Category: RV Living

This article is all about whether an Airstream RV is really worth it. In other words, is the price you typically pay for an Airstream travel trailer justified?

You know, Airstream has been in business for almost 90 years now. What an incredible achievement that is in this day and age!

And unlike most RVs they’ve hardly changed the appearance of their product during all of that time either. And it’s a very unique look.

Now you see lots of Airstreams on the road today. And in fact, they’re probably more popular now than they have even been in the past.

But that still leads us back to our original question. And that is, “is Airstream worth the money you pay for them”?

Table of Contents

• Airstream RV Pro #1
• Airstream Travel Trailer Pro #2
• Airstream RV #3
• Airstream Pro #4
• Airstream Travel Trailer Pro #5
• Final Airstream Pro
• Airstream RV Con #1
• Con #2 For Airstream Travel Trailers
• Airstream Con #3
• Airstream RV Con #4
• Con #5 For Airstreams
• Final Airstream Con
• Is Buying An Airstream RV Worth It?
• Conclusion

Airstream RV Pro #1

Well, let’s cover the pros and the cons of buying an Airstream first. And the number one pro to start with is the quality workmanship and materials.

For instance, Airstream uses a steel frame with an aluminum shell that’s riveted onto it.

Now does that remind you of anything? Well it should. Because in the World War II era, that’s how they built airplanes for the war.

Yes, they made them very light and very strong as a result of using those materials.

So Airstream has chosen to use that method of construction for their travel trailers now. And does it work?

Well generally speaking, I would say yes. That’s because Airstream says that almost 70 percent of all the Airstreams ever made are still in use today!

Airstream Travel Trailer Pro #2

And that brings us to our second pro to consider. And that is that they just last longer than most other travel trailers.

In fact, there are some Airstream travel trailers from the 1930s when the company first began, that are still in use today.

Now how many travel trailer manufacturers do you know of today that can say that?

Yes, how many are projecting that in 90 years their products are still going to be happily traveling down the highway? The answer is, not many!

Airstream RV #3

And that brings us to our next pro. Which is, there’s extremely high customer satisfaction with the Airstream products they buy.

And also with the company itself. There are plenty of online reviews about Airstreams that indicate overall satisfaction with their RV.

Now of course, they do mention certain things that they’d like to see done better. And that’s to be expected.

But when they’re asked if they’re pleased with the product and the service they’ve received, they overwhelmingly say “yes”.

And that really is something that most RV manufacturers should aspire to, but many don’t duplicate.

So there’s an incredibly high customer satisfaction with Airstream RVs.

Airstream Pro #4

Next on the list of Airstream pros is that they’re very aerodynamic going down the road. And they have a low profile. Now what does that mean?

Well good aerodynamics means great fuel mileage for those that are towing Airstream travel trailers. And that’s a big pro due to the fuel savings at the pump.

Airstream Travel Trailer Pro #5

Then the next pro is incredibly high resale values for many Airstream RVs.

It’s really amazing how often you read about people that own Airstreams talking about their resale value.

In fact, many tell their story of how they bought their Airstream years ago, maybe decades ago.

And then they turned around and sold it for more than they originally bought it for.

Of course, that doesn’t always happen. But it is an established fact that Airstream travel trailers have an incredibly high resale value.

And that’s a big pro for those who don’t like to see their RV’s value decline swiftly.

Final Airstream Pro

Now here’s the final pro we’re going to talk about in this article. And that is that there is a unique tight-knit and social community of Airstream owners.

So if you want to be part of a community. And if you want to feel like you’re in with a group that provides a lot of help and support.

Then you can enjoy all of that and regular social activities when you get an Airstream.

And that’s because there’s a real collection of communities that work together among Airstream owners.

OK now, that brings us to the cons of Airstream RVs. Because nothing is perfect, right?

Airstream RV Con #1

So the number one con without question is the high cost of Airstream travel trailers.

And remember we’re trying to answer the question “is Airstream worth the money”?

Well they are far more expensive than most travel trailers you find on the market.

Especially Airstreams where you normally have two people living fairly comfortably in them.

Well then, you’re starting in the $80,000 to $90,000 range, and it goes up from there.

