21 Important Aspects to Consider Before Buying an RV

Get an inspection

It’s true that “you can usually tell if they have taken care of it or not,” but this is not reason enough to not have the vehicle inspected anyways. An inspection by a certified expert can confirm that you are going to make the right purchase, or, the other way around, that you shouldn’t go ahead with the transaction.

“I’ve seen lots of stories from RV buyers that got scammed because they trusted sellers online,” DeCarrera says. More than that, “there are hundreds of components in an RV,” Baum says, “and certain things like mold or faulty wiring aren’t things you want to find out about on your first RV trip.”

Auctions are not for everyone

If this is not your first rodeo or you are confident that you know everything there is to know about RVs, you can find pretty good deals at auctions. Only one small warning: auctioned vehicles can come with hidden defects; if you’ve paid for an RV and find out something’s wrong with t, you’re left to your own devices.

For that reason, “I would never buy from an auction,” says Baum. “There are too many possibilities for the vehicle to have big issues.”

Consider a local dealer

If a private seller is not trustworthy enough for you, stick to the traditional way of buying your RV: get it from a local dealer. “For my second RV, I bought new from a dealer,” DeCarrera notes, “I bought from Campers Inn in Byron, Georgia, and have been very satisfied with the purchase process and follow-up service.” Beasley agrees. “Your local dealer is the obvious first place to look for RVs,” she adds. “This is a great way to get your eyes on many different layouts and designs.”