Take your pick! There is a tremendous range of prices, sizes, floor plans and features.
- Price and value: The best way to get the most for your money is to buy a pre-owned RV. RVs depreciate just like furniture, sporting equipment, boats and other personal items. Make sure that when you buy an RV to have it inspected or buy from a dealer who sells lots of pre-owned RVs and has been in business a long time. Either way, make sure the person or business you’re buying from has a good reputation. Look at the dealer’s Better Business Bureau rating online.Something to consider when buying used: The equipment in an RV ages like the systems in your house and car. And the structure is not the same as either one. If an RV had the structure of a house, it would be too heavy to travel.
So are you thinking about that 20 or 30 year old RV you saw at the side of the road with a “For Sale” sign on it? It may be cheap, but it is likely to require much more maintenance. That could be ideal for the do-it-yourselfer who enjoys projects and gets a sense of accomplishment out of extending the life of something the most people would give up on. There is a website for people who are into old RVs, www.GoodOldRVs.com.
If you are not a mechanic, electrician and plumber you should buy the extended service agreement that the dealer offers. Usually, the extended service agreement offered by a dealer at the time of sale of a pre-owned RV will be more comprehensive than one that you could buy on any other occasion.
- Size: The largest and most luxurious coaches often have no more seating, sleeping accommodations, or functional living features than a much smaller, basic one. The first thing to look at is seating if it is a motorhome. Look for the seat belts. There needs to be enough seat belts for every passenger, because you don’t want bodies flying around inside (or through a window) in the event of a crash! Most modern motorhomes have enough seat belts for the number of passengers that they are rated for sleeping (example: “Sleeps 6” has seat belts for 6). However, older motorhomes often only had seat belts for the front seat passengers. Be warned: It is not an easy job to add more seat belts, because they must be bolted to a strong structure of the vehicle.The second thing to carefully consider is the sleeping accommodations. Picture you and your spouse in that bed. Large people probably won’t want a corner bed. Adults who are claustrophobic or have a hard time climbing probably won’t want an overhead bunk. However, kids often love the overhead bunk because there is sufficient space for them to sleep and store their toys and games without being in anyone’s way. Sure, some kids can sprawl almost anywhere on the floor, but think about the safety risk of someone tripping over them going to the bathroom at night! Pay attention to the arrangements for privacy if there will be more than just one couple in the RV. Look at the doors that separate the bedroom, toilet, and shower areas. Fold-down dinettes and jack-knife couches may not be long enough for tall people to sleep comfortably, nor wide enough for a couple, even though the RV manufacturers rate such a bed as being for two people.
- Floor plan: Look at the arrangement and number of closets, cabinets, and drawers. Is it enough for what you plan to take with you? If you plan only weekend trips, you won’t need as much clothing and food storage space as someone who lives in it full-time. Consider the kitchen counter layout: do you plan to make elaborate meals or serve lots of people? It isn’t your family home, and unless you are planning to live it in for months at a time, you don’t need so much space. On the other hand, spaciousness gives a feeling of luxury. If you plan to frequently entertain several people in the living area, then the extra space of slide-outs will make a big difference. The amount of space you need is a personal choice.
