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RV BUYER BEWARE

RV Buyers are coming out of the woodwork and many of you are seriously looking for the RV of their dreams right now.  I do not want to scare you, but I will warn BUYER BEWARE!  If you are looking for a used RV, take time to come up with a list of your “wants and don’t wants” in that RV.  I encourage you to walk through many RVS and try to imagine yourself, eating, sleeping, bathing and watching TV in that RV.  Is it spacious enough, is it too big to tow, too small to move around?  Is your head in the skylight when you shower?  Are you too tall to sleep on the bed without your feet hanging off?  E are just a few of the questions. 

Once you have found the RV you want to buy, it is time to make sure your paperwork is in order.  Whether you are buying from a dealer or an individual, know what you are buying.  Is the year model correct, does the vin on the title match the vin on the RV?  Is their a lien on the RV and, if so, how are you going to get a clear title? And, one question that comes up more often than you can imagine is, where is the title?  You are at the sellers house, you fall in love with the RV, you negotiate a great deal, you’re ready to go RVing and….you hear the panic of “Oh, heck…where did I put that title?”    Is it in the file cabinet?  Is it still at the bank? Where is it?

DO NOT…let me repeat, DO NOT, negotiate this deal and pay any money until you know how the vehicle is titled, where the title is and if it is clear.

It is much better to agree on the price and wait a few days for the seller to produce a title than it is to rush and then have a vehicle you can not register in your name.  

If there are two parties listed as owners on the title, you need to make sure that both of those people are there and are negotiating the title.  Request a copy of each of their drivers licenses for your records to make sure you know who you are dealing with.  I have heard some horror stories about couples going through a divorce and one sells the RV right out from under the other one and signs their name.  I have also heard about kids who have mom or dads RV and are trying to sell it and pocket the money.  And, don’t forget the people who actually steal RVs and try to sell them. 

I think all of this can lead up to the 9 steps brochure and PPL helping them. 

I also think I want to take time to say that, just like all dealers, we cannot make everyone happy every time, but we do try and we do care.  We will make some mistakes along the way, but we will also try to learn from those mistakes. 

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Happy Father’s Day From PPL Motorhomes

Happy Father’s Day from your RV consignment center, PPL Motorhomes!

Now, certainly I don’t want to take anything away from all of the Moms out there, our gratitude for you is undying. However, since Father’s Day is Sunday, I though I throw a little gratitude Dad’s way. When I was growing up, I have very distinct memories of my Dad. I remember him picking me up on numerous occasions when I fell and doctoring skinned knees and bruised egos. It was Dad who taught all of us how to ride a bike and bait a hook. It was Dad who taught us how swim in the deep end, paddle a canoe and shoot a bow and arrow and rifle. He taught me Life through Nature. My Dad is the same guy that would take you either to a ball game, or a dance recital, it didn’t matter to him, as long as he could see you succeed at the stuff you liked to do. When you didn’t, it didn’t matter, he was always quick with a “Good Job”, or “You’ll get ’em next time, sport”.

We’ve all had our ups and downs with Dad, but I couldn’t imagine a world growing up in which I existed and he didn’t. He is half of the influence of who I became today.

I found a great little video that I wanted to share. I think it captures the essence of  Father’s Day pretty well.

Remember how much Dad used to like to go camping? Well not much has changed, he may be a little older, but I’m sure his love for the outdoors hasn’t changed. If you are here, reading this now, was it Dad who got you into your first tent? Was it Dad who took you on your first RV trip? Probably. Return the favor, plan a RV trip with dear old Dad, I’m sure he’d love it. Be sure to bring him by PPL Motorhomes first and take a look at some great RVs…just like you did when you were a kid.

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The Importance Of Cleaning And Treating Your RV’s Roof

When was the last time you climbed up on the roof of your RV with the expressed purpose of cleaning it? If you answered “never”, well hold out your hand because RV Nana needs to give it a good smack. Now, I know what you are thinking; “Cleaning the roof is so difficult. It’s back breaking work”. Well, it doesn’t have to be. PPL Motorhomes has quite a few products for cleaning and treating you RV’s rubber roof. As an RV owner, you have to take care of every part of your rig, and that includes your roof.  We recommend that you clean, condition and protect your rubber roof at least twice a year. Cleaning your roof every 6 months will help prevent mold, mildew and fungus growth, as well as, giving your roof a continuous new look and adding years to your roof’s life. Do not use a silicone product on your roof as it will actually attract mildew and fungus growth. A good cleaner will remove black streaks and surface oxidation which will extend the life of your rubber roof. Further, as an added bonus, a good cleaner will also condition, moisturize and preserve your rubber roof.

