Official wants to delay RV law

"I'm asking that the ordinance not become effective for a couple more months just to give us some time," Councilwoman Rhenda Strub said.

Strub convened a group of leaders from the county, Tumwater and some social service agencies to find homes for the RVs.

"We're looking at partnering with churches and social service agencies to take one or two of these RVs," she said.

Owen would be the coordinator.

The council moved last month to ban RV parking on city streets after getting complaints about seven RVs and motorhomes that have been parked for months near the Olympia Transit Center on State Avenue — taking up parking spaces, dumping sewage and running generators.

The law would ban RV parking between 3 and 6 a.m., or for any 24-hour period, including weekends and holidays. People could obtain a permit for parking for up to seven days within a quarter of each year.

Violators would be charged $75 for each offense, and after the third offense the vehicle could be impounded.

Assistant City Manager Subir Mukerjee said parking staff members and police would enforce the law. If passed tonight, the law could go into effect in 30 days.

Homeless RV residents said they have nowhere else to go. Other jurisdictions ban RV parking. In interviews earlier, some RV residents said they would move to another space if provided.

"The sense I get from most of them … they'll actually be probably happier than where they are," Owen said.

Formerly a part-time worker for the Family Support Center, Owen last week began receiving $5,000 emergency funding from United Way to work full time on finding homes for the RV campers. That funding will last for up to two months. Read more...

Is the RV all that important?

A year ago there was a difference of almost $100,000 between the average Christchurch City Council RV of $260,000 (set by council valuer Good Earth Matters in August 2004), and the average home price of $354,000 (April to June average for the council's area as calculated by state-owned valuer Quotable Value).

Now, the average RV for the council's area, according to the latest round of three-yearly valuations released in November, is $377,434. This compares with an average dwelling price in the three months to May 31 of $362,981 after a year of little or no price growth in most areas.

So most prices are close to, but not quite meeting, the current valuation.

The change from last year to now shows up the shortcomings of using the blunt instrument of the RV - a local authority taxation tool - in the finely tuned and fast- changing property market.

Christchurch valuer Mark Shalders, of DTZ, warns against putting too much store by the RV.

"We don't think rating values offer a particularly valuable guide to prices,"Shalders says. "There's better ways of valuing a property."

Shalders says one of the shortcomings of relying on RVs is that they are set on a certain date, and do not reflect market changes until they are done again three years later. Read more...

Travel Trailer RV's

Travel trailers, also often called caravans in many places outside the U.S., are small trailers that can be used as living quarters while traveling. Travel trailers are actually a part of a large family of vehicles having the same characteristics. Also belonging to this group of vehicles are the pop-up trailers, teardrop trailers, motor homes, and truck campers. Collectively, these vehicles are called recreational vehicles, or RVs.

The different kinds of recreational vehicles share several characteristics, so how can one differentiate a travel trailer from the others? Unlike motor homes that are vehicles in themselves, travel trailers are not. Instead, travel trailers are designed to be towed by other vehicles by means of a bumper or trailer hitch. One wouldn't mistake a travel trailer for other towable RVs because of their style and their size.

Travel trailer lengths usually range from twelve feet to about forty feet. Those that are below eighteen feet in length are often called small travel trailers. These travel trailers are usually the simplest and can accommodate about four people at most. Small travel trailers would not weigh more than 3,000 pounds and thus can be towed by a family car or a small pickup truck.

Many travel trailer builders, in their quest to provide utmost satisfaction for their customers, also provide options for personalizing your chosen trailer with interior decors using varied design schemes. As a result, the upholstery, carpeting and windows’ stylish and beaming appearances make up an appealing and unique trailer that is sure to catch the discerning eyes of buyers.

Manufacturers of different trailers with state-of-the-art designs and engineering also provide warranties to assure you of a secured and long-lasting RV experience.

In transportation and temporary living accommodations for travel, recreation, and camping, small travel trailers are the best option to meet the level of comfort and convenience needed by small families or even older couples who are enjoying their retirement. You can still feel as if you are in the comforts of your home; these trailers also come equipped with the necessary amenities such as a small kitchen area, a bathroom, comfortable sleeping and dining areas, and even entertainment facilities.

Though simple and engineered to be lightweight, small trailers are also loaded with cooking facilities as well as a refrigerator, heating, air conditioning, a self-contained toilet, a shower, water tanks, and a separate electrical system. These trailers also feature slide-out rooms so you can enjoy additional space.

RV Rentals

My folks have been retired for five years, and they’re spending their golden years on the road. There have been trips to China and Peru and a train tour of Canada. This year, they’re sticking closer to home — an RV tour of California with the Kelly clan.

“We’re a small company,” said Tom Franks, Director of Comfort Coach RV in Oceanside (760-554-7390; rvrentalssandiego.com). “Each of our coaches is privately owned. Not only do you have a rental company maintaining and managing the coach, but you also have an owner, who has a vested interest in maintaining it. And because these are privately owned coaches that people have purchased for themselves, they’re loaded with features and amenities — nicer upholstery and cabinetry, in-motion satellite receivers, surround-sound speaker systems...”

Franks said, “We carry both Class A and Class C. The Class C is the most popular family coach. It’s made on a van chassis and drives like a van. There’s a bed above the driver’s head and a queen-sized bed in the bedroom, and the sofa folds into a double bed, so it can sleep up to eight.” The Class A slept six people, but Franks suggested that it was a step up. “It’s a bus-style coach, so you sit up above the traffic and enjoy a great view. It will have more slide-outs, so you’ll have more living space.”

Neither model, said Franks, is difficult to drive, and neither requires a special license — you just need to be at least 25 years old. “You’ll be sitting up higher and more to the left than you’re probably used to. You need to allow additional braking distance, and because you don’t accelerate as quickly as a car, you need to allow additional time to get into traffic. We give renters a complete orientation and make sure they know how to operate everything.” Read more...

Class C Motorhomes

Are you considering buying a new or used Class C Motorhome? There are many rv manufacturers that build class c's and you are probably wondering how to decide which one to choose.

Well, our friends at J R Consumer Resources, Inc. have created an RV Comparison Guide that rates and compares 99% of the manufacturers in the recreational vehicle industry.

Buying an RV can be one of the most rewarding purchases you’ll ever make. Imagine having the freedom to travel whenever and wherever you want in a luxurious home on wheels. Unlike the unfamiliar setting of a hotel room, your RV allows you to bring along the comforts and joys of your everyday life such as your own pillow, favorite board games, golf clubs and other familiar comforts. There is no need to make hotel reservations or try to decide where to eat.

See what Google News has to say about Class C Motorhomes.

RV Ratings

When shopping for a new RV, how do you know what manufacturer to choose from? There are so many! Would a comparison guide with many RV Ratings help you in your decision process? Learn more about the recreational vehicle industry with our RV Comparison Guides.

Fleetwood lays off 300 workers at Indiana RV plant

Munson said that weakening consumer demand primarily because of high fuel prices prompted the layoffs in Decatur and the layoffs of another 128 workers at a plant in Paxinos, Penn., and 34 workers at the company's Riverside plant. Both of those plants make gasoline engine RVs. Read more...