First Time RV Buyers Guide

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Overwhelmed by all that there is to consider before heading out to buy an RV or even to head out on your first RV adventure? Let us help. Below we have gathered some information and tips that should help get your started thinking about what you will need. Listed below are all the factors you should consider before buying an RV.

Type

You should first consider what RV Type you are looking for, Towable or Motorized. If you decide on a towable RV, you have the choice of a Folding Camper, Folding Pop-Ups, Expandables, Travel Trailer, Truck Camper, Fifth Wheel, or Toy Hauler. If you chose a motorized RV, you have the choice of Motor Home Class A Gas, Motor Home Class A Diesel, Motor Home Class A Toy Haulers, Motor Home Class B, Motor Home Class B+, Motor Home Class C, Motor Home Class C Diesel, Motor Home Class C Toy Haulers. Not only are there motorized and towable, but there are also Park Models.

Price

You should always have some type of budget that tells you how much you feel comfortable with spending. This will easily help you narrow down the available options to you. RVs are built drastically different, and price can reflect quality in some instances. There are many frames to choose from including wood, steel, aluminum, or a combination. If you have a minimal budget, you might be okay with a lesser quality RV, especially if you will only be using it on weekends; while other travelers may require a quality RV for their needs. How much and how often you plan to use your RV is a huge factor. No matter what quality you are looking for, you should always have a safe budget.

Usability

As stated in the previous section, you really need to evaluate how much, and how often you will be using this RV. There is a big difference in living out of your RV, and taking the family on a couple weekend vacations in the summer. Quality can be a huge factor when deciding on an RV. If you are going to be traveling for 4 months across the United States in your RV, you will want a quality RV that can sustain that type of travel. While, if you are heading out to the lake for Labor Day, you might not need an extravagant Motor Home.

New or Used

By far the biggest advantage of buying a Used RV is the price. RVs are very similar to vehicles in the fact that they start depreciating as soon as you leave the RV Dealers lot. Used RVs can be a cheaper alternative, and if you are patient enough, it can be a better alternative. Surprisingly, many people live out of their RVs and get a new one every couple of years. Some even trade in their RVs every two years. This leaves a great opportunity for the Used RV Buyers market. If you are a first time buyer and don't know exactly which RV you are interested in, it might be a better idea to buy a Used RV.

Although Used RVs can be a blessing, they can also be a curse. You might find a great RV at a great price, but you never know what this RV has been through. The person before you could have traded this RV in due to many mechanical issues. Also, always be very familiar with the RV Dealer you are working with. Always look for honest, reputable dealers for all RV transactions.

Floor Plans

There are many different floor plans to choose from, so it is always good to do some research. Choosing the correct floor plan for you and your family might be a lot harder than you ever imagined. Also, there are certain Types of RVs that have certain Floor plans. Front Living, Rear Living, Bunkhouse, Front Kitchen, Rear Kitchen, Twin Beds, Pull out Couches, Two Entry Doors, Bedrooms, Refrigerators, Burners, Storage and many more. There are so many factors to decide on when choosing an RV.

There are four main areas in almost all RVs - Living Area, Kitchen Area, Sleeping Area/s, and Bath Area. Many larger RVs are similar to Park Models, or even apartments. When considering a living area of an RV, think of how many people you will be accommodating. Will it just be you, your wife, and children, or will it be a family camping trip with 15 people? When considering a Kitchen, it is also important to consider how many people you will be cooking for. Front and rear kitchens tend to be more spacious than center kitchen areas. You will also need to consider refrigerator size, burner range, food storage, cookware storage and many more. Bathrooms come in many shapes and sizes. From a small pot behind a curtain, to luxurious two sink bathrooms. When deciding on sleeping arrangements, you also need to consider how many people you need to sleep. Smaller RVs can sleep anywhere from 1-6 people, and bigger RVs can sleep up to 12 or more. The smaller RVs come with Dinettes that can be turned into beds, while bigger RVs have a couple bedrooms.

Storage

Another huge factor is how much storage space there is on the RV, especially if you will be living out of it. How many people's clothes are you storing? Can you fit a waste basket? Is there room for Rugs? Can you fit all your cooking utensils? Is there room for a vacuum, if needed? Are you traveling with Animals?