This is a nice little video that will both show you how to clean the rubber roof of your RV, as well as show you the dramatic difference between a clean roof and the one that is probably on your RV now.

So, as you can see removing the buildup of dirt, roof chalk and airborne pollutants can now be done “standing up” with a sponge mop and a bucket of water. A soft bristle brush can be used in tight areas or when necessary to remove stubborn grime.  A product like Champion’s Choice Protect All RUBBER ROOF CLEANER eliminates rinsing and runoff keeping the RV clean and dry. Also, keep in mind, if you have any down time, roof cleaning can be performed at campgrounds, storage lots or your driveway.

If you have any questions about cleaning and treating the rubber roof on your RV, don’t hesitate to give us a call. PPL Motorhomes can certainly recommend some great products and techniques.

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Remodel Your RV For Consignment

Before putting your RV on consignment with PPL Motorhomes, maybe you should consider a re-model first? A little facelift will help your RV sell much quicker. Take for example the video below. It’s a 1978 Winnebago, I believe, and it went from Brady Bunch to Posh pad with what appears to be some significant changes which required very little effort. You’d be surprised what a fresh splash of paint would can do to completely change the mood of your RV’s interior space. Check out the video for a really nice before and after tour.

Installing a new toilet, cabinets,  a new stove, new flooring, all of which will raise the value of an RV that you maybe considering putting on consignment. Approach your RV remodel as you would if you were doing a remodel to a home you were prepping for sale. Change out obviously worn interior appointments that aren’t visually appealing. Obviously, you don’t want to sink too much money into it, but it has to look nice and be up to date with modern appliances. As luck would have it, PPL Motorhomes has a huge selection of products to enhance the interior and exterior of your motorhome, travel trailer or fifth-wheel. Plus, we have the knowledgeable staff to help you through your remolding venture. They will be quick to answer any questions you may have.

If you’ve done a bathroom remodel, or an entire RV interior overhaul, share you experiences with us. Our readers can always use always use the real-life experiences from their RVer community, especially when it involves a major undertaking like a remodel.

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RV Parks Are Great For Family Reunions

Every year, all across America families plan reunions in hopes of staying in touch with those who can sometimes be on the other side of the US. Summer is prime season for reunions too. The weather is generally nice, kids are out of school and people have been saving up their vacation time. I know all of us here at PPL Motorhomes look forward to reuniting with our family members ever summer.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG_iWldgook

What better place to hold a family reunion that at an RV Park? Generally the amenities that are provided will more than suffice for even larger reunions. Many parks across the United States have pools, activities, eating halls, picnic areas, covered pavilions and more. Not only do you have all of this at your disposal, but many RV Parks also offer packages to help you organize your family reunion. Even if you have family members who don’t own an RV, some RV Parks also have permanent lodging facilities for rent.

However, PPL Motorhomes recommends looking into renting an RV and experiencing how comfortable the lifestyle can be first hand. Who knows, maybe one of your family member will love it so much they will want to get an RV for themselves! Not to do any shameless self-promotion here, but I know a great little consignment RV center in Houston that you can recommend.

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The Importance of Sleep On The Road

I guess, being RVNana and all, I feel obligated to give you youngins’ a good talking to from time to time. This is one of those times. The lesson for today is: How To Prevent Driving Your RV Sleep Deprived.

People, I’ll tell you right now. If you are tired, stop and rest. You are creating a hazardous situation for you and those you share the road with. You may not even know you are tired until you start feeling the effects of road-hypnosis. That’s when you know you’ve driven for a while, but can’t remember the last landmark you passed. That’s tired, people. You need sleep.

