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The most popular messages we receive are questions about shopping for and buying an RV. The questions range from brand comparisons to getting a loan and the final inspection. We hosted a live stream to answer these questions. Viewers tuned in from all over the United States and we even had a few from the U.K., Germany, Canada, Australia and Greece. Below is the recording of the Q&A on shopping for and buying an RV.
Shopping For and Buying an RV
Q&A video includes our tips on shopping for and buying an RV as well as address the following questions:
Are there new and used RVs on display at RV shows? We’ve attended the Florida Tampa RV Show and California RV Show and found that they are all about new model year RVs. There was a limited selection of used RVs at California RV Show in Pomona. If you plan on attending to an RV show, check out our RV Show Survival Guide.
Considering a 42′ Class A RV, should I look for a shorter one? It depends on your personal preference and how you plan to RV. We initially considered Class A motorhomes between 30′ to 45′ and ended up with a 29′ Class A gas coach. Put together a “must have” list and a “nice to have” list for your ideal RV. Is a washer and dryer a must have? Do you want to camp inside the National Parks? Answering these questions will help you narrow down your next RV.
Do you think you made a good decision on your first RV? A lot of people seem to be changing motorhomes. Our first motorhome was perfect at the time to RV with two large dogs. After we said goodbye to Duke, we found the motorhome to be too big for our RV lifestyle. Now we are looking at camper vans for full time RVing.
Expect to get 25% off MSRP of new RV? 25% off MSRP is a good average. Demand of a particular RV, the brand and location of the RV will factor into how much you can negotiate off the MSRP. Check out our post on New vs Used RV: Pros & Cons.
Should fuel consumption be a factor? It depends on how you plan to travel in your RV. We’ve met full time RVers that only move a few times a year and park their RV at campgrounds for several months. We averaged over 1,000 miles a month in our Class A gas coach which gets 6 to 7 MPG. Check out our post on the cost of full time RVing in a class A motorhome.
Other questions addressed in the Q&A: What is the RV buying process? Advice on RV insurance? Do RV manufacture warranties cover full timing?
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Thinking of getting a Small Class C RV? Check out our list of the Best Class C RV Manufacturers.”above the About Author
Your video was very insightful. I’m 42, looking at a class A RV for my first purchase. I’ve done a lot of reading online about what an RV entails. But since you guys have had more time with one more so than I. Just a couple of questions. 1) On a class A driving wise any tips there? I’m a tad scared of just the sheer size. 2) In relation to the tanks if your in. RV park let’s say any recommendations on regular maintenance and things to keep an eye out on. 3) either searching new or used would it be good practice to open all the outside lockers to look around or anything for sure that I need to look at when inspecting a candidate
1) https://weretherussos.com/rv-for-beginners/ Like anything, the more you do it the more comfortable you’ll become.
2) Only thing I can think of would be to not leave your tanks open. You can leave them hooked up to the sewer lines but if you leave your black tank open you could get the poop pyramid because it’s sticking to the bottom and not getting flushed out. I liked to keep the grey tank closed as well to flush the sewer line after dumping the black.
3) Yes, go through EVERYTHING with a fine tooth comb. I’d suggest reading my first book as I documented some of the things we found when looking for new and used RVs (including an RV that had been in a flood!): https://www.amazon.com/Take-Risks-Couples-Journey-Russos-ebook/dp/B07566RT6B
I loved when you mentioned how you need to consider what type of driving you plan to do and what type of fuel consumption the RV you want to buy will have. It is important to understand that doing some research and comparing several RVs can help you find the best one for your needs. Personally, I would also want to take into consideration how many people will travel in the vehicle I choose before spending my money.
My question is: Winnebago Navion 24G or Leisure Travel Vans Unity Island Bed? And why. My wife and I are considering full-time RV living. Our son, who’s in college will occasionally spend time with us, but generally it will be just the two of us.
Thanks, Steven
That’s a very personal question and one only you can answer. What works for us might be completely wrong for you so I’d suggest finding each and spending as much time as possible in them to figure out what suits you the best. During your search you may also find something completely different that you like better. Good luck!
Thanks, Joe, I suppose I should have clarified with a bit more information and been a bit more specific about what I’m wanting from you.
Like most things, all the research in the world is fine and useful, but having someone who has actually done what you’re about to attempt may be especially helpful on many levels. I’ve been looking at RV’s for months and reading extensively online, including blogs such as your and Kait’s (thanks for all the helpful resource information). So, for example, I’ve read about your transition from a larger motor home to the one you now operate and the whys of that transition.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the Class C has enough room and storage space for us. I am asking you if you had to choose between the comparably priced RV’s I mentioned, which one would is your preference. If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine too.
Thanks, Steven
Ah – thanks for the clarification Steve. Based on what we’ve seen, we’d get the Leisure Travel as it was one of our top picks before deciding on the Hymer. Size was a big thing for us and we felt that if we had something like those small C’s we’d need to tow a car with us. We were also concerned about the carrying capacity of the Mercedes based C’s, which would have been about 400-600lbs (as compared to 900 or more with the B’s) depending on make/model after you factor in us, Leo and a full tank of water. Looking back now, we definitely could have made that work but you need to be very judicious on what you pack. We especially liked the Unity island bed layout and the Wonder on the Transit chassis with the murphy bed.
Hope that helps!
It does indeed, thanks very much. Thanks for mentioning the cargo capacity issue. I was searching that yesterday and now have a question out to the person at LTV who is assisting me to see what they are saying about it.
Best,
Steven
Looking at both Class C and Class A, around a 29-31′ max. Pulled a 32′ 5th wheel and a 27′ pull trailer for a great number of years. The 5th wheel was the best to pull. However, the wife and I are starting to get a little long in the tooth and we’ll looking at something that we can just go out get into it and go, no hookup, etc. Its nice in that you have a vehicle when you get to where your going but we want something smaller and easier to use. What is your opinion of a Class C vs a small Class A?
Hey Craig,
We went with a 30′ Class A as our first RV and are now moving to a 20′ Class B. We didn’t see any standard C’s that we liked. The layout’s we saw weren’t for us and we have no use for a cab over bed. That said, its a very personal decision based on your needs and what you’re looking to do with the RV. I would suggest driving both and looking at different floor plans to see if you prefer one over the other.