before storing for the winter.

There are other important steps when winterizing your RV. You’ll want to clean out your RV before storage – especially any food items that may be left in cupboards! If you haven’t taken all food out of your RV and cleaned it well, any crumb you may leave behind is an invitation to uninvited guests! There are plenty of pests who would be more than willing to take up residence in your RV for the winter, so don’t leave any traces of food.

It’s also a good idea to follow safety precautions regarding batteries and propane when preparing for RV storage. These items are flammable and must be handled appropriately in order to avoid damages.

When warmer weather arrives, make sure you follow the steps to de-winterize after all those months of RV storage. Then you’ll be ready to head out for another season of fun, travel, and camping adventures. 

Contact RV Wholesale Superstore 

The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (419) 786-1126

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RVs are just like homes. And like homes, that means you may find the perfect one and keep it forever, or you may look to make a switch sometime after your initial purchase. For the latter crowd, that means you’ll be going through the process of selling an RV – something that may make you a bit anxious. After all, your RV was a major investment and you want to get the most out of your sale!

Read on to learn some of the our best tips for selling an RV so you can feel confident when it’s time to upsize to a new model, downsize for easier travel, or anything else that might make you want to switch things up as an RV owner.

Timing is Everything

Unsurprisingly, the time you choose to sell makes a huge difference in RVs. This isn’t too dissimilar to how selling a home is easier between school years, since people are ready and want to get moved and settled before next session starts.

When it comes to RVs, the best time to sell your RV is the early spring, such as late March, April or May. As the days grow warmer and the outside looks more appealing, RV lovers and campers looking to get their first RVs will start to feel the pull towards adventure.

If you capitalize on this moment, you may be able to stretch the value of your RV a bit more. Even if you don’t, you’re more likely to turn your “for sale RV” into a “sold RV” in the least amount of time. After all, most people don’t enjoy the process of listing their goods and negotiating with dozens of potential buyers. If you’re selling, you want to get your RV on the market and off your property as soon as possible.

A Special Tip on Timing

If you’re on the fence about selling your RV, right now (at the time of this article’s publishing) is a great time to consider it! RVs are harder to come by right now, which means the new and used markets are limited. Your RV is likely to have some purchase interest right away as RV enthusiasts are looking at every available model within their shopping range.

A Clean RV is an Easier Sell

Before you even consider selling your RV you’ll need to do some prep work. Hopefully you’ve kept your RV fairly clean, but either way, it’s time to thoroughly clean it so it looks like it’s never been used. This won’t be like any cleaning you’ve done before – you need to attend to every surface inside and outside the RV.

You never know how closely a potential buyer will inspect your RV. While your RV may have dents or dings that you can’t quite fix on your own, what they’ll really be looking for is signs that you may not have taken great care of your RV. The better it looks, the more likely they’ll trust that you’ve been kind to your vehicle.

As an added bonus, a deep clean can often find things you may have otherwise left behind. We’ve even heard of people finding things like credit cards, keys or other small items they thought were gone forever!

Stage It!

If you’ve ever walked through a fully furnished home, you know that no two people think of their living spaces in the same way. While you may have decorations in one location, another person may be put off with the same finished look.

When selling your RV, you should consider staging it to make it more universally appealing. In most cases, this means removing unnecessary clutter as much as possible. But it also means giving it a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. Think about how the bed looks, how to set the blinds, and even which position the RV is in to capture the best sun based on when you’ll be showing it.

The possibilities are endless for how you can stage your RV to make a potential buyer “see” themselves living in your old RV. The faster they reach that point, the more likely you are to close the sale.

Staged Locations

Staging your RV doesn’t just mean assembling the interior. Where you end up taking your pictures can make all the difference in the world! Setting up your RV in a beautiful location at a nearby campground can show it off in action and immediately spark the desire to purchase your RV in a potential buyer.

Price Accordingly

Like timing, pricing is a core component of selling an RV (or anything for that matter.) The reality is that you have a lot of options when it comes to pricing. But the main things to look at are:

Current Market – How are other similar RVs selling? Don’t just look at the same make and model, look at RVs with similar floorplans, sizes and features. The best comparison model is one that offers the same benefits as your RV and is in similar condition. This means sometimes a similar make and model that’s been poorly cared for might trick you into pricing your RV incorrectly

Your Needs – Do you want to sell this RV now or are you okay with keeping it in storage for a few weeks or months? Sometimes pricing comes down to your timeline. If you’re ready to ditch your RV and invest that money in a new one or into something else, then you may be wise to knock the price down just a little bit to make it more appealing. If not, use your market research to price it appropriately and hold out until you find the buyer you want.

Contact RV Wholesale Superstore 

The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (419) 786-1126

Connect with us on Social Media! 

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest