Category: All RVing Articles

Should You Rent Or Buy An RV? – Find Out Now!

This article is about deciding whether you should rent or buy an RV instead.

Of course, lots of people these days are renting RVs. Maybe from an RV rental company like Cruise America.

Or maybe from private owners through a network like Outdoorsy or RVshare.

So let’s look at the pros and the cons of either renting or owning an RV.

And that way you can make a decision on what you feel makes the most sense for your particular situation.

Watch my video on whether you should rent or buy an RV

Table of Contents

Rent Or Buy An RV – The #1 Pro For Renting

So let’s start with the pros for renting an RV. And a great pro to renting is for newer RVers.

Because renting an RV helps you learn what you like before you actually go out there and spend a lot of money on an RV to buy it.

You can try out different kinds of RVs to see what fits you best. You know, different categories, sizes, floor plans, layouts, etc.

And you’ll learn as you go what seems to be the best kind of RV for your needs.

You’ll also learn about how RVs work. You’ll find out how to set them up and how to take them down when you leave the campsite.

Also, how to travel in them, and so on. And that is valuable knowledge to have!

Rent Or Buy An RV – Storage

Now the next pro for renting is there’s no storage of an RV when it’s not in use. And this is huge for a lot of people.

Yes, we’d all like to have our RV at home so it’s really close by. However, a lot of times HOA laws or zoning laws don’t allow that.

So you may have to use a storage facility instead. And that can be very expensive in some cases.

What About Maintaining Or Repairing An RV?

The next pro for renting an RV is there’s no maintenance costs or effort to keep that RV up.

Buy or rent and RV - RV rental companies do all the maintenance and repairs for you
Buy or rent and RV – RV rental companies do all the maintenance and repairs for you

Because the rental company actually does that for you. So you don’t have any of those costs that come out of your own pocket. And that’s really nice!

OK, the next pro is closely related to that. And that is there’s no repair costs you have to pay for with a rented RV either.

So if something goes wrong, well it’s up to the renter to take care of that. It’s no money out of your pocket.

That means that you don’t have any of those kinds of expenses of normal RV care to have to worry about. And that’s huge!

Rent Or Buy An RV – Cost Of Ownership

Another pro for renting is there’s no monthly payments for the RV. Also, there are no insurance costs either.

Of course, these are expenses that go out of your pocket every month when you own an RV. And many RV owners have those regular costs.

But if you’re renting instead, you avoid those expenses altogether.

Taking An RV On Different Kinds Of Camping Trips

Another pro for renting is that you can choose different kinds of RVs for different kinds of trips.

RVing can involve different kinds of RV trips
RVing can involve different kinds of RV trips

For instance, let’s suppose you just want to go to a local campground for a weekend.

Well, you could just get a travel trailer for that kind of camping trip.

But what if you want to go on a long trip instead? And you really want to see the countryside in comfort as you go?

In that case, maybe a Class A would be best to rent instead. So you can fit the RV to the camping trip and the kind of travel that you are planning.

A Pro For Renting RVs You May Not Have Thought About

Now the last pro I’ll cover here is an interesting one. It has to do with the fact that many people only have a certain amount of time to spend on their vacation each year.

And knowing that, you don’t want to be spending the vast majority of your time traveling somewhere that you want to go.

For instance, maybe to a national park that could be thousands of miles away. Or some other place that you want to see that is far away from you.

Well in that case, you could fly to that area first. And then rent an RV and spend the vast majority of your vacation time actually enjoying that area.

And when you are done, you turn in the rented RV and fly back home.

Many people do this and find that it maximizes their time while on vacation.

OK, now let’s talk about the pros of buying an RV instead of renting one.

The #1 Pro Of Owning An RV

And first of all, it allows you to get what you want in an RV. You can get the type of RV from the RV category that you want. One that fits you best.

So you can get the size and the floor plan that you want. And you will always have an RV that you enjoy when you travel.

Therefore, buying the right RV allows you to make sure you get what fits you best personally.

But when you rent instead, you will often wind up with an RV that is not made for your preferences.

RV Ownership Gives You Freedom To Make Changes

Another pro is that you can modify an RV you own. You can upgrade it in any way you want, because it belongs to you.

And RV owners love to do that, right? We love to make modifications to our RV and make it our own.

Well, that’s something you can do only if you own the RV. A rental company will not allow you to make those kind of changes.

Rent Or Buy An RV – How Is The RV Set Up?

Another pro is that the RV is always set up the way you want for the trips you take.

So it will have the bed that you want. And it will have the towels you want.

Also, the kitchen utensils and appliances that you prefer as well. All of that will be there for you when you own the RV.

But that’s not true in an RV that you’re just renting. Because it will most likely be a different RV each time you rent.

What About Restrictions On The Use Of An RV?

OK, another pro is there’s no restrictions on what you can do if you own your RV.

However, if you rent an RV, they very often are going to put some kind of restrictions on you.

For instance, on how far you can travel. Or certain restrictions about what you can and cannot do with the RV while you are using it.

Now if you own the RV, you set the rules about you can do. In fact, you can do whatever you want with your RV.

And not having any kind of restrictions on RV use is a huge pro for a lot of people.

A Pro For Last Minute RV Campers

Another pro is that it’s always convenient to go camping at the last minute if you want to.

In fact, you can just hop in your RV and take off and go whenever you feel like it.

But if you’re renting, it’s a little bit more of a process. Often it takes a little bit of effort to find the one you want.

And then you have to make the arrangements to get the RV when it’s available.

After that, you have to get everything you need in it and so on. But if you own the RV, the convenience factor is very important.

OK, the last pro that I will cover in this article with owning an RV is you actually can buy an RV and then make money on that RV.

How? By renting it out to others when you aren’t actually using it yourself.

Remember how this article mentioned the sharing networks like Outdoorsy and RVshare?

Well you actually can not only pay for your RV by renting it out on those networks. In many cases some are actually profiting from renting their RV.

Of course, the flip side of that is that when that RV comes back from a trip, you’ve got to clean it up. You have to get it ready for the next trip.

Also, you will be responsible for maintaining it in between rental trips as well.

But if you are willing to do that, you can actually use your RV as an income stream, in some cases.

A Few Extra Points To Consider

OK, those are the pros for both renting and for owning an RV. Now let me remind you of an important point to consider.

And that is the bigger the rig that you choose for RVing, the more money it’s going to cost you. Both as a renter and as an owner.

So keep that in mind. On the other hand, the smaller the RV, the less expensive it tends to be.

Rent Or Buy An RV – Who Should Choose Renting?

Now let’s discuss the subject of when is it best to rent instead of buying an RV?

Well here’s my thoughts on the subject. I think renting works great for newer RVers.

As I said earlier, you can learn as you go and try out all kinds of RVs and see how they fit for you.

And that’s valuable information and knowledge to have when you become an RV buyer. If you ever do.

Now another point is also good for RVers who only go camping every now and then.

You know, maybe you’re not a regular RVer. But you like to go a few times a year, for weekends or vacation.

Well maybe the economics actually work out in your favor to rent instead of buying an RV at that point.

What Kind Of RVer Should Own An RV Instead?

So now who should buy an RV instead of renting it? Well it’s best for those who like to camp a lot.

Rent or own an RV - owning works best for those who camp a lot
Rent or own an RV – owning works best for those who camp a lot

Those who like to get out there with their RV quite a bit. Maybe travel for several weeks or months at a time.

And in that case, it’s definitely going to be better to own the RV instead. Especially economically.

Because paying the rental costs for all of those days can get very expensive.

But owning an RV is also good for those who simply can afford the financial commitment that it’s going to take.

Not only to buy the RV, but to also repair and maintain it. To keep it in good shape.

