Buying Your First RV
Buying an RV for the first time can be a daunting experience. The nature of a mobile home, fifth wheel or travel trailer makes them as complicated as a new home purchase but as potentially dodgy as a used car. There is also the danger of the wow effect clouding your judgment. Often first time buyers find themselves falling in love with one or another RV for less than practical reasons.
Preventing this wow effect is important and easy enough to solve. Before setting foot on an RV lot or visiting a RV sales website like RVSaveALot.com, it is best to sit down and make a list of what things are important to you in your mobile home. Even if you don't know what features are commonly found in a typical RV simply think about what you want out of your new purchase. What sort of trips do you plan to take? How long will you be gone and what appliances or storage will you need for a trip of that length? What will you want to do during your down-time? Will you need a TV? Figure out how you want to live on the road and decide what are necessities to you. Then look for RVs that solve these problems. Knowing exactly what you expect will put you in more of a practical mindset when it comes time to start shopping for an RV.
Next you should decide whether you want a new or used RV. The advantages/disadvantages are roughly the same as those with a car. Used RVs are typically a better value but new RVs come with no wear and tear and are often backed up with a warranty and repair agreement. Both mobile homes and travel trailers have a lot more ways to break making used RVs more likely to have hidden problems. While a car only has three or four major systems RVs have everything from a suspension system to a toilet and a full electrical system to the structural integrity issues of a rolling house that must be considered. If you decide to buy a used RV try to find one for sale from a reputable business and always bring along an experienced RVer you trust who can help you look for potential pitfalls.
Once you've found the vehicle you want to buy sit down and work out the extra costs. Figure out the taxes, registration fees, insurance, etc. Also consider any repairs or extras you plan to add to it. Make sure that it's entirely road worthy with good tires and, in the case of motor homes, a well running engine and make sure you understand the cost of maintenance and upkeep. Anything and everything that can potentially add to the expenses of the vehicle must be considered as part of the sticker cost.
Choosing your first RV is an exciting time. Make sure that you take the time and deliberation to make the right choice. It is a decision you will have to live with - and in - for some time to come.
Preventing this wow effect is important and easy enough to solve. Before setting foot on an RV lot or visiting a RV sales website like RVSaveALot.com, it is best to sit down and make a list of what things are important to you in your mobile home. Even if you don't know what features are commonly found in a typical RV simply think about what you want out of your new purchase. What sort of trips do you plan to take? How long will you be gone and what appliances or storage will you need for a trip of that length? What will you want to do during your down-time? Will you need a TV? Figure out how you want to live on the road and decide what are necessities to you. Then look for RVs that solve these problems. Knowing exactly what you expect will put you in more of a practical mindset when it comes time to start shopping for an RV.
Next you should decide whether you want a new or used RV. The advantages/disadvantages are roughly the same as those with a car. Used RVs are typically a better value but new RVs come with no wear and tear and are often backed up with a warranty and repair agreement. Both mobile homes and travel trailers have a lot more ways to break making used RVs more likely to have hidden problems. While a car only has three or four major systems RVs have everything from a suspension system to a toilet and a full electrical system to the structural integrity issues of a rolling house that must be considered. If you decide to buy a used RV try to find one for sale from a reputable business and always bring along an experienced RVer you trust who can help you look for potential pitfalls.
Once you've found the vehicle you want to buy sit down and work out the extra costs. Figure out the taxes, registration fees, insurance, etc. Also consider any repairs or extras you plan to add to it. Make sure that it's entirely road worthy with good tires and, in the case of motor homes, a well running engine and make sure you understand the cost of maintenance and upkeep. Anything and everything that can potentially add to the expenses of the vehicle must be considered as part of the sticker cost.
Choosing your first RV is an exciting time. Make sure that you take the time and deliberation to make the right choice. It is a decision you will have to live with - and in - for some time to come.