Motor Home If you're

How to Buy a Motor Home - eHow.com Clear Instructions on How To Do (just about) Everything Web eHow.com Home Finance & Business Center Real Estate How to Buy a Motor Home If you're in the market for a motor home or a recreational vehicle (RV), shop around to get the best buy for your recreational dollars. Steps: 1. Determine what type of motor home suits your needs, desires and budget. Consider such factors as size, price, usage (weekend trips or extended travel), motorized vs. towed models, and space requirements. 2. Attend an RV show to view a wide selection of motor homes. Talk to different RV dealers. 3. Get recommendations on suggested features and models by talking to current motor home owners, such as friends and family members. 4. Narrow your selection by viewing features of different models on RV Internet sites or by subscribing to RV magazines. 5. Rent an RV for a weekend or a few days to "test drive" the type of motor home that you're considering. 6. Consider where you will store or park your motor home when you're not using it. Check out storage costs, parking regulations and parking space availability in your neighborhood. 7. Examine your finances and arrange for financing through an RV dealership or a lending institution. 8. Make an offer on your final selection. Tips: Motor homes come in all sizes, shapes and prices - so study your options to find the RV that's right for you. Warnings: New recreational vehicles, like automobiles, depreciate rapidly during the first few years of use. Please Share Your Tips with Us More Resources: Contribute to eHow: Write an eHow Article Suggest a Topic Give Us Feedback on This Article Related eHows: Buy a Vacation Home Buy an RV Rent a Vacation Home Get a Debt Consolidation Loan Project Details: Skill Advisory: Moderate New! -- Related eHows: Buy a Vacation Home Buy an RV Rent a Vacation Home Get a Debt Consolidation Loan Check out Thousands of How-To Solutions in eHow's Centers Automotive Careers & Education Computers & Home Electronics Family & Relationships Finance & Business Food & Entertaining Health Hobbies & Games Holidays & Traditions Home & Garden Personal Care & Style Pets Sports & Fitness Travel How to: --? Web eHow.com Home | Site Map | About Us | How To Books | Link to eHow Subscribe to the eHow of the Day Mailing List : Have the eHow of the Day appear on your My Yahoo! Page: Add the eHow of the Day to your RSS reader: © 1999-2005 eHow, Inc. How things get done. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy .

Mobile home insurance developed

American Association of Insurance Services This article appeared in the Summer 2004 Vol. 29, No. 1 issue of Viewpoint. BACK TO VIEWPOINT ARTICLES Manufactured Housing A new term does not eliminate old distinctions Precise use of language is essential in insurance underwriting. Unfortunately, people in other fields can sometimes adopt terminology that can be misleading for property/casualty professionals. Residential property insurers have long understood the distinction between site-built (or stick-built) homes constructed at permanent locations, and mobile (or trailer) homes constructed in factories and hauled to a site. That distinction in how homes are constructed leads to different property loss experience for site-built and mobile homes, and provides the basis for the separate Homeowners and Mobile-Homeowners insurance programs offered by AAIS. Beyond the loss experience, however, standardized homeowners and mobile-homeowners programs are very similar. AAIS uses largely identical forms in both. Confusion can arise, however, when the term manufactured housing is used to identify mobile homes, as the mobile home industry has done in recent years. That term was adopted by mobile home trade groups to improve the image of mobile homes and reflect the enhanced size and features offered in today's mobile homes. Manufactured housing, however, also refers to modular housing, residences constructed from modules that are assembled in manufacturing facilities, shipped to permanent locations, and permanently affixed to a foundation and adjoining modules. Modules can arrive at a site completely pre-assembled, with plumbing and wiring included. Manufactured housing, therefore, encompasses structures ranging from million-dollar estate homes to traditional trailers. Beyond that, virtually all new residential construction has some manufactured elements. What is happening is that all new dwellings have some degree of pre-assembly, says Tom Underwood, president and COO of Utility Body Works, Elkhart, Ind., a mobile home manufacturer. Even stick-built structures have trusses that are pre-assembled. It used to be that everything was either stick-built or a mobile home. Now there's more of a continuum. While that may be true for residential construction techniques, the old distinction between site-built and mobile homes still appears to be valid for property insurance purposes. The challenge is to make sure that residences are properly classified. Mobile homes stand apart Mobile homes have long been defined as a unique subset of owner-occupied residences, and that is still the case. For example, American Modern Insurance Group, a carrier that specializes in insuring manufactured housing, defines a mobile home to be a factory-built structure at least eight feet in length that is constructed on its own chassis. According to Jerry Wachter, vice president for manufactured housing, the requirement that the structure be built on its own chassis ensures that a mobile home policy cannot be written to cover other types of manufactured housing. The American Modern definition of a mobile home explicitly includes expansions and additions to mobile homes, as well as fixtures. The purpose, says Wachter, is to allow for the full range of possibilities in modern mobile homes, without applying mobile home coverage to structures that have different loss characteristics. A fire safety study conducted by Foremost Insurance, Grand Rapids, Mich., indicated that the fire rate for mobile homes was less than that for site-built homes. The better fire rate is attributed in part to implementation of a national building code by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the 1970s. Mobile homes are more susceptible to windstorm loss, however. As the American Modern definition suggests, there are three characteristics that can be used to define a mobile home: Off-site construction in a factory setting; Construction on its own chassis; and Construction to HUD building standards, as opposed to local building codes. Does method matter? As for establishing other categories of manufactured housing for insurance purposes, there is little evidence of statistically significant distinctions in loss experience between modular and completely site-built homes. Modular homes are treated the same as site-built homes in terms of financing and insurance, says Bruce Savage, spokesman for the Manufactured Housing Institute. I'm not aware of any statistics showing they perform (in loss situations) differently than site-built homes. Also, modular housing must generally be built to standards in local building codes, even if the modules are constructed out of state. The growth in modular construction would not be possible without widespread use of standardized building codes. Thus, when a carrier receives an application for a manufactured home, the first order of business is to determine if it meets the characteristics of a mobile home. Many manufactured homes would be better classified with site-built homes. The construction of the residence--frame, masonry, etc.--will, of course, be a key factor in determining the premium, but there is no indication to date that the method of construction, in itself, alters the risk. (As a practical matter, most manufactured homes that are not mobile homes will be frame construction.) Enduring distinction Property/casualty professionals accustomed to using identical forms to write homeowners and mobile-homeowners coverage may be surprised to learn how differently the two lines started out. Mobile home insurance developed from the identity of mobile homes as chattel property rather than real property, says Wachter of American Modern. Early trailer homes had axles with wheels and could be literally hauled away at a moment's notice. Given the character of early mobile homes, the insurance policy [covering a mobile home] was really a takeoff on auto physical damage coverage, Wachter says. That steadily changed as mobile homes came to be permanently affixed at locations and developed risk characteristics similar to those of site-built homes. For decades now, the basic, broad, special, and limited perils forms, as well as the personal liability sections, have been largely identical in the AAIS Homeowners and Mobile-Homeowners Programs. The persistence of distinct homeowners and mobile-homeowners programs lies in two related factors: rating and valuation of structures. Perhaps the last vestige of the original auto character of mobile homes is the fact that their structures depreciate faster than they accumulate real estate value, if they accumulate any real value at all. With mobile homes, the depreciation is greater than the growth in replacement cost, says Werner Kruck, executive vice president of American Superior Ins. Co., Plantation, Fla., a company that specializes in residential property insurance. With traditional site-built homes, replacement cost usually grows faster than the depreciation of the home. Replacement cost Every student of insurance learns that the market value of a home should not be confused with replacement cost, but it frequently is because mortgage lenders often insist that residential property insurance be written to cover the balance on a mortgage loan. Also, the appreciation in market value has often been considered a factor in calculating replacement cost, the assumption being that the cost of living drives the cost of construction. Whatever the reason, depreciation is rarely a major consideration in home owners insurance, except for older homes in areas with relatively low real estate values. For that reason, replacement cost loss settlement, with a coinsurance requirement, is a standard feature of most homeowners policies written in the U.S. Standard homeowners forms explicitly state, however, that replacement cost terms do not apply to mobile homes, whether or not on a permanent foundation, but without otherwise defining the term mobile home. Actual cash value loss settlement automatically applies to mobile homes; replacement cost settlement, if desired, must be added by endorsement. 'Gap' coverage In practice, the underwriting of a replacement cost endorsement on a mobile home policy is analogous to the underwriting of gap coverage on a personal auto, says Jeffrey Holaway, AAIS manager of personal lines pricing. According to Holaway, car owners frequently buy coverage that will pay what it costs to replace a vehicle that has been effectively destroyed, even if the amount of insurance exceeds the book value of the vehicle being insured. Replacement cost coverage for a mobile home is written on a stated value basis in some states, says Kruck. This raises the possibility that an owner can collect an insurance payment for a total loss, replace the damaged home with a used one at less cost, and pocket the rest of the money. Apart from the settlement terms, the distinction between homeowners and mobile-homeowners insurance lies in the distinction between loss costs for the two lines, and subsequently the information used to rate policies. Insurers should be cautious about applying loss costs derived from mobile home experience to manufactured housing that may be more appropriately classified with site-built housing. Joseph Harrington Editor Christi DeBrock Design Reprinting Viewpoint Articles Articles generally may be reproduced, provided the appropriate credit is given and a copy is sent to the Editor. For details, please call or write. Viewpoint welcomes your comments. Write us at: American Association of Insurance Services 1745 S. Naperville Road | Wheaton, IL 60187-8132 630-681-8347 | 800-564-AAIS | Fax 630-681-8356 Phone: 630-681-8347 | Fax: 630-681-8356 e-mail: info@aaisonline.com Top

RV Supplies Books, Plans

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RV traveler? U.S. ownership

RVIA - Media - RV Fast Facts RV Quick Facts What is a recreation vehicle (RV)? An RV is a vehicle that combines transportation and temporary living quarters for travel, recreation and camping. Two main categories of RVs are motorhomes (motorized) and towables (towed behind the family car, van or pickup). Type A motorhomes are generally the largest; type B motorhomes or van campers are the smallest and type C motorhomes generally fall in between. Types of towable RVs are folding camping trailers, truck campers, conventional travel trailers and fifth-wheel travel trailers. The annual retail value of RV shipments is $14 billion. There's an RV for every taste and budget. Prices for new RVs are typically $4,000-$13,000 for folding camping trailers; $4,000-$26,000 for truck campers; $8,000-$65,000 for conventional travel trailers; $48,000-$140,000 for type C motorhomes and $58,000-$400,000 for type A motorhomes. Who is the RV traveler? U.S. ownership of RVs has reached record levels, reveals a 2005 University of Michigan study commissioned by Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). Nearly one in 12 U.S. vehicle-owning households now owns an RV. That's nearly 8 million households–a 15 percent increase during 2001-2005 and a 58 percent gain during 1980-2005. Today's typical RV owner is 49 years old, married, with an annual household income of $68,000–higher than the median for all households, according to the Michigan study. RV owners are likely to own their homes and spend their disposable income on traveling–an average of 4,500 miles and 26 days annually, RVIA surveys show. A leading force behind RV ownership's upswing is the enormous baby boomer generation, supported by strong ownership gains among both younger and older buyers. In fact, high RV ownership rates now extend across a 40-year span from age 35 to 75, the study found. More RVs are now owned by those age 35 to 54 than any other group, according to the University of Michigan study. Nearly 9 percent of U.S. households headed by 35-to-54 year olds own an RV, slightly exceeding the 8.6 percent ownership rates of those 55 and over. Those under age 35 posted the largest gains in RV ownership over the past four years. Approximately 8.2 million RVs are on the nation's roads, according to the Michigan study. RVIA estimates nationwide there are as many as 30 million RV enthusiasts, including RV renters. Why do people choose and use RVs? Flexibility and convenience – RVs offer a convenient, hassle-free way to see America. RV travelers enjoy the freedom and flexibility to go where they want, when they want–without the worry and stress of inflexible schedules, advance reservations, airport lines and luggage restrictions. Comfort – With fully-equipped kitchens and baths, rooms that slide out at the touch of a button, central air and heat, plasma TVs, surround-sound stereos and more, today's RVs provide travelers with all the amenities of home while on the road or at the campground. Family appeal – RVing is a uniquely enjoyable way to travel as a family. In fact, families that frequently vacation by RV say it fosters an increased sense of togetherness and helps improve family communication. RV owners say that strengthening family relationships is important for their pleasure trips. Affordability – RV vacations are more affordable than travel by personal car, commercial airline or cruise ship, according to vacation cost-comparison studies by PKF Consulting. Even factoring in RV ownership costs, and considering resulting tax benefits, a family of four can spend up to 74 percent less when traveling by RV. Lure of the outdoors – RVers can enjoy the mountains, beaches, parks, popular tourist attractions and small towns whenever they want, without giving up the comforts of home. With the new sport utility RVs, RV travelers can easily haul their ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles or other outdoor vehicles right on board. Versatility – In addition to travel, camping and outdoor recreation, RVs are being used year-round for a wide variety of other purposes, like shopping, tailgate parties at sporting events, pursuing special interests like horse, dog and antique shows and other hobbies. Rentals available – Renting an RV is a popular way to "try before you buy." The RV rental business is a $350 million industry and grew by 36 percent in 2005, according to figures compiled by the U.S. Census of Retail Trade and the RV Rental Association (RVRA). Where do RVers travel? With more than 16,000 public and privately owned campgrounds nationwide, RVers are free to roam America's highways and backroads for a weekend or months at a time. Privately owned RV parks and campgrounds are found near popular destinations, along major tourist routes and even in metropolitan areas. These campgrounds appeal to travelers by offering a variety of activities to keep the whole family happy, including swimming pools, game rooms, playgrounds and snack bars. RV travelers seeking a resort atmosphere are especially attracted to the growing number of luxury RV resorts with facilities such as tennis courts, golf courses and health spas. Facilities at public campgrounds tend to be simple, but offer great scenic beauty. Public lands are popular for hiking, fishing, white water rafting and many other outdoor recreational opportunities enjoyed by RVers. What does the future hold for the RV market? Changes in the frequency and duration of vacations favor the RV industry. Americans are traveling shorter distances and on weekends with less planning, according to recent studies. For RV owners, this is a convenient travel pattern. Primary RV demand remains very good and the potential for future sales is bright, according to a 2005 University of Michigan study. Among U.S. households that have never owned an RV, more than one in six expressed interest in purchasing an RV in the future. Both parents and empty-nesters are strong potential buyers of RVs, and promising future prospects are emerging among younger, ethnically diverse consumers, reveals a Harris Interactive study commissioned by the Go RVing Coalition. Generation Xers, exhibit interests in outdoor activities that are highly compatible with RVing, the study found. Ownership and demographic trends favor substantial RV market growth, according to the University of Michigan. As baby boomers have been entering their prime age range — 55 to 64 — with the highest ownership rates, according to the Michigan study. The number of RV-owning households in the U.S. is projected to rise to nearly 8.5 million by 2010–a gain of 15 percent between 2001-2010, outpacing overall U.S. household growth of 6 percent. How can I learn more about RVs? Surf the web – Check out the RVIA and Go RVing websites ( rvia.org and GoRVing.com ) for information on RV travel trends, vehicles types, show listings and lists of RV dealers and campgrounds in your area. Order a free DVD or CD-ROM – Visit GoRVing.com or call 1-888-Go-RVing for a free RV "getting-started" DVD or CD-ROM. Visit an RV dealer – Check the yellow pages or the website of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association, www.rvda.org , for local dealership listings. Attend an RV show – A variety of RVs of all shapes, sizes and costs are displayed at dozens of RV shows around the nation. Show dates and locations are searchable at rvia.org . Rent an RV – More than 460 RV rental outlets are located across the country. Renting allows potential buyers to try RV travel and determine which vehicle types best suits their needs. Check the yellow pages under "Recreation Vehicle–Rentals" for the nearest rental outlets. Obtain an RV buyers' guide – Visit a local bookstore or library. Who can talk about the RV experience? RVIA offers a diverse roster of expert RV media spokespersons: Recognized travel authority and RVIA President Richard Coon ; RV historian David Woodworth ; award-winning travel expert Harry Basch ; travel filmmaker and lecturer John Holod ; "Millionaire" game show winner and RVing author Brad Herzog ; and former New York City executives Sandy MacGregor and Marilyn Abraham , who found "life" in an RV. For more information about these media spokespeople, visit www.rvia.org/media or call RVIA Public Relations, (703) 620-6003 ext. 306. Back to "For The Media" search | sitemap Recreation Vehicle Industry Association 1896 Preston White Drive, P.O. Box 2999 Reston, Virginia 20195-0999