So buying an RV is good for those that have the time and the money to be able to do that.

Conclusion

But here’s what I recommend. Do the math first. Sit down and run the figures both ways.

That way you can find out what works best for the amount of time that you usually spend RVing.

And you know what? In some cases, the answer may actually surprise you!

Have safe and happy RV travels!

Buying An RV Out Of State – Should You Do It?

This article will be talking about buying an RV out of state. Is it really something you should do?

Well, there’s no question that these days RV buying is super popular. And the best place overall to look for RVs for sale is definitely in your area.

Where you can find RVs locally
Where you can find RVs locally

You can find them at dealers and with private owners. But there are also online links that help you find RVs that are close by too.

And there are a lot of advantages to searching for and buying an RV that way.

Watch my video about buying RVs long distance

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Why Buying An RV Locally Is A Good Idea

Because it allows you as a buyer to personally go and take a look at those RVs. You can go through them and verify the shape their in and so on.

Then you can decide if it’s something that’s good for you or not. But what if you can’t find what you’re looking for locally?

Well, you could always expand your search a little bit farther away from your local area. Maybe to the entire state you live in or the region your in.

Of course, that may require a little bit of extra driving to do that. But it’s still possible for you to personally go and take a look at those RVs for sale.

However, what if you’re looking for a particular brand or model? And what if that RV just can’t be found in your area?

Or what if the ones that are nearby just don’t live up to your expectations? Should you expand your search even further away?

Perhaps look for an RV from a long distance away? Or maybe many states away from you?

Well these days, all of that is very possible with the resources that we have available to us.

How To Find RVs That Are A Long Distance Away

For instance, we have RV Trader and RVT.com that allow you to search for pretty much any RV and model nationwide.

But then there’s also eBay and Facebook groups too. And oftentimes, the folks that post there are posting their RV for sale on a nationwide basis.

Where to look for buying an RV out of state
Where to look for buying an RV out of state

These are all very good sources for national RV sales. And using them you can find pretty much anything that you are looking for.

However, you need to be very careful and very cautious when buying an RV out of state.

Buying An RV Out Of State – Why You Need Caution With Dealers

Because you want to avoid fraud on the one hand. And on the other hand, you don’t want to be disappointed with the RV that you buy either.

Now when you’re working long distance, the least risk you’ll probably encounter is with an RV dealer. One that is not in your area.

But that doesn’t mean that there’s no risk at all with working with them.

It just means that there’s less risk involved. Because they’re a recognized business. And they have a location where they can be found.

In fact, you can even go online and research online reviews for that particular RV dealer.

And that way you can find out how folks that have been their customers in the past have felt that the whole sales experience went with them.

You can also call and talk to them personally over the phone. And you can ask questions about the RV you are interested in.

In fact, you can even ask for them to send you specific photos about the RV.

Maybe ask for photos of areas on the RV that you want to see a little closer. Or get ask for photos with more detail.

And if they comply, that’s an indication that they actually have that RV and it is on their lot.

What If The RV You Want Is A Motorhome?

Now if it’s a motorhome, you can go even further. You can run reports like Carfax produces to find out more information about that RV.

And these reports are very good because they’ll allow you to verify the history of that motorhome.

For instance, you can determine whether there’s a lien on it or not.

You can also learn about the history of accidents for that RV. Or any other major incident in its history.

And another similar source of great information on the history of a motorhome is found at Faxvin.com.

So it’s a good idea to use both of these online resources to get as much information as you can about the RV you’re considering.

Learn about the history of a motorhome with these online resources if you're buying an RV out of state
Learn about the history of a motorhome with these online resources if you’re buying an RV out of state

Of course, all of that information is very good to be able to have. But one word of warning needs to be covered here.

Why You Can’t Fully Trust What An RV Dealer Tells You

And that is, don’t expect an RV dealer to be fully transparent with you.

Remember, they’re a dealer. So they want to sell you that RV anyway that they can.

