Is it easy to find campgrounds?
In most cases, yes. It’s easier in the West than the East because campgrounds are more plentiful in the West. But no matter where you travel, campgrounds are usually there. All together, there are about 16,000 private and public campgrounds in the United States. They range from primitive sites operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service, to luxury resorts in the desert with golf courses, health clubs, swimming pools and whirlpools.

What are membership campgrounds?
Membership campgrounds are those you join for a fee and then renew with annual dues. Coast-to-Coast (800-790-2267), Thousand Trails (800-328-6226) and the Northwest’s K/M Resorts (800-494-9376) are a few examples. The advantage to a membership campground is that its parks are almost always attractive and secure with plenty of activities and secure with plenty of activities and member interaction. Members seldom have a problem getting a campsite; some RVers literally travel from one park to another, spending a few days or even weeks in each. But membership campgrounds are not for everybody; most RVers prefer to go it alone, camping at public campgrounds and private ones like KOA. However, if you think a membership campground is for you, contact one of the organizations above and ask about a free “trial” stay.

Are campgrounds safe?
Generally, yes. But there are no guarantees. Crime, alas, can occur anywhere, even in places you’d least expect it. Use common sense and you will likely never have a problem.

Are reservations necessary at public campgrounds?
Only in the busy summer months, especially on holidays when last-minute spaces in popular campgrounds are almost impossible to find. Generally, though, the farther you are from a big city or major tourist destination (like Yellowstone or Yosemite), the easier it is to find a campsite. National Forest campgrounds are often the last to fill. While they offer few amenities, their settings in forests, often by lakes and streams, can be peaceful and scenic.

What does it mean when a campground has “full hookups?”
It means you can plug into regular household current, fresh water, a sewer and sometimes even cable TV. When your RV is fully hooked up, you can live pretty much like at home. Some campgrounds, especially public ones, often offer only water and electric hookups.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of private campground over a public one?
Each has its pluses, and its a bit dangerous to generalize. However, the plus side to a private campground is (usually) that full hookups are available (electric, water and sewer), and its likely that other amenities will be available including telephones, laundry facilities, playgrounds, a TV lounge and even an amusement area. Private campgrounds also tend to be located closer to towns and/or tourist areas. Public campgrounds, on the other hand, like those in state and national parks and national forests, are more often in scenic or recreational areas, and campsites may be larger and more private. But we generalize here. Individual parks, private and public, vary hugely in appearance, location and amenities.

TAX BREAKS FOR EVERYONE!

The $789.5 billion economic stimulus package that President Barack Obama is expected to sign next week will contain a tax break for buyers of new motorhomes.

According to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), the news marks a “substantial legislative victory for the RV industry.”

Under the stimulus deal that Congress is likely to approve over the next few days, buyers of new cars, light trucks, motorhomes and motorcycles will be able to deduct the state sales and excise taxes from the purchase on their federal returns next year, the Baltimore Sun reported today (Feb. 13).

RVIA said that motorhomes are included in a tax provision that allows a portion of the sales or excise tax paid on the purchase of a new motorhome to be deducted. The deduction is attributable to taxes applying to the first $49,500 of the purchase price. Individuals with an adjusted gross income of up to $125,000 and joint filers with an adjusted gross income of up to $250,000 are eligible for the deduction.

RVIA actively lobbied for the tax break, which will save consumers an estimated $1.7 billion over 10 years. Dianne Farrell, RVIA vice president of government affairs, cited the efforts made by Sen. Evan Bayh. D-Ind., Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

“They and their staffs have worked tirelessly over the past several weeks to ensure that the RV industry is included in the stimulus legislation,” she said. “Their efforts on behalf of their constituents will make a real difference for the industry.”

Farrell added, “RVIA worked with government affairs consultants, member companies, state RV associations, RVDA and RV dealers to ensure that the RV industry received help from the economic stimulus package. We are thankful to all of our partners for their commitment to this effort.”

