Choosing Your First RV
So you want to buy an RV. Having had RVs since 1962, we tend to be rather prejudiced consolidate student loans favor of owning an RV but before you start deciding what kind of RV to buy there is another, very important, question which must be answered.
Use for Annual Vacations
What do you intend to do in that RV? If you only intend to use it for your annual vacation, you would be best advised to rent it. Much of the cost of owning an RV remains on your shoulders if you Refinance house using it or not, accident compensation claim and, if you have to store it somewhere off your own property, the storage costs are an additional burden.
Use as 'Permanent' Residence
If, on the other hand, you intend to live in the RV full-time, then the selection is more like deciding what house to buy. If you are not pressed for time (i.e., if you don't have to move in immediately) we suggest renting a few to get the feel. Living in an RV, while it CAN be very comfortable, can also be very challenging if you are in the wrong RV.
Use with Children
If you have children - especially young children - a towed RV is ill advised. Not only is it unsafe for passengers to ride in a trailer - even a 'fifth wheel' trailer - it is illegal. If you will have more then two adults, you will want to acquire an extended cab pickup truck to tow a 'fifth wheel' trailer. mortgages for people with bad credit want one with plenty of leg room for passengers in the rear seat and even then, extended riding can get very uncomfortable.
Use with Individual Recreation Equipment ('toys')
If you wish to use the RV to head out to the wilds and ride around on your ATVs, sand buggy or carry a couple motorcycles along with you, you will need what we call a 'toy trailer'. This is a trailer with a garage-like storage area in the rear and a pull-down ramp to load, carry and unload our 'toys'. These RVs also have living quarters up front but, of course, the living quarters are reduced in size to make room for that little garage in the rear.
Decision Time
After you have thought these things through for awhile, you will want to spend some time with an RV salesman that also can sell used home equity loan line Don't start off with a new RV; you need to try it out, first. New RVs depreciate significantly the moment you take ownership; used RVs depreciate much more gradually and, sometimes, not at all if you're lucky. After you have experienced the unique feel of a particular RV you will have a much better idea of what you really would prefer to have. Again, renting is recommended but the kinds of RVs available for rent are limited in most locations.
Controlling Costs
And, finally, with fuel now costing $4+ and on its way to $5 or more, you'll want to keep operating costs in mind. If it is to be your permanent residence with occasional trips, fuel cost may not be a significant factor. If, on the other hand, you hope to go camping most every weekend, a class B van camper or folding camping trailer might be more reasonable. A class A motor home typically gets only 6 to 12 miles per gallon (depending on size and how fast you drive); a folding camping trailer by contrast may degrade the mileage of your car by 3 or 4 miles per gallon. A class B van camper typically gets 15 to 23 miles per gallon. As you can see, that is quite a range and translates into what could be a lot of money.
For Further Information . . .
We have mentioned several types of RVs. You can read brief descriptions (accompanied by thumbnail illustrations) at RV-Park-Guide.org or RV-Types.htm. Then look up a good RV dealer and a salesman with whom you can feel comfortable. Many, if not most, RV dealers take very good care of their customers; they have too much invested to risk taking advantage of you.
Bob Masters started RVing in a converted 1958 Flxible bus in the 1960s. He has traveled extensively throughout the 48 states and has written many 'travel logs' describing some of his journeys. Having traveled extensively with children, and, later, grandchildren, he has become very familiar with the best places to stop and enjoy what a local community has to offer. Recently he started the RV Guide project to make available to RVers a graphic directory of the locations of RV parks and campgrounds near the Interstate highways ( e.g., I-40-RV-Parks.com I-40-RV-Parks.com ) including locations of RV sales and service centers.