You can really avoid sleep-related problems while RVing by setting a comfortable schedule of driving and resting. Take the time and pace yourselves. Set aside enough time to make the trip there and back easily, otherwise save that trip for another occasion. As much as the seasoned RVers understand this, there are times when our experience can become dangerous by instilling a false sense of control. At the end of the day there aren’t any magic tricks that will keep you awake while driving. Sure, go ahead and open a window, drink a cup of coffee, or try blasting the music, but the experts will tell you that  the only thing that will help a sleepy driver is sleep. Go figure.

I’ll make this simple. Plan your trip with the goal of covering 250 miles per day at the most. 100 to 150 miles per day is better. If you must drive farther to reach your destination, plan on having at least two qualified drivers taking turns. If both drivers are exhausted, it’s time to stop and sleep. You are bringing your bed with you! What kind of fool falls asleep at the wheel with a bed in the same vehicle?

So, there you go. You’ve been scolded by RVNana. If you need to pull over, just pull over. RVing is a lot more fun when you are actually traveling and not towing your rig out of a ditch, or worse, because you fell asleep at the wheel.

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PPL Has A Great March Selling The RV Lifestyle

What a great March we’ve had! I was fortunate to have worked both at our Houston and New Braunfels locations during Spring Break this past week and was overjoyed to meet so many of our PPL and RV Nana friends! Like all of us, I spend more time than I’d like to each week doing paperwork, but this past week was truly exciting. I absolutely love it when I have the opportunity to chat with customers. I truly enjoy listening to their plans and experiences and talking about the RV lifestyle.

I been seeing a really interesting in the upturn of families making their first RV purchases. It’s really nice to see more people than ever visiting PPL, doing their research, comparing floorplans and features, shopping and preparing to be a part of this growing lifestyle. From young families, to retired couples and everything in between, they are planning to make RVing a part of their life. There’s nothing that makes me more happy than seeing that. So, whether you’re an experienced RVer, or a first time shopper, please stop by, say hello and enjoy our hassle-free shopping experience.

If you are already an RV owner and you are looking to trade in and trade up, you’ll be happy to know that RV sales have been great at PPL Motorhomes. We currently have over 450 motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth-wheels between our two locations to choose from. Those terrific sales mean we need YOUR RV to sell! So, if you are in the market for a new rig, bring us what you have and let us put it on consignment for you. Right now is absolutely the beast time to sell! Come in and see what we can do for you!

 

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B&W Trailer Hitches; The Last Hitch You Will Ever Buy

I was thinking the other day about the importance of our trailer hitch. I mean, really thinking about the basics of the operation; about how the physics has to be right and the construction has to be rugged and reliable. That’s why I’m proud to say that we use B&W Hitches for our RV. As luck would have it, your favorite RV parts, accessories and RV consignment center, PPL Motorhomes has them. B&W offers a Turnover Ball Hitch to fit nearly every domestic full-sized pickup on the market. The Turnover Ball is an easily-installed, complete gooseneck hitch that bolts to the frame of your truck using existing holes (see Fit List below). The Turnover Ball comes with a removable 2 5/16″ ball, and is rated for 30,000 lbs. towing and 7,500 lbs. tongue weight capacity. The ball stores upside down in the socket when not in use, leaving a flat, unobstructed bed floor.

This hitch is easily installed and removed, leaving the truck rail free. Plus, you can pull a gooseneck RV or Fifth-wheel with the same hitch! To change, just pull and turn the spring-loaded latch pin in the driver’s side wheel well, lift the ball out of the socket, flip it over, drop it back into the socket, and engage the latch pin. The process takes longer to read about than it does to complete.

They install in about an hour, with no welding. The hitch assembly simply bolts across the truck frame under the bed while the bed is in place — the only modification to your truck is a four-inch round hole in the pickup bed floor.

And with this hitch, the B&W Companion Fifth Wheel Hitch can be added in minutes. Pull your RV and gooseneck trailer with the same system! Click here for the B&W Companion Fifth Wheel Hitch.

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Take Your Next RV Vacation to Albuquerque,New Mexico!

Albuquerque has so many great places to visit and fun things to do. Of course, the International Balloon Fiesta in October is a magnificent experience. Plus, there are Casinos surrounding the area and Santa Fe is just an hour away. But, if that is not enough, here are 5 more things to experience while you are in the area.

