Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Welcome to another edition of RV Travel’s Daily Tips newsletter. Here you’ll find helpful RV-related and living tips from the pros, travel advice, a handy website of the day, tips on our favorite RVing-related products and, of course, a good laugh. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate you. Please tell your friends about us.
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Page Contents
Today’s thought
“Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE. The word itself says, ‘I’M POSSIBLE!'” —Audrey Hepburn
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Peanut Butter Fudge Day! Mmmm.
Tip of the Day
Motorhome buying? Don’t go “upside down” with a new coach
If you are working with a limited budget and you want to get the absolute best deal on a reliable motorhome, buy a used one from either a dealer or individual. While new motorhomes are nice, you’ll pay a premium price and see immediate depreciation of at least 15% of the selling price the moment you drive the motorhome off the dealer’s lot.
If you finance a new motorhome, even if you put 20% down, you’ll almost always owe more than the motorhome is worth for the term of the loan. Here’s a typical example: Regardless of what the sticker price says on the dealer’s lot, you can expect to get the motorhome for 15% to 25% off the list price. On a motorhome with a list price of $100,000 you can expect to bargain the dealer down to around $80,000. You’ll feel good that you got such a great deal – but the reality is all dealers work the same way – 15% to 25% off the list price on most motorhomes on their lot.
If you put 20% down ($15,000) on a $80,000 motorhome, you’ll owe $65,000, which can be financed over 15 years (for this example). Your payment will be about $570 a month, and even after five years, you’ll still owe about $50,000 on that five-year-old motorhome. The problem is, that motorhome which you bought new and is now five years old won’t be worth anywhere close to the $50,000 you still owe on it. But if you bought used, instead of paying $80,000 for a new motorhome, you found a five-year-old used one of the exact same make and model, you likely would be paying around $35,000 for it. If you put the same $15,000 down, and paid $350 a month, it would be paid for in five years.
Here are the numbers: If you bought a new motorhome with a sales price of $80,000, at the end of five years you would have: paid $20,000 down, made 60 payments, totaling about $33,000 ($21,000 in interest), and still owe close to $50,000 on the loan. If you bought used, at the end of five years you would have: paid $15,000 down, made 60 payments, totaling $18,248 in payments ($3,000 in interest), and owe nothing. You’d own the motorhome outright.
As you can see from the above calculations, buying used can save you a tremendous amount of money. If you are a savvy buyer, you can do even better than our calculations above.
From Buying a Used Motorhome – How to get the most for your money and not get burned. Available on Amazon.com.
See our article on What does financing an RV for 20 years REALLY mean?
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Tips for slipping your rig into a narrow campsite
You will find many of the most scenic, nature-focused, and “nesty” campgrounds in national and state forests and parks. They often are the least developed, with small pads (but with lots of space), crowded by trees, rocks, bushes or other natural objects. These campsites at times test our space perception and back-and-fill abilities. Find out in this article from Boondock Bob (Difley) how to park like a pro in a narrow campsite. Read more.
Reader poll
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION.
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION.
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
• CURRENT WILDFIRE REPORT.
• LATEST RV RECALLS.
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Fix it In Foil! Tasty Recipes. Easy cleanup!
Easy prep, great taste, good nutrition, quick clean-up! “Fix It In Foil” includes 51 fantastic recipes to make in foil — plus instructions for cooking in an oven, on an outdoor grill, or on a campfire. Fix it in foil and forget about scrubbing pots and pans. And, with plenty of substitution suggestions, enjoy a whole new list of recipe possibilities! Great for RVing! Learn more or order.
Quick Tip
Fifth-wheelers, beware hitch chucking!
Because fifth-wheel hitches are anywhere from 14 to 18 inches above the bed, they can be susceptible to chucking, where the coupler jaws grab the king pin. This is mainly a problem with less expensive setups. If you spend more on a better fifth-wheel hitch that adjusts to keep a tight grip on the king pin, chucking is all but eliminated.
From So, you want to be an RVer? And Enjoy the RV Lifestyle? [Revised]. Available on Amazon.com.
