What to Consider Before Buying Your RV

What to Consider Before Buying Your RV

Posted on July 10, 2022

Tips For Buying An RV

Last year was a record year for the RV industry, with 600,000 new RVs making their way to the sales lots. That's largely due to growing numbers of families discovering the benefits of enjoying relatively secluded holidays amid recent health concerns.

In light of rising fuel costs, increasing interest rates, and decreasing travel restrictions, forecasters predict that buyers might also see a decline in RV prices. So now's a good time to consider getting on board with the RV lifestyle if increasing prices put you off before.

Read this simple guide on how to buy an RV and get your journey started.

How Do You Plan To Use It?  

An RV represents a highly customizable way to explore the best that Canada has to offer. They come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, with many standard and add-on amenities to ensure a comfortable stay.

With this in mind, it's essential to think about which type of RV holiday you prefer before you head to your local dealer. An RV that's ideal for a city campground with many onsite amenities isn't necessarily adequate for a stay in one of Canada Parks' 10,000 less luxurious campsites.

Likewise, if you plan to take long road trips, you'll need a lot more creature comforts than if you only want to enjoy short weekend breaks with your RV.

How Often Will You Use It?  

Temperatures in Canada vary widely between winter and summer and from region to region. If you plan to travel during the warmer months, make sure you invest in an RV with an effective AC. If you enjoy winter getaways, consider buying an RV with an efficient heating system. Logical, eh?

If you're travelling during the rainy season, it pays to consider an RV with a well-equipped indoor kitchen instead of an outdoor one.

How much time do you have available for RV trips? If you're restricted by work and family responsibilities, bear this in mind when setting up your RV buying budget. It doesn't make sense to fork out a small fortune on something that's going to spend most of the year in storage.

How Many People Will You Be Accommodating?  

The smallest RVs accommodate just one person, while some huge Class A RVs have enough room for twelve people.

You must choose a model with enough beds for every member of your party, as well as interior space to accommodate everyone on rainy days.

Remember, you'll need enough packing space for everyone's clothing, sports equipment, bedding, and toiletries, as well as ample facilities to cook for your entire party.

Some built-in RV amenities like slides and awnings are a good way to boost the available space, while tents are ideal extra bedrooms when they're allowed at campsites.

Where Will You Keep It?  

RV storage is a tricky subject in Canada. Make sure you understand the laws in your province or municipality before you decide where you'll keep your RV when it's not in use.

In most places, you may not park your RV in the street outside your house for more than 72 hours or in your yard for more than 120 days at a time.

It's best to rent a space for your RV at a secure, registered storage facility designed for these vehicles. That way you know it's safe and protected from the elements all year round.

What's Your Tow Vehicle?  

There are two main categories of RVs, namely towable and drivable RVs. If you want to have the use of your vehicle while camping, a towable RV suits you best, unless you don't mind towing or driving a second vehicle to your destination.

You must know your vehicle manufacturer's weight ratings before you decide on an RV. You can usually find this figure on a sticker inside the driver's side door.

RVs manufacturers advertise the gross weight of their creations inside the door frame, too. If your vehicle can't cope with the weight of your first-choice travel trailer, you'll need to either choose a lighter RV or buy a more powerful car.

Tips For Buying An RV  

When you've compiled a basic wish list for your RV investments, you can get on with the good stuff. It's easy to research RVs that match your ideal online and compare prices, but it's always best to work with a reputable dealer when buying an RV.

These are some things you shouldn't miss while shopping around:

Make Sure It's Inspected & Serviced  

Buying a new RV doesn't always guarantee a pristine purchase. You should still inspect the vehicle for mould and damages before you agree to buy it, and insist on a comprehensive warranty to cover you in the event of manufacturer defects.

If you've decided on a second-hand RV, arrange for a qualified person to inspect the vehicle's floor, tires, and roof and make sure you ask to see its service history.

If A Deal Sounds Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is  

Your online research has likely revealed what you can expect to pay for an RV that meets your needs. If you come across one priced way below this figure, rather pass it up.

RVs are in high demand, and there's no reason for sellers to part with their used RV for less than its worth. Beware of deals that seem too good to be true.

Take It For a Test Drive  

You're likely to spend hours behind the wheel of your new RV, or towing it to exciting destinations. Make sure you feel comfortable driving and towing your intended RV.

This exercise will also help you identify any potential problems with the vehicle mechanics or handling capabilities.

Don't Forget the Insurance  

It's vital to take out an RV insurance policy to protect you against costs associated with collision damage. You'll also need uninsured coverage in case you're involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.

Other options to consider are:

• Campsite liability
• Emergency expenses
• Replacement of personal belongings

You can suspend your collision damage cover while your RV is in storage to save some money on these costs.

Should You Buy A Used RV?  

Used RVs come with a range of pros and cons. The fact that the vehicle's been used before is an obvious con from a maintenance perspective, but it also has hidden benefits.

Used RVs often have additional amenities that the previous owners installed to make them more comfortable.

What's more, they don't devalue as fast as new RVs do.

Like motor vehicles, new RVs start to lose value the moment you drive them off the dealer's lot. Used RVs maintain their value as long as they stay in the same condition.

The Takeaway on How to Buy an RV  

Buying an RV is a highly personal decision and an expensive, long-term investment. Be sure to involve the whole family in this exciting journey and enlist the help of a reputable dealer to help streamline the process.

Get started by browsing our excellent selection of RVs and make an appointment with one of our friendly salespeople who will guide you through the process of how to buy an RV that ticks all your boxes.