10 Important Tips for Buying a Recreational Vehicle By Ron Downing

Tips to help you make the right choice for you, verses what the salesman wants you to buy. So the big year is finally hear, the year where you can retire and take life easy.  After all you have worked hard to arrive at this place in your life. With so many choices how do you know what is a good fit for your lifestyle. The best way to figure this out is to ask yourself some questions before you ever visit the RV Dealership.

1.     What is our budget for the RV?

The amount you invest will conclude the size, elegance and the amenities that will be on the recreational vehicle that you purchase. New class C motor homes can range from $65,000-165,000 for a good quality coach. Class A Motor Homes range from $95,000 - $160,000 for gas engines. Class A Motor homes with Diesel engines start out at $185,000 to a million or more.  Travel Trailer and fifth wheels range from $18,000.00 to $79,000.00 The good thing about purchasing a new vehicle is that you have the manufactures warranty. You know how it has been taken care of. Most dealers have some stock units. These units are typically ordered by the dealer in the interior color, that is the number one or two colors that the manufacture builds the most units of. Dealers also outfit stock units with options that their experience has suggested is the most preferred by the end user conversely if you desire a custom built unit with all the amenities that you want and the colors and floor plan that you like then you can order your RV. This could cost you a little extra, merely because dealers are motivated to sell you a unit that they currently have on hand. If you order a unit it could take up to 12 weeks to arrive, divergent to taking delivery in just a few days.

2.     Do we want to buy a pre-owned vehicle?

Buying a used vehicle unquestionably has its ups and downs. On the positive aspect you are benefiting from the first owner taking the depreciation. In these economic times it can be a buyer's market. However there are some things to consider when buying the pre owned vehicle. The first thing is make sure everything on the vehicle works. Most respectable dealers will guarantee the vehicle for thirty days. If you are buying it from an individual you in all probability will not have any recourse. A refrigerator that goes bad could set you back as much as $2000 or more. This one costly repair alone can make a delightful arrangement curdle quickly.  Depending on the age of the vehicle you can purchase extended service plans. These vary in price and coverage so make sure that you know what it covers.  Since the price varies you can usually negotiate for a better deal. If you are in doubt about something don't be afraid to ask. After all it is your money. 

3.     What is our travel style going to be?

This one question can stir up a lot of ideas, but I will be brief. If you want the freedoms of being able move-about during the trip such as using the bathroom, grabbing something to eat without stopping, taking a nap on the bed, Or if you plan on taking a pet on the road with you. Then you might want to consider a Class C or a class A motor Home.However, if none these things apply to you and you already own a vehicle that is designed for towing. Then a travel Trailer or fifth wheel is a good choice. Keep in mind that most likely you will be towing something either way. Purely for the reason that if you are using a motor home, once you have parked. Should you desire to go sightseeing, you are going to want to take something more fuel efficient and easier to get around in.

4.    We want to purchase a Motor home. Do we want to purchase gas or Diesel

When it comes to buying a motor Home, One of the significant factors in making this assessment of Gas or Diesel is knowing how far you are going, and how often you are going to be in the motor home. My suggestion is this if you are not going to put more than 25000 miles per year then save your money and buy the gas powered unit. Chassis with Diesel engines usually cost $15,000 - $30,000 more than gas. Mind you it's, not just the engine that cost more it requires a heavier chassis as well.  While Diesel engines may last longer and have fewer breakdowns. Just the preventive maintenance can be rather costly. If you do have a breakdown it is usually a $1500 Minimum. There are a lot of coaches on the market that are being labeled introductory diesel units. Ask questions and visit the various chassis manufacturer's websites. Make sure that the engine has enough power to move the coach up and over the hill. So if you are looking at a 35 foot coach and it has a 190 horse engine that is a little on the light side you want at least a 225 horse engine or higher in order to be efficient. In recent years the gas engines in these RV's have come a long way in the way of efficiency and durability.

5.    Where are you headed in your RV?
The North American Continent is wide open and there is a lot to see. For this you would want something big a comfortable because you will be on the road for quite a while. However if all you are doing is taking short weekend trips to the local state parks and such then you probably don't need anything to fancy for that. There are a lot of RV's on the market to choose from. Everything from tent trailers to campervans, Travel trailers, Fifth wheels, and Cab over Camper (truck campers) these units offer a lot of the same comforts of home. They can range in size and weight, as well as price. 

6.    How long will we be doing this
This will also determine the size and type of the RV you want to purchase. If you have never used an RV before, and you are not sure if you are going to like the RV lifestyle then you might want to rent one first. My suggestion here is that you seek out a dealership who is willing to take your rental off of the purchase price in the event that you decide to purchase one it could save you some money. Now keep in mind you cannot gauge or judge the RV lifestyle by a one week camping trip in a rental, you should try it for at least three weeks. Also keep in mind that rental units are not always maintained the way you would keep yours. Should the unit breakdown and cause you some inconvenience please don't throw in the towel.

7.    Will other family members or friends ever travel with us?

If you plan or think that you may be taking family or friends with you then a Class C, travel Trailer, or Fifth Wheel, are all good choices. These coaches are designed with multiple sleeping accommodations. Most of them are very roomy. Class A motor homes are usually designed for two people comfortably however they will sleep up to four adults.

8.    How much space do we need?

This again also depends on how much time you intend on spending on the road. In the event that you find yourself taking longer trips to further destinations. You will want some room to stretch out. On the average when you are parked you will only spend ten to twelve hours a day in the RV and eight of that is usually sleeping. But there are those days when it is raining or too cold to enjoy the outdoors. These are the days that you will wish that you had bought the other unit that you had looked at. When you purchase a unit that is too small it can make your RV experience a little less enjoyable.

9.    Do we want a Travel Trailer or Fifth Wheel?

This depends largely on the tow vehicle that you already own. If you have a pickup truck then you obviously have a choice of one or the other. You will also want to think about question number #7. A travel Trailer gives you the ability to have a vehicle that can accommodate more passengers. If you are pulling a travel trailer with a truck then you have the whole bed of the truck to haul additional things. A fifth wheel can obviously only be towed by a truck and you lose the bed space to haul anything of any size when towing. These units also use more of the interior space from the back to the front. A travel trailer that is 28 feet from the rear bumper to the coupler only has between 24 and 25 feet of livable space. In my personal opinion fifth wheels are easier to tow, easier to hook up and easier to park in to a campsite. (Look for future articles on this matter)

10.How long will our trips last?

This will also have some influence on what you will want to look for in an RV. The longer you plan to be gone the more stuff you tend to want to take with you. Therefore you need storage space. Usually fifth wheels, Class A's and some class C motor home tend to offer more in the way of storage space. Knowing how long you plan to be on the road at any given time will also influence how much interior space that you feel that you need. I suggest that you select a unit that is about four feet longer than you think you need in order to be comfortable. Six months down the road you will be glad that you did.

These are just a few important questions that you need to ask yourself before purchasing an RV I am sure that you will have many more. Buying a RV is a big purchase so take your time and get what you want. Also visit a campground sometime and just ask someone who has an RV what they like about their RV, and what they don't like. You will find that they are very happy to tell you. Until next time happy RV shopping.