The addition to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act became known as the “Mikulski Amendment,” drafted by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md. She scored a major legislative victory by getting her provision into the final deal, the Sun noted. It was one of only two so-called rifle-shot tax breaks supported by industry lobbies and approved by the Senate; the other was for homebuyers.

According to Mikulski’s office, a family that takes advantage of the new-car tax break will pay between $300 and $600 less in federal taxes next year.

It is an “above-the-line” deduction, which means it can be taken by anyone who owes federal income tax.

Could This Be It?

Q:  Which RV is best for me, a motorhome, travel trailer, or something else?

A:  A motorhome is a good choice if you move around a lot with brief stays in each place; you probably won’t need another vehicle for sightseeing or chores; if you need a vehicle, however, you can tow a small car or truck.  An advantage of a motorhome over a towable RV (trailer or fifth wheel) is that you have access to the unit while you’re on the road.  It’s easy to grab a snack, for example, or use the toilet (tell the driver to avoid fast turns!).

For infrequent family campers, and campers on a tight budget, a light weight travel trailer is an excellent choice.  These are generally among the least expensive, lightest RV’s, and can be pulled behind a small to medium-car.  Some are surprisingly plush with porta-potties and even showers.  Many new RV’ers start off with one of these for family summer vacations and then move up to a more substantial unit later.

Places to Go, Things to Do!

Don’t Look Back (Unless It’s to Take in the View)

Get away at a moment’s notice — and take the comforts of home right along with you, including all of your favorite gear.

If you like going places and doing things, you’ll love RVing. These versatile vehicles are perfect for camping, for exploring our national parks and scenic byways, for tailgating, for weekend excursions — and so much more.

For every passion, there’s an RV to help you enjoy it more. We’ve gathered a few of our favorite RV activities here — some ideas to fuel your imagination as you ponder your next excursion.

To get your “Get Away” coach that best fits your families need, visit Poulsbo RV. There you will find over 1000 New and Pre Owned RVs to choose from. Whether you are looking for a motorhome, 5th wheel or travel trailer, you will have plenty of options to go through. With six locations in Western Washington state, Poulsbo RV will have a store close to you. Visit our website today and please call us with any questions.

Creature Comforts

With fully equipped kitchens and baths, central air and heat, TVs, VCRs and surround-sound speakers, today’s RVs provide travelers with all the amenities of home. Many units also come equipped with slideout sections expanding the living, bedroom, kitchen and/or dining space at the touch of a button.

Another plus: There’s no settling for second-rate restaurants, or paying top dollar. You can dine in or out as you please.

What’s more, you can gradually add the small touches that turn your rolling house into a home. Touches such as your favorite pillow. Your favorite coffee. Your kayak. Your bike. Your family pet.

First-time RV travelers may be surprised at all the modern conveniences and creature comforts available in many of today’s RVs, including:

• Choice of twin, double, queen, and king-sized beds – even bunkbeds for the kids
• Full bath and shower or tub
• Refrigerator and freezer with ice maker
• Microwave
• Dishwasher
• Full range with oven
• Trash compactor
• Satellite dish
• Internet-ready computer station
• Closed-circuit rear-view camera for backing up
• Washer and dryer
• Whirlpool bath 
• Outdoor entertainment center
• Patio/awning
• Basement storage 
• CD and DVD systems with headphones
• Video game system
• Direct broadcast satellite antennas
• Global positioning systems
• Driver’s seat with built in heat and massage

“Did you ever spend the summer driving to the Grand Canyon in a minivan with no DVD player in it? Now imagine the same family vacation in an RV that has a queen-sized bed, two phone lines and three TVs!”
-Elizabeth Chang, reporter, Washington Post’s KidsPost, July 14, 2004

In an RV, you may be miles away from home, but not from the convenience and comforts of home.