And that often means that they’re not going to tell you everything you need to know.

Also, they just don’t want you to know about any negative things that could be associated with that RV.

However, we can say this about RV dealers. Usually, they can make the buying process so much easier.

Buying An RV Out Of State – Why A Dealer Can Be A Good Choice

And one reason for that is because they can handle all the paperwork for the sale.

You know, the things that are important. Like taxes, the bill of sale, financing, and things along that line. And that does help a lot!

But RV private owners are a very different story. And here is where it’s going to require a lot more caution on your part.

Why Buying From Private Owners Requires Even More Caution

That’s because you often really don’t know for sure who you’re dealing with in that situation.

And some have represented themselves as the RV owner when that is not the case at all.

So you really must be able to talk to somebody who owns the RV.

And to make sure your talking to the RV owner, ask questions that only an owner would know about their RV.

Once again, ask for photos of specific places on the RV that they can send to you. Why?

Because it helps verify that the RV actually exists. And that they have possession of it.

Once again, you also want to run the Carfax if it happens to be a motorhome as well.

That way you can make sure of the history of that RV before you go any further with it.

A Little Advance Knowledge Is Needed When Buying An RV Out Of State

But now, before you get into dealing with private owners, you need to do some research though.

You need to know all about the state documents that are going to be required for the RV sale.

All the things that state wants you to have for this sale to proceed legally.

And you will need to know about the taxes that will be required as well.

Here’s A Suggestion That Can Be Very Helpful

Now here’s one other suggestion that I’m going to give you here. And that is to consider the use of a third-party escrow service.

And what is an escrow service? Well essentially, they receive the funds from the buyer initially when the sale is made.

But they hold the funds until all of the agreements on the part of both the buyer and the seller has been fulfilled.

So that way it protects both parties in the arrangement. Both the buyer and the seller.

And this kind of service can be very helpful for these long distance RV transactions.

Now you can find escrow services online. Just make a search for them on Google.

But then be careful to follow their directions very carefully to make the sale go well.

What About The Condition Of The RV?

Now let’s talk a little bit about something else. And that is, how do you know what shape the RV is in since you can’t visit it yourself?

Well, you have a couple of options here. Number one is that you can buy a plane ticket and go and take a look at it personally.

And the second option is that you can hire a local RV inspector to thoroughly inspect it for you.

To do that, just go to rvhelp.com to find an inspector that’s nearby the RV.

Hire an NRVIA certified RV inspector to find out what shape an RV is really in
Hire an NRVIA certified RV inspector to find out what shape an RV is really in

When you hire them, they can verify that the RV exists. And they also can verify that it matches the vehicle identification number that you have been given.

In addition, they can also verify the condition of the RV as well which is a huge help.

Now what if the seller refuses an RV inspection like this? Well, my recommendation is to just move on.

Because it means that there’s most likely something not right with this RV.

Especially when they don’t want you to know everything about that RV’s condition.

And that’s information you need since you’re the one who’s paying for the RV inspection.

What If The RV You Found Isn’t A Good One To Buy?

Now what if the RV inspection goes forward and you find out that the RV really isn’t the way it was being represented? What do you do then?

Well in that case, you have really only lost a little bit of time and the cost of the RV inspection.

But isn’t that a lot better than being stuck with an RV money pit? One that you’re probably going to spend thousands of dollars to get in shape?

And you can avoid all the irritation and frustration that would go along with that. For me, the inspection cost is well worth that!

But now, let’s suppose that the RV inspection goes forward and it finds a few things but nothing major. And that means that it meets your criteria.

In that case, you can go right on and complete the sale since it appears to be a good RV to own.

How Can You Get The RV Back To You When Buying An RV Out Of State?

But remember, that with either a dealer or a private owner you are somehow going to need to get that RV back to where you are.

And you could do that by one of two ways. First, you could fly there and transport it back yourself.

Or secondly, you could pay for a transport service to do that for you instead.

