The idea of buying an RV is fun … until you start ! With so many brands , manufacturers , layouts not to mention types of RVs from pop-ups to toy haulers , the entire process can quickly turn to overwhelm .
It can also lead to falling into the trap of finding the
“ perfect RV ” which can cause analysis paralysis and delay your RV journey by months or even years ! We ’ ve traveled by RV to 47 states , but it almost didn ’ t happen at all . We almost fell for it ! The idea that it ’ s not worth doing unless it ’ s in exactly the RV of your dreams . Luckily , we came to our senses and reconnected with why we wanted to buy an RV and asked ourselves an important question .
What can we do * now * to get started ?
HOW TO USE THIS ARTICLE
Whether you ’ re seriously shopping for your first ( or next ) RV , or still dreaming of the day when you can drive off the lot with a rig of your own , this article is for you .
This is for the dreamers , the full-timers , and everyone in between . We ’ ve used a Q & A format so you can jump straight to the sections you care about most . Or , just read the whole thing from the top !
If you want to jump straight to a specific section , here ’ s a quick overview :
1 . When is the best time to buy an RV ? 2 . Three questions to ask before buying an RV 3 . How to pick an RV type and layout 4 . How to shop for and purchase an RV 5 . Financing and insurance 6 . Maintenance and warranties
When is the best time to buy an RV ?
We were told it ’ s crazy to travel across the United States with three kids and a dog in the backseat of our Ford F150 . In some ways , they had a point ; our travel trailer was far from perfect . By the time we got to Mexico ; it was literally falling apart . We might have been more comfortable in a Class C or a Class A , with room to move around as we drove . We didn ’ t start with the perfect RV , but we did start . That trailer took us to 35 states in 6 months in Season 1 , and then down to Mexico in Season 2 . The memories we made as a family in that first year wouldn ’ t have been any better in a more expensive rig . In fact , we wouldn ’ t have made them at all , because that setup was what we could afford at the time .
The point is this : Start Small , and Start Now .
Time is always getting away from us . Our kids are growing up , we ’ re not getting any younger , and we never know exactly what ’ s around the corner . Starting small now is always better than starting big later — or worse , not starting at all .
Here ’ s an example from our history as boat owners . We ’ ve always loved boats , but they haven ’ t always fit into our budget . Years ago , instead of buying a boat , we got as close as we could . We took our truck to the lake on weekends and ate picnics as a family , looking out at the water . Eventually , a friend who ’ d heard about our boat dreams more than once gave us an old jet ski that he was going to get rid of . This jet ski was nothing fancy . It was old , clunky , and slow , but our kids still talk about how much fun we had riding it . It wasn ’ t the perfect boat , but it got us out on the water . Which was the whole point to begin with .
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