I am not an expert on RVs or models, but I have bought 4 so far and this will be the 5th. By now, I can map out the decisions you have to make as you adapt to the RV life, and likely you will need to do your own experimentation to find your perfect dream rig.
Here are some of the decisions you will need to make.
What will you be doing in it?
Once a year vacations? Months long journeys? Parked in a resort park full time, or on your property? Traveling and living in it while working? Boondocking often or always full hookups? Spur of the moment trips to see family?
Each choice will lend itself to different RVs. Start with this question and develop your choices.
How long will you be living in it at a time?
A few days to a few weeks for vacations: the smaller rigs will have usually have enough cubbies, cabinets and bins for those shorter trips. Inventory what you usually take on vacation, in suitcase size piles and compare to the number of storage spaces in the rig. When you’re camping for just a few days, amenities are less important, since you are outside much of the time. With that said, figure on rain at least half your camping days, so what ever you get will need to give you a comfortable shelter with enough space to keep you occupied.
A month or longer: Bigger is better. Storage becomes crucial when you are full-timing or taking extended trips. Luxuries like washer/dryers can become necessities. Bigger fridges and more kitchen storage as well as wardrobe space are more important. A desk, or spacious dinette to accommodate work or crafts make it more like a home. If you are parking it full-time somewhere, you might want to look at destination, or park-model trailers, or even tiny homes. If the RV doesn’t have enough space for out of season clothes or boxes of photos or other items you can’t carry, you may need to keep a storage unit somewhere convenient.
What kind of RV?
Entry level choices for short term camping tend to be trailers or vans, pop-ups or truck slide-ins. Pop up trailer were out for me because they don’t feel safe for a solo woman. Truck campers and teardrops feel cramped to me, but if you rarely spend more than sleep-time inside, they could work for you. Vans are ideal for solo travelers and couples, as are the smaller class Cs, though elbow room can be tight. The assumption here is you are bringing your bedroom and a kitchenette, but not a full house. The space under your awning outdoors is your living room and you will likely use the campground bath-house more often than your tiny bath facilities.
Motorhomes and large trailers are the most like a house, with several seating and working areas, good if you are stuck inside because of weather. They will also have most of the amenities of home, including a respectable bathroom, much more closet space, washer/dryers and bigger aisles.
Generally, if you plan to be on the road regularly, traveling to destinations or family, a motor home is the best choice. If you plan to park it at a resort or property for a few weeks or more, a trailer is the best.
The best way to know which style of rv appeals to you is to walk through a lot of them at an RV show or dealer. Bring your travel mate and move around in them, seeing how you fit, what feels right. And, don’t worry, you will likely move up (or down) into another rv when you have had one for awhile.
What Size?
Camping happens in everything from a converted station wagon to a 45 ft Peterbilt diesel pusher. It’s really the layout that counts, and what you need to fit into it. But size comes into play in campground availability and cost. Rigs over 40 feet will have trouble finding spots in smaller campgrounds and are often not allowed in some state parks.
Related to campground requirements is hookup availability. If you will spend a lot of time in campgrounds, note that 30amp electric service is more common in the smaller rigs, while larger rigs require 50amp hookups for the larger electricity draw. Not all campgrounds offer 50amp service.
Also, the larger, the heavier, the smaller mileage you will get from a gallon of fuel. This is true of both motorhomes and towing trailers. The cost of crossing the country in a large Rv, in fuel alone, will exceed the cost of flying in many cases.
Boondoocking vs campgrounds?
Eventually, every rv trip will involve a night or two in a parking lot or side street where you couldn't arrange a campground stay. The more adventurous will see boon docking as a way of life, staying off-grid in federal and state lands and vacant fields to save on rv park fees. Most festivals require rvs to boondock in a parking lot or field, so I do have some BD experience, though lately we just stay at state parks. What you generally need from your rig is more: More battery power, more fresh water tank capacity, more black tank capacity, and more power regeneration capacity. That last item could involve solar panels and/or a generator. The bigger rigs generally have all those features, so if you plan to boondock regularly, a bigger rig makes more sense.
Motorhomes: How much power?
There are a surprising number of Class Cs and As with 8 cylinder gas engines. I would not feel comfortable in mountainous areas with that small an engine. It might be fine for flatland trips to the beach. 10 cylinders is the standard for larger motorhomes. We are not looking to buy a diesel rig, but IMO, if it has a diesel, it will have enough power for the weight of the rig.
Not everyone is up to the (sometimes years-long) job of renovating an old, beat-up rig. It has been three years our Airstream has sat in pieces on the driveway, but we had the room and the time during the pandemic to work on it. We bought the Coleman because we wanted to go camping right away. So assess your need to personalize and/or economize your rig versus your immediate need to just toss a bag of clothes in and go.
