If you are planning on buying a new or used RV, then make sure you do your homework first.  There are literally hundreds of different brands and styles of RVs available for you to choose from, all with different features and amenities.  If you rush through your decision or make an impulse buy, chances are you will not be happy with your purchase.  Buying an RV is as personal a decision as buying clothes or a new house.  Though we cannot tell you what to buy, we can give you some tips from our experience.

The best advice that I can give anyone before buying an RV is research, research, research.  Conducting proper research first could mean the difference between being happy with your purchase vs. being regretful, as well as save you thousands of dollars and many headaches.  Don’t just stop after reading this article.  Go to your favorite search engine and type “Choosing a new RV” or “Buying a new RV” and you will come up with many articles.  I suggest you read them all.  Although they may seem somewhat redundant, you will be sure to find some nuggets of wisdom in each.

First let’s start with some of the basics…

What is the difference between an RV, travel trailer, or 5th wheel?

RVs

The term RV is often used by many people interchangeably as they refer to travel trailers, 5th wheels and motor homes.   Once we get the formal definitions out of the way, we will use this term interchangeably also.  Technically, “RV” is supposed to refer only to those vehicles that you can drive and live in as well.  Similarly, to qualify as an RV, you need to be able to walk from the driver’s seat directly into the living area without having to get out of your vehicle.  RVs are further broken down into classes that refer to size and type:

Class A motor homes are the motor homes that many people dream of owning.  They range in size from 30 to 40 feet and can weigh 15,000 to 30,000 pounds or more.  Generally these motor homes carry all the amenities of home including slideouts (a slideout is an extendable living area that makes the RV larger once parked), dishwasher, and even a washer and dryer in addition to other mostly standard features.  These motor homes can accommodate eight to twelve people, or more, depending on the model.  The price for these motor homes range from $80,000 on the low end to upwards of $500,000, or more.

Class B motor homes are the smallest of the motor home family and usually come in the form of van conversions.  Class B motor homes can range in length from 16 to 20 feet and weigh 6000 to 8000 pounds.  Although smaller than some of their cousins, don’t be fooled, these motor homes come well equipped with all the basics including cooking facilities, refrigerator, and toilet.  These motor homes are a very economical choice for those on a tight budget or for those that don’t travel very often.  Prices for these motor homes range from $35,000 to $80,000, or more.

Class C motor homes fit in between the other two.  They range in length from 20 to 30 feet and weigh from 10,000 to 20,000 pounds.  Class C motor homes often contain many of the same amenities at Class A motor homes; however, they tend to be a bit smaller and therefore may lack some of the more extravagant amenities such as dishwashers or washer and dryer.  Prices range from $50,000 to $100,000, or more.

 

Towable Trailers

A towable trailer is just that, a trailer that you tow behind a vehicle.  There are also several different types of towable trailers:

Travel trailers are often equivalent to Class A motor homes without the engine.  They range in length from 12 to 40 feet and can weigh upwards of 12,000 pounds.  Travel trailers are towed using a hitch with a ball and are often accompanied by a load distribution hitch and sway control bars.  Generally, depending on size, travel trailers require a pickup truck or SUV to tow properly.  Most travel trailers come with all the amenities you would expect and can sleep up to eight people.  Prices range from $8,000 to $100,000, or more.

 

Tent trailers or pop-up trailers are the smallest and most affordable of the towables.  They are designed to be lightweight and can often be towed by cars and smaller SUVs.  For many people tent trailers make the perfect entry point into RV’ing since they are inexpensive and do not require special tow vehicles or equipment other than a standard hitch.  Folding tent trailers often provide ample quarters for four to six people with cooking facilities, a refrigerator, and toilet.  Prices for these trailers can start at around $4,500 and cost as much as $20,000, or more.

 

5th wheels are the Cadillacs of travel trailers and attach to a tow vehicle (truck) in much the same way that an eighteen wheeler attaches the trailer to a rig.  The front of the trailer hangs over the bed of the tow vehicle and attaches to a special 5th wheel hitch sometimes referred to as a Gooseneck.  The advantage to this arrangement is that the weight of the trailer is centered over the rear wheels instead of hanging off the back and pulling the rear of the vehicle down like a travel trailer.  This allows the truck to handle heavier trailers and offers better control of the vehicle with less propensity to sway while towing.  5th wheels offer all the same amenities that a travel trailer or class A motor home and range in cost between $20,000 to $125,000, or more.

Truck campers fit into the bed of a pickup truck and are clamped to the body.  Although they are somewhat small, they often have all the basic amenities such as cooking facilities, refrigerator, and toilet.  One of the biggest advantages of these campers is that they can be loaded and unloaded relatively easily allowing your truck to serve as an everyday vehicle during the week and a camper on the weekends.  These campers usually sleep two people comfortably but some can hold four or even six people.  The cost for truck campers range from $5,500 to $25,000, or more.

Part 2 - Things to Consider

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