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A First Time RV and Trailer Owners Buyer’s Guide

Published on June 4th, 2018 by Camper Report
This post was updated on February 6th, 2021

A First Time RV and Trailer Owners Buyer’s Guide

As first time RV owners, the decision tree that led us to choosing what kind of RV or trailer to get was complicated. Today our retirement home is 30’ long (26’ of living space). We created this Buyers Guide for RV newbies because we thought others might be interested in the questions we had, and how we answered them. Here goes.

What type of first time RV makes sense for you?

That, of course, is question number one. If you haven’t started looking, the choices are truly overwhelming.  Here are the different categories of RVs to get you thinking.

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  • Class A are those big buses you see, usually towing a smaller vehicle behind them. They can be as luxurious as a Gulfstream private jet, and their price reflects it. Expect to be well into six figures. Thinking of going full time as a first time RV owner? In this article, we list 8 excellent Class A Motorhomes, perfect for full time living.
  • Class B are the vans, some of which are oversized with slideouts. They are more affordable, you have to really option them out to hit six figures.
  • Class C are the ones that are built on a pickup truck frame. Think a pickup with a camper shell but, instead, it’s built as a unit.
  • Fifth Wheels are the truly big travel trailers you see, their hitch mounted to the bed of the pickup truck.
  • Travel trailers are the smaller trailers although still pretty big. The hitch hooks up behind the tow vehicle (we expect it to work with a Yukon for example).

What will you do with your RV or Travel Trailer?

New RV camping tips
Where will you go in your new RV? That matters!

Will the RV (notice, I don’t say “camper” since in our case it’s not for camping) be a more-or-less permanent residence? Or something only used for a week or two at a time?

  • Do you picture being a snowbird and living in it for months at a time, you’ll need plenty of space. You probably want the fifth wheel. It features a king size bed and plenty of elbow room.
  • If you see it as a place you’ll be in for a couple of weeks’ vacation, you don’t need as much room although you might decide you want it.
  • For us, since we already had the Yukon, the travel trailer was the obvious choice. At 26 feet of living area with the slideout adding quite a few extra square feet it felt comfortable for the two of us. If we had kids, we would have had a different set of priorities. Then we’d have been looking at a fifth wheel and probably for one of the “bunkhouse” variants that sleeps several kids stacked nicely.

Next, decide what each individual wants in the new RV.

    1. The bride wanted a “real bathroom/shower” not a toilet with a shower over it. She also wanted a “bedroom”—not a bed in a camper—and lots of storage.
    2. Most importantly the bride wanted a great air conditioner unit.
    3. The husband wanted comfortable indoor seating across from the television screen. I want to watch Nascar, Play XBox, etc. and not be twisting around to do so. So, theater seating was a “have to have”.
  • Also, from the bride, you just have to accept the decor in all of its brown or blackness. If you want a lighter more cheerful interior, you will spend a lot of money to get a custom rig.  Just decorate with bright pillows, bright quilts, flamingos….. You get the picture.

Don’t neglect an RV walk-through

first time RV inspection
A complete walk through before buying can save you money later.
  • Sit in the various seats. Remember, much of the stuff is built in and so the design is constrained. Seat backs tend to be straight up.
  • Don’t forget to check where the TV is. If you’re at all like us, it will be your primary evening entertainment. Floorplans constrain locations and you will not like a layout that requires you to look over your shoulder. Trust us on that one.
  • Try the rocking chairs or the recliner for comfort. Some are remarkably comfortable.
  • Remember, more space equates to more length and more cost. The “theater” seating will have your most comfortable chairs, rockers or recliners, at the back facing forward with the TV (big screen of course) on the wall that separates the living area from the bedroom. We opted for the shorter version with twin recliners along the side of the trailer, facing the TV (still a big screen) on the opposite wall.

Still can’t decide on a first-time RV purchase?

One of the best ways to explore different RVs is to book an RV rental. Everything from truck campers to van rentals are available to first time RV travelers!

How to buy from a reputable RV dealer

Buying an RV falls somewhere between buying a house and buying a car. Oh, sure, a new car can cost a lot more – if we were going to buy a new Yukon as a tow vehicle, for example, we’d be lucky to get out of that transaction for under $50,000 compared to the $25,000 all in price for our rolling retirement home – but functionally, the RV is more like a home.

As with any purchase, the sales guy is NOT your friend. He is trying to sell you something. He’s not your enemy either, though, but as with any salesman his loyalty is to his employer (and his commission check)—not to you. Check reviews of the dealer online.

On something like a travel trailer, they’re not terribly concerned about your repeat business. But in this era of online reviews, they do care about a good review. Always remember that the first number he shows you, and it will almost always be written down, is the MSRP. That’s the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. The keyword in that phrase is SUGGESTED.

As with the purchase of a car, you can mortgage the farm and bet it all on the salesman needing to “check with his manager” for a final price. Just relax and play along. The reality is that he knows, to the penny, what the rock bottom dollar the company will take for that trailer is, and as long as he can get that amount it will be approved. But he would like to pad his commission check a little.

Things to consider during RV price negotiation:

  • Will the dealer include everything in the sale price? Does the hitch come with? Equalizing system? Sway bars? Electric brakes?
  • Can they set everything up?
  • Do they offer a full training walk through?
  • Who will finance your first time RV?
    • Remember, for tax purposes this could be a second home and interest paid and personal property taxes are tax deductible for your second home. To qualify your second home must have a kitchen, bathroom and bed. You must spend at least one week every year using it.
    • Even if you’re ready to pay from retirement funds, short-term financing may be needed. Most likely the dealer will be willing, eager actually, to arrange that.

