Bad News For RV Industry Creates Great Opportunity For New RV Buyers

by Alan Wiener
(Everything-About-RVing.com)

Editors Note: This is the second in a series of 3 articles I originally wrote in 2009 about the crisis that the RV industry was experiencing.

Bad News For RV Industry Creates Great Opportunity For New RV Buyers
By Alan Wiener; Editor: Everything-About-RVing.com

The bad news in the RV Industry is great news for a person who is currently looking to purchase a new RV. The lagging sales of new RVs have created a glut of new RVs on the market. RV Dealers need to move these RVs off their lots and are selling them at "rock bottom" prices. That being said; you are still going to have to negotiate to get the best deal, but now more than ever the RV buyer is in the driver's seat when it comes to buying an RV. You will get a lot more for the money if you purchase now as opposed to a few months down the road. Here is an article with some more information for you. Is Now The Right Time To Buy An RV?

If you want an even better deal on a new RV, you should attend an RV Show. Even if the RV Show is hundreds of miles away from you, it will be worth the drive or flight to get there. Depending on the size of the RV show you may have several RV Dealers selling the exact make and model of RV you are looking for. The answer to this question Can I Get 50% Off The Price Of A New RV Right Now? will give you some great insight on how you can get an even better deal on a new RV at an RV Show.

One of the situations you may run into in your effort to get a great deal on a new RV, is that you might end up looking at an Orphan RV. An Orphan RV is a new RV that was built by an RV manufacturer that is now out of business. The first thing you need to understand when buying or looking at an Orphan RV is that it will be sold to you without a New RV Warranty. I know this sounds scary, but depending on the discounted price of the RV, you may find that buying one of these Orphan RVs is the right move for you. Here are some facts you need to know about an Orphan RV.

1. Although there is no New RV Warranty on these Orphan RVs, the appliances and accessories within the RV will be covered by the appliance or accessory manufacturer's warranty. For example TVs, microwaves, stoves, refrigerators, heaters, air conditioners, satellite dishes, generators, etc. all have warranties from their respective manufacturers. What won't be covered is the house part of the RV, cabinets, wall coverings, exterior finish of the RV, roof leaks, fit and finish problems, etc.

2. The chassis of the RVs should be covered by the chassis manufacturer. That being said; some RV manufacturers also manufactured their own chassis, in that case, the chassis will not be covered if they are out of business.

3. Some RV Dealerships have stepped up to the plate and offered to fix problems for free on an Orphan RV as if it were covered under a manufacturer's warranty. In other words they are going to eat the cost of the repairs. If you find a dealership that is willing to do this, make sure you get a copy in writing of what they are willing to cover.

Let The Good Sam Extended Service Plan Pay Your RV Repair Bills

4. There are RV Extended Warranties and RV Continued Service Plans that you can purchase that will cover some of the items that a new RV Warranty would have covered. You need to understand that these after-market warranties will still not cover all the items that a new RV Warranty would have covered, but they are still a great cost effective alternative. If you want more information on these warranties please read the answer to this question. What Is The Best RV Extended Warranty Plan?

The money you save on an orphan RV may very well pay for any minor repair expenses that you may incur. Even so, you are taking some risk in buying an Orphan RV. Only you can decide if this is the right option for you.

As I said at the beginning of this article, the discounted prices on new RVs right now may indeed be a "once in a lifetime" opportunity for you. You will most definitely get a heck of lot more RV for your money.

Editors Note: What do you think? Give us your opinion by clicking on the "Click Here To Post Comments" link located near the bottom of this page.

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