We constantly review the top internet sites that collect information on so-called “secret auctions” – auctions run by banks and government agencies that the average person doesn’t know how to find.

You’ll find our ratings below, as well as our current recommendation for the best site for your goals, and links to sites.

RV/Camper Auctions at Car-Auctions.com

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

RV Auctions at Car-Auctions.com Click the image to visit the site

Car-Auctions.com is the number 1 site for seized vehicle auctions on the internet. If you’re looking specifically for an RV (including campers, travel trailers, motorhomes, and fifth wheels), you’ll find your RV search easy on Car-Auctions.com.

Most sites focus on automobiles, the largest segment of the market. That means there’s less thought to people like you searching for RVs. In fact, the search boxes on many sites don’t include the top RV manufacturers such as Fleetwood or Holiday Rambler.

Special RV Search. Car-Auctions.com has a subsite set up for people searching for RVs of all kinds.  You’ll find RV’s & Campers of all makes & models on their site, including: Airstream, Challenger, Coachmen, Dutchmen, Domestic, Fleetwood, Jayco, Holiday Rambler, Prowler, Thor, Winnabego, and others.

Car-Auction.com gives you access to auctions for surplus, seized, and repossessed RVs at significant discounts. Bids start as low as $100.

They serve a broad geographic region including the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. And they offer a 60-day money-back guarantee for their memberships. Memberships start as low as $29 if you click on the link below.

You’ll also have access to auctions for jewelry and real estate if you choose.

The verdict: If you’re in the market for an RV in particular, I strongly recommend this site. Follow these 3 steps to get a 50% discount:

1. Click this link to Car-Auction.com’s RV Search Site
2. Fill in the city, state, zip, and country where you’d like to search. Also choose the brand of RV you’re looking for. If you don’t see it listed, just choose a brand and you’ll find yours inside the site.
3. Choose the discount package (50% off as of the date of this post).

GovernmentAuctions.org

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

GovernmentAuctions.org Click the image to start your FREE TRIAL

GovernmentAuctions.org is the granddaddy of government auction sites.

They are very experienced, very well-organized, and very thorough. When you’ve seen stories CNBC or CBS News about government auctions and the money you can save, these are the folks they’re talking to.

Here’s what you get with your membership:

• A very sophisticated database of government auctions in your area. Updated quite frequently.

• Dates, locations, descriptions, contacts, links, item lists, etc.

• You can put in your zip code and search within a radius of where you live

• They cover the waterfront on auctions:    They include about a dozen and half different kinds of auctions.

• They include tutorials on government auctions, foreclosures, and tax sales

• Finally, they’ve just introduced a FREE TRIAL. I don’t know how long that will last.

The verdict:  This is a great deal. You have three days to get on the system, try it out, and find out what kind of RVs are available in your area for free.  While you’re at it, you can see if their extensive list of other auctions are attractive to you.

Here’s all you do to get your free trial:

1. Click the link to go to GovernmentAuctions.org
2. Fill in the information
3. Click the green “Activate My Free Trial” button

Gov-Auctions.org

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Gov-Auctions.org Click the image to visit the site

Gov-Auctions is a very reputable source for government auctions of all kinds. They are probably the hottest auction site on the net right now. They don’t focus on RV auctions but they do give you immediate access to 4,000+ updated auctions nationwide with guaranteed listings in every state.  And many of the of the auction sites they list sell seized and repossesed RVs.

Gov-Auctions.org  memberships include a wide-range of benefits, including:

• Access to 10,000s of Government pre-owned quality vehicles at very low resell prices. With thousands new listed each week.
• Access to 1000s of live auto auctions of Government pre-owned, seized and repossessed cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, and boats to bid on, often starting at $100 to $500.
• Online Police and Federal auctions in your local area and throughout the USA, where you can bid online so you will always get the best deals.
• Direct links to other relevant auctions sites online.
• Contact information such as contact names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and websites for easy reference and immediate use.
• Google Maps showing you exact location of auctions.
• Full access to Member’s Area, with updated reports on the locations and timing of the best Gov’t auctions registered in your local area as well as your state and across the USA.
• 24-hour 7-day a week access to all databases in the Member’s Area.
• Instant access. In other words, there’s  nothing to download, nothing to wait for in the mail.
• Full and continued to a step-by-step 5-day auto auction tutorial. This isn’t a compilation of internet research. It’s advice based on the staff’s own experience with government auctions. It has the potential to save you thousands of dollars.
• A comprehensive expert-level  guide to all Federal Government property sales programs and auctions.

