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Paradise RV is located at 7001-99 Street, Clairmont---just north of Grande Prairie, one of their three Alberta locations. With huge purchasing power, Paradise RV negotiates the best possible discounts from manufacturers and passes them directly to you. Paradise RV will help you and your family discover the freedom of the open road. Check us out at www.paradiserv.ca.
What's your paradise?
How important is it to take my RV into a dealership each Fall to have it winterized?
While properly winterizing your RV is very important, many RV owners choose to Winterize their units themselves. This is perfectly fine and will save you money each fall. Many RV dealers will go through the procedure with you or have information on the proper steps to winterizing your specific RV. However, having said that, some RVs can be more tricky to winterize (eg. washing machines and ice makers) so having it done for you can give you the peace of mind of knowing you won't have to worry about any costly mistakes come spring time.
Do you have any suggestions on how to cut down wind resistance when towing?
Wind resistance is always, and will continue to be an issue, when towing any RV. The type and size your Rv will be the biggest contributing factor. so, for those that are in the market for a new RV, this is definitely something, which is often times overlooked, to consider when searching for the right RV for you. Most RV manufacturers have one or more "aerodynamically efficient" product lines, but this can vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. A couple things to look for, is the shape of the front of the prospective RV, as well as an enclosed underbelly and the overall height of the unit itself. Your local RV dealer should be able to help point out these RVs on their particular lots. For those of us with an existing RV, there are a few things that can be done. Most notably, the addition of a roof mounted wind deflector. Some may even include a testing kit, so that you can evaluate your existing airflow to properly adjust the wind deflector for maximum efficiency. Many users report a easier time in strong head winds and an overall increase in fuel efficiency. Other devices, such as "air flow" type tailgates have much more mixed reviews, and may actually increase drag, so I will leave that up to each individual as to their opinion of the merits of those tailgates. The easiest thing to do, is to make sure that your Rv is as level as possible when hooked up to the tow vehicle. Most travel trailer and 5th wheel hitchs are easily adjustable. The manufactures design their Rv's to be towed in a level position for best results. Keeping in mind, that this usually can also affect the handling characteristics, which can be greatly amplifidy by a strong wind when done incorrectly. So, with a level Rv, there should be less adverisity when the strong winds do come up.
We have a smaller vehicle. The only thing we can tow is a tent trailer. Do they still manufacturer basic models with just the two beds like the old leisure craft models? If so what is the price point and can you get them for us?
Towing with a smaller vehicle traditionally has relegated the RV enthusiast to opt for a tent or at the best, a very small tent trailer. However, in the last few years, there have been a number of small ultra-lite travel trailer's that have come onto the market, that weigh-in at roughly the same weight as the small tent trailers, few of which are readily available in the area. Keeping that in mind, the newer models of tent trailers on the market today, are generally not any heavier than their older counterparts. Advances in technology, and building processes have made the newer tent trailers strong, lighter, more durable and much more luxurious than the tent trailers of just 15 or 20 years ago. The smaller 8 foot boxes are the lightest and can start in the 8 to 10 thousand dollar range, and still have many of the options not available in the early models.
I currently camp in a tent and would like to upgrade, but my vehicle can only pull up to 2000 pounds. What are my options?
As one might expect, the less weight one's vehicle can tow, the less options one has for available RV's. However, the are several alternatives out on the market. Most common would be the smaller tent trailers, which have, nowadays, many advanced options and are quite comfortable. There are also many new ultra lite mini RV's out on the market. The internet is a good resource for investigation. Not to mention an up close look at your local RV dealer, for that hands on approach. The important thing to always remember that one must consider not just the weight of the RV, but all the weight that will be put into the RV, including water,propane, batteries and, of course,personal items and provisions. The appropriate hitch and wiring are a must, and a transmission cooler is always good idea to protect the smaller, engines.
We are leary about purchasing a used RV. Do you do any inspections or detailing before you put a used RV up for sale?
Buying a used RV can be great option for many people. Most used RV's, especially later models, tend to be in very good condition. However, like motor vehicles, the condition can vary tremendously and the level to which a dealer or private seller inspects or repairs any deficiencies, can vary widely also. The best course of action, is to make a point of asking a seller or dealer what they will inspect and or repair. Technically, a dealer cannot sell a used RV "as is" unless it is fully disclosed to the customer. This does not however, guarantee a trouble free RV, or a adequate inspection. The old adage of " buyer beware" is still the status quo. A independent inspection is always a sure way to ensure yourself of well informed purchase. This will be at the purchasers expense, but can be "money well spent" Many dealers may have some form of limited warranty on pre-owned RVs, which can definitely reassure a potential RV buyer. The main thing is ask the question, " what do you inspect?", "is there any guarantee?"" will it be detailed?" " "What do you repair?". A reputable dealer will not have any problem answering these questions. Also, many dealers can offer an extended warranty program, which may be an excellent way to protect your investment. It is worth noting that a private seller has no obligation to either repair or disclose the condition of the RV.
I have a 31 foot flagstaff pull trailer, it has power front and rear stabilizers but I find that it has a lot of movement inside from no stabilization in the middle of the trailer. What can I do to stabilize it better?
There can be a few reasons for this. The most common is that the front and rear stabilizers, can be lowered too far which takes weight off the tires and cause less stabilization in the middle of the coach. This is especially common with electric stabilizer jacks. Please keep in mind that while the jacks are there for stabilizing the coach, they should not be used to take a large portion of the weight of the unit. There can be under inflation of the tires which, especially with a "light" unit like a flagstaff, can amplify the natural side movement of the coach. There will always be some movement in the middle of the coach, but if there is still excessive movement I would recommend having it checked out at your local dealer.
5th wheel or motor home, which will have a better resale value five years from now ?
As with any market, the value of either a motor home or fifth wheel trailer can fluctuate from year to year, based on supply and demand. Generally, though, the fifth wheel is more popular, with a lower initial cost. Also, there is usually a larger resale market for the fifth wheel. Furthermore, it can be said that any vehicle with an engine tends to depreciate quicker.
These are general guidelines, but please call one of our sales consultants for any specific model or floor plan.
When I'm taking my RV out of storage in the spring, what's the most important thing I need to remember to do to get it ready for another camping season?
The first and most important step in de-winterizing your RV is to thoroughly wash out the water system and make sure no traces of antifreeze are left in it. Run fresh water through the system until all the "pink" is gone. Make sure to run your taps, your outside shower and flush out all holding tanks.
I've seen the letters GVWR in relation to tow rates on RVs, but really don't know what this refers to. Can you help?
The GVWR is the gross vehicle weight rating. It may also be called the maximum loaded trailer rate and it is the maximum number that the weight of the RV should never exceed. To understand more about RV weights, please phone or visit us and we can go over all the information with you.
I was told that it's important that my hot water tank be full before I turn it on. Is that true?
Yes, absolutely! If it's not full, you risk burning out the element or even melting the inside of the tank. To test if it's full, turn on the tap. Once the water runs constant, with no sputtering, it's good to go.