RV Campground

Lake Tahoe Campgrounds and RV Parks Lodging | Recreation | Leisure | Nightlife | Dining | Calendar | Weddings | Real Estate | Travel Map | Weather | Site Index | Home January 24, 2006 RV PARKS & RESORTS Comstock Country RV Resort (775) 882-1153 Carson City - 5-Star RV Resort Centrally located within 30 minutes of Lake Tahoe, Virginia City, Reno. 70' Spaces available for Large Coaches. Special: 6th Night Free at Time of Registration SOUTH & EAST LAKE TAHOE : CAMPGROUNDS Name Sites RV Sites Restrooms Boat ramp Showers Dogs 1 Bayview (530) 544-5994 10 - x 2 Camp Richardson (530) 541-1801 332 110 x x x 3 Campground by the Lake (530) 542-6096 170 170 x x x x 4 Eagle Point (530) 525-7277 100 - x x x 5 Fallen Leaf (530) 544-5994 205 130 x x 6 KOA (530) 577-3693 68 52 x x x 7 Nevada Beach (775) 588-5562 54 30 x x 8 Tahoe Pines (530) 577-1653 80 60 x x x 9 Tahoe Valley (530) 541-2222 415 301 x x x 10 Zephyr Cove Resort (775) 588-6644 175 105 x x x NORTH & WEST LAKE TAHOE : CAMPGROUNDS Name Sites RV Sites Restrooms Boat ramp Showers Dogs 11 D.L. Bliss (530) 525-7277 168 - x x x 12 Kaspian (530) 544-5994 10 0 x x 13 Lake Forest (530) 581-4017 20 20 x x x 14 Meeks Bay Resort (530) 525-6946 28 10 x x x 15 Meeks Bay (530) 544-5994 40 x x 16 Mt. Rose (800) 280-CAMP 24 9 x 17 Sandy Beach (530) 546-7682 44 20 x x x 18 Sugar Pine Point St. Park (530) 525-7982 175 40 x x x 19 Tahoe State Recreation (530) 583-3074 38 23 x x x 20 William Kent (530) 583-3642 95 40 x x Eagle Point offers lakeview campsites Smores anyone? Contact Us - Phone: (530) 577-8027 © 2000 All Rights Reserved