In fact, it’s really not uncommon to spend $150,000 for an Airstream travel trailer these days. And that’s way more than most other travel trailer brands.

So the cost of Airstreams can be considered a con. Because not a lot of people can afford that kind of money for a travel trailer.

Con #2 For Airstream Travel Trailers

Now, number two on the con list is that Airstreams do not come with slide-out rooms.

Of course, there was a time that Airstream actually built some that had slides in them.

But they stopped that. And they haven’t made RVs with slides for a while now.

So what does that mean? Well, it means less living area than you’re going to find in most other travel trailers.

In fact, if you’re going to buy an Airstream, expect to be living in less than 200 square feet.

And that kind of small living space is a con for many buyers.

Airstream Con #3

Now the third con we’re going to talk about here is that beautiful aluminum skin.

Of course, it’s very unique and it looks so nice. But as many Airstream owners will tell you, it’s easily damaged.

In fact, it can be very easily scratched and dented too. And if you want to fix that, it’s not going to be cheap.

So the outer shell can be very expensive to repair. And that could be considered a con for many buyers.

Airstream RV Con #4

Now the next con is there’s very limited outside storage space in most Airstreams.

You know how most travel trailers have that little storage area up front on the bottom? Well not Airstream.

Instead, they generally only have one storage space. And it’s most often in the back of the RV, and it fills up very fast.

So keep that in mind if you’re considering an Airstream travel trailer. You will need some other way to carry many items for storage along with you.

Con #5 For Airstreams

Now the next con for Airstream RVs is that the kitchens are usually very small.

So if you like to cook a lot, and you like to have plenty of space to work in, Airstream is not going to be a great choice for that.

And that’s because there’s super limited counter space in most Airstreams.

Also, the refrigerator is often very small too. So this is another area where there’s going to be a lot of adjustment for most people in an Airstream kitchen.

Final Airstream Con

Now the final con we’re going to cover here is the Airstream’s low ground clearance.

Remember how I mentioned that Airstreams are aerodynamic and low profile?

Well, to achieve that, they sort of sit down fairly low to the ground. And what that means is if you want to take them off-road, you better be careful.

Because they do sit very low to the ground. So many owners who use them that way often install lift kits, and then they’re fine for boondocking.

Well, those are the pros and the cons of buying an Airstream RV.

Now that doesn’t mean we have covered all the Airstream pros. And it doesn’t mean we covered all of the cons either.

But these are the ones that I felt might impact most RV buyers the most.

Is Buying An Airstream RV Worth It?

So we get back to the question then, “Is Airstream worth the money you spend for them”?

And my answer is this it depends on what you want from a travel trailer. And what kind of RVer you tend to be.

Suppose you’re a weekend RVer or you just like to vacation in an RV every now and then.

Well, the cost of RVing trips is really going to be high for you if you buy an Airstream in that case.

And it’s kind of hard to financially justify that unless you have plenty of available cash to spend.

But for most people, it’s just going to be too much money to spend for each RV trip.

Especially if they’re not going to be using their RV on a really regular basis.

However, that changes if you are a part-time RVer, a snowbird, or a full-time RVer instead.

In that case, an Airstream’s quality construction can really be important to consider. It’s going to make that travel trailer last so much longer than, and better than, most others on the market.

And that’s a huge attractive point in favor of buying an Airstream RV.

In fact, that point alone can really make Airstreams worth the money that you spend on them.

Conclusion

But let me say this. If you’re going to buy an Airstream, whether it’s new or used, let me remind you to get it inspected before you buy it.

Yes, even quality manufacturers like Airstream are still having some quality control issues these days.

So a certified RV inspector can help you find those problems. And you can get them fixed before you take delivery of the RV.

Then you’ll have the Airstream that you want from the very first day of ownership.

So my final thought is this. If you decide to buy an Airstream, you can be sure that it really is a quality product.

In fact, it may even last you a lifetime of your RV travels and adventures.

Have safe and happy travels my friends!

In this article, I’m going to discuss the Class B Plus RV. And how they compare to other types of RVs.

You know, some people say that the B Plus RV is the perfect RV. But is that true?

Well, we’ll see about that. But first, let’s identify what a Class B Plus RV really is.

Table of Contents

• What Is A Class B Plus RV?
• What Makes An RV A Class B?
• What Makes An RV A Class C?
• Comparing B vs B Plus
• Comparing C vs B Plus
• B Plus Pros vs Class B Vans
• B Plus Cons vs Class B Vans
• B Plus Pros vs Class C RVs
• B Plus Cons vs Class C RVs
• Conclusion

What Is A Class B Plus RV?

And you know the truth is that it’s kind of hard to say for sure what a B Plus RV is.

That’s because it’s more or less just a marketing term. One that tries to explain an RV category that’s a little bit different from other types of RVs.

And there’s lots of conflicting opinions out there about what identifies a B Plus RV too.

In fact, there is only one thing that everybody seems to agree on.

And that is that it is an RV that falls somewhere between the Class B and Class C categories.

So what hapens when you have the term “Class B” already used as a category? And you have “Class C” already taken up too?

Well, there just aren’t any letters in between to use. So they call this in-between category the “B Plus”.

And I suppose that’s better than calling it a “C Minus”, right?

Well, let me explain my personal opinion about the definition of a B Plus RV.

Listen to my podcast about Class B Plus RVs here

What Makes An RV A Class B?

And to do that, let’s start with what a Class B RV is. Now it’s pretty easy to categorize them because they are hard-sided vans.

In fact, they look just like almost any other passenger van that you’re going to see out there.

Except that there’s going to be things on the outside that identifies it as an RV.

And because the walls are hard-sided, then their width and length is pretty well set.

Also, you don’t usually find slides in a Class B RV either.

But now let’s talk about a Class C RV, and what identifies that category as well.

What Makes An RV A Class C?

First of all, it’s usually built on a heavy duty commercial chassis. Very often a chassis like the Ford E350 and E450 chassis.

And that means they can handle a lot more weight. So Class Cs are typically bigger and longer than Class B RVs.

They also are very easily recognized by the overhead sleeping area above the chassis cab.

And it’s very common to see them with 1 – 3 slides in the floorplan too.

Comparing B vs B Plus

So what is the Class B Plus RV category then? Well in my opinion, a Class B Plus is built on a van chassis, but it’s not a hard sided van.

Instead, the RV manufacturer buys the van cab and frame and then builds the RV on top of it.

So it can be wider than a Class B RV. That’s because the manufacturer is not restricted by the hard sidewalls of a van.

And they sometimes extend the length of the RV as well. In addition, they very often put slideout rooms in the B Plus too.

Comparing C vs B Plus

But now, let’s compare the B Plus to the Class C RV. And the bottom line is it’s not as big or as heavy duty as the typical Class C.

In fact, a Class B Plus RV generally will usually weigh somewhere around 6 – 11 thousand pounds fully loaded.

But the typical Class C starts somewhere around 12 thousand, and can go up to 20 thousand pounds.

So clearly, there’s a huge weight difference between these two kinds of RVs.

Now a lot of people get hung up on whether an RV has a sleeping area that comes out over the cab or not.

And they feel that having a cab-over is what always identifies a Class C RV.

But I don’t subscribe to that viewpoint. Because I don’t think something like that should identify a whole type or category of RVs.

In my opinion, it’s the size and the weight that makes the real difference between the Class B, Class B Plus, and Class C categories.

At least, that’s the definition that makes the most sense to me anyway.

Now of course, because it’s just my opinion on the subject, if you disagree with it, that’s fine.

Because there’s honestly no universally accepted and clear-cut definition to go with anyhow.

But what I have explained here seems to make the most sense to me at this point.

So now let’s start talking about the pros and cons of a Class B Plus. Especially as to how they compare to a Class B or a Class C RV.

First of all, let’s start with the pros of a Class B Plus over a Class B RV.

B Plus Pros vs Class B Vans

And the first pro is that there’s going to be more room in the Class B Plus RV.

That’s because the manufacturer can put their own RV “house” on the van chassis.

So that means it can be wider and even longer than the typical Class B RV.

But here’s a really good point for all of you tall folks. If you’ve ever been in a Class B van, you probably know how difficult headroom is for taller people.

Yes, generally you’re going to be stooping over as you’re going down the middle of the van.

