Archive for December, 2010

If you’re just beginning to investigate the joys of camping vehicles, there is no better place to start than with a Jayco travel trailer. In this guide we’ll take a look at the benefits and features of a new Jayco travel trailer in addition to giving you some insight into how to find the right travel trailer for you.

Benefits of a Jayco Travel Trailer
If you love spending time in the great outdoors but don’t enjoy sleeping on the hard, uncomfortable ground, a Jayco travel trailer is likely to fit the bill. A travel trailer affords you the benefits of camping but with the added convenience of interior sleeping accommodations, protection from inclement weather and, with some models a kitchen or kitchenette. Some travel trailers are extremely luxurious and are much like Jayco motorhomes except that they are towed.

Jayco Travel Trailer Features
Each model of trailer has it’s own unique set of features. Here are the highlights of the four families Jayco caravans.

  • Camping Trailers – Simple travel trailers that offer sleeping space, dinette and optional awnings. These trailers start at around $55oo and are great for families who want the experience of tent camping with more comfortable sleeping and cooking amenities.
  • Lite Weight – This series of trailer offers room for up to 9 people, deluxe kitchen features and shower/restroom benefits as well. Prices range from $14,000 to $22,000.
  • Travel Trailers – A true home away from home, travel trailers offer even more luxurious appointments. Available in both travel and park models, this line begins at $14,000 and goes up to $38,000.
  • Fifth Wheels – If you’re looking for true luxury and spacious living then a 5th wheel might be for you. With lots of storage, upgraded appointments and name brand appliances, 5th wheels are one of the best ways to travel. Prices start at $30,000 and to up to $50,000.

Shopping for a Travel Trailer
When looking for any Jayco motorhomes for sale, whether a camping trailer or their top of the line RV, you want to approach shopping in an organized way. The more you know about yourself and how you’ll use your camping vehicle, the more likely you’ll be to get the best vehicle for your needs.

First, establish your budget. Many families begin with a camping trailer and then upgrade over the years. Other families save up and purchase their dream travel trailer from the beginning. Another option is to rent a travel trailer while saving up. No matter which method you select, it’s a good idea to stay within your budget.

Second, identify your needs. How many people will be sleeping in the trailer? What kind of kitchen/restroom/seating accommodations do you need? How large of a trailer can your vehicle tow? All of these factors will make a difference in your final purchase.

Lastly, be sure to shop around. Not all dealers are created equal. Find a dealer who will offer you great service as well as a competitive price. It may also be worthwhile to take a look at a few used Jayco travel trailers from both dealers and private parties.

Jayco travel trailers are a great way to vacation. They’re well made, have a great warranty and have many wonderful features at a competitive price. After one season with your new trailer you’ll wonder how you ever did without one.

If you’re thinking about investing in camping van conversions, now is a great time to begin your research. When you start planning and shopping during the cooler months, you’ll have several advantages. First, few people are thinking about camping so you’ll find a lot of great deals. Second, you’re doing the hard work in the off season so you can take your time and still have everything you need to make a final purchasing decision well before spring. In this article we’ll give you some tips and tricks on comparing camping van conversions including how to go about trying before you buy.

Camping Van Conversion Models
There are two primary models of camping van conversions on the market currently:

  • Chevy Express Conversion Van – The Chevy conversion is one of the most popular conversion vans on the market. There are hundreds of ways to customize a Chevy Express straight from the factory to make building out a custom conversion easy. You can also purchase a fully customized Chevy Express from several camping van conversion dealers.
  • Sprinter Van Conversions – If you want a truly luxurious experience and don’t mind paying a little extra, it’s well worth looking at a Sprinter camping van conversion. Built by Mercedes Benz, Sprinters have a reputation for comfort, quality and elegance. They also afford great maneuverability and styling.

Know Your Needs
The best way to prepare for this kind of major purchase is to determine your needs. Will you be using your conversion for weekend getaways, or do you plan on taking longer road trips? How many people on average will travel with you? Will you be cooking in your camping van or only sleeping? The more you know the ways in which you’ll use your camping van conversion, the easier it will be to make the right decision.

An Extended Test Drive
The best way to truly try out the conversion van you’re thinking of, why not investigate conversion van rentals? The beauty of renting is that you can take a similarly equipped model out for a week or a weekend to see how it truly performs. This can also be a good way to compare several campers side by side over the course of a season. The only drawback to renting is that you’ll need to plan a bit ahead and the per-day expense is a bit higher than it would be if you purchased. However, if you think of renting as an insurance policy for getting the right conversion van, the expense is well worth it.

If you’re in the market for a Sprinter van conversion, there are a number of things that you can do to ensure that you get the right van at a price that you can be happy with. In this guide we’ll help you determine your needs, give you a shopping checklist and recommend a few things to try before you make your purchase. A Sprinter van conversion is a major purchase and taking a bit of time at the beginning to plan and prepare can make all the difference in your final decision.

What Are Your Needs?
First, what prompted you to investigate camper van conversions? Take a notepad and spend some time writing down what benefits you hoped to have from a Sprinter van conversion. Which of the following categories of conversions were you thinking of?

