Tips to buying a used RV

 

Let’s face it when you look at a huge depreciation once you drive a new rig off the lot buying a used RV makes a lot of sense. Certainty it can be much easier on the pocket book than a new rig’s cost.  Also in theory, you should be able to stay out of the repair shop more often than with a new RV. Most people I have known that have purchased a new RV have spent the first year in and out of the shop, which really impacts on your ability to enjoy the RV, and get your money’s worth out of it.  I have purchased three used RV’s so far. Each one I have learned a little bit more on what to look for as each RV was a step up from the previous one. Researching what I was looking at really helped in garnering the skills and knowledge to help pick good RV’s and be confident that the systems on the RV were in tip top shape. Of course not every used RV is going to be in tip top shape. Many will require some TLC, repairs or upgrades to meet your standards. Every RV I have purchased, I have had to do all three but when I was finished I had a rig that met my off grid camping requirements with all the comforts that Lorraine and I enjoy.

The first thing to know when shopping for a new used RV is:

• Budget. Knowing your budget and what you can afford is crucial to picking the right RV for you. For most people their budget will come from their bank. So having a good credit rating is paramount to getting your budget. Make sure you shop around, I approached four banks and in the end, it was the dealer that got me the best deal. Which brings me to my second point:
• Shop the Dealers. If you have a good budget, then you will be able to shop the usually best of the used market. Dealers would rather sell you a new RV but they typically also have a good selection of used RV’s. Shopping the dealers can be daunting but using AutoTrader can help to narrow the selection, as most dealers advertise on this platform. If you have the cash, then you are able to go the private sale route and here you may find a real gem for a decent price.
• Know your style of camping. Knowing how you like to camp is extremely important to picking the right rig for you. An off grid camper is going to pick a different rig than a person that likes to camp in full service RV parks. Knowing how much space you need to camp your style is also helpful in picking the right rig for you. For example, Lorraine and I like to front country camp in our Provincial and Federal Parks which require off grid camping capabilities. We typically do not camp in private or full service campgrounds. We will go off road (Gravel roads) to get to a campground, but there must be a defined road for us to travel. We also wanted a floor plan that would allow for guests. We had pets and had to take their needs into account. Since we are travelers and like road trips, we wanted access to the RV as we drove to our destinations, and a place for our pets to be with us. We did not own a truck. So for us a Motorhome made the best sense and as it turned out the Class C was our perfect fit.
• Choose a rig. Choosing a rig should depend on your needs. your style of camping and if you have a truck or SUV that can pull or not. If you have a truck or SUV capable of pulling, then the options in RV’s open up to you. The world of Travel Trailers is very big and diverse. The cost of an RV drops dramatically once you remove an engine and drive train. Just make sure you know and understand what your towing capacities are for the vehicle you will use to tow with. This is so important to know when selecting a towable, as this will be what will limit what you can look at in a towable.

So no Truck? Then you looking at Motorhomes. Here you also have a diverse field in which to explore. Class A, Class B and Class C’s all offer a unique camping experience. Class A’ with their Bus style chassis can be the most expensive to purchase, though Class B’s due to their compactness, nimbleness, and popularity are now rivaling this belief. The Class C is the mid-range RV, but can offer a lot of the same amenities of the its bigger cousin or nimbler sister.  For Lorraine and I we wanted style, comfort, space, and the ability to go off road and off grid, in a rig that was nimbler than a bus. For us we found all our needs met in a Class C RV. See the following posts: Why a Class C? / Pros and cons of our Class C

• Know your Floor plan. Once you selected what type of rig your looking at, now you need to find a floor plan that inspires you. Floor plans come in so many different forms but there are some similarities, which you will discover as you look around. A good floor plan can really make or break an RV and either enhance your camping experience or have you looking at selling and upgrading. Take your time here, Look at all the pics and floor plans that you can. Visit a dealership to get a more in person feel for a floor plan, or once things are ok to do so again, RV show’s offer the best way to see a lot of RV’s and floor plans all under one roof.
• Narrow the search. Now that you have all of this research and you have looked at floor plans and RV’s till they become a blur, now it’s time to narrow the field. Hopefully you were taking notes or making book marks on all of the RV’s that caught your interest, and met your criteria. Group the RV’s into categories and start selecting the ones that are close by versus the ones that you will have to travel to, then start booking appointments to view them.
• Take a look and have a seat. Once you have some showings to go to now the’ s time to have some fun, and use your imagination…. One word of warning don’t fall in love on your first showing, or even your second. It is easy to get caught up in the emotion of the moment when looking at RV’s. The Thought of family trips and enjoying and exploring nature, all in your very own RV can be overwhelming. Calm down.. Take your time and try to be objective in your observations and evaluations of the RV’s you’re going to view. In most cases RV’s do not move fast so you will have time to make decisions. Now sit in it, lay down on the beds, open all of the cupboards and drawers. Sit on the toilet and stand in the shower, make sure you fit the spaces of the RV. Imagine all of your stuff in the storage spaces. is there enough storage? Where will all of the family sleep? Where will the dogs or cat go? Do you like the beds? Does the kitchen fit and flow? In other words, imagine living in it, if it works make note and move on the next thing on the list.
• Narrow down and book that second showing. Now’s the time to review and reflect on what you have just seen and experienced. Be objective and narrow down the RV’s you have seen to one or two, or three choices, then book a second showing on those picked rigs. Let the dealer or owner know that you want to do an RV inspection on the rig this time and if that is ok? If they say no, then move on. If someone is serious about selling, then they should understand the need for an inspection. Once you have appointments the work really begins. Now it’s time to create your inspection checklists or finding a RV inspector to come with you on that second showing to inspect the rig. If you can get the inspection done professionally that is certainly the recommended and preferred way to go. This way you will have peace of mind or will be fore warned on the condition of the RV. RV’s are complicated and there are many components that can go bad but have little outward symptoms unless you know what you’re looking for. Following a checklist will help you organize your inspection and ensure that you look at all of the important systems and amenities. See the “CanadianGlampur RV Inspection checklist” if you want a place to start. If you ‘re uncomfortable with doing the inspection yourself, then you need to find someone who can do the inspection for you, someone you trust, maybe a friend that has and RV already.
• Make your decision. The inspection is over and you have the results, now what? Well it will depend on that inspection. Is it good, so so, or dismal? If there are issues can they be fixed? Will they be expensive? Would repairs or upgrades be worth it to the rig? Will the rig last 10yrs? Will I like it in 10yrs? If you can answer your questions, and you’re comfortable with your answers, then it’s time to make a play for the RV.
• Buy it – Cash or Loan? Since an RV is usually the second most expensive purchase next to a house a person will make in their life, it’s important to spend that cash wisely. Always it is better to pay in cash, but that is typically not realistic. So for the majority of us we will have to take on a loan. The one piece of advice I can offer on a loan is don’t take a loan out on an RV that is greater than 10yrs. For most RV’s in 10 yrs you will want to get a new one and a used RV will be near its life span so it will be time to get rid of it and move on to a newer one. The second piece of advice I can give is, put as much money down as you can afford. This will help in keeping your payments down in a reasonable and manageable range. A $300-dollar payment is more manageable then a $700 payment every two weeks. Remember here in Canada that RV is going to sit for 8 months of the year, so a cheaper payment will help you to love your RV during the winter months.

Finally, start planning and enjoy your RV!

 

Happy Trails,

 

The Glampurs