At large sporting events, you have probably seen huge tarps and not thought very much about them. The are used on industrial and construction sites, and even for weddings and family reunions. Farmers use them in the fields to keep hay bales and equipment dry. You have probably been under one many times on many different occasions, and never noticed, that is because they are doing a good job.

We are not really supposed to notice them, other than to see shade and shelter. There are many different types of tarps, and they are made from many different types of materials, and a large variety of styles and sizes. They are also available for home use.

When and if you decide to purchase an recreational vehicle (RV), you will most likely want to protect it while it is not in use. You have probably noticed individuals covering boats. RV tarps are made slightly differently than tarps for other type vehicles and boats, however, they are made to allow air to circulate between the tarp and the vehicle. It is suggested that the RV be lined with wood before applying the tarp to allow extra air to circulate. The suggestion is to use two by four boards.

They are usually heavy duty and come in silver or white. These type of Tarps are generally waterproof, rot resistant, UV resistant, mildew resistant, and tear resistant. You can purchase fitted covers, or RV shelters that are like a type of tarpaulin garage. The heavy duty tarps done as instructed are usually sufficient.

You can find tarp products and information for your recreational vehicle online. There are a variety of options with respect to vendors and the tarps available. Happy trails.

The first thing you need to know is that the ONLINE valuation guides for RVs are usually much higher than the values in the dealer’s copy of the NADA guide. In other words, what YOU think your RV is worth is probably much, much higher that what the DEALER will actually allow for it.

This is the same for the automotive, boat or RV industries. The dealer MUST take trade-ins at or below wholesale to ever hope to eventually make a reasonable profit. He must allow for interest payments on his used inventory, commissions to sales people, overhead, and much more.

A typical mid-sized RV dealer will have a monthly overhead of $50,000 to $150,000… or more per MONTH! Believe me, it’s not an easy game. He has laid out millions of dollars to allow you to browse a decent selection of RVs, so please… Don’t think of him as the bad guy.

Online RV Valuation Sources

Lets take a look at the online RV valuation sources and how to use them in order to place a realistic wholesale and retail value on your RV.

The best place to get fairly accurate online values for RVs is at: [http://www.nadaguides.com]

Go to the RV section and select the appropriate letter that corresponds to the make of your RV.

Now is where you’re going to have to grit your teeth and do something completely against your nature. DON’T ADD FOR ANY OPTIONS! The dealer won’t, so in this case we won’t either. Understand that we are only trying to determine what the dealer will allow for your trade-in. This doesn’t mean that you have to take it. In fact, you will be many dollars ahead if you decide to market your RV on your own, and then approach the dealer on a cash only basis…. But that’s another topic we’ll address in another article.

At the bottom of the NADA page, click on the “Get Price” button. Now, let you your jaw drop as you look at the value for: “Low Retail.”

Now emit a mild groan, because it gets worse from here. DEDUCT another 7% to 10% of that figure to establish the wholesale value in the dealer’s copy of the NADA book. This is the value that the dealer will be looking at. If your RV is an upper-line or luxury RV, or if it is a specialty RV you will need to deduct even more – 10% to 15% of the “Low Retail” figure. Since the online Low Retail prices do not match the wholesale prices in the dealer’s NADA guide, this is an educated guess for you. It will however, get you close enough to decide whether or not you are willing to trade your RV, and accept the actual cash value the dealer will allow.

Remember NOT TO ADD FOR OPTIONS! I know you tried to sneak a few in there didn’t you? Remember… The dealer NEVER adds for options when determining an ACV on a trade-in. In some rare cases such as hydraulic leveling jacks or other options that are very expensive, he MAY allow a little more, but nowhere near the actual cost of the option.

Your best bet in determining what the dealer is allowing you for your trade-in is to take the “Low Retail” figure minus 10%. (More for upper-line or specialty units.)

Certain factors such as mileage, condition and unit popularity and salability my influence the actual cash value allowed for your vehicle. Remember that we are dealing with an inexact science. We are simply trying to establish a guideline for estimating the actual amount allowed for your trade-in. Whether or not you decide to trade, is completely up to you. Now you have a way to weigh one against the other. The final decision of course… is up to you.

On the other hand, there are people who do not need to use their RV every day and when it is finally needed, they find that the vehicle cannot be started! This will not be the case if you have taken proper care of your RV by keeping it in RV storage buildings. If you are unsure how to choose the most appropriate storage space, below are some tips to assist you.

