We did it! We finally took the plunge and purchased our motorhome! It was a long process. An Exciting, Frustrating, Infuriating, Gratifying process. But it is finally over, signed, sealed, and delivered!
This was a crazy ride. We have been thinking about it for a few years, but only got serious in the last 3 months. Wow. We should have started sooner. Here are some things we learned along the way…
Top 10 Things We Learned While Shopping For Our Motorhome.
1.) Get your finances in order FIRST. You will generally get a better deal on interest at the bank than at a dealership. Go to your bank and ask them what they will allow you to purchase and what down payment you need. It doesn’t matter how good your credit is, banks don’t like to loan on older model motorhomes. Knowing your budget in advance will save you some time and heartache.
2.) No pressure, No hurry, No guilt. You wouldn’t let a used car salesman force you into a deal, don’t let the RV salesman/owner do it. It’s a big investment! It’s your money, not theirs! You want to be happy with this purchase. Oh, if a dealership is willing to throw in free chairs or mats or whatever, they know their price is too high. Talk them down and buy your own mats and chairs cheaper somewhere else.
3.) Patience! Don’t get in a hurry and buy the first thing you see. You might think you want a Fifth Wheel and find a Class A that works better for your needs. You might find the perfect fifth wheel instead of a pull behind. Look around. There are tons of rigs out there, new and used! If you are considering a new rig, sleep on it a few days. If you are considering used, then take your time, inspect it thoroughly, then go back to the car and have a private conversation about the pros and cons. Don’t let the pressure of a salesman or a really nice retired couple force you into a deal you will regret later. Ask all the questions, point out all the flaws, inspect everything. If they get offended, move on down the road.
4.) Buy used. WOW! Depreciation on RVs is outrageous. Also, buying new does not ensure that everything works. Most people say it takes a year to work out all the kinks. A dealership is in no hurry to fix anything, even if it’s under warranty. Those warranty items get done on their time, not yours, even though you are still making payments and can’t use your rig. If you are careful and purchase a used RV in excellent condition, you have those kinks worked out already.
5.) Pretty does NOT equal Quality. Beware of beautiful RVs and slick salesmen. Many of the newer RV’s are made with poor quality materials and are simply stapled together. Push, pull, tug on, and open every door, drawer, and counter. Robert found a nice countertop that was not even attached to the cabinet on a 2021 model at a big-store-dealership-that-shall-not-be-named.
6.) No cash in advance. NEVER put a down payment or give any money until you are ready to purchase. Once you have given money, you won’t be getting it back. Many people have been scammed this way. We once drove to Cincinnati to find the nice guy on Facebook marketplace was a sidewalk dealer who had photoshopped all the pictures of a very water damaged Winnebago. A 3 hour ride for nothing. Lesson learned. Luckily we didn’t put any money down beforehand.
7.) Calculate new tires into your price. It is VERY important to have new tires. Even if the tread is great, if they are over 6 years old, get new. Don’t be fooled by tire tread depth or lack of dry rot. Look at this link. You don’t want that to be you. Also, insurance companies can deny your claim if any damage was caused by the blowout of a tire older than the manufacturer’s recommendations. Trust me. I didn’t want to spend the money either. I really wanted a new Garmon and a newer backup camera. But $2000 is a small price to pay for peace of mind. And Big Mac is gonna look and ride great in his new Bridgestone shoes!
8.) Size matters. Size of tanks that is! Water tanks. Propane tanks. Holding tanks. All the tanks. If you are planning to live in your rig, then be sure to account for tank sizes. A tiny little hot water heater might seem cute at first, but when you need a shower in the middle of nowhere, you won’t think so…
9.) Inspect everything, BEFORE you drive away. And I mean everything. Jim and Melinda Tanner at RV with the Tanners has compiled an excellent pre-delivery checklist. I recommend this for new OR used purchases. Check out their site and download the RV Pre-Delivery Checklist.
10.) Slow down! They are much easier to drive than you think. But only if you are willing to be cautious and go SLOW. The point of an RV is to get out of the rat race anyway! So think ahead, plan your route and take your time.
I hope this top 10 helps you in your purchase so you can sit back, relax, and just enjoy the ride.
That’s all for today. We are so grateful for our new friends Steve and Tammy for selling us our new home. We are looking forward to many years with Big Mac!
What about y’all? What did you learn during your RV purchases? Did you have good experiences? Bad? We would love to hear about them! Leave a comment or Email us at robandmarti@rvsojourney.com
Nope- have not experienced the purchase of an Rv/Travel Trailer…But have remodeled 3/4 of one (we just like the bedroom!) and I promise they are not level, square and are all cattywampered everywhere!!! It was fun though!
Marti- hope you have safe travels and don’t forget to text/call-I gave you great references!🥰😂
My friend, you know I will be in touch! Lots of great experiences to share, especially this first trip! Thanks so much for being a reference and for being such a good friend and coworker! I mean, it’s not everyone I can just call and say “OMG, 35mm of induration!!!!!”… 😀 Love you, girl!