The most important thing to consider when choosing an RV is you. There are way too many options out there to be worrying about ratings, rankings, brand names, or any of the million ways in which RV owners like to measure their campers against each other. You are the most important consideration, because the value of the RV rests entirely in its ability to meet your needs and make you happy in your own personal, unique, having-nothing-to-do-with-anyone-else’s endeavors. The difference between a young man and an old man, is that when a young man pictures himself jumping over a fence, his body then has the ability to accomplish what he is seeing himself do in his mind. In the same way, the difference between a bad RV and a good RV is that the good ones don’t hinder you from doing what you see yourself doing; they facilitate it.
So let’s talk some specifics. You’re going to need to ask yourself some important questions. The answers will show you the way.
Is This A Long Or Short Term Purchase?
Are you planning on packing up your life and hopping on the road for the next 15 years, viewing every inch of the United States, and writing a pictorial blog detailing your travels? If so, you are probably going to want to look for a higher end camper, built to last and accompanied by a protective metal RV cover. You don’t want to be messing with structural issues, engine problems, and various other serious maintenance problems because you bought something designed for the short term. You’ll actually end up saving a lot of money by investing up front in a long-lasting design.
At the same time, if you are simply looking to take a year or two off of work and do that slow, adventurous, cross-country trip you’ve always dreamt of, there is no reason to pay big bucks for a top-of-the-line camper. You don’t need something designed to last for 25 years, so don’t pay for that. Focus on something that’s feature-rich, but doesn’t use the type of long-lasting materials and designs that tend to cost you an arm and a leg.
What’s The Maintenance Plan?
This is a super important question when evaluating your purchase method. Are you handy with a wrench, or did you think it was a hammer? If you know what you’re doing and have a certain level of mechanical competence, you can save yourself boatloads of money finding used RV’s and campers online. Some deals are so insane it’s worth traveling a few states over to grab them. If you are going to be completely dependent when it comes to maintenance, however, it’s probably going to be best for you to buy a new RV and purchase as many warranties as you can get your hands on. Research the manufacturers and find out which ones are more interested in satisfied customers than in penny pinching on the warranty. Chances are, you’ll find a great fit and maybe even begin a lifelong business relationship.
If you can answer those two questions, it will be a lot easier to determine the right RV choice for you. Happy trails!
Tiffany Olson loves to blog on anything travel or adventure related, even the less-than-exciting topics such as rv purchase, metal rv covers, and rv maintenance. When she's not blogging you'll usually find her cooking, reading, or on a weekend road trip of her own.
