Many retired people dream of buying an RV—a recreational vehicle—and traveling around the country. One of the most enduring and fun pastimes that Americans enjoy during their vacation time is going camping. However, camping can be a bit inglorious: slumming it out in a tent in the woods is a bit harder to do once you’re out of your twenties. So, what’s a lover of the great outdoors to do? Well, the simplest solution would be to buy an RV, so you can bring a little bit of home with you when you go camping!
RVs are quite the investment, though. It’s important that you know what you’re getting into before you buy an RV. To that end, we’ve compiled a quick guide of things you should know before you buy an RV. Get ready to hit the road and the campground in style!
Be Selective
It’s okay to take your time when you’re looking to buy an RV. Check out all the options available to you, take it slow and easy, and don’t fall in love with the first camper you see. It’s easy to fall for a hype sales pitch, but don’t let it convince you to buy something you’re not sure about yet. An RV is likely the second-most expensive thing you’ll ever buy, after your home. As such, it’s important you’re as discerning with your RV as you were when you bought your home.
Keep a lookout for substandard components. Maybe the plumbing isn’t ideal, or the water pump is outdated. Check the cabinets out and double-check the build quality on the furniture. This is a huge purchase: it’s okay to take a year or more doing research and weeding out the campers you know you don’t want before you find the one you do.
On the Lot
When you’re going in to buy the RV, make sure you know when to buy. The best time to hit the dealership is towards the end of the month, or the end of the year. That way, you’re close to the deadline for some of the dealership’s quotas and sales targets. This gives you a lot more power in negotiating. When the power is in your hands, you can negotiate much more freely.
Start by haggling for around thirty percent off the sticker price of the RV. If you can get the price down around that region, you’ll be in good shape. It’s important that you know to walk away if you can’t find a good price with the dealership you’re at. Let the salesperson know that you’re willing to walk away and work with their competition if they won’t work with you.
Or Buy Used
If you don’t feel like fussing with a dealership, you can try to buy an RV used. RVs are unusual in that they’re luxury items, but their value depreciates rapidly once they’re purchased. After being driven off the lot, they can drop as much as 25% in price on the spot. As such, if you’re willing to shop around and deal with secondhand sellers, you can likely find RVs for as much as half off their MSRP.
When buying used, make sure you check the living quarters thoroughly and ask the owner for all the paperwork showing the proper upkeep and maintenance of the RV. They can be a big hassle to keep up with and maintain, so if the person you’re buying from is done with the RV and wants to get rid of it, you’ll likely find it easy to haggle for a better price on the camper. Be aware before you buy any RV that repairs can be costly and can take a lot of time, so be ready for a big responsibility. If you put the work in, though, they can be huge fun!