The verdict: Gov-Auctions is quite a good site, even if less focused on the RV buyer.

If you’re excited about the idea taking advantage of great deals you can currently get on surplus, government used, repossessed, and seized property of all kinds, this is a good place to find it.

The process of getting started is bit more complex. Here’s what you should do.

1. Click over to Gov-Auctions.org
2. Click the big red button that says “Up to 95% off Begin Search Here”
3. Click the blue “Go” button in the red Search Here box
4. Scroll down and click the red box that says “Step Two Access All Auctions Here”
5. If you want to know how many auctions are currently available in your state, hover your cursor over your state
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the “Step 4 Yes! I want Unlimited Access Click Here to Join
7. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click your package to join.

What are repo acuctions?

Repo auctions can be a great place to find RVs at a significant discount. At repo auctions, repossessed property banks and other financial institutions sell the vehicles they’ve repossessed to help repay the debt the consumer defaulted on.

While some auctions are quite public, you’ll find repo auctions normally aren’t. Though they’re often open to the public, they’re largely attended by dealers and wholesalers.

Can you really get good deals?

Yes, you can save quite a bit of money at a repo auction, if you’re well-prepared. The typical dealer mark up on a used RV is 30 to 45% above wholesale RV invoice price. You can buy repo RVs at significantly below that price.

Remember though, that the price tag isn’t the only consideration in buying a used RV. To buy one, you need to know how to choose it and check it out quickly without driving it. And you won’t find the guarantees or financial payment options that a dealership could offer you.

So, do your homework, and you can find great bargains.

Where do you find repo auctions for used RVs?

Repo auctions generally take place twice a year in your municipality. If you’re willing to keep a sharp eye out, you can find them in the paper.

There are enough auction sites that you can often find one in your area an a given weekend. And there are websites that research repo auctions and make the dates and locations available to you for a small fee.

A final note: Remember that buying an RV can create a longterm relationship. Love-at-first-site doesn’t always serve you. If you don’t know a lot about RVs, bring a friend who can help keep you level-headed and let you know when you’re seeing a good deal.

Here’s the short list of items you’ll want to cover. You can download our comprehensive RV inspection ckecklist for a more thorough checkover.

1. Check the propane system.
2. Check the the house batteries.
3. Check the refrigerator to make sure it works on both propane and electricity.
4. Check air conditioning and heating equipment.
5. Check to see the toilet holds water.
6. Check for rot or leaks in the floor.
7. Check the outside skin for bubbles, corrosion, and rust.
8. Have the engine inspected, including checking the oil.
9. Check the brakes.

Steps people usually forget:

1. Check the service records
2. Check to see that the VIN on the service records matches the VIN on the vehicle.

If you don’t know a good RV mechanic in your area, we recommend using Angieslist to find one.

If the RV you’re looking at is in another town, see our recomendation for ways to inspect RVs that aren’t nearby.

Here’s a great trick for checking out an RV over there (wherever it is) when you’re over here (not close enough to check it out personally).

Angieslist, the consumer driven evaluation service, lists RV mechanics in most major towns across the country. And of course, if you know Angieslist, you know each mechanic comes with extensive reviews so you can be sure you’re getting a great one.

You won’t find a list of RV mechanics per se on Angieslist. But here’s a step-by-step for finding one.

1. log in to angieslist (you’ll need an account there)
2. click “Check the List” tab at the top
3. check the “by keyword” radio button
4. enter “RV mechanic” in the keyword box and click search

There’s been one problem with Angieslist in the past. They only let you search your local market. That won’t work if you’re in Des Moines and the RV you love is in Boise.  But now there’s an answer.

Angieslist now lets you add an additional zip code address. Here’s your process.

