How To Buy An RV Or Motorhome
Money Saving Tips From A Professional Inspector

All too often I see people make mistakes when buying an RV that could have been easily prevented. There are many things you should do and toss around in your mind before you commit to buying an RV.

I have recently been working with an RV dealership here out of San Diego and it gives me the opportunity to see these mistakes first hand. Almost all of them can be traced back to people making a commitment too quickly.

Obviously, buying an RV is a major purchase for most people, and there are a lot of things you should consider before you commit to it. I hope that after you read this section you will be prepared to buy a fully functional RV that you can truly enjoy.

Things To Do Before You Buy An RV

The first thing to consider when learning how to buy an RV is that there are a lot of RVs out there, so finding the perfect one for you is important and sometimes a bit challenging. There are many factors you need to consider before you buy, many of which you would probably not think of yourself. We'll cover some below, but first let's start with a given and rather obvious task--research. It may be obvious, but it is so important it bears stating nonetheless.

First and Foremost - Research!

Doing research on value after you've bought can be rather depressing. It always seems you will find a better deal after you have already paid for yours. Put the work in ahead of time, not only comparing price but also exploring different options in the type of RV, brand, and the various combinations of features you have to choose from (more on these features below).

You can look at hundreds of RVs and every one of them can be different. If you are persistent and don't settle for the first RV that looks good, you will most likely find an RV that can suit you better than the one you looked at before.

What To Check For While Looking At RVs

It is important to think through how exactly you will be using your RV, not just now but 10 years down the line. RVs are made for many purposes, so you need to make sure the RV you buy fits your own personal needs.

Whether you plan on going to the desert or river for the weekend, driving across the country, or living in your RV full time, there will be specific things you will need to look for to ensure you get the right one.

For Instance, Will You Have Hook-Ups Where You Plan To Go?

Many people new to the RV lifestyle may overlook the role that hook-ups play in determining what they need in their vehicle. The necessity of having certain items eqipped in your RV, such as a generator or large water holding tank, will vary according to where you plan to take it.

If your primary use for the RV you plan to buy is to go to the mountains, beaches, desert, or something similar, you most likely won't have hook-ups in these places to power your vehicle or provide bathing water. In these types of situations, you will have to rely on the capabilities built into your RV, since the opportunity to hook-up won't be there. Of course, you probably won't know everywhere you plan to go with your RV at the time that you buy it, but taking into consideration the types of places you may go will help you find the right RV.

More Things To Think About When Buying An RV

RV size (avoiding going too big) - Mistakes in the sizes of RVs that people get happens all the time. Now I can't give advice on what size RV to buy, because each particular case varies, but buying a 40 ft Park model trailer to use only on the weekends could be a bad idea.

Remember, most RV Parks don't allow RVs over 35 ft in length. I have also seen people buy an RV that didn't fit in their driveway where they had planned to store it. Oops!

RV size (avoiding going too small) - I've seen families go with RVs that end up being too small for their needs. For instance, one family with three kids once bought a 22 ft Winnebago motorhome (also known as a Minnie Winnie) and thought they would use the dinette and sofa for their kids to sleep on. But what they didn't realize is that a 22 ft RV has very little storage space, so everything you bring ends up on the couch and dinette seats.

Now what are you going to do with everything when it's time to make out the beds for the kids to sleep on? And what if the kids want to bring friends? Not to mention that the smaller the RV, the smaller the holding tanks. Oh no! Now what? You can avoid this problem if you think things through or get a little advice.

RV park regulations - If you plan on living in an RV park you need to know that many RV parks have rules and regulations before you decide to live in one. It is very important for you to make sure that none of these regulations prohibit you from staying there before you commit to buy your RV with that purpose in mind.

For example, the RV dealership I work with delivered a trailer to a guy who planned on living in it. He had a reservation in a local RV park already in place and he thought he was good to go. He showed up with the trailer and it wasn't until then that he found out his two dogs weren't allowed in the park. Unfortunately, no other parks around allowed dogs either and his trailer has been in storage now for months.

Bring Someone With You

Even if you plan on buying an RV for your personal use only, you may want to consider bringing someone with you when scouting your options. It can be a good friend or, for many people, their spouse.

Why is having a partner in purchasing so important? Well, as I've laid out, RVs have many features that you will need to consider before you make a decision on which one you will get. You are buying a vehicle that will at some point provide for all your living needs. As much as you would like to think that you can check for everything you will use, there is bound to be something that slips your attention, and having another pair of eyes there may prove extremely valuable.

I've seen spouses during their orientation and walk-through point out that the shower is too small, the kitchen doesn't have enough storage space, and the vehicle only has one house battery to support the family. Unfortunately for these particular people, they didn't notice these things until after they bought their RV. Don't let this be you. Preparation is key.

Hopefully after your own RV purchase you can enjoy your orientation and walk-through because you were prepared and had a second opinion before you committed and bought your RV.

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