Why are recreational vehicle dealerships loaded with shoppers?

[graywarrior]

Seriously...the two up here in northern NH are packed with people all looking to buy. WTF? I mean, if you're palnning on living in one as your main house parked on the side of the road or you get some chape land I can see it. But at 8 mpg, why would anyone invest $80 grand and then pay $5 grand to register it?

[gateley]

1. I'm guessing they're looking at them as housing options. Nothing else

makes any sense.

[liberal renegade]

2. tax write off.

[Subdivisions]

3. Actually, it makes sense. If you equate the last Great Depression

with the one we're entering now, and if you have the money, it makes sense to buy an RV and stock it. That way, you can find a cheap place to park it and you have a home. As for gas, you only need that for moving it. I'm sure those people aren't all looking for RVs for recreational purposes.

[graywarrior]

5. I know! One of the salemen told me he parks his on streets for days at a time

and then moves to another street and then another. If he goes to FL he uses his dealership license to buy cars and then sells them when he's ready to split back to NH. some people have it figured out.

I just talked to a friend who is buying a 30 ft boat to live on for the rest of his life. He is so done with living in a house. His plan...sail down to FL for the winter, sail back to NH for the summer.

[Subdivisions]

21. Ahhhhh...to live such a romantic lifestyle... n/t

[snappyturtle]

11. I heard a man explain why he bought one. He is now a resident of a

"Hoover" park in CA. He said, let's see how did it go, oh, first he lost his job and then his wife lost hers...mergers, outsourcing whatever. The point is their jobs were disappeared. She had found a minimum wage job. He continued to look, unemployment ran out and they knew they were not going to be able to keep up on their mortgage payments. Consequently, they put away what they could until they were foreclosed and bought a small motorhome. It wasn't a Prevost or anythig like that but there they were starting all over again, writing resumes and looking for work from Hooverville.

[Subdivisions]

20. Yes, if you're faced with such adversity, it is a very prudent move to

buy a motorhome with the resources you have left. At least it's not destitution. It's all about adaptation. The man and wife you described are adapting. And doing so brilliantly. Though they will never see this, I'm sending out good vibrations to them for a long and romantic life as they adapt to a new reality. And that goes for you all too.

[snappyturtle]

26. They are two resourceful people. It was sad watching them

conducting their lives in their new, small home trying to make it a home. Had brought a large planter that probably had been in their yard. I send them good vibes too!

I also thought while watching the report that it's only by the grace of God that it isn't us....it could happen and I'm sure it will happen to a lot more before this financial mess is straightened out.

[Anywho6]

4. You're seeing the shoppers because deals are being made

My partner and I were able to get a trailer for ~30% off. The dealers (who haven't yet gone under) are trying to move these off their lots and are discounting 30%-40% or more, so now is the time to buy for people who are in the market for an RV.

[napi21]

6. Is it possible that those customers were & still fairly wealthy, and

the RV dealers are giving GREAT DEALS just to stay in business? I know, right now if you have the $$ to buy a new car, there's some fantastic deals out there.

[graywarrior]

7. Obviously they have money, but they are not in the top 1%

I know some of these people. They own small businesses in NH that they close down for the winter.

[NNN0LHI]

16. Most of the 1%ers I know look and dress like homeless people and cry poor mouth constantly

They won't even eat right to save money. Thats how they became 1%ers. It is a sickness.

Don

[graywarrior]

29. Ha ha. the ones up here have one tooth

[Anywho6]

8. Exactly. We were just looking to replace our tent trailer...

...with a hard-sided trailer to take camping. That's how we spend our vacation time. We didn't buy it without a lot of research and consideration (the payment we're making will just replace my partner's car payment when that is paid off next month).

[graywarrior]

9. What's the registration cost?

[Anywho6]

12. We're in CA

The license was $206 and there was a $5.25 CA Tire Fee.

[graywarrior]

15. Not bad!

[Anywho6]

18. Yeah...

...vehicle license and registration is pretty darn cheap here in CA. I've lived here for 10 years and I remember paying a lot more in KY even back that far. That's probably one of the reasons why CA is almost in the poor house!

[earth mom]

10. A home on wheels no doubt. I've been wishing we had the dough to buy at least a trailer

just in case.

Just in case. :scared:

[graywarrior]

13. We could be a nation of wanderers.

I like that idea.

[earth mom]

14. I've always considered myself a gypsy...

;)

[graywarrior]

17. Same here.

At least our family thinks we are.

[earth mom]

24. ...

:hi:

[AlCzervik]

19. not here, 3 of the biggest rv dealers in norcal have recently closed and we have rv weather all

year round.

[Muttocracy]

22. Parents of one of my friends have retired into one...

They sold their house, kept their cabin in MN for the summers, spend the rest of the year in the RV in the southwest or visiting friends and family.

[Muttocracy]

23. By coincidence, stumbled across mention of RV industry problems in Indiana

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/us/politics/12indiana.html

[Mojorabbit]

25. My sister is looking for one

to park in her yard because she foresees family members needing housing in the next few years and this would give them a place to stay.

[HooptieWagon]

27. I've read that RV sales are way off.

Maybe you were seeing a clearance sale? Powerboat sales are way off, too.

[graywarrior]

28. Maybe

Maybe there's a subterranean undergroundish RV black market thingie going on

[blues90]

30. I can see it if it were a home on wheels

The idea struck me not long ago to buy a used one just in case we need a roof and a way to move around , it was the idea if the cost of gas that decided for us it was not a good idea. And can you imagine what a tire of repair would cost on one of those things. Beats a tent for a home but not a trailer with something cheap to pull the trailer.