Well in a B Plus, that’s pretty much usually solved as the RV builder can create more headroom in the “house” part of the RV.

Also, there’s typically more cargo storage in a B Plus too. Not a lot more, but definitely more than the usual Class B van.

And generally speaking, they often put more amenities in a B Plus RV as well. That’s because they have more room to work with.

You also get larger storage tanks, like your fresh water and waste water tanks. Once again, they’re not huge tanks. But better than you get in a Class B van.

But here’s the big difference. Here’s the thing that everybody loves about the B Plus RV.

And that is that you get a full bathroom in the B Plus. For many that’s huge!

Because if you’ve been in a Class B van, there is often nothing more than a wet bath in there.

Which means that the shower, toilet and sink are all in one small, cramped area.

So it’s really nice to have a full bathroom in the B Plus instead.

B Plus Cons vs Class B Vans

Now what are the cons when you compare the B Plus to the Class B?

Well there’s often a little bit lower fuel mileage. It’s not a lot lower, but it is a bigger and more heavy type of vehicle. So there’s a little lower fuel mileage.

Also, it’s not as easy to drive and park as a Class B RV tends to be. What I mean is a Class B RV can go almost anywhere.

And you can park it in almost any parking space. In fact, you can even stealth camp on a street in a Class B van. And almost nobody will know that you’re in an RV.

B Plus Pros vs Class C RVs

But now let’s talk about the pros of the B Plus over the Class C RV.

And for many, it’s the size of the RV. That’s because it’s smaller and more nimble. It’s easier to get around in than the Class C RV.

And that means it’s going to be easier to park and also easier to drive.

Also, you’re going to usually get better fuel mileage in the B Plus than you do in a Class C that is carrying a lot more weight.

And here’s a big pro to consider. You don’t have to take a towed vehicle with you on your travels for an around-town vehicle.

That’s because the Class B Plus RV is smaller and more nimble than a Class C.

So you can fit into a lot of parking spaces when you go downtown or shopping with it. And you can move around in traffic easily with it too.

So that means that a towed vehicle is not totally necessary with a Class B Plus RV. Although some do still tow another vehicle anyway.

And if you can get by without having a towed vehicle along, you can save on the cost, insurance, and repairs that another vehicle brings.

B Plus Cons vs Class C RVs

Now what are the cons of the B Plus when you compare it to a Class C RV?

Well number one, it doesn’t sleep as many people. And that’s because it’s not as big as the typical Class C RV.

Class Cs are really made mainly for RVing families. And so very often you can sleep 8 to 10 people in a Class C RV.

Well Class B Plus RVs usually are really only designed for two to four people at the most.

And that means that there is also more living area in the Class C too.

That’s because the Class C is usually bigger than the B Plus RV. And built on a bigger and more heavy-duty frame.

But you’re also going to have another step up in storage from the B Plus to the Class C too. That again is due to the heavier weight that Class Cs can carry.

And actually, in many cases you’re going to be able to buy a Class C RV for less money than you spend on a Class B Plus too.

In fact, the B Plus and the Class B van are some of the most expensive RVs per square foot that you can buy.

So that’s something that certainly comes into play for many people too.

Conclusion

All right now, having covered all these pros and cons, can we say that the B Plus is the perfect RV?

Well my friends, there is no such thing as the perfect RV that fits everybody. It just doesn’t exist.

However, it can be the best RV choice for you and your needs. And that’s something that you need to try to determine.

But I will say this about Class B Plus RVs. It can be a great choice for couples that like to travel a lot. And couples that get along well together.

And that’s a really important consideration. Because when you’re in a space that small, you had better be able to get along really well with the other person with you.

Also, if you don’t want the large footprint of a Class C or a Class A RV, then a B Plus may fit your needs really well.

Or maybe you like to do a lot of boondocking. Maybe you like to get into national parks and their smaller campsites easily.

Or maybe you don’t want to take a towed vehicle with you on your travels.

Well then, a Class B Plus RV is going to fit those needs very well.

So I hope you understand Class B Plus RVs a little bit better after reading this article.

And hopefully now you can decide whether it really is the perfect RV for the way that you like to travel and camp or not.

Have safe and happy travels!

This article is about used Class C motorhomes. Should you buy one or not?

