Are you ready for an RV purchase? From RV floor plans to the mechanicals, and considering the cost of ownership, the variables can be a lot to consider. This guide for buying a camper will help you with working through all those decisions. We will even throw in a few travel trailer tips for those RV’ers considering a move to a 5th wheel or motorhome.
There are some basic categories that almost all RV and motorhome buyers consider.
Click the bullet to navigate directly to a topic you are interested in or read through this entire post. You won’t be sorry!
- Budget – getting the most RV value that your budget will allow
- Floor Plan – does the floor plan work for your RV usage pattern?
- Cost of RV ownership – there may be more factors to consider than you realize
- Maintenance requirements – all RVs require routine maintenance
- Mechanicals and amenity specifications – our specs may help you develop your own requirements
- Audio/Visual equipment, entertainment, and networking options – this is Papa Joe’s happy place
- Storage options – for when the RV isn’t in use
The budget is a huge factor in your RV purchase decision.
Money only stretches just so far. You need to be getting the most RV value that your budget will allow. We recommend shopping around and determining which type of RV is best for you as a beginning point. Camper vans are easy to get around in but rather pricey for the square footage. Same with micro-trailers.
There are several categories of trailers that fit into the hybrid category. Some of them are reasonably priced, I consider others to be quite expensive for the space they provide.
Fold-down or collapsible RVs (otherwise known as hybrids) may be a good option for families that don’t need a lot of space. Many families start out in pop-top RVs, which are usually great value for those with a tight budget. You may be able to pull a pop-top, collapsible, or teardrop RV with your van, SUV, or light-duty truck, which further helps the budget.
Many travel trailers and 5th wheel trailers are being designed with “light-weight” or “feather-weight” technology that is able to be towed with a light-duty or 1/2 ton truck. I highly recommend checking your manufacturer recommendations for towing capacities if this is a factor for you.
Here is one of our travel trailer tips. You can get everything most folks need in a travel trailer or 5th wheel. Most, if not all, contain a full bathroom, convertible sleeping space plus a designated bedroom, and a kitchen. What else do you need?
The budget becomes a huge factor in the travel trailer and 5th wheel RV purchase decision.
If you are looking at a new unit, prices may start under $10,000 (according to camperreport.com). From there, you can spend any price point that is comfortable for you.
The last option in RV purchases is moving to a motorhome. Motorhomes are a beast among themselves, and that will be a separate post. For the purposes of this post, a new motorhome will likely set you back $75K or more.
The general tip for each of these RV purchase options is this. Find a unit that you like. If you can’t afford a new unit, look for that model as a pre-owned unit. Make sure to purchase from a reputable dealer, and factor in the cost of an extended warranty.
A general rule of thumb is the newer the unit, the newer electronic features, and appliance options may be. That’s a primo travel trailer tip right there!
Our Which Type of RV Should I Buy story will help if you need more help in deciding which type of RV to purchase.
There is one more budget category to consider.
The walk-through when you take your brand-spankin’ new RV home. Some dealers offer a walk-through for free, others may charge for the service. A walk-through should show you all features of your new RV purchase, and provide you an opportunity to ask any RV-related questions you have.
One caveat – if your dealer charges for the walk-through service, find out how much the charge is and what it covers. Check the dealer reviews, and use those factors to determine if the services have sufficient value to offset the cost. A walk-through may save you money in the long run and is almost certain to increase your enjoyment of that beautiful RV you just purchase.
Buying an extended service plan or a roadside assistance plan may be ways to help stretch your budget dollars. Emergencies will happen. Better to be safe than sorry!
These are just a few travel trailer tips in this guide for buying a camper.
The floor plan – there is an RV floor plan for everyone.
And that is the almighty truth. Papa Joe and I are super-particular with the RV floor plan. Hopefully, our experiences will help you in making the right decision for your family.
Is your RV fully functional when the slides are rolled in?