To find your dream RV, vist www.poulsborv.com  There you will find over 1000 new and preowned RV’s to chose from. From Diesel to Gas, Class A, Class C, Travel Trailer, Fifth Wheels and Toy Haulers; Poulsbo RV will have what you are looking for. With six locations in Western Washington state, you don’t have to look far to find us.  Whether you are in Seattle, Everett, Vancouver Canada, Portland Oregon or from from, Poulsbo RV can get your vacation started off right. 

RETIRE IN STYLE

Follow the sun. For months at a time.

Savor travel’s pleasures. Make new friends, or connect with old ones. Visit family. As our age increases, so, too, do our opportunities to experience all that RVing has to offer. Today’s seniors are zestfully on the go, and RVs can take them wherever their hearts desire.

Thousands are part-time RV users, weekend and vacation travelers or seasonal “snowbirds.” Thousands more – some estimates go as high as a million – live full time in their RVs.

Seniors find today’s RVs make travel and camping comfortable and extremely accommodating, even for those with physical restrictions. RV travelers enjoy  home comforts like queen-sized beds and central air and heat. Many of these “condos-on-wheels” have slideout rooms that expand their interior space by about one-third at the push of a button. On-board closets and storage space eliminate the need to pack, unpack and carry bulky suitcases. Fully equipped kitchens help older RVers follow special diets and vacation more economically by avoiding fast-food eateries and high-priced restaurants.

RV travel fosters a sense of community, offering mature travelers a valuable network of friends who share common interests. Especially popular among seniors are camping clubs, which provide an active social network on the road. Camping clubs hold annual conventions, regional rallies, campouts and other events to bring RVer’s together.

While not everyone can backpack or tent-camp, anyone can enjoy outdoor living at a campground with an RV. And with so many RVs from which to choose, from Type A motorhomes to truck campers, there are models available to fit every lifestyle and interest. Many RV campgrounds offer expanded facilities and a variety of activities such as golf, tennis, tours and social events.

The relaxed RV lifestyle can help add years to your life – and zest to those years.

“RVing allows seniors and retirees to see the country in style while meeting new people and experiencing new things. Older adults have everything they need in their RV to have a safe, comfortable and stress-free getaway.”
-David Woodworth, RV historian

There are 3,679,182 square miles to see in America. And no better way to see them than in an RV.

WHERE TO FIND YOUR RETIREMENT RV?

When that day comes to disappear and enjoy on the road, come visit us at Poulsbo RV.  Whether you are looking for a Seattle rv dealer or Everett rv dealer, Poulsbo RV has a location for you.  With 7 convenient locations in Western Washington, you don’t have to go too far to find what you are looking for.  We have been in business for over 25 years and have been a premier RV dealer in the country.  With 1000 new and pre owned units in inventory, award winning service department and our new RV Parts 4 Less, why would you shop anywhere else?  We proudly carry Fleetwood, Forest River, Thor Industries, Dutchmen, Tiffin, Winnebago, Breckenridge, Keystone, Rage’n and Gulfstream.  Visit us at Poulsbo RV and see what we are all about, you won’t be disappointed.

Whether you’re looking for a towable RV or a motorized RV, you’ll likely pay one-third less for a pre-owned unit than a similarly equipped new unit.

RV dealers may provide you with a pre-delivery inspection of the vehicle.  Dealers place a high priority on selling well-maintained RVs.  At a dealership, you can compare prices on various units with similar features. This will give you a better understanding of an R’s market value.  RV dealers can offer you extra protection for your used RV purchase through extended service agreements.

Where to Buy a Pre-Owned RV:

Easy On The Pocket!

You shouldn’t have to spend a lot of money on something called free time.
Owning an RV makes economic sense. You are able to travel while spending significantly less. You have unlimited flexibility, even on a limited budget.

Many RV models allow a family of four to save up to 74 percent on vacation costs over other forms of travel. That’s a calculation that takes into account RV ownership costs, including payments, insurance, maintenance, tires, tax breaks, registration and depreciation.