Well, if you’re not really sure about what a Class C RV really is, here’s a picture of one.

And one of the best ways to know if it’s a Class C is to look right up front there above the cab.

Do you see that area that comes out over the cab? That’s usually an identifying characteristic of a Class C RV.

And that’s because that area is often used for expanding sleeping arrangements in a Class C motorhome.

So now that we know what a Class C looks like, the next question is who should be buying a used Class C motorhome?

Well actually there’s a lot of different kinds of RVers that use them. In fact, some people even travel fulltime around the country in them.

But generally speaking, they’re most often used for part-time RVing. Also by snowbirds or weekenders, and vacation RVers. Especially those that have families.

Now let’s talk a little bit about the pros and the cons of buying a used Class C motorhome.

Table of Contents

• The Pros Of Used Class C Motorhomes
• More Advantages Of Class C RVs
• The Cons Of Class C Motorhomes
• Should You Buy A New Class C Motorhome?
• Should You Buy A Used Class C Motorhome?
• Buying Used Class C Motorhomes The Right Way
• Protect Yourself In The RV Buying Process
• The Final Step For Buying Success
• Conclusion

The Pros Of Used Class C Motorhomes

Let’s start with the pros first. And the number one pro on my list is their low price compared with other new motorhomes.

For instance, compare the cost of a used Class C motorhome with a used Class A RV. You can do that here at RVTrader.com.

And here is what a Class A motorhome looks like:

Now in most cases you’re going to find that the class C will be much less expensive to buy.

So if you’re just getting into RVing and you want a low-cost motorhome, the class C is often going to be a good way to go.

The next pro is that they’re smaller than class A RVs. So they usually fit in most campsites much easier.

And this is good if you like to go to state parks, national parks and national forests.

Because this is where the campsites are often not very big and spacious.

So a Class C could work very well for you if you want plenty of choice for campsites.

More Advantages Of Class C RVs

Another advantage of a Class C motorhome is that they’re easy to repair.

In fact, the engine is right up there, so it’s very easy to access and work on.

This is unlike Class A RVs where the engine is more difficult to access in many cases.

And it’s usually a gas engine, not a diesel. So you have a lot more mechanics available to repair engine problems. And that’s a great thing.

The next pro is that it often will sleep a lot of people. More than most other kinds of motorhomes.

So if you have a family, that’s a great advantage. In fact, many Class C RVs will sleep eight to ten people. And that’s really impressive!

Another pro is that they’re generally much easier to drive. Especially for those that aren’t familiar with RVs and motorhomes at all.

For instance, Class A RVs can take a little more time to get used to driving down the highway.

But if you know how to drive a passenger vehicle or truck, then you’re probably going to be fine with a Class C.

Now there are also a couple of cons about used Class C motorhomes that need to be considered. So let’s talk about them now.

The Cons Of Class C Motorhomes

And the first one is something that a lot of people complain about the most.

That is that they feel like maybe they need more living space than a Class C RV offers.

Remember we talked about the fact that they’re not quite as big as Class A RVs. So some people feel that they prefer the Class A for that reason.

And the second con is that you’re not going to find quite as much storage area in a class C either. Not nearly as much as you do very often in class A RVs.

So there are a few cons that need to be considered. But in general there’s a lot of pros overall for buying a used Class C RV.

Now let’s talk about whether you should buy a new or a used one.

Should You Buy A New Class C Motorhome?

So first up let’s talk about the pros of buying a new one. And number one is that you get a factory warranty with it.

Obviously, that’s great for the first year of your ownership too. In fact, almost anything that goes wrong with your new RV can be taken care of at no cost to you.

And lots of people buy new RVs in general for that reason alone.

Then the next pro is that you’re going to get the latest features in a new RV.

So whatever is the latest and greatest equipment is what you’re going to get in new Class C RVs.

And you usually get the more modern colors and furnishings instead of a dated living area.

Now the next positive is that nobody has owned that RV before you. So there’s been no pets. There’s been no smoking.

Also, nobody’s been living in it before you. And many people feel good about that.

They like the fact that they’re not actually getting something that somebody else has lived in.

Now the final pro about buying new is that you know the history of the RV.