So once again, just search online for RV transport services on Google.

And you’ll find that there’s plenty available there that can do that for you.

But remember, you need to include the cost of that transport in your budget for buying an RV.

So do a little bit of advanced research on the transport cost to know how much to budget for it.

Conclusion

Now let’s talk a little bit about what we’ve gone over so far. And first of all, it’s very possible to buy almost any RV that you want these days long distance.

But you need to conduct the search and the purchase very carefully and cautiously.

I also recommend not letting any seller talk you into speeding up the sale.

Perhaps using tactics like “Oh I have somebody on it right now. So you’d better hurry and get this if you want it”.

My advice is not to fall for that. Not from a dealer or from a private owner either.

Instead, take your time and work through the process step by step without being hurried.

And if that particular sale doesn’t work out for you, don’t get shook about that.

Because there’s another great deal coming right along behind that one. There always is.

So here is the good news. Lots of people these days are successfully buying an RV out of state that they are very happy with.

And most likely it could work for you as well.

Have safe and happy RV travels!

The Best RV Batteries For Both The House And Chassis

This article is going to be talking about choosing the best RV batteries for both the house and chassis. And about what will fit your needs best.

And first of all, let’s suppose you have a towable RV like a fifth wheel or a travel trailer.

Then most likely you just have house batteries in your RV. And that’s all you need to focus on.

But if you have a motorhome, very likely you’re going to have both kinds of batteries. You’ll have chassis batteries and house batteries.

Watch my video on the best RV batteries to choose

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Differences Between RV House And Chassis Batteries

So let’s explain the difference right away. House batteries are designed to run all the electrical needs in your RV when you’re not plugged in to shore power.

And they are designed to do that for a good long period of time as well.

But on the other hand, chassis batteries are designed mainly to start the RV engine. And then keep it running down the highway.

So what kind of batteries then do you need for the chassis in a motorhome?

The Best RV Batteries For A Motorhome Chassis

Well, actually they’re very similar to a car or auto battery. But they’re much more powerful.

Because what you need from them is a lot of cold cranking amps to get that engine started. Usually within two to five seconds or so.

And that’s often going to take around 1000 cold cranking amps or even more.

You see, those kinds of batteries have more plates in them. But they’re thinner plates.

So what that means is that you get a lot of power at once. But it doesn’t sustain that power level for a very long period of time.

Replacing RV Chassis Batteries

Now what happens when replacement is needed for your chassis batteries? And they all eventually need replacement.

Then I recommend that you use the batteries you already had in the chassis.

In other words, if the motorhome came from the factory with a battery in it, it’s a pretty good chance you need to go back with that kind of battery.

And very often you can get the information you need for replacement right off the battery itself.

But you also could consult your RV owner’s manual too. Very often they’ll tell you just what you need to get for your motorhome.

Of course, to make it simple, you also could just disconnect the battery. Then take it down to a local auto parts store and show it to them.

And very often they’ll know exactly what you need. And there’s a good chance they will have exactly what you need in stock.

But if they don’t, they can often get their hands on it in short order too.

The Best RV Batteries – Which Chassis Brands To Choose?

Now what about the best brands to choose from when you’re buying an RV chassis battery?

Well, in my case, I have used NAPA batteries quite a bit. And I’ve had very good success with their batteries too.

But I’ve also heard very good things about Interstate batteries in general as well.

Best RV Batteries - which RV chassis battery brands should you choose?
Best RV Batteries – which RV chassis battery brands should you choose?

The Best RV Batteries For The House

OK, now let’s talk about house batteries. And these are much more complicated to choose from.

Because what you choose really depends on what you want to accomplish with them.

Now there’s a lot of different kinds of batteries that could be used as RV house batteries.

But we’re going to talk about three main kinds of house batteries in use today.

Ones that are commonly used to power the RV’s house electrical needs. Especially when you’re not plugged in to shore power.