1. Storage space
Before you decide on the space to rent, you should first check if the storage building is big enough for your vehicle. Your RV will need to have ample space to rest in. This will also free up your drive way so you will now have more space in your house.

2. Material of the building
Check to see what the metal storage building is made of. Most of these storage buildings are made from either wood or steel, with steel fast gaining popularity these few years. Of course, if the storage building is made of stronger and safer material, your RV is better assured of safety. In case of natural disasters such as hurricanes, fire or earthquakes, you do not want to find that your vehicle had perished with the building in the process! If the storage building is made of steel, you can be sure that the building is not likely to collapse in such unfortunate disasters.

3. Budget
You will be wise to set a budget for yourself before heading off to rent the storage space because different sizes will cost differing amount to rent. In fact, the length of time that you choose to rent the unit will also play a part. Therefore, you might need to look at a few more units, make some comparisons before you make your commitment, unless it is the only one in your neighbourhood. When that happens, you will still have the option of either renting or buying a steel RV storage. Such pre-fabricated steel houses are very inexpensive and if you have the space in your backyard, you might want to consider buying one as storage for your RV. That might be more economical in the long run.

The above are some pros of utilizing RV storage buildings. Make sure you exercise caution when you are looking for the most suitable RV Garages and you can be assured of a longer lifespan for your expensive vehicle.

Due to the limited power supply on board the RV, you cannot run all of the appliances simultaneously because doing so will deplete the battery very fast. To overcome this issue, many recreational vehicle owners are installing RV solar panels.

There are many benefits of using a solar power kit on a motor home. Firstly, it is clean, quiet and easy to use. The solar system does not consume any gasoline or diesel and does not produce any unwanted waste also. All it does is harness the free energy from the sun and converts in into usable electricity.

In fact, an RV solar system design is quite simple. There are only 4 key components in the entire setup which are the solar panels, charge controller, battery bank and power inverter. The solar panels, usually installed on the roof of the vehicle are used to collect the energy from the sun. It is made from a semi-conductive material known as Photovoltaic (PV) cells. Solar cells have a natural tendency to generate electric current when exposed to sun light.

To use the current from the solar array, it is to be connected to a charge controller via electric cables. The charge controller will take the current from the panels and use it to charge the RV on board battery bank. Doing so will actually extend the life span of the vehicle batteries.

If you need a lot of power on your motor home because you have multiple electrical appliances, you may consider setting up separate battery bank just to fulfill the energy needs of the living compartment.

The type of battery most suitable for a solar system is the marine or deep cycle type. Deep cycle battery is very durable and can be discharged to a very low level without damaging its internal plates.

Since the batteries can only store Direct Current (DC), the power inverter will be used to convert the DC to Alternate Current (AC). Most modern electronic gadgets are designed to run primarily on AC. The final step is to run an extension cable from the inverter throughout the RV internal spaces.

The second option which is more desirable is to use solar panels to generate electricity. It is clean, efficient, does not generate any pollution whatsoever and require minimum maintenance. The only drawback in the installation cost. A custom built RV solar power system which can generate up to 440 watt can cost as much as $3000! Many RV owners would rather spend the money on other improvements. Because of the high cost, many motor homes owners are turning to Do It Yourself (DIY) solar kit for RVs. The system is not perfect, nonetheless, it is capable of generating usable electricity for the living area at a lower cost.

A homemade solar system is actually quite simple. The key components are the solar panels, charge controller, battery storage unit and power inverter. The other miscellaneous parts supporting the system are amp meter, voltage meter, disconnect switches and safety cut off fuses. The heart of the entire system which is the solar panels is to be installed on the roof of the vehicle. If your RV has a flat roof, this will be a simple process. However, if the roof of the vehicle is curved, then a special mounting would have to be made to cater for it.

The mounting plays a major role to ensure the Photovoltaic (PV) panels are working at its optimum capacity. When it is laid flat on the roof, the panels will not have the best angle to capture the sun light. Movable mounting which can be adjusted or tilted would be the best solution.

All the PV panels are to be connected to the charge controller which will use the current generated to charge the battery bank. When building the battery bank, it is best to choose true deep cycle battery. This is the type of battery used on electric golf carts. They are more durable and can be discharged to a lower level without damaging its internal plates. The final step is to hook up a power inverter to the battery and then run an extension cable around the RV living compartment. You can now enjoy free electricity on the open road courtesy of the sun.

