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RV Sales Advice: 4 Tips and Hints on Buying an RV

When you're thinking of buying an RV - especially if it's your first time - there's so much to consider it's easy to get overwhelmed. Before jumping into an RV buying adventure, consider the following factors to help focus your efforts by asking yourself these important questions:

  • Are you going to be a weekend traveler?
  • Are you signing on full-time for the RV life?
  • Where do you think you'll be going? And how long will you stay?
  • How many people will be traveling with you?

Thinking clearly about why you want an RV will make it easier to decide which will be the best RV for you to buy. Here are 4 tips and hints to help you make the right choice:

Tip #1 - Research the RV Sales Process: Read before You Ride

Before you actually go to an RV dealer to look at RVs to buy, research the differences between the various models and brands...
  • Want to know the unique features of a Teton or an Allegro?
  • Want to know the differences between the Airstream Safari and Basecamp models?
There's not only a lot of helpful RV articles and information on the Internet on RV sales and buying, but also going to your local library to get some magazines and books about RV-ing is a great way to read about RV buying tips. Not to mention RV clubs, forums and speaking to folks who have experience with the RV purchasing process that can give you ideas you may not have thought of!

Hint: If there's an RV park near where you live or where you're traveling on a non-RV vacation, go and have a look. Talk to the manager about his recommendations, and if you see a model that looks interesting, ask the owner a few questions.


Tip #2 - In RV Sales & RV Buying - Do You Go New or Used?

This is a very important choice to make, and there are pros and cons to either. A new vehicle can be customized with the options and equipment to fit your specific needs and desires. But remember that any extras usually will add to the base price. It's fair to say that with a new RV you know that everything is factory fresh. However, purchasing a gently used vehicle could be the perfect way to test your road legs if you're new to RV-ing. If you're looking at a used RV, make sure to have it thoroughly inspected by a mechanic of your choice. Check out all the features (stove, toilets, water pump, awnings, etc.) to ensure that they're in good working order. Smell inside the cabinets for signs of mildew, and look underneath the carpets as well.

Hint: You can check any used vehicle's history through services like Carfax, which can run a vehicle history report and determine the "paper trail" behind the used RV you're thinking of buying.


Tip #3 - Determining the RV That's Right for YOU: Size Does Matter

With the RV sales assortments and like the drivers who take to the road, RVs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Don't know a Hornet from a Hobbi? Don't worry. Once you've figured out your primary RV needs, you can determine the size and model that will be best for you. There's a built in tradeoff here: a smaller RV will be more fuel efficient and easier to operate on the road, but larger models generally make for more comfortable living. So make a list of the essentials features you absolutely must have in your RV. You also have to decide if you want a towed or self-propelled vehicle. Remember, once a towed RV is unhitched you can drive around in the tow vehicle, while with a self-propelled RV you're limited to the larger vehicle with the option of towing a small car for short distance driving.

Hint: In addition to looking at actual RV models at an RV dealer, take home several RV floor plans, which will give you a visual sense of how the RV is laid out to help you get a feel for how you and your traveling companions will move around inside the vehicle.


Tip #4 - Finding a Trusted, Knowledgeable RV Dealer - Shop Around

Whether you decide to go new or used with your RV purchase, the next step in smart RV sales research is finding a trusted, knowledgeable RV dealer. You can start with researching RV dealers on the Internet. Believe it or not, you can gather a good bit information and RV inventory on a good RV dealer website. An RV dealer that places a showroom of their RV inventory on their website is ideal, such as Sky River RV in Paso Robles, CA. They provide an online RV showroom where you can search by RV model, make, new or used RVs - you then can view images, interiors and are given direct contact information to their RV sales staff.

Hint: When speaking to an RV dealer's sales staff, test their knowledge (bring a long list of detailed questions), get customer referrals from the RV dealer (take the time to speak to those customers) and especially get a feel for the RV sales staff's understanding of the RV purchasing experience for you, the RV buyer!


About the Author:

John Noble is the Marketing Consultant for Sky River RV Inc - a California-based RV sales and service RV dealer featuring Teton, Allegro, Itasca, and Airstream RV, motor home and travel trailer units. For 100% customer satisfaction and personal customer care in new and used RV sales, RV service/repair and RV parts that has placed Sky River RV 'a cut above the rest' of RV dealers in California's RV sales, go to http://www.skyriverrv.com/rv-sales.htm