Now let me say this first. All of these kinds of batteries that I’m going to discuss will do the job.

But they all have pros and cons you need to consider.

RV House Battery Choice #1 – The Pros

So let’s start with the least expensive battery that you can get. And that is the flooded lead acid (FLA) battery.

A typical flooded lead acid RV battery
A typical flooded lead acid type of RV battery

It comes in both 12 volt versions and 6 volt versions. But with the 6 volt batteries, you have to use two of them together to make 12 volts.

And they’re often referred to as golf cart batteries because they are often used for that purpose.

Their plates are thicker, and therefore they often last longer for constant use. And that’s why golf courses love using them.

But first, let’s talk about the pros of FLA batteries. And the first pro is that they are the cheapest battery out there to buy.

So you can find them in a lot of places and you can often buy them at a great price too.

But they’re also rugged. And they can stand up to almost anything and keep on going.

So they’re very reliable and proven technology that’s been used for years and years.

And they’ll last somewhere around 500 discharge cycles on average.

What that means is discharging them all the way down and then charging them up again.

What Are The Cons Of RV Battery Choice #1?

So what are the cons? Well there’s several cons. And one of the big ones is that they are usually very heavy.

So if you have a bank of 2, 3, 4 or more of these, it’s really a lot of weight to put in your RV. And you have be sure your rig can handle that weight.

Now the other thing is that they off-gas a lot. They put off noxious and toxic fumes in the charging and discharging process.

So you can’t just put flooded lead acid (FLA) batteries inside your RV with you in most cases. In fact, it’s dangerous to do that.

And even if you put them in the RV’s outside compartment, make sure that it’s well ventilated.

Another con is that they’re going to need constant maintenance. It’s called “watering the batteries”.

That means that they have to have the water inside replenished regularly as it evaporates.

So that’s a constant thing you have to remind yourself to do if you own FLA batteries.

Another Big Disadvantage Of These Batteries

Also you really only get about half the power potential of the battery in real world use.

So for instance, when you have a rated 100 amp hour battery, actually you can only use about 50 amp hours out of it.

Because if you discharge the battery down below 50 percent, you could do damage to the battery.

And if you consistently do that you will shorten the life of the battery considerably.

So that means therefore that you really only have about half of the battery’s potential. And that’s all you can make use of for your RV.

So you have to often have a bank of several FLA batteries to get the job done.

The Best RV Batteries – The Pros Of Choice #2

OK, let’s move on to our second kind of battery. And that’s an AGM battery, or absorbent glass mat battery.

Absorbent Glass Mat batteries
The Best RV Batteries – Absorbent Glass Mat batteries

Now it’s actually still a type of flooded lead acid (FLA) battery. But there’s no liquid in it.

In this case, what they’re using instead is cell matting material in all of the battery cells. And it works very well for RVing purposes.

So now let’s talk a little bit about the pros and cons of AGM batteries.

And the first pro is that it’s mostly maintenance free and that’s a great feature that a lot of RVers love.

That means no more watering batteries on a regular basis to replace lost fluid. And it’s spill-proof too.

So they can often be installed in more places and not always in upright positions.

Also, there’s less off-gassing of toxic and noxious fumes as well. So clearly we’re moving in the right direction with this kind of RV house battery.

And you sometimes can discharge those batteries a little bit farther too. At least more than most liquid filled flooded lead acid batteries and still be okay.

Also, they’ll usually last longer too. In fact, they last roughly on average about 1000 discharge and charge cycles. Which is pretty good.

The Cons Of Choosing Battery #2

OK, now let’s move on to the cons about AGM batteries. And the big con is they are more expensive than liquid flooded lead acid batteries.

Also, they’re more sensitive to over-charging too. So you have to be very careful with them and make sure you have a quality AGM battery charger.

Now let’s move on to our last type of battery that we’re going to talk about in this article.

