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New Federal Excise Tax for RVs
I am trying to track down any information regarding a new F.E.T. (federal excise tax) that is now being applied to model year 2001 and up RVs (motor homes, tow vehicles). I came across this when I contacted a dealer for the Wiers TowMaster who informed me that they were getting out of the business due to a new F.E.T. of $12,000 which was being applied to all 2001 and up tow vehicles. He also mentioned that this tax would be applied retroactively to any vehicle which later had a 5th wheel hitch added to it for towing purposes. His parting comment was that they viewed this new tax as a way for the Fed's to skim more cream off of the rich retiring boomers. Also, when I used Ford's online build/price tool to configure a new 2001 F-650 Super Crewzer I noticed that they apparently are trying to offset the new $12,000 tax by automatically putting on an option (Super Crewzer F.E.T. Discount) that reduces the price of the truck by $9,642. This amounts to about a 75% offset of the price increase due to the new tax. If you can find out any additional information on this new F.E.T. and share it with me, I would sincerely appreciate it. While I have never been very much into political action crusades before, it would appear that this is a new tax targeted specifically at individuals who choose an RV lifestyle over the traditional brick/stick one. While I'm sure that there are individuals who will never miss the additional $12,000 when they purchase their new RV, there are those of us to which the application of an additional $12,000 tax to enter the RV lifestyle may prove to be the final door which we can't open to enter. Please remember that the Towmaster dealer said that this tax is/will be applicable to all new 2001 model year and up motor homes and tow vehicles (down to 1 ton). Ronald Hensley, Idaho
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