If you are buying an RV for the first time, what to look for can
be very confusing.
What do you intend to do in that RV?
If it is just to take annual vacations, then just rent an RV.
The cost of an RV stays with you whether you are using it or
not. In addition, if you have to stay it, that involves
even more expenses.
Do you want to use your RV as a permanent resident?
If you intend to live in the RV full-time, then your decision
is more much different than buying a house.
Hopefully you have time to make a proper selection and not be
hurried into making a buying decision. You don't want to
end up in an RV that makes you uncomfortable, so you want to
take your time with this decision.
Do you Have Children?
Are there children to consider in your choice? Especially
if young children are involved, getting an RV that you have to
tow is not a good idea. It's not only unsafe for
passengers to ride in a trailer, it's also illegal.
If you have more than 2 adults to consider, you will need an
extended cab pickup truck that can tow a fifth wheel trailer.
That gives you plenty of leg room for passengers in the rear
seat.
Are you Taking Equipment with You?
If you want to haul ATVs, bikes, motorcycles, or a dune car
with you, you're going to need a trailer. Some RVs have a
storage area in the rear with a pull-down ramp to carry your
toys with you.
It's a good idea to make friends with your RV salesman and
spend sometime with them. Rent a few before you buy and
test them out. New RVs depreciate significantly when you
take them off the lot - just like a car. Once you get the
feel of several RVs, you can make a better buy decision.
Fuels Costs
Especially now, you want to consider the cost of fuel if the RV
is not your permanent residence and you will be moving around
often to go camping.
A class A motor home typically gets only 6 to 12 miles per
gallon, depending on size and how fast you drive. A
folding camping trailer by contrast may degrade the mileage of
your car by 3 or 4 miles per gallon. A class B van camper
typically gets 15 to 23 miles per gallon.