Want to take your family of four to Orlando for a week? Traveling in a typical family motorhome will cost you 53 percent less than flying, renting a car, staying in a hotel and eating out. A trip to the Grand Canyon in a folding camping trailer will cost 70 percent less than driving and using hotels and restaurants.

PKF Consulting, an international travel and tourism research firm, recently conducted a complete vacation cost analysis. The study found that family RV vacations cost less than travel by personal car, train. Airline, or cruise ship.

Not only do other forms of travel cost more, the outlay typically covers only one vacation. Not so with an RV. It’s ready to go again whenever you are.

It all adds up. RVing gives you the most for your vacation dollars.

“RVing costs less than staying in hotels/motels. We can also cook our own food and save on restaurants.”
-RV owner Brenda Baker, Alexandria, IN

“For the vast majority of RV buyers, the interest on their motorhome or towable unit is deductible at tax time because it qualifies as a second home.”
-Richard Coon, president, Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA)

Where to Buy?

To further pursue your dream RV experience, visit www.poulsborv.com and visit one of our seven stores in Washington state.  We have locations in Mount Vernon, Everett, Seattle/Kent/Tacoma, Poulsbo, Auburn, Chehalis and Vancouver.  Whether you are in British Columbia, Canada, Alaska, Portland or Eugene Oregon, Poulsbo RV has a location that can help find the RV of your dreams.  We have over 1000 new and preowned units in stock and carry Class A, Class A diesel, Class C, travel trailers, fifth wheel trailers and toy haulers.  We carry all major manufacturers such as Fleetwood, Tiffin, Winnebago, Forrest River, Dutchmen, Thor, Gulfstream, Ragen, Keystone, Breckenridge and dozens of various other brands in our used line.  We buy in volume and sell at volume pricing; you won’t have to shop anywhere else. 

Renting an RV

Never owned an RV and thinking about buying one? Consider renting one and taking an extended “test drive” with your family and belongings. Travelers are finding it easier than ever to rent RVs year round, for a weekend, entire week or even longer.

More than 460 national chain outlets and local RV dealerships rent RVs, including state-of-the-art, late model year units. A growing number of campgrounds offer on-site rentals.

To find a rental company near you, click here.  Don’t forget that you can also check in your local yellow pages under “Recreation(al) Vehicles: Renting and Leasing” or call your local RV dealer.

Why Rent?

Renting allows you to try various types of RVs and learn from actual experience which one best suits your particular needs. Or, perhaps you already know and enjoy the RV lifestyle but aren’t ready to own. Many people rent RVs simply for the fun, freedom and flexibility of taking RV trips to a special event or destination.

What to Rent?

Motorhomes are the most popular rented model. Travel trailers, truck campers and folding camping trailers are available at some rental outlets.

Most RV rental companies provide “housekeeping” packages (dishes, pots, pans, etc.) for a nominal fee. Even if you’re driving or towing an RV for the first time, features like automatic transmissions, power brakes, and steering make it easy for experienced drivers to adjust to the difference in size, height, and weight.

Where to Buy?

To further pursue your dream RV experience, visit www.poulsborv.com and visit one of our seven stores in Washington state.  We have locations in Mount Vernon, Everett, Seattle/Kent/Tacoma, Poulsbo, Auburn, Chehalis and Vancouver.  Whether you are in British Columbia, Canada, Alaska, Portland or Eugene Oregon, Poulsbo RV has a location that can help find the RV of your dreams.  We have over 1000 new and preowned units in stock and carry Class A, Class A diesel, Class C, travel trailers, fifth wheel trailers and toy haulers.  We carry all major manufacturers such as Fleetwood, Tiffin, Winnebago, Forrest River, Dutchmen, Thor, Gulfstream, Ragen, Keystone, Breckenridge and dozens of various other brands in our used line.  We buy in volume and sell at volume pricing; you won’t have to shop anywhere else.