  • Accessibility van – To make transport with a wheelchair or stretcher easier.
  • Camper van – A comfortable home-away-from-home for extended road trips.
  • Mobile office – Take your business on the road with built in office and meeting space.

In addition to the primary purpose, think about the types of features you’d be looking for when you start to look at specific conversion vans for sale. Here are just a few features that you may wish to consider:

  • Kitchenette
  • Sleeping area
  • Bathroom and/or shower facilities
  • Entertainment options such as iPod docking, LCD or plasma TV, DVD or Blu-Ray, surround sound, satellite radio
  • Lighting packages – Built in lighting, ground lighting
  • Built in storage
  • GPS

Why a Sprinter?
While there are many brands of conversion vans on the market, the Sprinter is literally the Mercedes-Benz of them all. Built on a Mercedes chassis, the Sprinter lineup offers some of the most luxuriously appointed options available. In addition to some of the finest appointments, the Sprinters also are maneuverable and provide a comfortable ride. It’s no wonder that they’re among the most popular conversion vans on the market.

Try Before You Buy
Since a Sprinter conversion van is a major investment, it’s a very smart idea to first try conversion van rentals. Contact a local RV rental facility and find a Sprinter that is similarly appointed to the model you’d purchase. Plan a road trip that would be similar to a trip you’d take and rent a Sprinter. See how you like it, what features you love and which you could do without. By taking a Sprinter on an extended trip you’ll get to really experience all that a Sprinter has to offer.

When it comes time to buy an RV of your own, it’s a good idea to approach your comparison shopping in an organized way. While buying used motor homes for sale can be an emotional experience for anyone, the more you stick with a plan the greater chance you’ll have of coming away with what you really want at a price that is affordable.

Determine Your Needs
First, you’ll need to come up with a list of features that are most important to you. Consider things like aesthetics, fuel efficiency, RV layout and size. If you can, put your features lists into two categories – must haves and nice to haves. When you go to look at used RV’s, be sure to only look at the ones that at least have your must haves list. That way you can avoid spending time looking at something that won’t really suit you. Another important factor to determine is budget. Come up with a budget range including all costs like sales tax. Make it a rule to not even set foot in a used RV that is outside of this determined price range. The easiest way to blow your budget is to fall in love with something you can’t afford.

Make  a Checklist
Use your list of desired features to make a checklist. Along the side list all the features you’re hoping to find. Along the top use each column to write down the make and model number of the RV that you’ve investigated. Keep and update the chart any time you go for a test drive or do internet research. Also include space for notes for each RV. After you drive a few you’ll begin to get a good idea of which RV is stacking up better against the others.

Try Before you Buy
If you want to be sure of your purchase, why not look at RV’s for rent? Renting an RV for a road trip can be a great way of really getting the feel for a particular brand or model before you put down a good deal of cash. Renting will also help you refine your features list. You may find that the coat rack you thought you needed actually doesn’t get used as much and that having a shower really is more important than you originally anticipated.

Buying an RV is a major process and should be done methodically in order to get the right RV at a good price. Remember to stick to your guns and you’ll end up with a purchase you’ll be happy with for years to come.

There is a certain kind of exhilaration that can only be experienced before a long road trip. Leaving everything behind and setting out for new vistas holds immense appeal – and for good reason. The joy and wonder of exploration can easily be had when you have the fortune to own a Jayco motorhome.

Benefit #1: Quality Manufacturing
Jayco is one of the best rated motorhome manufacturers in the US and for good reason. They stand by their products and are constantly innovating. Whether you’re looking for Jayco caravans, Jayco travel trailers, their 5th wheels or are only looking at Jayco motorhomes for sale, it’s good to know that they take quality to heart on all levels of their product lines.

Benefit #2: Convenience and Flexibility
When you travel in a motorhome you are literally in the drivers seat. You can choose where to go, when, and how fast to travel. If you see something interesting along the way, you’re free to stop and explore. There is no predetermined timetable that must be kept. When you have your own motorhome you can also outfit it the way you want so that all of your essentials are at your fingertips.

Benefit #3: Customization
All of Jayco motorhomes can be customized to suit your particular needs and style. Each model has several floorplans and changes can be made to each. When you make a major investment it’s important that you be able to get exactly what you want – and Jayco understands this.

Benefit #4: Cost Savings
These days there are lots of reasons to avoid traveling by air. There are long security checkpoint lines (not to mention security screenings), cost of the flight itself, and time spent waiting at the airport. Then, once you arrive you have to have somewhere to stay. Most hotel rooms are well over $100 and in major cities can easily run $300 for a standard room. In addition to airfare and hotel expenses you need to factor in food. Eating 3 meals a day at restaurants can quickly take a bite out of any travel budget. A Jayco motorhome offers the convenience of traveling by car with the ability to reduce most of your normal travel expenses.

Jayco motorhomes offer travelers convenience, flexibility, cost savings, customization and peace of mind. If you’re considering exploring the country by vehicle, you’d be well advised to investigate all the options that Jayco has to offer. You’ll be extremely glad you did.