There will always be some work all RVs need in maintenance, so getting to know the workings of an RV is worthwhile. Having access to a factory manual with parts listings and wiring diagrams makes that job easier. Some manufacturers (*cough* Dutchman) don't provide that information, so when fixing something, you are on your own - and on YouTube. But the support provided by a good manual can't be underestimated.
Related is the accessibility of all the various utilities - you should be able to access the batteries, fresh water and hot water tanks, furnace, inverter, any pumps and hydraulics, etc. If any of these are behind a wall, with no access door, you won’t be able to fix that item yourself. Even if you take it to a dealer, it will cost more to get at and repair that system.
Trailers: What kind of hitch, and what size tow vehicle?
The hidden cost of affordable trailers is that you need an appropriately powered tow vehicle to pull them, with the correct hitch. I have no experience with fifth wheel hitches, but my feeling is it will cost more than a ball hitch, will be more complicated to connect and will likely require a heavier truck. (Open to corrections on 5th wheel ease of use). But for both hitch styles, the larger the trailer, the heavier the tow vehicle.
Regarding the power required, 4-6 cylinders is not enough to pull much other than a tear-drop or little ultra-light. 8 cylinders will be fine for most mid- size trailers. Anything larger than 38 ft will require a double axle and a bigger engine.
Take a look at truck prices before you decide on the rv, it may force a rethink. And, if you will be parking it, you can hire a service to move it once or twice a year, which may cost far less than owning a high-powered tow vehicle.
How many people (and furry people) will it need to hold?
When I traveled on the festival circuit, I traveled alone and was a skinny young thing. A van fit me perfectly. Right now, my girl and I are seniors, and need our comfy spaces. We will be (eventually) adapting our three cats to the life, so where will they live? If you have them, kids and relatives will need extra bunks too. And think how everyone will fit on rainy days.
Will you need an extra vehicle? Do you need to tow it?
Trailers make it easy to unhook the truck to get into town or for sightseeing while the rv stays setup at the campground. Motorhomes are often too large for city streets and you have to redo your camp utilities setup every time you run out to the store. Bicycles or mopeds can sometimes suffice for short trips, but sometimes you need a street legal vehicle. Towing it adds cost, complexity, and setup time. There is the choice of flat-towing or using a dolly to consider. Or you could get a toy hauler with room for a small vehicle. And depending on your travel plans, you might spend less by renting a car at your destination. Many questions to answer on this subject, one we are just beginning to address.
New or used, and RV loans?
If you can buy through a dealer, you can usually finance it if you have good credit. They will have both new and used rigs and a large array of choices. RV loan payments can be very reasonable. This is how I bought my van, but I was working then.
Now that I’m on a fixed income, I have no credit to get a loan, so I have bought my recent RVs with savings. If you can pay in cash, you can take advantage of the used market, which is packed with all types of RVs. The manufacturers ramped up production during the pandemic and now there is a glut; even Camping World is auctioning off extra inventory. Prices are low, pop-ups and trailers going for less than 5k. You could buy a nice used trailer every year for 10-15K and never spend what a new one cost. Even used Class As are reasonable right now. Start looking now! I scour Craigslist and Rv Trader a couple times a week.
Travel to your favorite model or Buy what is available nearby?
It can be expensive to fly to check out the exact rig you are dreaming of in person, new or used, but if you are committed to a certain model or layout, you will likely have that requirement. You will have to drive anyway if you are buying a trailer, so you have to figure what distance is doable for you. And remember, you might not like the Rv when you get there. So having a few possible favorites and keeping an eye on the local Craigslist board over time may get you most of what you want in an RV, if not your dream rig.
Buy used from a dealer?
There are a fair number of big rv dealers around the country that carry used rigs that often are cleaned up if not refurbed, and usually will finance your purchase. It’s also not quite as interpersonal as meeting folks at their houses. Many people are more comfortable buying from a company.
Depending on the location, you might get repairs done on your just purchased rig and even changes in features, costing extra, but saving a lot of time. Most will take trade-ins too, saving money and time.
You will develop a list of must-haves and absolute no’s after you have looked at a few models.
A lot of your must-haves and never-haves will conflict, and you’ll have to prioritize the musts from the maybes. A lot will depend on your ability to make a decision, come up with the payment (or finance) and find a place for it to live while you adjust to a life-changing purchase. If you are a first-timer, don’t worry, it gets easier each time.
This won't cover every decision you will need to make, but it will get you started in the right direction. Want to know how we are deciding on our new rig? Click here for Travel Kat's answers to these questions.
A final word: Give yourself plenty of time to look at different models. Don’t jump at the first one. Your ideas could change drastically.
Have fun!
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