How to find the right RV for your family
Searching for the right RV for your family is such a daunting task. There are so many options, too many options. I’m going to show you how I narrowed down the options to find what we needed and you can do. You should ideally know which style, layout, price range, and features you are interested in before you go to buy anything. Salesmen have a way of convincing people that they need stuff that they don’t even want.
Follow these steps to find the Right RV for your family.
Step 1: Do you want to drive it or tow it?
The first step to narrowing down the thousands and thousands of options is to answer this one question. There are pros and cons to both options but really think about what suites your family best.
Step 2: How many people are going to sleep in it?
The next step to narrowing down your search for an RV for your family is to decide how many people will be sleeping in it. Will those people always be there or are you including occasional guests? Consider how often you will be staying in the RV too. Will it be your primary home? Will it be a weekend retreat? Used for vacation a few times a year? It’s a lot easier for you to turn the dinette into a bed a few times a year for a guest or when on vacation than every night.
Step 3: How much privacy do you need?
There are small RVs that are basically one room. The couch turns into a bed or a bed folds out of the front wall. They are much lighter and can be much cheaper. There are options that have a curtain to separate the master bed area from the rest of the RV. There are RV’s that have a thin wall separating the main space from a master bedroom. This could be a better option for parents that would like a little privacy.
If you have a large family and/or plan to live in it fulltime, consider bunk beds and bunkhouse options. The bunk beds provide children with their own space that is always set up and available if they need some alone time. The bunkhouse option provides a separate room for them. If you want the most privacy, a bunkhouse room and master bedroom option might be right for your family.
Step 4: Class A, B, or C
Length and towing capacity are two important factors that you need to keep in mind when deciding on the right option for you. The shorter the rig, the easier it is to travel with. Where are you planning to stay? Are there any length restrictions? How do you feel about parking? Do you plan to tow a car? Do you already have the car or have one in mind? Look at the towing capacity of the RV. Can you logically tow the car in question? How long will your rig be while towing the car?
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Step 4: Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer
Length and towing capacity are two important factors that you need to keep in mind when deciding on the right option for you. The shorter the rig, the easier it is to travel with. Where are you planning to stay? Are there any length restrictions? How do you feel about parking? What is the towing compacity of your vehicle? Are you planning to buy a new vehicle? Research towing capacities before you decide what to buy. You don’t want to tow at the max ratings either. Keep in mind there is a difference between dry weight and loaded weight. A load of water alone is a huge amount of weight change.
Step 5: Slides?
Do you want slides? How many? This is a huge choice too. There are pros and cons to having slides. The floor space they allow you to have is priceless on a rainy day stuck inside with the kids. The additional space helps to make an RV more spacious and makes it feel more like home. If you have a large dog, the slide being out provides them with ample space to stretch out. They are one of the most common things to break on an RV. They add a lot of weight to your rig. The more of them you have, the more that weight adds up. RVs with slides tend to cost a little more. That’s a lot to consider when making this important choice.
Step 6: How Much Do You Want to Spend?
This is a huge factor in buying the perfect RV for your family. Do you plan to buy it from savings? Do you want to finance it? Talk about it and agree on a price before ever stepping foot into an RV dealer.
Step 7: Features
We are well on our way to determining which RV is best for your family. We are getting to the fun parts now. Which features are important to you? Make a list of the things that you would love to have in your future RV. Then review that list to decide which features are most important for your family and which ones that you can easily do without. Are there any features that are deal breakers for you? Any features that you don’t like or think that your family will not use enough to justify any additional cost?
Step 8: New or Used
Do you want to buy something brand new or used? If you buy something used, your money will go much further. If you are willing to go used, how old are you willing to go? There is some discrimination towards RVs older than 10 years old at some RV parks and resorts. This is something that you should look into before buying something if you have a certain RV park in mind to stay at.
Step 9: Are you willing to do any work or update things?
You can save yourself some serious money and customize your RV to your liking by buying something that needs a little fixing up. Be cautious about how much work a potential option might need. Repairs can add up quickly especially if there are major issues like water damage. Be really honest with yourself about the kind of repairs and improvements that you can do. It’s easy to overestimate your skills and get in way over your head. I’m mediocre at such things and I’m very aware of it. I’m decent on the design end of things. My husband is very handy but has no eye for design. We make a good team and could easily redo an RV but alone I wouldn’t make it very far.
Step 10: Layouts and Designs
Start looking at floorplans that fit your main criteria. Take note of things you love and things you don’t. Make note of ones that you like. Pick out some favorites and research the brands and models. Have there been a lot of issues? Are there common problems that you need to watch out for? Has that model been a lemon for people? What’s the average price of ones that you like? You have to know the normal price to know if you are getting a good deal.
Step 11: Window Shopping
Armed with all the new-found knowledge from the first 10 steps, you now must go window shopping. Go to your local RV dealership. Tour any models they have that fit your list. If they don’t have the exact models on your list, look at similar ones to get a feel for the quality of the brand. If you have multiple dealerships in your area, go to as many as you can. The more you look, the more likely you are to find the perfect one. If you can go to an RV show, consider going. It’s a great way to see tons of brands, models, and features in person.
Step 12: Time to Buy
Finally, it’s time to begin your search to buy the RV of your dreams at a fair price. You have all the information you need now to make the best choice. If you are looking at a brand new or newer option, it will be much easier to find what you want. If you are looking for something older or have a tight budget, finding the right RV for your family could take a little more time. As long as you are realistic in your search, you will eventually find what you are looking for.
Congratulations! We hope you enjoy your new RV!
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