1. log in to angieslist
2. go to their “add a city” page - if you don’t see a link, copy this into your URL bar - https://www.angieslist.com/AngiesList/MyAngie/MyAccount/ChapterAdd.aspx
3. type the zip code of the city where the RV you’re considering is parked
4. get a list of qualified mechanics

You’ll need an account on Angieslist to do this. If you don’t have one now, it’s definitely worth subscription. You can check out your “new” RV, find a good plumber, get your roof fixed for cheap, and locate a great doctor to get your wart removed - all on the same site.

1. Start your search with your home and lifestyle. Think about where you’d like to travel with your RV, how accessible it will be. Will you be able to hook up to electricity and water?

Consider where you’ll store your RV, next to your house, or in a nearby lot.

How often do you think you’ll use your RV? Will you live in it full-time or take occasional trips.

Will you be towing - a car, boat, or trailer with ATVs or motorcycles?

All these will factor into the make and model of RV that would best suit you.

2. If you’re new to RVing, there are lots of ways you can come up to speed. Check out internet forums, newsgroups, and bulletins. Search this site for recommendations of books, DVDs, and other website services. And, of course, local RV shows are indispensible.

3. When you find an RV you’d like, you’ll want to do a complete check. We’ll give you a complete checklist on this site. But certainly you’ll want to include:

The electrical system - including lights, outlets, 110 and GFI, converter, inverter, battery charger, fans.

The water system - lines, taps, traps, tank, pump, and both the black and grey valves.

Windows and vents - check for good seals.

Drawers, cupboards, and latches.

Mechanical and the lifter system.

4. If you’re buying from a dealer, familiarize yourself with the wholesale price. If you haven’t found it, you can expect it to be about SRP (suggested retail price) divided by 1.4.

And finally, take it out for a test drive if they’ll allow it. In fact, rent an RV for a weekend and see if the reality of the experience matches up with your dreams.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can’t get features like these on a used RV, especially in today’s economy. See what you can get today at a huge discount in a government auction.

RV slide outs, those boxes that slip out the sides of your RV to give you more room, are hot sellers. Just looking at them, though, you can already tell they can be trouble. Here’s a quick run down on the advantages and disadvantages of slide outs.

There are two major advantages of slide outs:

1. They give you more room, and who couldn’t use that in an RV. A slide out may mean the difference between eating in a hallway and being able to sit beside your sweetheart.
2. They increase the resale value of the RV. There’s huge demand for slide outs and your RV will sell faster and for more money if you have them.

Of course, along with the upsides, there are downsides. Most people will name these:

1. Weight – a slide out will weigh at least 600 lbs. Remember you have limited weight capacity. A slide out is largely non-usable weight that competes with you and the things you want to bring with you.
2. Balance – slide outs are on the side and generally positioned forward. That can make it tough to keep your RV on the level in parks.
3. Space – No matter the slide out design, you’ll lose inside and outside storage. That could be tough, especially if you’d like to RV full time.
4. Maintenance – A slide out changes the profile of your RV and interrupts the smooth skin. That means you’ll collect debris (leaves, needles, dirt) on top, debris that you’ll pull into your rig if you retract the slide without cleaning it off. It also means that you’ll have lots of seals and gaskets that can dry out or fail. And if they do, you’ll have the RVers worst nightmare – leaks.

Steps you can take if you want a slide out:

1. Look over the design before you buy. Watch the horizontal angle as the slide moves in and out. There will be minimal vertical movement in a well-designed slide out.
2. Choose slide outs strategically. If you get a slide out, choose one that increases space without adding too much weight. Don’t get slide outs that carry appliances, for example.
3. Keep the slide out clean. Make cleaning part of your routine for leaving camp. Or buy an automatic awning to cover the slideout.
4. Maintain, maintain, maintain. Most dealers will tell you that problem slide outs start with neglected maintenance. Keep your slide out in good condition and it will serve you.

What’s the net?

Bob Gummersall at RVersOnline.org ran a post on slideouts a few years ago and found mixed experiences. About 60% of the responses he received were from RV owners who had problems with slide outs. Half of them would not buy a slide out again.

Slide outs have improved since those days. And there’s a lot you can do to make your slide out safe and useful.