The first time I saw an RV equipped with solar panels was a couple years ago, and since then I have seen dozens over the course of my travels. I must say that this is huge in certain areas of the country and hasn’t quite yet reached other areas. After talking to several of these RV owners they all had one thing in common, they seemed to be very wealthy retired people who were enjoying life on the open road.

It was no coincidence they all fell into the ‘wealthy retired’ because as soon as I started doing research for RV solar panels I found that they can cost as much as the RV itself! I found one grid tie system which was right for my RV, and was quoted $21,999, and they would knock off an additional thousand if I bought it within 24 hours of receiving my quote, wow what a deal! NOT!

It wasn’t until I recently ran into a fellow RV’er at Burr Oak State Park in Ohio, when I questioned him about his RV solar panels and was amazed to hear him tell me he had done it all for less than a few hundred dollars. He claimed to have built the solar panels himself, and to my untrained eye they looked just as good as the panels on the RVs with the expensive systems installed.

He was certainly kind enough to give write down a couple of websites for me, one selling the instructions to build these solar panels and the other was his own blog which he was still working on. I must say I owe him a huge thanks, because of him my RV is now equipped with 4 panels and I get people asking me at every single campground where I got them…and the look on their face when I told them I built them is priceless.

Retiring to live on an RV is an option that potential retirees should explore. If you have had a smell of the open road and the freedom such a lifestyle affords, consider doing it full time.

Imagine the money you would save if you sold your house and used part of the equity to buy an RV. You do not have to spend all of your equity either. A $30,000 motor home can be next to a million dollar Prevost in the campground. You see the same scenery.

No property taxes; no massive utility bills; no lawn to mow; no snow to shovel; no house to paint; etc. I think you have the picture…life in an RV is a lot less stressful and time consuming than living in a house. In addition, it is cheaper.

If you have not seen all of the beautiful National Parks in America, it would make a noble goal to shoot for when retiring.

Another plus when retiring to life in an RV is the nice people you meet. You will find yourselves toasting each other on your good sense in retiring to this fun, frugal and fulfilling lifestyle.

We lived on our RV for 7 years; our other home was a sailboat in the Caribbean. We spent well less than 50% of what we spent living in a house…you should be able to live on 50% of your house expenses as a goal.

So if your early retirement planning does not include low cost lifestyles like living on an RV, check it out. You may discover you can retire much sooner than you thought. Now that would be a nice surprise. Enjoy.

You and your family can travel all across the U.S. and see the sights. You will have on sight snacks and drinks and when you stop you won’t have to use someone else’s restroom.

Think of all the fun you can have traveling to the National Parks and the monuments as you ride from state to state. Sit down and figure out where you want to go and what you want to see. Then call your local RV dealership and find out about renting an RV that fits your family.

You need to research campgrounds to find the one that your family will enjoy the most. A campground is almost a destination in itself. There are usually playgrounds and pools and game rooms. Some campgrounds have wildlife trails and ponds to fish in. There are campgrounds that have restaurants on site and campgrounds that have bus to local attractions.

Will you be towing a car? If not, how will you get to the attractions that you want to see? If there is a tour bus that solves the problem. Otherwise you may want to rent a car. Speaking of transportation, will you be taking your bikes or kayak?

Assess what you need to pack and get it together. You will need to take the clothes that you need (keep in mind that there will be washers and dryers at the campground if you don’t have one in the RV). You can take your games and toys and books to read. Remember to stock your cabinets with food and snacks and your fridge with drinks. Paper plates and paper towels come in handy and you need to pack plenty of toilet tissue. Take washing powder and fabric softener for the laundry and don’t forget a laundry basket in which to carry it. Pack your pet food. Don’t forget cleaning supplies.

Make sure your cell phone has enough minutes to talk to everyone you need to while you are gone.

When you first start out on your trip make certain that you have allowed yourself sufficient time to get where you need to be. Be flexible and allow yourself a change in plans if you find some place you want to check out. Let yourself stop at roadside attractions even if you haven’t planned to do this. The things you do on the spur of the moment will enhance your adventure.

