What to Know When Buying Your First RV

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What to know when buying your first RV

 

Buying an RV can be the start of an exciting experience for you and your family.  It can also be daunting if you don’t know what you are looking for.  But, you’re in luck.  We are here to help you to figure out what you want before you even talk to one of our experienced staff!  And from there, we will work to get you the RV that meets your needs!

 

Motorhome vs Towable

First things first.  Establish whether you want to drive the vehicle or whether you want to tow a trailer.  Motorhomes are quite literally homes with motors, while towables need to have a tow vehicle. Each one has a special set of considerations you need to be aware of before making your choice

 

Motorhomes

While a lot of jurisdictions will allow you to operate a motorhome with a regular driver’s license, it is important to note that not all are like this and some may require a special license or specific training to operate.   In addition to that, some Motorhomes are large and you will need to make sure you are comfortable with operating a larger vehicle

 

Towables

Towable RV’s (Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Tent Trailers, etc) require a tow vehicle as the name implies.  It is important to know what your tow vehicle is rated for (how much weight your vehicle can safely tow) and whether the RV you are looking at will also require you to look at purchasing a new tow vehicle.  Additionally, towing a trailer behind you can significantly alter the driving experience, especially in windy conditions, or on hills and winding roads. 

 

Storage

Do you know where you will be keeping your RV while you aren’t exploring the great outdoors and creating memories?  Some considerations for this are the size of the space, if it is covered or open, is it secure, etc.  If you were planning on keeping it on your own property, look into your local by-laws as some jurisdictions will not allow some types and sizes to be left in your driveway.  All of this will go into the size of the RV you will want to be looking at.

 

Amenities

One thing you will notice when you start looking at RVs is the wide range of options available on them.  These will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and brand to brand.  But it is important to know what you will want to get out of your RV so you can make the best choice for what you want.

 

Do you have children that will be camping with you and will they be bringing friends?  Will YOU be bringing other friends and family?  Each RV can sleep varying amounts of people, so it is important to know how many people will be using it and how regularly before purchasing.  Another thing to consider is having bunk beds or other sleeping arrangements (murphy bed, pull out sofa)

 

Will you be bringing an ATV or jet ski with you?  A special class of RV exists called a Toy Hauler that will allow you to bring these items along, stored securely within the RV during travel.

 

If you plan on being outside the RV as much as possible, you will need to consider an outdoor kitchen and/or outdoor entertainment hook-ups to allow you to remain outside while cooking and cleaning or just watching tv or listening to music.  All of this is possible if you know what you want in your RV

 

Affordability

Buying an RV isn’t a small thing, and like anything, it will cost you some money up front, and some down the road.  Ongoing maintenance is also something you need to consider and be aware of. Will you be financing the purchase of an RV, or will you be buying it outright? Another thing to be aware of is insurance and licensing.

 

Conclusion

Buying an RV is a lot like buying a car and a lot buying a house, all in one. There are a lot of different RVs out there, so knowing what you want out of it is important when buying one.  Do you research beforehand so you can have some knowledge of what you want.  Talk to your family and get their ideas of what they’d like in your new RV.  And when you are ready, our sales team at Mobilife RV Centre is here to help you find the best RV to meet your needs! Contact us at rvsales@mobiliferv.ca or by calling 519-653-5788.  We are open by appointment only for the time being. You can also check out our inventory here