Elevate Comfort with These Luxury RV Accessories from General RV

Shawn Verbruggen

RV owners and enthusiasts know that the right luxury RV accessories can make a big difference in their camping experience. With the popularity of RVing full-time and the itch to have all the comforts of home close by, you’ve also likely become a modern-day RVer with modern-day needs. When you’re traveling in your very own portable suite on wheels, you can have all the indulgent creature comforts you desire and deserve, no matter where you’re headed.

Even in the most fully-equipped RVs, there’s always room for improvement. Some simple upgrades can make life on the road more enjoyable and keep your RV feeling modern and fresh. Whether you’re traveling in a Class A diesel pusher or hauling a small travel trailer, here are some luxury RV accessories that will to take your camping comfort and convenience to the next level.

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Come Home with a Story at General RV

Shawn Verbruggen

For 60 years, General RV Center has helped countless families make RV memories. Now, General RV is dedicated to helping families make more than memories and come home with a story. General RV has launched a new brand campaign to help solidify the family-owned company as the premiere RV dealer in the country. The campaign will highlight fun and inspirational stories of camping and RV journeys from customers past, present or future.

The first TV commercial for the new brand campaign is now live in various television markets and on several social media and digital platforms. You can also see it right here, or in the view box above.

New research from Kampgrounds of America shows the number of RVing households in North America expanded by more than 3.5 million from 2019-2021, which equates to an increase of 62 percent during that time period. In addition, an RVIA survey shows that RVers are getting younger, with millennials making up 65 percent of all new RV buyers, and the average buyer is 33 years old.

Come Home With A Story Contest

Customers are being encouraged to share their camping stories (in 250 words or less) and photos with General RV for a chance to win one of three drawings for a $1,000 General RV gift card. Those who submit their camping stories on the General RV brand campaign’s dedicated webpage will be automatically entered to win. Customers can also share their stories on social media using the hashtag’s #GeneralRV and #ComeHomeWithAStory.

Elements of the brand campaign have been in use at RV shows across the U.S. in late 2022 and early 2023. The imagery and text capture moments where camping and RV memories are born. However, the brand campaign reflects that these moments often become more than memories, but stories shared for generations. That’s where General RV comes in.

General RV’s Commitment to Creating Lasting Memories

“Come Home With A Story is designed to celebrate campers of all ages who embrace adventure and return with lasting memories and inspirational stories,” said Alicia Gewinner, Director of Marketing at General RV.  “It’s through the brand campaign that we aspire to create positive connections to the RV lifestyle for all RV owners and first-time purchasers.”

As the RV demographic continues to change, the path to purchase is also shifting. Research shows a buyer’s journey starts with a spark – something that connects and draws a customer to the RV lifestyle. A qualitative study published by GO RVing found that a positive RV camping experience is a strong indicator of whether or not a customer will buy a new RV from a dealership today. More than 25 percent of current and emerging campers cite positive camping experiences – whether during childhood or during the last five years – as positive influences on their path to purchase.

“We created this campaign to celebrate camping stories and to inspire,” Gewinner said. “We want to create a spark and show campers that every trip they take – big or small – you always come home with a story.”

Visit Your Local General RV Today

Ready to take your RV adventures to the next level? Let General RV help you discover the RV lifestyle. We offer a huge selection of new motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth wheels, as well as used RVs for sale. Need RV parts? We’ve got those, too. And our highly trained technicians can help with all your RV service needs. Visit our RV Virtual Showroom to start browsing now. Or find a General RV dealer near you. Whether you shop online or in store, our experts will help you camp with confidence.

REV Group Celebrates 40,000th RV, General RV to be Exclusive Dealer

Shawn Verbruggen

REV Recreation Group has reached a new milestone with its Fleetwood RV Bounder Class A RV and they are celebrating the achievement with General RV. In March, the Bounder Class A became the 40,000th RV ever produced by REV Recreation Group and rolled off the manufacturing line to pomp and circumstance. This Bounder is making its way to General RV’s flagship location in Wixom, Mich., for an official private celebration on Monday, April 10. General RV will be the exclusive dealer for this unique Bounder Class A motorhome.

