There are thousands of RV's to choose from, with tons of options and configurations, one for almost every budget. For most people, a RV can be the second largest purchase they will ever make. It can be an extremely frustrating and time consuming process. My promise to you is to provide you with the information you need to make a sound buying decision, receive a fair price, and help simplify the purchasing process so that its more enjoyable. I'm here to help you in a honest and ethical manner.

Below I've listed some useful resources to assist you with your dream of owning a RV. And as always, feel free to reach out and contact me should you have any questions.

Where To Begin?

What Type of Camping or Travel Will I Do?

Your camping adventure can be as simple and brief as a weekend, while some will adventure out for a few weeks at a time. Many individuals, believe it or not, are taking on RV'ing on a full-time basis, whether for pleasure or the lifestyle.

What Type of RV Should I Purchase?

When you decide on the type of camping or travel you'll be doing, you can then figure out which type of RV to purchase. Here's what's available:

Other Items to Consider?

• Construction:  Yes, it is a house on wheels and items are going to need fixed, but a quality constructed and dependable RV should be top priority.  Do you want to camp or wrench on your RV?  Do your due diligence and research!
• Manufacturer Warranty:  Most manufacturers offer at least a 1-year bumper-to-bumper limited warranty that covers any defects in materials and workmanship caused by the manufacturer.  Some components on the RV may have a longer warranty through the actual component manufacturer. Keep in mind an extended service contract may be a viable option depending on your needs.
• Dealership Network: Purchasing a RV from a dealer who participates in a RV network allows you access to hundreds of dealers scattered across the lower 48, Alaska, and even Canada.  Should you need emergency service while your away from your local dealer, you can expect V.I.P. service from other network dealerships.  Make sure your dealer participates in a dealership network!
• Maintenance:  Just like your home, you need to stay on top of maintenance and be prepared to fix things when they break.  Replacing sealant, exterior and interior cleaning, winterizing, and more can really add to your "honey-do" list.
• Towing: Get to know your towing vehicle inside and out.  It's better to have "more" towing capacity than not enough.  Know your UVW (dry-weight) of the RV, cargo weight (stuff you fill the RV up with), and leave some wiggle room so you don't burn up an engine, transmission, or rip the rear-end off your towing vehicle.  The same goes with your Motorhome - don't tow more weight than what it is designed to pull.  Also, purchase quality towing equipment (anti-sway hitch, fifth-wheel hitch, tow-bar, tow-dolly, etc.) to improve the pull down the road.
• Cost for Camping:  There are many places to camp for FREE, but assume that you'll be camping at places that charge a fee (K.O.A. campgrounds, state parks, etc.).  Rates vary based on the size of your RV, length of stay, and hook-ups needed.  
• Insurance:  Typically, the bigger the rig the larger your insurance bill.  Check with your dealer and your personal insurance company for the best rate and service BEFORE you buy your RV.
• Storage:  Many homeowners associations do not allow RVs to be parked at the house.  Storage rates vary from $20 to $250 per month.
• Taxes:  If your RV meets your states criteria for registration, you will have to pay property tax.  That formula is based off weight and the model year.  Also, a RV meets the IRS definition of a second home if it contains sleeping, bathroom and kitchen facilities.  Interest paid on a loan for the purchase of a RV or any sales tax paid is therefore potentially tax deductible as valid home interest on a second home.  
• Extended Service Contracts:  Bumper to Bumper protection and coverage, towing expense, trip interruption, food spoilage, fuel/LP gas replacement, emergency roadside, rental expense, and on-site repair.
• Appearance Protection:  Coverage includes Exterior protection from fading, loss of gloss, acid rain, bird droppings, tree sap, hard-water etching and more.  Interior protection covers water & oil stains, UV fading, premature aging, punctures, burns, rips, tears, and odors from mold and mildew as a result of food or drink.
• Road Hazard Tire & Wheel Protection: Coverage includes repair or replacement coverage for tire and rims (including mounting, balancing, and taxes).  Covers Road Hazards like nails, glass, potholes, rocks, tree limbs or any other object or condition not normally found in roadways.  Also provides emergency roadside assistance, towing, battery service, flat tire, fuel delivery, fluid delivery and lockout assistance.  
• GAP Coverage:  G.A.P. stands for Guaranteed Asset Protection.  During the first few years of ownership, the probability of the actual cash value of your vehicle being worth less than the loan payoff is high.  If your RV was totaled or stolen, deemed a total loss, your vehicle may be worth less than what you owe on the vehicle loan at the time of the loss.  The "GAP" could translate into thousands of dollars still owed after your insurance company paid the actual cash value of the vehicle.  GAP covers the difference between the actual cash value of your RV and the amount of the loan at the time it was stolen or totaled in an accident.

Where To Look When Buying a RV?

• RV Dealerships -  Most dealerships have a good variety of RVs on hand with different floor-plans to choose from. Dealing with the right salesperson is the foundation to the entire RV buying process.  Make sure your salesperson is Factory Trained and Certified.   How the dealership treats you before, during, and after the sale should be high priority. Consider where you will complete your service and warranty work.  How many service bays to they have to handle an uptick in business? Do they offer both Warranty and Insurance repair services?  Are their technicians Factory Trained and RVIA/RVDA Certified?  Do they offer RV parts and accessories? Make sure you can tour the facility, meet the Service Director, Sales Director, General Manager, and even the Owner of the dealership.  You have to feel comfortable with the dealership and their process.  
• RV Shows - Typically these shows kick-off the RV'ing season and offer the opportunity to see the different styles all in one place to help you determine the best fit for your needs.  Also, manufacture and dealer representatives are on hand to answer all your questions face-to-face.
• Manufacture Websites -  Visit the manufacturer's website to view color options, take a 360-degree walk-thru, and view floor-plans.  There is plenty of literature that you can download or order free of charge. Owner's manuals are also available for your to view online.

Ready to Buy?

What Should I Expect to Pay?

With ultra-competitive online pricing, be wary of the "too good to be true" priced RV. Not every dealership provides the same experience and many price their RVs much lower than other dealerships to "bait" the customer onto their lot. Once the customer arrives, they find out about all the "extra" fees that are added on to the sale price of the RV. Fees like: title work, registration, advertising, delivery, floor plan, administrative, destination, key, setup, convenience, self-financing, trade-in, detailing & cleaning, documentation, tire excise or inflation, prep, inspection, and more. These fees can add up to hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of dollars! Ask before signing your name on the dotted line.

What's My Trade Worth?

Reasonable dealerships base the trade-in value of your RV by referencing current national market prices and the condition of your RV. They should use the same system to evaluate your trade-in as they do to price their pre-owned inventory. Please remember that NADA and other online value sites don't write checks to purchase your RV, dealerships do.

How to Finance a RV?

Many RV'ers look to financing at least part of their purchase. A RV is considered a luxury item and you'll need good credit to qualify for financing. Your local dealership can provide competitive rates and long-term financing (up to 20 years on some RVs). Your bank or credit union may be an option as well. Lenders may require up to 20% down payment while some offer zero-down loans.

What's a Pre-Delivery Quality Inspection?

Not all dealerships offer a pre-delivery quality inspection (PDI), but you should expect and request it in order to make sure your RV is ready to take straight to your camping site from the dealership. A typical PDI can take 3-5 days should something need to be repaired or replaced. All systems including electrical, LP, water, heating, A/C, should be inspected, tested, and repaired if need be. Also expect an inside and outside cleaning before you perform the walk-thru with the dealership representative.

How Will I Know How to Use Everything?

Again, not all dealerships offer a "walk-thru" service after you purchase a RV, however; you should expect and request it in order to make sure your RV is in working condition and you know how to operate everything on the outside and inside of the RV. The walk-thru typically takes up to 3 hours depending on your previous RV use and knowledge.

Ready To Go RV'ing?

The First Night

You should "dry camp" in your driveway the first night and not be tempted to hook up to shore utilites just yet. Prepare your meal in the RV, watch some television, and make up the beds. There is no better way to test the living facilities than to actually use them without getting stranded hours away from home. The batteries should be fully charged and provide enough battery capacity to dry camp at least one night without having to run the generator. When you get up in the morning, start the generator or plug into shore power, to verify that the inverter goes directly into the bulk (highest) charge rate. It will take two to three hours to recharge the batteries. If it is really hot, then by all means connect to shore power so you can run the air conditioners, but when it cools down, disconnect shore power so that you can test your batteries for the remainder of the night. READ ALL THE MANUALS to test your knowledge from the walk-thru and your testing of the RV earlier that day and make any notes that will serve you on your first distance RV outing. Start a "fix list" for the dealership where you purchased. Contact the dealer and schedule a service appointment as these items will most likely be covered under warranty or extended service contract.

The Shake Down Trip

Choose a destination roughly 100 miles away for your maiden voyage. Use all the systems multiple times to try to detect and flush out any failures of electronics and other devices. At your destination with full hook-ups, refill the fresh water tank and run water into the gray tank to verify gauge readings and that there are no leaks. Drain the gray water using the sewer hose and do the same with your black water tank. Check the gauge for accuracy and for any leaks that may occur. Drain the black water tanks and refill the fresh water tank and camp using all the systems for the remainder of your trip. Again, add to your notes and fix list (if any fixes needed) and contact your dealer upon returning home.