According to the latest RV industry stats, manufacturers ship around 50,000 new RVs every month. Are you considering becoming the proud owner of one of these vehicles?
An RV gives you safe and easy access to an abundance of vacations around the country, and it’s one of the most affordable ways to get away from it all. You’re in for a considerable investment when you buy your RV, though.
So it’s important to choose wisely if you want an RV that’s in it for the long haul. Keep reading for more on how to buy a recreational vehicle that suits your family’s needs and budget.
What Type of RV Vacation Do You Prefer?
When you visit an RV dealer near you or research your option online, you’ll soon discover that there is a huge variety to choose from when it comes to RVs.
So, it helps to know why you want to embrace the RV lifestyle before you start your search.
If you plan to travel frequently to nearby destinations, a basic, compact RV might suit you best. For longer stays, you need a larger, more luxurious RV to meet your needs.
Do you love to rough it out of the way destinations, or prefer a more luxurious glamping experience? All these preferences determine the type of RV that’s right for you.
Once you’ve decided what you expect when going RVing, you can start to search for vehicles that fit into this league.
Choosing the Type of RV You Want
There are several classes of RVs and each of them comes in a range of sizes and boasts luxury levels to suit the above criteria. These are the main types of RVs available today:
Towable RVs
The main benefit of a towable RV is that you can set up camp and use your towing vehicle to explore the sights. There are five main types of trailer RVs available, namely:
Classic Travel Trailers
These trailers are between 10 and 35 ft. long and have a hard exterior shell. They usually feature a bedroom, dining area, kitchen space, storage, and an entertainment center.
Teardrop Camping Trailers
These small RVs are ultra-light, compact and streamlined, weighing less than 1,000 lbs. They feature very few extras and seldom have a bathroom on board.
Often the back of the trailer contains a small pop-out kitchen with a mini-fridge. These little trailers typically accommodate only two people, and most cars can tow them.
Toy Haulers
If you’re an adventurous traveler, these huge RVs have plenty of space to store your equipment like bikes, surfboards, and ATVs. They have a ramp at the back for on- and off-loading your ‘toys’.
You’ll need a powerful truck for towing these trailers.
Pop-up Trailers
These RVS are also called camper trailers and have canvas sections that fold out to create sleeping and living areas. You can choose from soft-sided and hard-sided trailers in this league.
Pop-up trailers are lighter than classic trailers, but you’ll need a suitable vehicle for towing them.
Fifth-Wheel Trailers
These enormous RVs feature all the bells and whistles you’ll find in the most luxurious recreational vehicles. They often feature slide-outs, kitchens, bathrooms, and sophisticated entertainment systems.
You need a very powerful truck with a special towing attachment to get around with one of these trailers.
Motorized RVs
When you buy a motorized RV, you’ll need to pack up your camp every time you head out to explore the sights or take an extra vehicle along with you.
There are three classes of motorhomes available:
Class A Motorhomes
These are the largest and most expensive RVs available. They usually have slide-outs and feature all the comforts of home including showers, toilets, and an enclosed main bedroom.
Class B Motorhomes
Also known as campervans, these RVs have van chassis modified to accommodate two people. They’re much smaller than Class B motorhomes and more affordable, too.
Class C Motorhomes
Class C motorhomes are larger than Class B motorhomes and feature an above-cab sleeping area. This creates more living space inside the RV, allowing for bathrooms and seating areas.
Once you know what type of recreational suits your needs best, you can consider the nitty-gritty aspects of choosing the best RV for you.
Recreational Vehicle Safety and Comfort
Research the average prices of the RVs you’re interested in before you visit a dealer to inspect their stock. This helps you stick within your budget and can also help ensure you pay a fair price for the RV you want.
On arrival at the showroom, ask to see as many RVs as you can and inspect each one thoroughly. If you’re considering a second-hand RV, you must ask to see the service and maintenance records of the vehicle.
Look around the inside of the RV to determine if you feel comfortable in it. Check that it has enough storage and beds for your needs and ask about necessities like battery backup, waste disposal, solar energy, etc.
If you want to buy a new RV, you should look at online reviews or speak to other RV owners about their satisfaction levels with that model. For second-hand RV purchases, it’s best to arrange for a professional inspection before you dish out your hard-earned cash.
It’s important to find out about the ongoing maintenance costs associated with the RV you want, too.
Start Planning Your Next Getaway
Once you’ve found the ideal RV for your family’s needs, you open the door to unlimited, affordable vacation options.
A recreational vehicle offers abundant opportunities for exploration and enjoyment, but it’s not everybody’s idea of the ultimate vacation accommodation.
If you’d prefer to investigate alternative vacation options, browse our blog for all the best advice and tips.
