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Vital Accessories for RV Patio Lights

You can find the perfect set of RV patio lights to fit your needs.  These lights come in a variety of styles, from globes to lamps to miniature RVs, and are easy to hang on your RV awning to create a patio atmosphere.  But don’t drive to the middle of nowhere and realize you have to resort to misshapen paper clips to hang your RV patio lights; get the proper accessories and hang them right.

Awning Hook Ups

These P-shaped plastic hooks slide right over your awning rail and then support individual or strings of RV patio lights.  Ringing up at 10 clips for $12 or so, these are affordable and easily replaced if something goes wrong.  Depending on the density of your light string (or the number of lights you have), you may want to purchase an extra packet, as these are not the strongest option on the market.

Light Hangars

Similar to clothes hangars, light hangars feature little hooks that catch the strings of lights and support them via the awning rail.  These are slightly more expensive than hooks, priced around $11 for 7 hangars, and it is recommended that two packets be purchased for rails longer than 17′.

Lantern Snaps

Lantern snaps look a lot like metal clothes pins and work in much the same way: they clip to both the awning rail and the string for your lights.  These cost $10 for a packet of 4, but are sturdier than the above two options (so less need to be purchased).

Replacement Strings and Bulbs

Just as important as the way you hang your RV patio lights is the way you tend to them.  Lights unexpectedly burn out, and without a replacement handy, it’s easy to roll it up with the RV at the end of the summer and forget about it.  Keep a set of replacement bulbs and cords on hand at all times.

Are New, Used or Repossessed RVs the Best?

To figure out if  new, used or repossessed motorhomes for sale are the best choice for you, compare value, features, construction and selection to make your decision. Here is a general guide to get you started.

Value.  New RVs tend to be overpriced and would cost around 30% less if they were to be sold right after they leave the lot. In the following few years, they continue to depreciate 10-20% more. Used RVs at dealerships reflect these savings, but are typically marked-up after the dealer buys them at a repo RV auction. If you go to the auction yourself and buy a repossessed RV for sale there, you can get one for even less. The banks aren’t interested in making a profit. They just want to sell the RVs as soon as they can.

Features. Both new and used RVs can have the same features. Repossessions tend to happen in the first few years of a loan, so the RVs aren’t usually very old. Sometimes it’s fairly easy and cheap to add an upgrade and this can be a way to make the RV just the way you want.

Construction. Not all RV manufactures have the same quality standards. Whether new or used, some are constructed with better parts than others. With new RVs, you pay more for superior quality, so if you have a smaller budget, your new RV may be constructed poorly. Buy a better constructed repo RV and get a lower price too.

Selection. It is simple to find out what is available at a dealership and most of the time if it isn’t at one, it is at another. Whether you want new or used, you can just call up a dealership to see what they have. When buying an RV at a repo auction, you may have to wait for what you want to be available since the type of RVs and the features they have will be different at every auction.