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The choice between shopping for a brand new vs used RV is a major determination to make. It’s a subject that always stirs vigorous debate inside the RV group. On this article, we delve into the main points of this decision-making course of, sharing insights from our private RV shopping for experiences, highlighting the professionals and cons of shopping for new vs used RVs.

Shopping for a New vs Used RV

Whether or not it’s the attract of an RV producer’s guarantee and a contemporary, untraveled automobile, or the associated fee financial savings and potential for a well-worn in and examined house on wheels, every selection comes with its distinctive set of benefits and disadvantages. From issues about depreciation and insurance coverage prices to the thrill of creating an RV really your individual, we’ll discover what it actually means to go for a brand new vs used RV and assist information you thru these issues to make a well-informed determination in your RV buy.

Execs & Cons of Shopping for a New RV

Execs & Cons of Shopping for a Used RV

Why We’ve Solely Had New RVs

We shopped for used RVs earlier than we bought every of our campers. Kait and I spent many hours on websites like RV Dealer looking out by tons of of used RVs.

The explanation we spent a lot time used RVs is as a result of there are a number of good causes to purchase used nonetheless we stored operating into points.

We couldn’t discover the precise make/mannequin we wished regionally. This was necessary as a result of we wished to see the RV in individual earlier than we bought it.
Undisclosed and misrepresented points with the RV. All through the years, we’ve seen used RVs with water injury, rust, dangerous smells, and so on that the homeowners by no means disclosed earlier than we got here to see them. Prior to purchasing our truck camper, we did discover a used truck and camper that we favored a number of states away. After spending a number of time on the telephone with the vendor, we determined to buy it and flew out to take supply. Once we arrived, we discovered that the truck and camper had a number of points that have been by no means disclosed and a few misrepresented points. Ultimately, we walked away and flew house.
Proper floorpan, mistaken chassis. One other factor we encountered when in search of a used Class B RV was that we’d discover one with the floorplan we favored however we didn’t just like the chassis it was constructed on and vice versa. I share my ideas on the completely different RV van chassis choices within the movies ProMaster vs Transit and Transit vs Sprinter.
We did purchase half of considered one of our RVs used. Let me clarify. Once we selected getting a truck camper, we favored that we may get across the difficulty we bumped into purchasing for used Class B RVs. With a truck camper, we may purchase the camper we wished and put it on the truck we wished. So whereas we purchased the camper new (customized ordered), we purchased a 2000 Ford F350 because it was the proper truck (for us) to journey the world in. Whereas it’s wanted a number of work, as soon as we have been prepared for one more Class B RV, we offered the camper and stored the truck.
Each used RV we’ve seen has had points. An enormous professional to purchasing used is that the earlier proprietor (hopefully) took care of all the bugs from the manufacturing facility. That stated, an RV goes by an earthquake everytime it goes down the highway so issues will break and put on out. We’ve seen some RVs which have been VERY properly taken care of and, in these circumstances, the homeowners wished nearly as a lot for the used RV as a brand new one. In different circumstances, as I discussed above, we’ve walked in RVs and smelled cigarette smoke, sewer/black tank smells and have seen our share of water injury. As my grandmother used to say, “while you purchase used, you’re simply inheriting another person’s issues.“
We wished a manufacturing facility guarantee. A part of the premium you spend on a brand new RV is for the guarantee. Whilst you can nonetheless get a guaranty on a used RV, since we have been dwelling within the RV full-time, we wished to have the ability to name the corporate and have them work with us to get any points we had resolved.
We had a particular make/mannequin RV we wished to purchase or options that we needed to have. Once we bought our Class B RV on the ProMaster, it was a model new mannequin and we’d have needed to have waited a yr or so earlier than there have been any on the used market, so shopping for used wasn’t an choice (the identical factor is true with our present camper because it was one of many first off the road). With our truck camper, we had very particular necessities for the battery/electrical system and it made extra sense for us to customized order the camper by the manufacturing facility reasonably than purchase used and attempt to retrofit it.
Depreciation isn’t as dangerous as they make it out to be. Sure, new RVs depreciate greater than used RVs, nonetheless used RVs nonetheless depreciate. Once we offered our Class A a yr and a half after we purchased it, the worth had depreciated by 10%. We’ve learn guides that say it’s best to count on your RV to depreciate 30% or extra within the first yr. I consider how a lot your RV depreciates is predicated on how in demand that make/mannequin is and the way properly you took care of it. It’s additionally depending on the economic system on the time. Throughout 2020-2021, we noticed used RVs promoting for greater than new as a result of the anticipate a brand new RV was over a yr.

To study extra about our first RV procuring and shopping for course of, take a look at my ebook Take Dangers.

Would We Purchase New Once more?

Completely. However we’d additionally proceed to think about used RVs.

If we have been to purchase used, we’d take into account used RVs which can be 5 to 10 years previous or extra as a result of we will save a LOT over shopping for new. Once we take a look at used RVs, we’re factoring in the price of fixing any points and changing many issues – particularly the mattress and upgrading the battery, electrical and photo voltaic system.

We haven’t been capable of finding an RV that checks all of the bins. No RV is ideal however you may get it fairly shut by customized ordering. That’s what we did with our 4 Wheel Campers pop-top truck camper that we bought. We had a number of particular requests and the one approach we may get what we wished would have been to attempt to retrofit a used unit or get it customized constructed and warrantied by the manufacturing facility.

There are advantages to new and used RVs so my recommendation to to determine your finances and take a look at RVs that fall inside it. For those who’re shopping for used, bear in mind to have a finances for repairs or take into account shopping for an prolonged guarantee from a 3rd celebration firm. Additionally, in case you don’t really feel snug inspecting the RV, rent somebody who’s. As I discussed earlier than, each RV (new or used) goes to have points and the extra you could find on the outset, the extra you’ll be able to negotiate the worth and have a greater understanding of what you’re getting your self into.