Take your camera and video camera and take loads and loads of photos of your family and your trip. This will be your first adventure of many. I am willing to bet that RVing will get into your blood and call you back to a new adventure over and over.

When you are ready to buy your first RV consult someone who already has one and find out what brand and size he recommends. You will need to find the one that is what your family needs.

Once you have decided on your shipper, you will need to book you camper shipment. When you are making the booking, be sure to inquire about their insurance responsibility. Will they accept responsibility for any damage done to your camper while being transported by them? A reputable shipper will be able to provide references from previous customers. This is a great way to get a feel for how much you can trust this company. If the shipper is reluctant to offer references, GO TO ANOTHER COMPANY!

Depending on the size of your camper, you will want to ask if it will be towed or loaded on a flat bed. It may cost a little more to have it loaded on a flat bed but it will save on the wear and tear. If it is being towed, you may want to confirm the type of tow vehicle that they will use and make sure that it is suited for the camper that you are having delivered. Another question to ask is if they supply the license plate? If so, is there an extra charge? If they do not provide plates, see about getting a temporary tag from the dealership you bought it from.

Having your camper prepared for shipping is important. If you have possession of the camper, you can prepare it otherwise, the dealership or individual you purchased it from will have to get it ready. Make sure that all latches on the windows and cabinets are secured. Secure any loose objects or items attached to the wall that may fall. All appliances should be shut off and disconnect the power supplies and gas lines. All cargo doors and pop outs should be secured and locked. If there is an awning, double check that it is secure. Pull all shades down so that nosey people can’t look inside and possible consider stealing things.

When your camper is ready to ship, make sure that your camper is ready for a timely pickup. Be sure that you have provided enough space for the pickup vehicle to be able to load or hook up. The delivery driver should do a thorough check of the camper trailer and note any problems both inside and out. If possible, it is nice if you can provide the driver with directions to the delivery point.

When you take delivery, it is important you have allowed enough space for the driver to drop off the camper. If your destination is too small for their large vehicle, you may consider meeting them in a large grocery or mall parking lot. This is help to the drivers and is greatly appreciated. When you are taking delivery of your camper or fifth wheel, you will want to inspect it right away. Make sure that you or a representative for you is able to take delivery of your camper. Look for any damage which may have occurred during shipping. Report any damage to the shipping company immediately. If an insurance claim is needed, the shipper should supply you with the appropriate papers to complete. Shippers generally will reimburse you for damages that occurred under their time. This is the reason it is important to make sure that you and the shipper have the right insurance when the camper is picked up. Most shippers deliver the units with no incident but it is important that you do a post delivery inspection because it may be difficult to try to make a claim if not noted immediately at delivery.

When booking your shipper, it is important that both you and the shipper are able to communicate at any given time. Make sure to exchange both day and night telephone numbers. This will be especially important if there is a change in schedule or a delay in delivery.

If you follow these few tips, you are likely to have a very good camper delivery experience. You can feel confident and secure that your camper will have a safe trip and an easy delivery.

RVs give you the freedom of being where you want when you want, whether that be with your family or not. Personalizing your caravan is a great investment because it makes it feel like home. Some investments, like RV roller blinds, are not only unique, they also help you sleep and control your limited generator use. Blinds protect you from glare when driving, and sunlight during an afternoon siesta. A little personalized window treatment goes a long way to establishing a theme to your vehicle, with the practical benefit of temperature and light control.

Especially in the desert, simply blocking out the sun can turn a harsh day into a pleasant one. Energy use is always a little more guarded in a caravan, because without a plug-in the self contained generator is all that is left. Saving energy by not using the heater or air conditioner can save enough fuel to last several more days in the outback location of your choice.

Despite what you may think, there are actually many options available for RV roller blinds. Budget is a key factor to consider along with the blind’s primary purpose. Fabric cassette blinds roll up easily an can be washed like any fabric material.They can get dirty if not properly taken care of. The cassette blinds are probably the most common, but they are not necessarily the best choice, especially from an aesthetic standpoint.

Rigid roller blinds are easier to take care of. Some come with metal flaps which allow the blind to be raised or lowered to any location. Roller blinds are very durable and do an excellent job of blocking out sunlight when lowered. The lacquered backing makes the blinds very resistant to sunlight and water. The operation of caravan blinds may be slightly different because of the reduced space. However roller shades are very easy as they are spring loaded to roll up instead of scrunch up like other types.