The Best RV Batteries – The Pros Of Choice #3

And it’s the LifePO4 lithium battery which is becoming much more popular now for RV use. In fact, we are starting to see them quite a bit.

Many consider the lithium battery to be the best RV batteries overall
Many consider the lithium battery to be the best RV batteries overall

So what are the pros? Well there’s a long list of pros because they really solve a lot of the issues of the first two kinds of batteries we talked about.

First of all, they are much lighter. So you can have a bank of these batteries and not really be adding as much weight to your RV.

Also, there’s essentially no maintenance to them either. And isn’t that nice? You just install them and let them do their job.

Also, there’s no off-gassing involved with RV LifePO4 lithium batteries. And that’s really great!

In fact, many RVers put these batteries right inside the house itself. You know, in a compartment inside the RV.

And that’s just fine because they don’t cause any toxic fumes that can harm people.

More Advantages Of RV Battery Choice #3

Now here’s a big pro. They can be discharged close to 100% of the rated battery power.

So you’re getting practically the full use of the power that’s stored in the battery. That’s a huge weight and space saver for RVers!

And they also charge faster as well. So they tend to bounce back quicker during the charge process.

And here’s a big one. They last a long time. In fact, they usually last between 3000 – 5000 discharge and charge cycles.

That is a very long time and way beyond the capabilities of most FLA batteries.

The Cons Of Choosing Battery #3

So what are the cons then? Well the big one is the cost! And yes, they really do cost quite a bit more than the other batteries I’ve covered.

Now just a few years ago they were pretty much $1000 per battery. But they’ve become a little more affordable at this point.

However, the cost is still more much more than either common flooded lead acid or AGM batteries.

Another con is that there’s a good chance you might need an upgraded charger at the same time that you switch to these batteries.

Because if the RV came from the factory with flooded lead acid batteries in it, very often the charger will not charge lithium batteries like it should.

And lithium RV batteries require a very specific charging process to protect the battery.

So suppose you make a complete switch of a bank of batteries you have in your RV’s house.

Well then, you may be not only replacing the batteries. But you might be replacing the charger as well and that’s an added expense.

More Cons Of Choosing RV Battery #3

Now the last con for lithium batteries is that there can be challenges for charging them in cold weather.

So in most cases you shouldn’t do it below freezing or you could damage the battery.

But of course, you could have them installed inside the RV and keep them warm that way.

And lately more and more of these lithium batteries are being made with internal heating systems. And that resolves much of that issue.

OK, so those are the pros and the cons of both house and chassis RV batteries.

Which Kind Of Battery Should You Choose?

Now let’s talk about who should choose what kind of battery for their RVing needs.

So let’s suppose that you are an RVer that’s usually found in RV parks and campgrounds. And you are most often hooked up to shore power.

Well in that case, you really don’t use your batteries all that much to run the electric components in your RV.

Because your electric needs are mostly being met by the campground power connection.

So common flooded lead acid batteries will work really well for you. And that’s especially true if you’re on a budget.

So what about AGM batteries? Well essentially they work best for the same kind of RVers.

You know, people that are in RV parks and campgrounds most of the time. Especially those that have a little bit more money to spend.

And as a result, they can afford to buy a battery that doesn’t require much maintenance.

Now who’s best for lithium LifePO4 RV batteries? Well those are great for RV boondockers.

For people who spend the majority of their time unplugged from shore power. And especially for those that enjoy a lot of off-road RVing.

Also, for those who have solar installed on their RV since lithium batteries can maximize the use of the sun’s power.

But they’re also a great choice for any RVer who can afford the higher cost of those batteries.

Now one thing needs to be said at this point. And that is the cost is certainly initially more for lithium RV batteries.

But consider the fact that they last much longer than the other kinds of batteries.

So then, the lifetime cost actually equalizes quite a bit between the various battery types.

Conclusion

Well, I hope that what I’ve covered here today in this article will help you choose the best RV batteries for both the RV house and chassis.

Have safe and happy RV travels!

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