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Is Your RV Eligible for a Solar Tax Credit?

Sara

Solar power has been a popular topic among RVers for years. Solar panels atop an RV allows you the opportunity to disconnect from RV electric hookups and enjoy the autonomy to go wherever you want while still getting power.

Getting power from the Sun is clean, quiet and more affordable. Adding RV solar or solar power to any mobile living space not only increases your quality of life but also puts money back in your wallet. In an effort to encourage Americans to use solar power, the U.S. government offers tax credits for solar systems. This tax credit can be claimed by owners who are looking to install solar soon or installed it within the past five years.

What is the federal solar tax credit?

A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the amount of income tax you would otherwise owe. The Residential Clean Energy Credit can be claimed on federal income taxes. Once claimed, it can cover a percentage of the cost of a solar system that was installed during the tax year. It started in 2017 and lasts until 2034.

There are no income limits on the solar tax credit, so all individual taxpayers are eligible to claim the credit on qualifying solar energy equipment investments made to their homes within the United States.

What is covered under the federal solar tax credit?

The equipment covered by the Residential Clean Energy Credit includes:

  • Solar-powered equipment that generates electricity or heats water
  • Solar power storage equipment that has a capacity of at least 3 kilowatt hours
  • Qualifying installation and labor costs

The tax credit does not apply for systems that are leased; you must own the system.

How do I qualify for the solar tax credit?

Any “dwelling unit” qualifies for the tax credit. Meaning things like RVs, boats, vacation homes and more qualify. A qualifying residence is any U.S. residence that is lived in at least 14 days a year. Additionally, RV owners will need to meet the following criteria:

  • Your solar equipment needs to be installed between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2034.
  • The solar equipment is new or being used for the first time. It should be installed for the first time on your RV to claim the credit.
  • The solar system must be purchased with cash or through some form of financing that isn’t a lease or an agreement to pay a solar company for electricity generated by the system.
  • The solar equipment must be located at a residence within the United States.

Filing requirements for the solar tax credit

To claim the credit, you will need to file IRS Form 5695 as part of your tax return. Calculate the credit on Part I of the form, and then enter the result on your 1040.

  • If in 2022 you end up with a bigger credit than you have income tax due — a $3,000 credit on a $2,500 tax bill, for instance—you cannot use the credit to get money back from the IRS. Instead, you can carry the unused portion of the credit over to the following tax year. In this example, the $500 of credit that is greater than your tax bill ($3,000 – $2,500) can be carried over to the following year.
  • If you failed to claim the credit in a previous year, you can file an amended return to claim the credit now.

The residential solar tax credit has been extended through 2034 and expanded in value, so now might be a great time to add solar energy to your home.

What are the residential solar tax credit amounts?

The Residential Clean Energy Credit will cover up to 30% of the total qualifying cost, depending on the year the equipment is installed and placed in service:

  • 30% for equipment placed in service in tax years 2017 through 2019
  • 26% for equipment placed in service in tax years 2020 through 2021
  • 30% for equipment placed in service in tax years 2022 through 2032
  • 26% for equipment placed in service in 2033
  • 22% for equipment placed in service in 2034

Take advantage of the solar system savings today!

The tax credit is a win-win for RV owners because it helps lower out-of-pocket costs and an RV owner’s overall carbon emissions. A solar panel setup is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly and convenient way to use electricity on the goal. Most systems generally require little to no maintenance and provides a dependable source of electricity.

Ready to take your RV adventures to the next level? Let General RV help you discover the RV lifestyle. Interested in learning more about solar? Check out some of the best solar RVs. We offer a huge selection of new motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth wheels, as well as used RVs for sale. Need RV parts? We’ve got those, too. Our highly trained technicians can help with all your RV service needs. Visit of RV Virtual Showroom to start browsing now. Or find a General RV dealer near you. Whether you shop online or in-store, our experts will help you camp with confidence.