#1. Take the Sandia Peak Tramway (the longest tramway in North America).

The Sandia Mountians and beautiful New Mexico sky!

It will take you all the way to the top where you can have lunch or dinner. You will enjoy majestic views of the mountains and the city. For a real experience you can take your bikes up the tram and ride the trails down, or hike down to the bottom.

 

#2. Visit the Petroglyph National Monument, where you can see over 700 Petroglyphys created by Native Americans and Spanish settlers dating back 400-700 years. There are several hiking trails where you can see, touch and marvel over the Petroglyphs, great places to picnic and plenty of RV parking.

 

 

 

#3. Visit the Village of Corrales New Mexico. You can’t really call it a suburb of Albuquerque, as  prehistoric sites indicate the Corrales Valley has been occupied  since as early as 500 A.D, but it is very close snuggled in between Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. Every Sunday morning in the Summer the Corrales Growers Market offers fruits, vegetables, herbs and much more from farmers in the area. Be sure to get a Breakfast Burrito with authentic New Mexico red or green chile!

#4. Take a trip through the Jemez Mountains – about an hours drive from Albuquerque. A combination of red rock formations and beautiful mountain vistas provide some of the most spectacular scenery in the Southwest. Spots along the way provide a cultural and educational experience as well!  Be sure to stop at one of the stands where Native American Indians  serve up a variety of New Mexico specialties. (The Indian Fry Bread is awesome!)

And while in that area be sure to visit the Ponderosa Valley Winery, where you will find a wide selection  of wines all made with 100% New Mexico grapes.

 

 

 

 

Take a tour and of course partake in a wine tasting.

They will really make you feel at home!

 

 

#5. Visit the Albuquerque Zoo, the Botanical Gardens and the Aquarium. They are all located close together in the downtown area. Walk from one location to another, or there is a train that can transport you. After a full day, have dinner at one of the many restaurants located close by on Central Avenue – part of the original Route 66!

You will find a abundance of RV campgrounds in the Albuquerque area as well as the Sandia and Jemez Mountians.

From all of us at  PPL Motorhomes , we hope you have a safe trip and enjoy all that the Albuquerque area has to offer!

 

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PPL Motorhomes: The Very Real Dangers Of Dehydration

Your consignment RV center and RV Nana love RVing! Even in the heat of summer, you’ll find most of us packing up our rigs and heading out to our favorite camping grounds. Of course, once we are there our kids and grandkids want to jump out of the RV and go stretch their legs around the RV park or campsite….but wait, don’t let them disappear so fast.

With the summer being so hot this year, dehydration while RVing is a very real and very dangerous issue that your MUST address prior to letting the little ones run off exploring.

According to the MayoClinic:

Mild to moderate dehydration is likely to cause:

  • Dry, sticky mouth
  • Sleepiness or tiredness — children are likely to be less active than usual
  • Thirst
  • Decreased urine output — no wet diapers for three hours for infants and eight hours or more without urination for older children and teens
  • Few or no tears when crying
  • Dry skin
  • Headache
  • Constipation
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

Severe dehydration, a medical emergency, can cause:

  • Extreme thirst
  • Extreme fussiness or sleepiness in infants and children; irritability and confusion in adults
  • Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes
  • Lack of sweating
  • Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber
  • Sunken eyes
  • Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn’t “bounce back” when pinched into a fold
  • In infants, sunken fontanels — the soft spots on the top of a baby’s head
  • Low blood pressure
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Rapid breathing
  • No tears when crying
  • Fever
  • In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6qmzte7prA

Remember, don’t rely on your kids to tell you that they are thirsty as a precursor to dehydration. In fact, if they are telling you they need something to drink, they are already dehydrated. Make them rest in a cool area while consuming water and other drinks that have electrolytes in them to replenish the salts and minerals they have been sweating out.

Your consignment RV center, PPL Motorhomes and RV Nana want to make sure that your are keeping a watchful eye on your little whippersnappers while enjoying the Summer Sun. In this case, make sure they drink fluids constantly. As stated in the video, dehydration can set in very quickly and may even be overlooked until it is to late.