Our #1, top of the list, absolutely make-or-break the RV purchase pet peeve, is being able to have full functionality of the RV when the slides are retracted or the unit is in storage. To the point, that we have decided our retirement careers should be designing RV floor plans for manufacturers.
Seriously. We attend the camper shows a couple of times a year and have lost dealers numerous deals by walking through an RV and pointing out the fridge or restroom isn’t accessible when the slide is in. There are a couple of ways for you to evaluate this RV floor plan flaw.
There are a couple of methods to measure this.
Papa Joe uses the fingertip-to-exterior-wall technique. In other words, measure the depth of the slide, stand at the furthest interior edge of the slide, and measure that distance into the walk space. You will be amazed at how many units block cupboard doors, beds, bathrooms, ovens, and refrigerators with the slides rolled in.
This is an example of Papa Joe measuring the slide depth in our Class C.
As you can see in his measurement, the slide will come in almost to where his right foot is placed. This allows us room to maneuver through the RV when the slide is rolled in. Below is the floor plan of this same Class C.
A method I like to use is looking at the actual floor plan, measuring the depth of slides on the floor plans, and calculating the depth that slide will cover when slid in. The Class C RV floor plan provides you with an example of that method using the bedroom portion of the slide.
The floor plan on this Class C allows us to access full functionality to all portions of our RV. We consider this a successful RV floor plan.
Here is an example of a floor plan similar to one we purchased in our last 5th wheel.
As you can see, most of the unit is blocked off when the slides are rolled in. This floor plan is not representative of the floor plan we purchased. We consider this an RV floor plan failure.
Other floor plan factors to consider in your RV purchase.
Do you need bunk beds? Many units are available with a bunk bed option now. This is a great option for families, but we have seen a huge increase in empty-nesters turning those bunk bed options into office space.
What about the seating space? How many people is it reasonable to expect inside your unit at any given time? For us, it is a minimum of 5 folks, which our current Class C barely accommodates. This will be an RV floor plan factor we consider in our next RV purchase. Consider that one of our motorhome tips.
The same theory works for sleeping space.
Maybe you have 3 or 4 adults that are expected to sleep in your RV. If so, the dining table fold-down option may not work for you. Our couch is 68 inches, which makes it difficult for a 6 ft adult to sleep comfortably.
Last of my travel trailer and motorhome tips. If you have an RV purchase you are ready to make, do the storage calculation in your head. Look at your current unit, or what items you anticipate needing. Mentally place those in your indoor and outdoor storage space. We have passed on more than 1 RV purchase because the storage space was insufficient.
Cost of RV ownership.
There may be more to the cost of RV ownership than you think. In our post Are You on the Fence About Purchasing an RV? we broke out many of the cost of RV ownership categories. We also provided access to worksheets to help you determine your cost of RV ownership.
Here are a few of the factors itemized in the On The Fence post:
- Costs associated with purchasing an RV vs RV rental
- Cost of RV maintenance
- The annual cost of ownership
- Expenses per RV usage
- Miscellaneous expenses
These factors all contribute to the cost of RV ownership.
Would you believe our $75K Class C $218 per day of usage? And we use it a lot – often spending 90-120 days or more in the unit a year. If you spend less time in your unit, your costs per day will rise. It’s the law of large numbers – the more you use it, the lower your cost per day will be.
Check with your tax person. There is always potential your RV purchase may qualify as a 2nd home and be eligible for tax benefits, but don’t make that assumption without talking to them. A tax write-off may slightly decrease your cost of RV ownership
My 3rd travel trailer tip. Be realistic, calculate your anticipated average annual usage, and calculate the cost of RV ownership before making your RV purchase. The results may either steer you to a different unit or decide RV rental is a better option for you.
Routine maintenance. This is a key area in our guide for buying a camper.
Are you handy? Or are you used to taking the car to a shop for any maintenance work? Seriously, considering your skillset in this area can make a huge difference in the satisfaction and cost of your RV purchase. Here are a few RV maintenance areas to consider.
- Do you need to winterizing and de-winterizing your RV?
