Buying an RV is an exciting time.
Buying an RV is an exciting time.
When shopping for an RV there are five key considerations to keep in your mind to avoid future problems, headaches, or buyer’s remorse. The considerations are as follows and should be processed in this order.
Many people only consider some of these elements and often in the wrong order. They go to an RV show and start looking at the prices of various RVs, then base their purchasing decision solely on these price comparisons. In so doing, they inadvertently purchase an RV that has low quality components and questionable engineering, is the wrong style or size, and doesn’t satisfy any of their camping objectives.
To correctly begin the RV shopping process, you need to ask yourself what type of RV will best meet your needs. That could be a fifth wheel, or a pop-up trailer, or a class A motorhome, but only you will know which style RV will satisfy all your specific needs.
The answer to these questions should inform your purchasing decision. If you rush out and buy the wrong RV, you may be trading it in on a different RV in short order. We know a couple who had 5 different types of RVs in the first 6 years of their marriage.
Another consideration is your financial situation. Many people can’t buy an RV outright so they need financing, but some restrictions apply, and you should be informed about those restrictions. For example, the age or mileage of a used RV may limit your ability to obtain financing. Additionally, your creditworthiness, the condition of the RV, and your intended use may also impact your ability to secure financing. Finally, a 20% down payment and the impact on your monthly budget must also be considered.
There’s a huge difference between being show-room ready and road-ready in terms of the engineering of an RV. Just because an RV looks great at the RV show doesn’t mean that it is well engineered. This is a consideration you’ll need to investigate during your RV shopping on your own in forums, buyer’s guides, and by talking with other RV owners. Don’t rush this process. Take your time to fully investigate all the engineering aspects of various models. I would also recommend talking to RV technicians who routinely service a wide range of models and manufacturers. Poor craftsmanship and poor engineering will lead to years of frustration, and costly repairs, and could even be dangerous. We know a family whose 5th wheel caught on fire in the first month of their ownership. Fortunately, they all escaped unharmed, but the RV was badly damaged, and both the dealership and manufacturer were reluctant to take responsibility for this narrowly avoided disaster, which brings me to the next major consideration, manufacturer support.
All RV manufactures are different, even though the industry is consolidating into just a few mega-manufacturers. Some RV brands are well known for their customer support and others are just looking for a quick sale. Many of the later offer low priced RVs and they’re counting on volume sales (not satisfied repeat customers) to sustain their business growth. To learn more about which brands stand behind their products, you can get some insights by reading RV buyers guides and through online research and forums such as iRV2.com or brand specific forums. Also, talking with RV owners and service techs will quickly reveal which brands have a good reputation.
Newmar, Tiffin, Airstream, Winnebago, and Pleasure-way are all brands that have maintained a good reputation for decades. But you will need to do your own due diligence during your RV shopping process regarding the brands and models you are considering. The year, model, and manufacturer may all be variables that impact the functionality and reliability of your next RV. Shop carefully for good engineering and reputable brands with a history of customer satisfaction.
The final consideration when shopping for an RV is the price of the RV. But instead of thinking about just the out-of-pocket purchase price, you need to consider the lifetime expense of RV ownership. The sticker price is a fraction of the overall cost which may include, warranty costs, insurance, roadside assistance, storage, maintenance, and repairs over the life of your ownership. Price and value are vastly different considerations.
Value is defined in this formula. Value = benefit – (cost + hassle).
This formula applied to the purchase of an RV would read as follows.
The value of your RV is equal to your total benefit (or enjoyment of the RV) minus the combined sum of the purchase price plus all the hassle you encounter as a result of that RV ownership.
The bottom line… if you pay more for an RV but it’s virtually hassle free, your enjoyment is increased and so is the value of that purchase. On the other hand, if you have to take your RV to a mechanic after every outing, to get some new problem fixed, that hassle lowers your benefit and consequently it lowers the value of your RV.
When you’re shopping for an RV if you consider these 5 elements and you’re committed to purchasing a well-engineered RV from a reputable manufacturer, the RV you purchase should provide years of enjoyment and you will enjoy the real value of your investment.
National Vehicle has a wide selection of used RVs to choose from.