RV travelers encouraged to begin preparations for summer travels

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Whether your recreational vehicle is a lavish $300,000 bus or a smaller livable trailer you tow with your truck, annual maintenance is key to getting the most from your investment.

Brian Frazee of Frazee's RV dealership in St. Joseph, a business that has been part of his family for over 40 years, said that consistent maintenance saves money in the long-run, since, like houses, all RVs develop issues over time.

"If you stay up on it, a couple of hundred dollars a year will get you pretty well taken care of," Frazee said. "Mostly general maintenance will help them to last a long time."

While higher end RVs can cost upward of $200,000, Frazee said he mostly deals in smaller RVs, which can range in price from about $14,000 to about $65,000.

"The smaller ones are just easier to tow," Frazee said. "Also, there are a lot of camp grounds that don't allow the really big ones."

Frazee also said, most of the smaller campers and RVs sleep more people. He said many bigger campers sleep only a few, while smaller campers are built to sleep more people.

The bigger RVs, though, have more amenities, including full showers and bathrooms, and are relatively self-contained.

Charlie Townsend, a retired St. Joseph resident, has owned his RV for just over ten years. He said he and his wife are going full-time this year, on the road

Townsend said they had previously taken the RV out a couple of times per year. Over the years, he said he has learned an important maintenance lesson.

"A lot of people don't realize, to basically replace tires every three years," Townsend said. "That sounds expensive, but I change them every three years whether I need to our not."

He said the last thing you need when you are on the road with a big vehicle, is to have a blowout. However, the maintenance time and expense are worth it, because RVs can be a taste of home wherever you are.

"I like having my own bedroom, because I don't have to worry about bed bugs," Townsend said. "I have my own bathroom, too. . . .I just like my own turf, and you know, I don't get that in a motel."

Any RV that has a bathroom can be financed like a house, which means 15, 20 or even 30-year loans.

Both Frazee and Townsend said it's important to do your homework. This includes, making sure your truck can tow the RV you choose, if you choose a vehicle that isn't self-contained.

Also, they emphasized making sure you learn about common issues with RVs, such as window leaks, roof issues, water leaks and other issues related to a vehicle, that is basically, a small home on wheels.

As Frazee noted, anything that can go wrong in a house can go wrong in an RV. Being prepared is the best way to get the most out of the RV experience.