Is It Right for Me? Find Your Perfect RV
Now that you’re armed with all the resources and preliminary information you need, it’s time to put your nose to the grindstone and find your dream RV. You’ll need to ask yourself a few important questions during your research. Don’t worry – we’re here to help you answer them.
#1. Understanding Your Travel Style
In the previous article, we briefly covered a few different travel styles and how they may impact your decision. Now, it’s time to find your travel style, so you don’t get stuck with an RV that doesn’t work for you:
- Would you rather tow a trailer or drive a motorhome? Towing can be a challenge and takes a great deal of practice, but it has the benefit of being able to leave your RV at the campground and take your tow vehicle into town. Driving a motorhome is a little easier, especially if you’re in a Class B or Class C, which is similar to driving an oversized van or truck.
- How do you plan on camping? Do you have the funds to stay at high-end RV resorts, or would you rather save money and stay in basic campgrounds or dispersed campsites? Camping off the grid is free, fun, and rewarding, but you’ll want to make sure your RV is equipped to do so. Solar panels, large holding tanks, and energy-efficient appliances are a must. You can learn more about boondocking with this free guide from RVshare.
- Will you be spending most of your time outdoors, exploring, or does hanging out around the RV sound more like your cup of tea? If it’s the former, a basic, no-frills camper should suit you just fine. If you like entertaining, though, you might want to look for an RV with an outdoor kitchen or TV.
- How much privacy does your family need? If you want a quiet space away from the rambunctious kiddos, look for RVs with versatile layouts. Fifth wheels and Class C motorhomes often have two distinct sleeping areas on opposite sides of the RV – kids and parents get their own separate bedrooms!
#2. New Vs. Used
Another critical decision is whether to buy new or used. A new RV will come with a warranty and the appeal of having very few miles on it – but you’ll need to pay a pretty penny for it. On the flipside, used RVs are more affordable, but they often don’t come with warranties or financing. Gone With the Wynns has an excellent blog post about their experience buying a new RV.
#3. Size Matters: Floor Plans and Layouts
Space is precious in an RV. Not only is it important how much space you have; it’s also important how the space is used. A poor layout can make even the most spacious RV feel claustrophobic. RV floor plans are diverse, so you’ll need to look at many different ones to find out which is best for you. One of the best ways to try out different floor plans in real life is to rent an RV for a few days. You can find a wealth of local RV rentals by owner online.
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BEFORE you head to a dealer to see new and used trailers, download your FREE RV Buyers Worksheet for help keeping track of:
- The feature must haves that are important to you and your family
- Which brands or manufacturers you like
- Budgeting tools including a payment calculator resource
- Multiple well spaced pages with room for lots of your notes
- BONUS Resources: Trade-in values, tow vehicle ratings, and finance options