In the last couple of years, this type of vehicle has become extremely popular, especially among people from the United States. According to some statistics, in 2018, almost 500,000 trailers have been purchased by Americans.
Just as with any other vehicle, there are so many things to consider, starting from a model, price, interior, price, etc. This is a must if you want to ensure you are getting what your money’s worth. It’s important not to just focus on the exterior because it can look great on the outside, but still, be filled with many flaws.
That’s why we’ve decided to help you out with your decision. Even though we are not experts, we’ve consulted a few and discovered the biggest red flags to watch out for and what you should always have in mind, so stay tuned to find out!
Don’t Buy An RV Until You See These Tips!
Know It’s Worth
It doesn’t matter whether you are considering the one that is used or brand-new, keep in mind that it does have a certain value. Like automobiles, the value of a new trailer can drop significantly when it abandons the dealer’s lot.
Many experts claim that purchasing this vehicle almost never makes financial sense. Why is that? Well, it’s because in most cases a new one is going to lose up to twenty-five percent of its value as soon as it is no longer perceived as new.
Fortunately, there are so many beneficial websites where you can get more information about the latest models, as well as the used ones, so make sure to check them out before you make any decisions.
Create A Wish List
One of the things that can surely help you out during this process is to create a list that will contain “must-haves” and your wishes. Huge lovers of RV at CaravanWoods.com suggest that you should write down everything you desire for your vehicle. Do not be afraid to get into details.
It’s totally okay if you’re picky and simply have a number of things you want your trailer to have. At the end of the day, it’s your money, so you can do whatever you want to with it. Even if you have higher expectations, that’s fine too! We all love to dream.
Once you’ve made that list, round up the things that are definitely a must and “non-negotiable”. Just think about the things that are going to match your lifestyle. If you’re not sure how to begin, here’s an example. These are the most common non-negotiable:
- Your budget
- All seasons
- At least one slide
- Solid storage
- Weight
Don’t Forget To Include These Suggestions Too!
What Are You Going To Do With It?
Whenever you are purchasing something, it’s important to first think about the things you are planning on doing once it arrives. The same goes for your RV. Do you define it as your permanent residence or something that you are going to utilize for a short period of time?
- Do you think that you are going to be able to live in it for many months at a time? If so, will you have enough space to fulfill it?
- On the other hand, if you perceive it just as something temporary, then you do not need as much space as you’ve imagined.
These two questions mustn’t be overlooked if you are serious about this purchase. So ensure to carefully analyze them.
Good Deals Can Be Deceiving
In order to make a great purchase, you first have to be one hundred percent sure that you truly like this vehicle. If the RV is not in perfect condition, then there’s no use in buying it. Of course, there are a lot of potentially great deals, but don’t rely on them.
Why is that? It’s because older trailers frequently require a lot of additional work, which means spending more money on various repairs that you could have saved if you acquired even a new one.
Yes, at first glance purchasing the latest RV may seem like a huge investment and no one denies that, however, in time you will realize how beneficial it is to buy a brand-new vehicle, rather than the used one.
Be Careful With The Dealers
There’s always a catch when you’re obtaining a new trailer. A dealer is going to try to add a couple of affordable (at least in their minds) extras that are going to simplify everything for you and prevent any potential issues down the line.
If you want to avoid secondary pitch from that person, you can do that by requesting some of these add-ons, and they typically include:
- Bug screens for outdoor vents – Your vehicle is going to come with vents to the outside intended for many things, such as refrigerator, hot water, oven, and freezer. Even though they contain covers, they are not bug proof. Frequently, wasps and dirt daubers locate the warm vents and turn them into their nests. A dealer can place metal mesh to the outside of the vents to avoid pests of this particular size from entering inside.
- Roof vent covers – Your trailer has roof vents that enable air circulation. One can be found normally in the bathroom and the second one in the main living area. Furthermore, they contain mesh covers to keep out debris and bugs, however, they are going to be open to the rain. The vent covers that you’ll be needing should be plastic and contain rear air openings. Luckily, they are not pricey but still must be properly sealed to your roof to enable the vents to stay open even when it’s raining.
- Hitch assembly – If you purchase a hitch from the dealer, it’s highly unlikely that you are going to be hit with a labor charge. Namely, you should still ask your dealer to create a hitch on delivery day and see if you can bring your own.
If you haven’t owned a trailer before, this means that you are entering unknown territory. Luckily, that’s why this article is here. After spending a lot of time researching we wanted to give you some useful tips that you can rely on one, and we hope we accomplished that.