How to Buy an RV
Maintenance and warranties
Should you buy an extended warranty ? The answer depends on your financial health . If you have a motorhome , a large repair bill could easily reach $ 5,000 . What would that mean to you on the road ? If it would be disastrous , an extended warranty is a good idea . If it wouldn ’ t be much of a problem , you probably don ’ t need one .
Towables tend to have smaller repair bills because an engine isn ’ t involved , but you still might be looking at $ 2,000 for a large repair . Think through what a large bill like that would mean for you . If it would wipe out your bank account , an extended warranty is a great safety net .
Is there any brand that won ’ t break ? Probably not . One thing every new RV owner should understand is this : lighter weight equals more breakable materials . This doesn ’ t necessarily mean that lightweight RVs are poor quality ; it means that the materials used to build them just aren ’ t as durable as heavier materials . If you ’ ve ever talked to someone who was surprised by how many things broke on their first trip , it ’ s because that was the first time those parts were
Stress-tested .
Things will break , especially on a new RV , since no one has fixed them yet . In Season 1 , all 4 of our tires had blowouts within our first few weeks on the road . That was a little extreme , but the point is : if you go into RV life expecting to make repairs , you ’ ll be much happier for it ! And if your goal is fewer repairs , buy for heavier and higher quality Construction .
Have a plan B
This goes double if you ’ re a full-timer with no home to go back to . Have a backup in mind for what you ’ ll do if things don ’ t go according to plan . This could mean setting aside money in your budget for an unexpected hotel stay , or deciding what your “ ceiling ” is for how much money you can spend fixing your rig . Making these kinds of decisions on the fly is very stressful , and it helps if you ’ ve already got a contingency plan in mind from the get-go .
The number of decisions involved in buying an RV can feel overwhelming , especially if it ’ s your first purchase .
Don ’ t get too bogged down in the details , though . Hopefully this
Summary
article is a useful guide and makes your life easier when you ’ re buying your RV , but if you take one thing away , it should be this : don ’ t get analysis paralysis . You could shop forever , but remember that starting small now is better than starting big later .
The right RV for you is the one you can buy now . Taking small steps toward your biggest dreams is what it ’ s all about .
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