And that’s because you are actually making the history of that RV as you travel and camp in it.

That means that you can maintain and care for it properly from the first day of ownership.

So there’s lots of pros for buying a new Class C RV. But now the pros for buying a used Class C motorhome should be considered as well.

Should You Buy A Used Class C Motorhome?

And number one is the price. You can buy a used Class C motorhome for much less than a new one.

Because when you buy new, you’re going to take the biggest depreciation hit on that RV.

It’s the largest markdown in worth that anybody’s ever going to take from there forward.

Truthfully, in the first year the depreciation of most RVs is just monstrous.

And then after that, yes it goes down from year to year, but not nearly as bad as the hit you take in the first year of ownership.

So you definitely are going to save money on depreciation costs when you buy a used Class C motorhome.

Now the next pro is that the RV’s bugs have most likely been fixed by the previous owner(s) at that point.

And now you’ve got an RV that actually really works like it should.

Finally a real pro to buying used is you’re going to have a lot more models to choose from. And that’s for one simple reason.

When you buy a new RV, you only have one year of models that are available to you.

But when you buy used, you can have several years of RVs to look at instead. And that opens up a lot of options for buying.

Okay so we have gone through several points now. So do you feel that a used Class C motorhome will work for you at this point?

Buying Used Class C Motorhomes The Right Way

Well if you do, then I’ve got a three-step process that I want to share with you.

And this process is very important if you’re going to buy a used Class C motorhome.

Number one if you’re going to buy used, you need to focus on the best used Class C brands.

And this is especially true in class C RVs. That’s because the class C segment of the RV industry just seems to be filled with a lot of brands that have not been making really quality products.

Now it doesn’t mean that they can’t be good RVs eventually if you put a lot of work and care into them.

But they’re often not up to the quality standards of some of their competition.

And this is more true in the class C segment of the RV industry then almost any other type of RV.

So how do you get a good used Class C brand? Well I’ve done my best to try to help out in that area.

First of all, I encourage you to watch a video that I made a while back on the subject of the top three used Class C brands that I can recommend for your consideration as an RV inspector. Just click below to watch it.

Now the brands in that video are a great place to start when you’re looking for quality used Class C motorhomes.

Protect Yourself In The RV Buying Process

But I also took things a step further for you. And I produced a guidebook that actually covers all the used class C brands on my recommended list.

And I highly recommend you consider that as well. Because the guidebook will give you a lot more RV brands and models to choose from.

Now the next point is that you also need to have a buying process for getting the right RV.

So I created a another guidebook on how to buy used RVs the right way.

And this this guidebook is going to show you how to buy a used RV at the right price.

Then make sure that it is the right RV for you personally as well.

And finally, how to spot a quality RV that is even worthy of your consideration in the first place.

In other words, it’s going to show you how to weed out all the used Class C motorhomes that you really don’t need to be spending a lot of time with.

And then you can focus on the ones that are actually worth looking at and considering for purchase.

So these guidebooks will help you know how to get the right RV, and buy it at the right price.

Now suppose you have found the one you want. What do you do then?

The Final Step For Buying Success

Well, now it’s time to call in an NRVIA certified inspector. And have them go through that RV from top to bottom.

That way you can make sure that there aren’t any hidden problems that you can’t see.

Of course, by using my guidebook you’re going to be able to weed out a lot of RVs yourself.

And that’s because you’re going to spot some problems right away that you need to avoid completely in the RVs you look at.

However, even with all of that knowledge, there’s no way that you have the kind of skill and experience that an NRVIA certified inspector is going to have.

And they will be able to find hidden problems that you cannot see on your own.

So take the next step and get that inspection by a qualified professional. And that way you’ll know what you’re buying.

Conclusion

Now by following this three-step process you can buy a used Class C RV that you can trust.

Remember number one is to buy from the best brands. Don’t go messing around with those brands that haven’t been building with quality.

Then number two is learn how to spot a quality RV on your own. One that’s worthy of your purchase.

And then, number three is before you take delivery of that RV, get it inspected.

That way you know there’s no big hidden problems that you’re going to have to deal with later.

Now if you do all those things, let me assure you that buying a used Class C RV or motorhome can be a very smart thing to do.

Have safe and happy travels my friends.