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The Virgin’s Guide to Buying an RV: Do’s & Don’ts

08-06-2015

Author :Guest Author in Finance

By Cecilia Sturm

So you have decided you want to exchange the expensive airline tickets, hotel cost and headache that come with planning and executing the perfect vacation for the fun and convenience of packing the family into a shiny new RV and hitting the road Griswold style, (only with an RV instead of a station wagon and without the dead Grandma in the back seat). Or…. even more exciting, maybe you are ready to jump on the best bandwagon ever and pursue that simple life that is exploding across America by joining the RV lifestyle.

Or as I like to call it, the life of simple freedoms! The plan is in motion, you know one thing is for sure: you are becoming RV owners! Now what? Even if you have done your homework and have researched until your fingers went numb, it's still a good idea to consult some veteran RV lover and experts on the matter. Just like any big purchase and decision, you don’t want to settle and it can be stressful, but if you can remember to keep your eye on the prize and follow this informative guide of Do’s and Don’ts to Buying an RV, I can guarantee you will go into the adventure with a little more knowledge and a lot more confidence under your hat.

Consider the level of luxury wanted and familiarize yourself with the different class or type of RV you want and how big you will need it to be. There're such a diverse variety on the market and the simplest approach to eliminate what you are not looking for is to ask yourself and answer some key questions.

Now let me preface this by saying you cannot go out there on a beer budget with a champagne taste… But, there are many modern luxuries that come along with RV’s today that very well might be on the top of your must have list that are not always going to be budget busters if you shop around and shop smart!

Do ask yourself the following four:

What is the main purpose of this recreation vehicle: vacationing or lifestyle? This is the most obvious and important question to ask before purchasing an RV because the difference between a vacation on wheels and your whole life on wheels is going to have a huge impact on what you should be looking for.
What is the Budget?! How much money do you realistically have to put down, for upgrades, and for the whole shebang? Checking your credit rating and crunching the numbers prior to stepping into the flashy lights of the dealership is a pretty good idea. Once you settle on a budget, stick to it! There is no fun in owning an RV that you can’t afford to vacation in. It is also not a bad idea to get a pre-approval for the loan prior to heading to the shark tank. Call up your bank or a local credit union and find out what your options are upfront.
Whose RV is this anyway? The decision does not belong to anyone but you (and the spouse of course). Not your relatives, friends, kids or salesman! Do not let anyone else’s nagging or unasked opinions mislead you into buying the wrong RV for YOU.
How much travel do you plan on doing annually? If you're just looking for a vacationer and not ready to fully commit to a life on the go, be sure you ask yourself and average about how often, and how many miles, and the duration of trips you and the family will be taking annually.

Now that you have asked and answered the big questions, just follow these Do’s and Don’ts:

Don’t sign on the dotted line the first time! Your new RV is going to either be your new home or a smaller version of your home for travel. For these reasons you want to make sure you are comfortable with all aspects the RV has to offer.
Do take your sweet time… As a very smart and hilarious Cher Horowitz in Clueless, circa 1995 once said: “You see how picky I am about my shoes and they only go on my feet”. Ask for a brochure, take some of your own pictures and make notes about what you like and dislike of each and every contender. Be picky and take time to sit and think about your choices. Go home and sleep on it a few nights… Imagine your life in the new RV, or a drive to the Grand Canyon with your senile grandpa and 6 month old granddaughter. Be sure you are choosing the coach that is going to accommodate your life
Don’t hesitate to bother a salesman on 5 occasions if need be. After some painstaking deliberation, you may find yourself with more questions than you initially had to begin with or just wanting to test out that extending living area again; so if that is the case, don’t hesitate, this is a big purchase and you want to choose the RV that is right for you in whatever journey you are headed to in life.
Do ask as many questions as you need to! It is a great idea to make sure the coach manufacturer is still in business. Although parts such as furnaces, water heaters, and windows are often made by various manufacturers regardless of coach brand, parts such as doors, trim pieces, and bumpers can be difficult or impossible to locate if the coach manufacturer is no longer in business.
Don’t rely solely on a dealer for information. Attend RV shows and check with owners of similar coaches that you are interested in. You can find many websites where RV owners and potential buyers discuss the process, lifestyle etc. Get involved!
Do try to rent prior to committing! You might fall in love with a Class A, purchase it, get behind the wheel and realize you will never be able to drive this comfortably... Have you ever towed a 30-foot travel trailer? The time to zero in on your comfort level is before purchasing the RV. Find dealers that allow you to rent for the weekend, go on a small adventure and find the perfect fit for you and your family.

These are a few things you should ask yourself, consider, do, and don’t when buying an RV so that your camping adventures, or daily life for the full-timers, remains comfortable. And don't forget: once you have your RV, MobileRVing has all the parks and campgrounds in America for your choosing!