- Electrical maintenance
- Maintaining the generator
- Routine maintenance for the water and plumbing systems
- Do you have inverters? If so, they require routine maintenance
- Maintaining RV batteries
- Plus you have all the regular stuff, like routine tire maintenance, leaky sink faucets, smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors.
This list can’t include all the maintenance items you may need to manage.
It is provided to help you consider, as you consider that perfect RV, the maintenance that may be required for you to be able to relax and enjoy it.
Who said RV’ing is relaxing? It can be but don’t be fooled into believing there isn’t any work involved. A basic rule of thumb is the more expensive the unit is, and the more technology is involved, the more work may be required for routine maintenance. Each area you need to pay a professional to complete will impact your overall cost of RV ownership.
Have you considered your wish list for mechanical and amenity specifications?
For Papa Joe, that is a nice way of saying how easy are the sewage lines to empty? This is one of the first things he looks at. Are you able to access your dump center with the slides open? Can you reach the dump center without standing on your head or laying on the ground? How does the system itself work? We have owned RVs where the poop tank didn’t drain easily. Ew phew!
What is required to level your RV at that beautiful camping spot? Leveling the RV is my job. I used to have to crank the jacks down, and then back up. Then I had to push a button, raise the 5th wheel until it could be connected to the truck. Now, I just have to push a button, and the system says “success”. Hopefully.
That may not be a big deal to you, and if you have kids to push buttons and do that work for you that is awesome. If not, you may choose to have the more expensive version as I have now.
How easy is it to fill the water tanks?
Is there an overflow when the tanks are full, or does it overflow into your RV? Seriously, these are all questions better answered before your RV purchase, than after you have it home.
Travel trailer tip #4 is to search owner forums for feedback. Papa Joe has found them to be incredibly helpful. Despite RV’ing for over 35 years, he has learned things on these boards, and I anticipate you will too. We have attempted to share many of these lessons in this guide for buying a camper.
Audio/Visual equipment, entertainment, and networking options.
This is where Papa Joe really shows off his stuff. As work-from-home becomes more popular, so does the necessity of having sufficient internet service. We have a proportionately-sized television at home, and looking at a baby screen in the RV could make the idea of camping less attractive. Are you able to get your internet or cable television stations?
While these are items that may seem silly, they can be huge in determining satisfaction with your RV purchase. Our current RV floor plan allows a subwoofer to be mounted under our couch, surround sound supported by a centralized radio, and reliable internet and networking.
Believe me, the RV did not come standard with these upgrades. When I watch my version of a chick-flick (anything with supercharged cars racing), I feel the movie in my bones and can see the screen well enough to enjoy it. It took us 10 years to get to this point, which is why I believe considering this factor is so important in your RV purchase.
Here is another way to think about it. Today’s camping and RV experience is all about outdoor living. With that in mind, does your dream RV have an outdoor entertainment center? While we don’t use ours often, when I walk through the campgrounds, it appears we are in the minority.
If RV networking and internet functionality are important to you, you may enjoy Papa Joe’s RV networking post.
Storage options when the RV isn’t in use.
Have you considered where to park your RV when it’s not on the road? Many housing communities now have restrictions on where an RV can be parked and what type of surface it is parked on. Some will not allow an RV to be stored outdoors at all. Will you need to pay to store your RV or pay for a permanent site to park it on?
This one may seem to be a no-brainer, but for us, it is a genuine question. Can you get your RV purchase into your chosen storage location? We store our RV at home and have a steeply sloped driveway. One of our first questions when considering an RV purchase is, will it go up the driveway. The next question, is will it fit in our storage space? Details are important.
Whichever option is your situation, make sure the details are worked out before finalizing your RV purchase. Travel trailer tip #5.
Last words in our guide for buying a camper.
Many of you may already own an RV or camper and are considering a move to something different. Here are a few extra travel trailer tips and motorhome tips we have learned over the last 30+ years of steadily moving from a pop-top to a travel trailer, to a 5th wheel, and finally to a Class C motorhome.
What to know about moving to a travel trailer.
You will need a good weight distribution hitch. You will also want to manage trailer sway. Some weight distribution hitches have an anti-sway system built in while others require an additional sway bar to supplement the hitch system.
Leveling a travel trailer is a completely different world than leveling a pop-top. Consider a more heavy-duty leveling jack or blocks than was utilized in a pop-top. We love the orange legos, and still occasionally use them with the Class C.
You may also have the new challenge of learning about slides. Make sure all items are out of the way before running slides out and back in.
There may be a learning curve as many travel trailers will feature more sophisticated electronics and appliances than a micro-trailer or pop-top. Hopefully, having a guide for buying a camper is helpful.
What to consider in moving to a 5th wheel.
This one was a doozy for us. We had to balance needing the perfect floor plan that allowed room for the grandbabies and didn’t block off any essential functions. Most importantly, it needed to be light enough to be pulled with our 3/4 ton truck. Many 5th wheels are using lightweight building technology, but remain on the edge between needing a 1/2 ton, 3/4, or 1-ton truck.
This is a good place to mention that your pivot point for turning and backing the 5th wheel is different than it is in a trailer. For some, this may require some practice. For me, it was just a source of frustration.
By the way, our fuel mileage decreased when moving from a travel trailer to a 5th wheel. There may be more wind resistance, but I believe the decrease was mostly related to the increased weight of the RV.
What other trailer tips should you consider for a 5th wheel?
We also had to purchase new sewer connections and lines, as well as steps for my short legs to get up into the unit. Add a 5th wheel hitch to your truck, and you now have permanent holes in the truck bed from the hitch system. Lastly, the RV floor plan was great, but beware of floor plans with a front-living space. Our friends are tall, and the front-living space would have prevented them from standing upright.
Some 5th wheels may be fitted with an air suspension system. Consult with your dealer for details and maintenance. Some owners prefer to utilize an additional support point at the 5th wheel hitch itself, as is seen in the Reflection 5th wheel photo.
Many of the recommendations in this guide for buying a camper are based on personal experiences. We hope they will prompt you to ask your own questions.
What to know in moving to a motorhome.
There are several items we noted after moving to a motorhome from a 5th wheel. Please learn from our experience while you go through this guide for buying a camper.
Here is a prime example. Did you know Ford says the RV manufacturer balances the tires after building the unit? Some RV manufacturers say Ford does the balancing. We learned neither of those was true when a tire needed replacing after 20,000 miles.
Here is the 6th motorhome tip. Load your motorhome the way you plan to use it, then take it in for a tire balance and alignment. Our failure to do so cost around $300, and we were lucky it wasn’t more.
Your new RV motorhome purchase may have suspension enhancement. These vary between manufacturers, ask your dealer for advice. Our example is our Class C motorhome air suspension system, which requires a minimum of 65 lbs of pressure (not 30). We learned this one the hard way.
A change in lifestyle was required when moving to the motorhome.
Changing from having a separate driving space and living space to having both in one open environment was interesting. I enjoy it, others may not like hearing items in the coach rattle as you drive down the road.
The cost of RV ownership goes up considerably when moving to a motorhome, but you can look at it a couple of ways. In our case, to continue with a 5th wheel we needed to purchase a new truck.
Add that expense to a motorhome payment and our RV expense became exorbitant. Regardless, be prepared for the calculated cost of ownership to appear comparatively higher with a motorhome with any type of pull-behind trailer.
How are those for motorhome tips?
How was my guide for buying a camper?
I set out to answer this question. Are you ready for an RV purchase? We covered a lot of ground, from floor plans to mechanicals, and cost of ownership. This guide for buying a camper included several travel trailer tips and motorhome tips and gave you examples of lessons we have learned throughout the years.
After all, you can literally camp almost anywhere in the world. We took the photo below while floating along the Danube River in Austria.
Buying an RV can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Hopefully, this guide for buying a camper has been helpful. Consider each of these factors, and drop me a comment if you have another factor that should be added to this list!
Leave a Reply