4 Essential Questions
4 Essential Questions to ask yourself when buying an RV
My husband and I have been interested in campers and traveling from the time we met. When your second date is to an RV show, that is to be expected! Over time, we have gained some insights into campers that we love sharing with others. That being said, we have compiled a list of things to consider when you are purchasing your camper.
1) What is your budget? Naturally, price point is the first question to ask. There are great deals to be found and almost any price point if you are willing to put in a little work or drive a distance to get the camper. There may be an initial inconvinience but the payoff can be exponential. This is an individual choice. There are deals to be found on Craigslist, Ebay and RVtrader. Any of these sites are great resources if you are buying used. I will say there are fraudulent offers out there so proceed with caution, and never give money up front. There are also great sales on new campers all the time, especially in the off season. You can investigate this by attending RVshows and also visiting dealers to get an idea of what you can get for the money. Research is key!
2) What can you tow? Your towing vehicle will determine what camper you can buy, unless you are getting a motor home. Are you towing with a truck or an SUV? How much weight will your vehicle pull? There would be nothing worse than to purchase a camper you cant pull. Your towing vehicle also has bearing on the style of camper you get as well. A small SUV or truck will easily tow a pop up but wouldn't tow a large fifth wheel. Also, if you choose a fifth wheel you would need a truck for a towing vehicle. These were all things we considered in our camper purchase. We decided on an SUV because of the flexibility we felt it would give us in our every day life. Having the seating space was a bigger priority than having a truck bed. This may not be the case for you. You will find you have to make a choice in style of camper versus towing. Also, the gas mileage your vehicle gets is a point to look at as well.
3) How will you be using the camper? Another point to consider is how you will be using the camper. Are you a planning family trips or just looking for a comfortable place to sleep while hunting or fishing with friends? For us, our camper is all about family. We saw the kids growing up, and time to make those memories growing short. We knew we wanted to take RV trips in retirement, but we also wanted to make those memories for our children. Having a camper opens so many doors for memories to be made. This may not describe you. You may love the compact design and towability of a pop up. You may be a retired couple that loves the luxury of a fully appointed fifth wheel. Its a good idea to have that picture before shopping. Once again, research is key.
4) What ammenities are you looking for? Finally, you want to look at what ammenities are important to you. There is a wide margin of options here. There are models with masaging chairs,fireplaes, double sinks, marble countertops, the list goes on and on! The sky can be the limit, or you can go as simple as you want as well. We chose a bunkhouse model that was used and more middle of the road in terms of options just for budgetary purposes (see point number one!) I will say that I am glad we went with a fully contained unit rather than a pop up. For us, it will alow for longer trips. As with each of these points, you have to decide what is important for you. I hope you have found this information helpful, and that you will find joy in the journey to RV living rewarding and fun! We are excited to share our experiences with you, and hope you will share yours with us with us also. Please visit us here at our site for updates on our journey, and also folow us on our YouTube channel for our latest videos from our trips and updates to our camper!