5 Tips for Your First-Time RV Purchase

September 15, 2012 | Filed under: Shopping | Posted by: kcooper

Many dream of buying an RV and hitting the open road; having your lodging and transportation all in one allows you to hunker down anywhere you can find a parking space. Besides a house, this is probably one of the biggest investments you will make and if you are shopping for an RV for the first time, here are some tips to consider.

Do Your Homework

An RV is not an impulse buy; do not get seduced at an RV show. If you are going to buy a used RV, know the book value of the vehicle so you can negotiate if necessary. There are plenty of forums on the web where you can connect with knowledgeable owners who can answer any questions you have and offer suggestions and tips.

Considerations for Buying a Used RV

If you are first-time buyer, you might consider getting a used vehicle. Going through a private seller can get you a great deal. Many quality RVs may be available from people who are no longer traveling due to a spouse’s death or illness or from people who thought they would love having an RV and discover they do not. If you live in a colder climate, shopping at the end of fall might get you a better deal on a private sale since most people are not camping in the winter and the owners will be more eager to get it off their hands.

Do a Test Run

Many things seem great in theory and then we discover a personal distaste for them. Do not buy an RV without first seeing if you would actually enjoy being in one. If you are not sure of the type of vehicle you want, rent different ones to feel them out. It may seem costly, but it will be a lot more costly to buy an RV and discover you do not like it or that you wished you bought a different kind.

Finance the Smart Way

If you cannot pay for your vehicle in full up front, you are going to have to get some sort of financing plan. Be smart with this to avoid financial difficulty down the road. Do not buy a vehicle without any sort of down payment. Do not base your decision to buy solely on being offered an affordable monthly payment—consider other factors, like how long you will be responsible for making it. Stretching out the financing for too long may cause issues in the future. You may want to arrange financing with a credit union or bank beforehand.

Inspect the Vehicle Thoroughly

When making new purchases, we will spend hours painstakingly gathering information and then when it comes to the actual item, give it a once over that takes no more than a few minutes. You need to thoroughly inspect the vehicle, especially if it is used. If you do not know a lot about RV’s, take along someone who does. If the vehicle has not already been inspected by a qualified RV service dealer, make sure it gets one before you buy it.

Kelli Cooper is a freelance writer who enjoys writing on a variety of topics. If you are in the market for a new or used RV in the Ohio area, check out Dave Arbogast RV

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Posted by kcooper on September 15, 2012. Filed under Shopping. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry