Category: All RVing Articles

The Best Class B Motorhomes -The Brands You Need To Buy!

This article is about the best Class B motorhomes. And the brands to consider buying now.

Of course, some people call Class B RVs “camper vans”. And if that’s how you refer to them, that’s just fine.

But in this article I’ll be calling them by their category name. And that is a the Class B RV.

Watch my video about the best Class B motorhomes

Table of Contents

What Is A Class B RV?

So what are Class B RVs, or camper vans anyway? They are an RV that’s built on a passenger van shell and chassis.

This is an example of a Class B RV
This is an example of a Class B RV

So the RV builder buys the shell and chassis from the manufacturer first. And then they make an RV out of it.

I can also say that they’re very popular these days, and they’re growing in popularity all the time.

And Class B RVs tend to be a very good fit for single RVers and for couples as well.

Class B RVs Are Great For Couples
Class B RVs Are Great For Couples

So first of all, let’s talk a little bit about the pros and the cons of Class B RVs. To help you decide if it will work for you or not.

And then we will go ahead and get into the brands in that RV category that I can recommend.

Pro #1 For The Best Class B Motorhomes

So the number one pro for Class B RVs is that they’re very easy to drive.

In fact, if you can drive a passenger car, then most likely you can drive a Class B RV. It’s really just that simple!

And that can’t really be said of many larger RVs in other RV categories.

Also, they’re very nimble in traffic and on the highway. So a lot of people love that because it makes for a very pleasant driving experience.

Class B RVs are very nimble and easy to drive on the highway
Class B RVs are very nimble and easy to drive on the highway

Pro #2 Is A Big One!

OK, next up is that they offer generally better fuel mileage than most other RV types too.

And this is because of their size being much smaller than most other RV types. Who doesn’t like that?

In fact, when we are talking about the larger motorhomes fuel mileage can be very low.

Class C RVs often average only 10 – 12 MPG on the highway. And Class A RVs may only get around 7 – 8 MPG instead.

So having a small and fuel efficient RV is a big plus for many RV buyers.

Pro #3 – What About Towing Another Vehicle?

Now the next pro on this list is that there’s no need for a second vehicle for around town driving.

At least, not unless you just want to bring one along with you for some reason.

Now when you have a Class C or a Class A motorhome, that’s not the case.

Because in that case, you probably need to bring another vehicle for around town driving.

Class A RVers often have to tow another vehicle along with them as they travel
Class A RVers often have to tow another vehicle along with them as they travel

Simply because they’re not easy to drive around town and fit in a lot of places. Like parking spaces wherever you may go.

But with a Class B RV, it can become your RV and your around town vehicle at the same time. And that’s a huge benefit for many RVers!

Pro #4 For The Best Class B Motorhomes

OK, next up on the pro list is the fact that the chassis and RV shell are generally easier to maintain and to repair than other motorhomes.

Once again, the chassis and shell comes from a passenger vehicle manufacturer. Usually either Mercedes, Ford or RAM.

So you can often use their service facilities to maintain and repair these RVs as needed.

Also, the shell is more of a one-piece unit than other motorhomes like Class C and Class A RVs.

Those RVs have laminated walls on each side of the RV. Then the builder puts the front cap and the rear end cap up, attaching them to the walls.

And then all of the walls and the end caps are attached to the roof of the RV.

That building process means that you have big joints or seams wherever these wall connections are made.

But that seam is not there in a class B RV. It’s more like a car in that respect because there are no seams that must be maintained.

And a lot of RVers like the fact that there is less outside maintenance that has to be done on Class B RVs!

Pro #5 For Class B RVs

Next up on the pro list is that the small Class B RV can fit in almost any campsite.

So if there is a campsite out there in an RV park or in a campground, chances are that you’re going to be able to fit into it.

And that includes even the national park campsites. That’s a huge advantage for a lot of people!

Con #1 About Class B RVs

But now, let’s talk about the cons of the Class B RV. And the number one con is the very tight living space inside the RV.

Yes, these RVs are small! And that means that you don’t have a lot of room to move around inside them.

Even the best Class B motorhomes have a pretty small living area
Even the best Class B motorhomes have a pretty small living area

Also, there’s no slide rooms in class B RVs either. And slide rooms are a way that many RV builders expand the living area.

In addition to that, headroom can be a little bit of an issue for taller RVers as well.

So before choosing a Class B RV I think it’s a good idea to try one out first. Maybe rent one for a couple of camping trips.

That will help you know whether the smaller living space will be a problem for you or not.

Con #2 For Even The Best Class B Motorhomes

OK, next up on the list of cons is there’s very little storage space in Class B RVs too.

That’s because the builder puts everything that they can into this very small space. And something has to be sacrificed when they do that.

So one of those sacrifices is in the area of storage space. Now of course, there’s ways around that. But it is a challenge to consider.

Con #3 About Class B RVs

Next on the cons list is is the toilet and the shower. In fact, many people are shocked to find they are often combined together.

Once again, the RV builder is trying to get as much as they can in a relatively small space.

So they often combine the shower and toilet together. It’s what’s called a “wet bath” in the industry. And a lot of people don’t like that!

An example of some wet baths in Class B RVs
An example of some wet baths in Class B RVs

So you have to determine where you stand on that issue. Is it a deal breaker for you, or not?

Con #4 Is Important To Boondockers

Next up is that there’s also usually smaller holding tanks in Class B RVs.

Here again, it’s the space issue that makes a problem. But this time it’s not in the area of living space.

Instead, it’s in the fluid capacities for the RV’s holding tanks. It’s just not as much as you will see in larger motorhomes.

And this can be an issue especially for RV boondockers. Because it cuts down on the time they can stay out there while being off the grid.

The more tank capacity they have, the longer the time they can last without going somewhere to dump their tanks and re-supply with water.

Alright, now it’s time for the final con on my list for Class B RVs to consider in this article.

Con #5 That You Have To Consider

And that is, they’re more expensive per square foot than almost any other RV type out there.

Of course, that can be surprising when you start shopping for Class B RVs.

Because it won’t take long to find out how much they actually cost for their size.

And for many, it just doesn’t seem right that a smaller RV like that should cost so much.

But it’s mainly a result of the added cost to make everything fit in such a small space. And the added technology that is often built into these RVs.

Well, those are both the pros and the cons of Class B RVs. So what if the cons don’t bother you a whole lot?

Well then, the class B RV may be a great choice for you and your RVing needs!

A Word About The Best Class B Motorhomes

But what brands are known for making good quality class B RVs?

Well first of all. I made a guidebook that actually covers all the Class B brands that I personally recommend for your consideration.

Click this image to download my guidebook for my "best brands" guidebook
Click this image to download my guidebook for my “best brands” guidebook

And it includes the best brands to be found in all the various price ranges too. So there is something in the guidebook for everyone!

And in my opinion, these are the brands where your search for a new Class B RV should begin.

But this article is going to cover three of those brands that’s found in my guidebook.

And I am choosing one brand from the high-end price range first. Then one from both the mid-range and entry level price ranges too.

That way, there should be something on this list that will be helpful for almost everyone.

Brand #1 On My Best Class B Motorhomes List

So let’s start with number one on the list. And that is an iconic RV manufacturer – Airstream.

Now when I say Airstream, everybody of course thinks of their travel trailers. Because they have such an iconic look and shape.

And they’ve been building them for 85 years or so now. So the image of an Airstream travel trailer is just part of the culture at this point.

But now Airstream also builds RVs in the Class B category too. And just like their travel trailers, they are in the higher cost range of Class B RVs.

Airstream is one of the best Class B motorhomes you can buy
Airstream is one of the best Class B motorhomes you can buy

Now as far as their offerings are concerned, they have seven different models for you to choose from. So there’s a lot of variety there.

For instance, there’s models for campground camping and for off-road camping too.

Also, they give you the choice of the Mercedes Sprinter or RAM ProMaster chassis to choose from. And that’s helpful for many people.

Brand #2 That You Should Consider Too

Next up on our brand list is Winnabago. Once again, what an iconic manufacturer! In fact, they’ve been building RVs since 1966.

And even though they have built some travel trailers, they are known for making motorhome RVs.

You could say that’s where they made their bread and butter over the years.

Winnebago is another fine choice for the best Class B motorhomes
Winnebago is another fine choice for the best Class B motorhomes

So what about the offerings that they’re going to give you? Well once again, there’s seven different models to choose from.

And you can find Class B’s for campground camping and off-road models too. So there’s something in the lineup for most RV buyers to love.

And once again, they’re going to let you choose between the Mercedes Sprinter and the RAM ProMaster chassis too.

Brand #3 That Is The Most Affordable

Now finally, the last brand that we’re going to talk about here is the Entegra Class B.

Of course, Entegra doesn’t have quite the pedigree that Airstream and Winnebago does.

In other words, they don’t go way back in history in the RV industry. They’re a newer company owned by Jayco.

But they have a lot to offer. In fact, in my opinion, they tend to give you more bang for the buck that you spend on motorhomes.

So if you’re on a budget then Entegra could be a very good choice for you.

Entegra is a great choice for budget conscious buyers
Entegra is a great choice for budget conscious buyers

As far as their model lineup is concerned, they give you four models to choose from.

So their lineup is not quite as varied as the other two manufacturers on the list in this article.

But once again, they make Class B RVs that can be used for any type of camping you choose. Either for campgrounds or off-roading.

But they give you a little more choice in the chassis department though.

They offer the Mercedes Sprinter, the RAM ProMaster just like the others mentioned here.

But they also give you a choice of the Ford Transit chassis as well. And a lot of people like to have the choice between all three.

Are There Other Class B Motorhome Brands That I Can Recommend?

Well, those are the three brands that I wanted to cover here in this article.

And I feel that any of these brands would be a good place to start when you’re looking for a class B RV.

But are there other brands that I can recommend besides these three?

Absolutely! And if you want to see all the brands that I recommend for your consideration, here’s what you should do.

Just download my “best brands” Class B guidebook that I mentioned earlier in this article.

Just click this image to view and download my guide to the best Class B brands
Just click this image to view and download my guide to the best Class B brands

And when you do, it will help you choose from all of the best Class B motorhomes brands in that category.

But here’s another benefit of getting my guidebook. You’ll also get my personal assistance in your search for an RV, if you would like to have it.

Yes, I’ll do everything I can to help answer any question you have about Class B RVs.

Because I want to be sure that you get an RV that you will be happy with for many years to come.

Conclusion

So now my final point here today is this. Always remember that you need to use an RV inspector before buying any new or used RV!

That way you can get all the information about the issues that need attention on that RV.

And then you can get those issues fixed before you take delivery and take that RV home.

Now if you’ll do that, you’ll have a much better buying experience than many other RV buyers.

And I hope that what I’ve shared with you today, will be beneficial in your search for a Class B RV.

And I hope that in the end, you will find the perfect Class B RV for your needs.

Have safe and happy RV travels!

The Top 10 Tips For Stationary RV Living

This article is about my 10 best tips for full-time RV stationary living. Whether it’s temporary or permanent.

Yes, RV living can be done in lots of various ways. And you don’t always have to be traveling to enjoy the RV life.

In fact, there’s lots of RVers that actually spend quite a bit of time in their RV in just one spot. And there’s various reasons for that.

Watch my video about stationary RV living

Table of Contents

Reasons Why You May Want To Be Stationary In An RV

For instance, it could be that they just want to save money on travel costs.

And therefore, staying in one spot for a while can help them save the costs of traveling around.

Or maybe they really enjoy the climate in one area of the country. And they want to stay a while and enjoy it. Like snowbirds, for instance.

Or it could be that they just like the area itself and want to explore it. And staying in one spot for a while makes that possible.

Or maybe they have family nearby that they want to spend a while visiting. That’s a big reason that many RVers become stationary for a while.

Finally, if they’re like us, full-timers may also really want to have a permanent home base.

They want a stationary place to be able to go if unexpected things come up out on the road. A place they can always come back to.

So clearly, there’s a lot of reasons why you may want to be stationary in your RV for a while.

And therefore, here are my best tips for successful stationary RV living. Let’s start with number one on my list.

The #1 Tip For Stationary RV Living

And that is, if you’re going to be permanently living for a while in an RV, then a towable RV is probably your best bet for that.

Towable RVs are best for long-term stationary RV living
Towable RVs are best for long-term stationary RV living

At least, it’s probably a better choice overall than choosing a motorhome. Why?

Mainly because the motorhome has an engine and a drivetrain. And if you’re stationary, it’s just sitting there doing nothing for prolonged periods of time.

But that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to keep maintaining those mechanical parts.

Because mechanical things like engines, transmissions, etc., need to be used to stay in good shape.

So for that reason alone, a towable RV lends itself to stationary living better than a motorhome.

And that brings us to the question of which towable RV is best for stationary RV living?

#2 – Which Kind Of RV Is Best?

That means we’re talking about comparing travel trailers and fifth wheels then. Which kind of RV would be best in this case?

Well probably. if you can make it a fifth wheel that’s a little better. Because first of all, it’s usually built with a little better quality overall.

In addition to that, fifth wheels are often larger as well. And that leads us into another point about stationary RV living.

Which is that larger RVs lend themselves better to long-term stationary living in general. Why would I say that?

Larger RVs like a fifth wheels are great for long-term stays
Larger RVs like a fifth wheels are great for long-term stays

Because RVs don’t have a lot of living space to begin with. You’re probably looking at between 200 and a little over over 300 square ft. in most cases.

So the more living space you can get, the better for long-term living.

That’s because sometimes RV walls can kind of close in on you. It can start to feel claustrophobic for many people.

So if you plan on staying a long time in an RV, having more living space is a good thing. Now for number three on my list.

#3 – Don’t Forget About RV Maintenance

And that is, while you are stationary don’t forget to keep up the maintenance on your RV. No matter what kind of RV it is.

I see this as a problem all the time. Many RVers get stationary, and they forget about a lot of maintenance tasks that still need to be done.

Especially on the outside, or the exterior of the RV. But remember, you still need to be checking joints and seals all over your RV regularly.

Maintaining your RV's joints and seals while stationary is critical
Maintaining your RV’s joints and seals while stationary is critical

This is the only way to prevent water intrusion that can begin to seriously damage your RV.

Also, you need to be washing and waxing that RV on a regular basis too.

That helps prevent fading and oxidation on the outside walls caused by the sun and other elements.

And if you have a generator, you will need to run it on a regular basis. Usually at least every month or so.

By doing that, you will help keep it in good working shape and ready for when you need it.

Now that leads us along to another tip that’s very important. It’s number four on my list.

#4 – Stationary RV Living In A Motorhome

And that is, let’s suppose that you have a motorhome that you’re staying in for a prolonged period.

If so, don’t forget to exercise that engine and drivetrain regularly. Of course, when you’re not using it, it can be out of sight and out of mind.

But it needs to be used regularly. And once again, I recommend exercising them at least on a monthly basis.

Which means that at the very least you should start the engine up and run it for a while. Make sure it’s being lubricated well in the process.

However, if you want to exercise these components properly, you really should do more.

You really need to unhook the motorhome and take it out on the road for a drive. It’s especially good if you can take it on the highway.

Drive your motorhome regularly to keep it working like it should
Drive your motorhome regularly to keep it working like it should

Just run it for a while and get everything working. This will help the transmission, the brakes, the suspension, and pretty much everything.

By doing this on a regular basis, it will keep things in good working shape while you’re stationary. OK, let’s move on to number five on the list.

#5 – What About The RV Park Or Campground?

And that has to do with choosing the RV park where you will be staying for a while. Make sure that you choose it carefully, especially for security.

Unfortunately, a lot of folks don’t think about that when choosing an RV park or campground. Many just think about choosing by price alone.

Don't forget about security when choosing an RV park or campground
Don’t forget about security when choosing an RV park or campground

But then they move into the park they have chosen and find out that there’s problems in that park.

However, now they’re kind of committed in many cases. So before you do that, read the online reviews for that park or campground.

Read them very carefully. And if you start to read about security issues, maybe it’s better to choose someplace else.

Or you could also ask around in the area and get some suggestions from people that are local.

Because that often gives you a lot of good information you need to know before you choose your park or campground.

#6 – How To Keep Your Camping Costs Low

OK, moving on to number six on the list. And that is, if you’re going to be in a park, try to get the lowest rates possible for your stay there.

And that means that you don’t want to be paying daily rates for an extended stay. Even weekly rates can be too much.

So look for annual, quarterly or semiannual rates instead. That way you can get the cost of your stay as low as possible.

Long-term rates are best for stationary RV living
Long-term rates are best for stationary RV living

But here’s something to keep in mind about longer term rates at most RV parks.

And that is, you may find that they don’t include the cost of electricity in those rates. Instead, you will be billed for that separately.

So try to find out what the electric cost for an RV tends to be on average before you commit.

And that way, you can budget the cost of the campsite for the entire time of your stationary stay.

#7 – How To Increase Your RV Living Area

OK, now moving along to number seven on the list. And that is, it’s good to have an outdoors area for extra living space and comfort.

Once again, that gets back to living space being an issue in an RV for long-term stays. In fact, over time it can get very tight for some people.

So it’s nice to have a little outdoor area where you can go out and enjoy the outside. And do so in comfort too.

So here’s a recommendation if you’re going to be in the area for a while. Or in one campsite spot for a while.

And that is, you might choose to set up a pergola or a gazebo on your campsite.

Because they are great for having a really nice enjoyable area outside and have shade at the same time.

Having a comfortable outside area makes staying in an RV more enjoyable
Having a comfortable outside area makes staying in an RV more enjoyable

Of course, if you’re not going to be there for a permanent stay, then maybe a popup canopy would be fine for your needs.

In fact, we’ve done that ourselves. Because they generally don’t weigh an awful lot, or take up a lot of space either.

And you can even store the canopy in the RV and use it as you go from place to place too. So it can be good for all of your RV travels.

Whatever you do though, just consider the idea of setting up a nice little area outside your RV while you’re stationary.

It extends your living area to the outside and let’s you feel more comfortable.

#8 – What Stationary RV Living Does To Your Tires

OK, that brings us to number eight on the list. And that has to do with your tires.

Because if you’re sitting in one spot for a while. it’s so easy for tires to get pounded by the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

If so, they’re going to dry out and crack very quickly and easily while you’re just sitting. And that makes them age very fast.

So if your RV is stationary, make sure that you have the tires covered and protected. And that will be a great way to make them last longer.

Get tire covers for your RV tires when you are staying in one place for a while
Get tire covers for your RV tires when you are staying in one place for a while

#9 – What About Extreme Weather?

Now moving on to number nine on the list. And that has to do with weather considerations.

So, what if you’re going to be in an area where extreme weather could happen before you leave?

Then get prepared for that in advance. For instance, what if you’re going to be in a more northern area where colder weather is going to come?

If very low temperatures will start to happen before you leave, get ready for it. And to do that, you may want to skirt the bottom of your RV.

That really increases the ability of the RV to maintain warmer temperatures inside. And it helps protect your RV plumbing as well.

Also, you probably want to increase the insulation in your RV too. By maybe covering the windows with an insulated material.

Also, stuffing some soft material up into the roof vents to provide better insulation is a good idea.

Insulate your RV well when to prepare for extreme weather
Insulate your RV well when to prepare for extreme weather

Of course, if you’re staying in the south for a while, the opposite kind of weather could happen.

How To Get Your RV Ready For Hot Temperature Extremes

And this is often what snowbirds do. As they often are going to be in areas like maybe Texas or Arizona.

These are areas where you could be facing 100ยฐ or more for a prolonged period of time.

So once again, try to insulate as much as you can to stay comfortable in that kind of weather.

And here’s another consideration for really hot temperatures in the southwest. It has to do with your air conditioning units.

Because they may not be able to keep up in that kind of an environment. So what can you do if that is the situation?

Well, you actually might want to think about installing a mini-split in your RV.

Especially if you’re going to be staying in one spot for a prolonged period in high heat.

These days, mini-split air conditioners seem to be catching on pretty well. Even in the RVing community.

Mini-split air conditioners are becoming popular in the RVing community
Mini-split air conditioners are becoming popular in the RVing community

And a lot of people are using them in extremely hot temperatures. Because they help make up for the deficiencies of RV air conditioners.

#10 – Your Internet Options While You’re Stationary

OK, let’s move along to number 10 on the list. And that is your internet needs while you are stationary in one spot.

Now, when you’re traveling around, you probably have a mobile internet solution already. One that helps you stay up with your internet needs.

But when you’re in one spot, you may find that it’s actually cheaper and faster to just connect up to a local cable company instead.

Local internet solutions can be much better for long-term stays
Local internet solutions can be much better for stationary RV living

Especially when you are going to be in one area for several months. So give that some thought as well.

Conclusion

OK, those are my 10 tips for stationary RV living. And clearly, being in one spot for a while in an RV can have its challenges.

But it can also have its rewards too. Especially if you think ahead and prepare well.

And hopefully the tips I’ve shared with you in this article will help make your RV stays in one place more enjoyable and more successful.

Have safe and happy RV travels!

RV Buying – The Top 5 Mistakes To Avoid

This article is about RV buying and the top 5 mistakes that many RV consumers make.

Of course, there have been lots of new RVers that have bought RVs in the past few years.

And many of them have made some very bad choices when they bought an RV. Either on the new or the used RV market.

And what this resulted in was their getting RVs that were problematic and troublesome.

So therefore, they clearly were not happy with the results of their buying experience.

There are many unhappy RV buyers these days
There are many unhappy RV buyers these days

And so let’s discuss five big mistakes that many people make that need to be avoided. That way you can be sure that the RV you get is a good one!

Watch my video about RV buying and the biggest mistakes RV buyers make

Table of Contents

RV Buying – The First Big Mistake

OK, let’s start with the first one on the list. And that is, many people don’t learn much about RVs themselves before actually buying one.

Instead, they often fall in love with the RV lifestyle first. Because this is constantly promoted by RV manufacturers and online content creators.

Many buyers are just focused on the fun of RVing that is promoted by the RV industry
Many buyers are just focused on the fun of RVing that is promoted by the RV industry

Many of them are just pushing the travel part of RVing. And the adventure of it all, the freedom, and so on.

So these buyers fall in love with that whole idea that’s being promoted by the RV industry.

But they don’t really pay very much attention to the RV itself. And that’s what is going to allow them to enjoy the lifestyle!

So before you actually buy any RV, you need to learn about the pros and the cons of different kinds of RVs.

Because there is not a single RV made that fits everybody’s needs out there.

What You Need To Learn Before Buying An RV

So you need to learn about the different categories of RVs first. Then you can determine what’s going to fit your needs best.

Learn about which kind of RV will fit you best
Learn about which kind of RV will fit you best

Now another thing that needs to be learned about is what brands are known for producing better quality RVs than their competition.

And when you know that, you can put the odds on your side that you’re going to get a good RV.

So I have created several guidebooks that can help you know which brands are best to buy. Just click here to view them.

Also try to not only watch videos and content about RV adventures and travel.

But also try to include content about maintaining RVs. This will be very important for you to know when you are an RV owner!

Try to watch online content that includes information on how to maintain any RV that you buy
Try to watch online content that includes information on how to maintain any RV that you buy

And being able to spot trouble in major costly components in an RV is valuable knowledge to have. Especially when buying an RV.

That way when you’re shopping for RVs, you can spot a problem RV much better. And then you can eliminate it right away.

Big Mistake #2 In RV Buying

OK, now let’s move on to our second big mistake that a lot of RV buyers make.

And that is, they base their whole buying decision on superficial things about the RV.

In other words, some people just buy an RV based entirely on the price alone. They just want to get the least expensive RV that they can get.

And it doesn’t really seem to matter whether the RV is well-built or not.

When RV buying, don't be solely focused on price alone
When RV buying, don’t be solely focused on price alone

Other buyers are just looking for the right color. Or they’re looking for the right floor plan, or layout of the RV.

Now let me be clear that these are good things to consider when you buy an RV. You don’t want to ignore those things.

But they should not be the sole reason why you buy an RV. Because that’s more or less superficial reasoning that can get you in trouble later on.

Believe me, the frustration you’re going to feel with a poor quality RV after you’ve bought it is not going to be worth it.

It will override all the appearance, price, and any other reasons why you made the purchase.

And you’ll be very unhappy! Even if it does have the floor plan you want at the price you wanted to pay. So don’t buy solely on superficial reasons!

Mistake #3 – Who Do You Trust?

OK, let’s move on to the third mistake many buyers make in RV buying.

And that is, they put too much trust in what the dealer or the salesperson is telling them about the RV they are thinking about buying.

Now let me emphasize this. RV dealers know how to get sales quickly, because they have a process that they like to put people through.

And the bigger the dealer, the more often you’re likely to see these sales processes.

Unfortunately, many of their tactics are taken directly from car dealers.

Many RV dealers use tactics that employ lots of sales pressure
Many RV dealers use tactics that employ lots of sales pressure

And we all know how most people feel about those kinds of sales tactics, right?

So these RV dealers know how to get you to buy quickly, on emotion.

Remember that we talked about this in mistake number one. That many RV buyers do not really know much about the RVs they are shopping.

As a result, a lot of people just rely on the salesperson they’re working with. They ask them questions and accept what they say as good advice.

The Truth About RV Salespersons!

But here’s the truth about RV salespeople! It’s true that many of them are very good and very knowledgeable about what they are selling.

But there’s a lot of RV salespeople that are just salespersons. And they actually probably don’t know much more about the RV than you do.

Don't rely too heavily on your RV salesperson
RV buying advice – don’t rely too heavily on your RV salesperson

So don’t rely too heavily on their advice! Instead, you need to know what you’re looking for in an RV before you start shopping.

Once again, that gets back to point number one. That you need to learn as much as you can before starting the RV shopping experience.

So you should know what category of RV will fit you best. And know the brands you’re looking for and the price that you want to pay for it.

By doing that, you are in charge of the sales process, not the RV dealer or seller!

Here’s A Big Mistake! – #4

Now let’s go to point number four on the mistakes list, and this is a big one!

And that is that many RV buyers don’t make use of a certified RV inspector in the buying process.

So let’s think about that for a while. What if you’re going to buy a home to live in?

Well, almost all of them are built according to certain building codes. Or according to regulations that are set by the municipality in that area.

Homes are usually inspected all along the way to be sure they are up to code
Homes are usually inspected all along the way to be sure they are up to code

Now the municipality doesn’t take the builder’s word that he built it right. Or according to the proper code. That would be foolish, right?

Instead, they send out inspectors to make sure that it’s built properly. And they often do this in each stage of the building process.

Also, many prospective home buyers get a home inspection before buying a house. Why?

Most home buyers use a home inspector for peace of mind
Most home buyers use a home inspector for peace of mind

Because they want to know that the home they are looking at is in good shape.

That they’re not buying something with expensive problems that’s going to take a lot of money to fix.

With that in mind, please understand that an RV is a rolling home too.

And as it goes down the highway, shaking as it goes, many things come loose. And they will need constant attention because of this.

Also an RV is in many cases more complicated and involved than a stationary house. Because of all the special systems in modern RVs.

So why in the world would you not get an RV inspection before buying an RV?

Because if you do, you’ll certainly know a lot more about that RV when the inspection is done.

RV Buying Mistake #5

OK, let’s move on to mistake number five on my list. And it’s closely related to this last one we just talked about.

That is that a lot of buyers don’t get RV problems fixed before they take delivery of the RV. So what happens then?

Well, suppose you take that RV home and the dealer already has his money for the sale.

Unfortunately, at that point it’s all up to you to get any problems taken care of. You are pretty much on your own when paying for RV repairs.

And the priority for getting these issues fixed has decreased in the seller’s mind. Because they already have their money from the sale of the RV.

So you go to the back of the RV repair line at the dealership or repair facility.

And it could take many months before you get all the RV’s problems worked out.

In the meantime, it’s going to be very frustrating and irritating. And you may have very limited use of your RV for camping and travel.

So how can you avoid this all-too-common scenario? Once again, you can be in the driver’s seat if you have the RV inspected before buying it.

Because if you chose an NRVIA certified RV inspector, they gave you something very valuable.

Hire a certified NRVIA inspector

You will have a list of all the things that need attention on that RV. All the problems that must be fixed to get it into fully workable shape.

How To Get All Of The RV’s Problems Fixed Quickly

So now, all you have to do is give that list to the RV dealer or seller. And tell them you want these things fixed before you take delivery of the RV.

So what happens then? Instead of going to the very back of the repair line, the dealer is now most likely going to put you right up front.

Why? Because they want the money from the RV sale. And they want that RV off their lot.

Because most dealers finance their inventory. And they don’t want to have to keep paying interest on the RV while it’s unsold.

So because they want the sale money, they’re going to start fixing things very quickly. And this happens very often in the RV buying process.

Then when all the problems have been fixed to your satisfaction, you can complete the deal. And as a result, you’ll have a good RV right away!

OK, these are the top five mistakes of RV buying that I see people making all the time.

Conclusion

Clearly then, there doesn’t have to be a lot of complaints online about RVs like there are now.

Of course, RV manufacturers need to improve their quality standards. And RV dealers also bear a responsibility for the shape of the RV industry now.

But you can still buy a good RV in spite of those challenges. If you know the mistakes you need to avoid, and how you should buy an RV.

So if you follow the advice I’ve provided for RV buying in this article, you can have an RV you’ll be happy with for many years to come.

Have safe and happy RV travels!

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