Random RV Thought
Sometimes a nap is in order, and they can be especially satisfying under a heated blanket on a lazy day.
Want to camp for free? Make sure you keep the 2019 edition of this Walmart Locator around. It’ll give you all the overnight parking information you need. Plus, it lists stores that do not allow overnight stays.
Website of the day
National Parks as seen from space
How often have you wondered what our national parks look like from space? Probably not that often. But here are some fascinating pictures from space of several of our national parks — just in case you ever do wonder. From komonews.com.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• Zap that filthy RV awning – with Mr. Clean’s help.
• RV Electricity – Start me up … Generators and rooftop air conditioners.
• How to get started boondocking in the Southwestern deserts.
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Fire Extinguishing Aerosol, Two-pack
The First Alert Tundra Fire Extinguishing Aerosol Spray is easier to use and discharges 4 times longer than traditional fire extinguishers. With an aerosol nozzle and portable size, it’s suited for the kitchen, car, garage, boat or RV. The formula wipes away with a damp cloth & is biodegradable. Learn more or order.
Trivia
Lyme disease is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where several cases were identified in 1975.
Leave here with a laugh
An Irishman, Mick, was on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” He had already won 500,000 euros. “You’ve done very well,” said the presenter, “but for a million euros, you’ve only got one lifeline left, phone a friend. “Which of the following birds does NOT build its own nest? A) Sparrow B) Thrush C) Magpie D) Cuckoo “I don’t know,” said Mick, “I’ll use my last lifeline and phone my friend Paddy.” Paddy wasn’t the smartest, but Mick had his number memorized. Mick rang and repeated the question to Paddy. “Dat’s simple. It’s a cuckoo!” Paddy said, “Are you sure? There’s a lot of money on this!” “Yes!” Mick hung up the phone and said, “I’ll go with cuckoo.” “Is that your final answer?” asked Chris. “Yup.” There was a pause then the presenter screamed, “Cuckoo is correct! You’ve won one million euros!” Mick called Paddy. “Tell me, Paddy? How in Heaven’s name did you know it was da Cuckoo that doesn’t build its own nest?” “Well, duh! Because he lives in a clock!”
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Emily Woodbury. Senior editor: Diane McGovern. Marketing director: Jessica Sarvis. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
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Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
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This newsletter is copyright 2019 by RVtravel.com
On the trivia date, I think it should be , several cases of Lyme disease was identified in 1875….
Hi, Rory. I just looked it up in Wikipedia (before I changed it), which states: “Lyme disease was diagnosed as a separate condition for the first time in 1975 in Old Lyme, Connecticut.” So, I know it’s been around a lot longer than that, but I think we’ll stick with our statement based on this information. Thanks for mentioning it, though, just in case. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Your cuckoo joke reminded me… We do a lot of foster care, and to avoid names and keep kids from following adult conversations, we use the codeword “cowbird” or CB. After several cycles of kids, our caseworker asked us where the reference came from… Ugly? Flighty?
We explained that cowbirds always lay/abandon their eggs in other nests for unsuspecting birds to raise as their own… caseworker couldn’t stop chuckling for 10 minutes.
On a earlier and ongoing story, my perspective: National Parks are not an opportunity for capitalist profit, but resources for the people in perpetuity.
Song from Frank Zappa,titled “Dancing fool” from the 1970,s disco era was epic for our generation during this dance craze period……..
Loved dancing, but due to arthritis not able too anymore
Having towed hundreds of 5th wheel trailers, with every type of pin box available, I found chucking cannot be eliminated. There seems to be a frequency/harmonics between the truck, trailer and road that starts the chucking. Simply slow down – usually from 60 mph to 45 – and the chucking will disappear, then pick your speed back up.
I was surprised that there was no mention of your site going down yesterday morning. I tried to read the newsletter and the entire site was unreachable. Tried for a while and verified with down detector that it was not responding. Gave up and read the newsletter later in the day.
Same here, except I didn’t go back later to check on it!
A real good friend of ours got to the point health would not let camp anymore so had to sell. Finally able to sell after 2 years but then had to pay the bank $20,000.00 to clear the title