When to buy an RV from a dealer

  • RVs and trailers, like cars, have model years.
  • When the new models start coming in there are often good deals on last year’s model. Always buy at the beginning of the next RV season.

Thinking of buying a used RV or travel trailer?

Here are some pros and cons of used RV purchases.

  • You can save buying used
    1. They often include stuff you would have to buy later – hoses, covers, stuff like that
    2. The bugs have already been worked out
  • But – you can also end up buying someone else’s troubles
    1. Check for leaks
    2. Look for cracks
    3. Inspect slide out seals to make sure they’re intact and not dried out
    4. Ask about a test run
  • Here, you can find an article I wrote where I list 100 things to check before buying a used RV. After doing this check, you’ll be sure that the RV is either a good purchase or not so much.
RV buying tips
Try different RVs before you buy, new or used.

Make Sure Your Vehicle Can Handle What You Buy

Since we’re not planning on long stays, by which I mean months at a time, and we had the Yukon already, the travel trailer makes sense. At 5,700 pounds, our 26 foot “ultralight” is about as much as I want to pull. If I had known I was going to do this I would have hunted longer and found one of the Suburban/Yukons on a ¾ ton frame with the bigger engine.

Our Yukon has the Vortec 5300 (what geezers like me call a 325 although I haven’t had time to do the math and wonder if it’s not really a 327). If I had planned on hauling three tons around I would have made sure I had the 5700 (a 350) or even a 6000 (364). Heck, I might have held out for the 7400 (454) big block.

I’m pretty confident that I have enough truck to handle the trailer but if I’m being honest here, I’ll be watching gauges VERY closely when we make that first trip. Well, that first trip over about 5 miles. The maiden voyage is going to be within 10 minutes of the sales (and maintenance) guys.

In this article I wrote, I help you to know what kind of camper your vehicle can specifically tow, along with other tips to towing.

Do Routine Maintenance on your Tow Vehicle

Oh, yeah, and while I’m thinking about it, make sure you know how to fix RV problems. Your tow vehicle must be in good shape. I took the Yukon to the local tire guys that do my work and had them tune it up, change oil in the differentials and transfer case, change oil in the transmission, put on fresh shock absorbers (air shocks in the back) and, generally, give it a good going over. My credit card had $1,100 on it by the time I left, but I’m confident for our maiden voyage.

Some Tips on Backing a Travel Trailer

About that backing thing. If you’ve never backed a trailer, you’ll want to practice… In a big area… Where there’s nothing to hit. But it’s really not brain science or rocket surgery. Although my wife will tell you it is in the male chromosomes to be able to back a trailer, it’s a skill and can be learned.

The trick an over-the-road trucker taught me is this—put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and then whichever way you want the trailer to go that’s the way you move your hand. The thing is, with your hand on the bottom of the wheel, that’s about as far as you’ll want to turn the wheel anyway. That’s far less confusing that trying to remember that the camper will go opposite of the way you turn the wheels. I learned it when the kids were quarter-midget racing and it’s worked for me since.

Random Tips for First Time RV Campers

We are due to pick up the mobile vacation home the week after the 4th of July madness. Then, we are going to a local RV Park right after we have our dealer training on hoses, gas, etc.. We will be there while the dealership is open on Friday and Saturday and their number will be on speed dial for those “what do I do” or “how do I do” this questions that probably will occur once we are on our own. Here are some things I will think about:

RV fresh water tips

Yes, you do have to get the white hose to bring your water in. RV fresh water hoses are made with materials that are safe for you to drink from. Plus, you want to get the white hose so you won’t get it confused with the other hose (it’ll be orange if you buy it in the RV section). That hose flushes your sewer system and you probably want to not get them mixed up.

Speaking of water, spring for one of a RV water pressure regulator. City water pressure can damage the relatively light duty plumbing of the trailer.

Flush the toilet a few times before you use it. You want some water in there to, well, keep things moving and movable.

More about water. Unless you’re going to be remote, do not carry water with you. It’s heavy and there is almost always water available at campgrounds.

RV black water tank tips

Big tip – BIG BIG TIP – you’ll read this in other places. Live it. Love it. Accept it as gospel. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE ABOUT YOUR NEW RV. Ready? Here it is:

LEAVE THE BLACK VALVE CLOSED.

Here’s the thing – think about the way the toilet works in the RV. You flush, and it dumps, NOT into a sewer but into a tank, a tank with a flat bottom. THINK ABOUT IT!

You need some water to make things flow. So, DO NOT just leave the black valve open. You can, no check that, you WILL wind up with the dreaded poop pyramid. Read enough of the RV/Camper/Retirement Home sites on the web and you are sure to run across that most dreaded horror story of all—The Time I Bought A Used RV That Had A Petrified Poop Pyramid.

So, just to make sure it’s clear – LEAVE THE BLACK VALVE CLOSED.

Once your gauge says you’re three quarters full or so, THEN open the black valve.

Here’s the right way to clean RV black tanks

UV rays damage RVs

Remember, the sun is hard on things. By that I mean pretty much everything. The point being, you’ll want covers. A trailer cover will keep the sun from fading those pretty decals on the sides. Alternatively, store it inside. That will run at least a hundred bucks a month but it keeps my wife happy. Wheel covers will keep the sun from dry rotting your tires.

Some things to keep inside your RV

Get the basics you need to stock your new home away from home and leave it stocked. We have lightweight pots and pans, lightweight dishes, separate silverware (settings for four), basic spices, the obligatory cornhole game, Roku gadgetry, board and card games, wifi booster, stuff like that. If you think you can remember to bring all of that from the house, you’re wrong.

But, and once again it’s a BIG but, do NOT leave anything perishable when you’re home from your trip. If you leave a pound of hamburger in the refrigerator, or a bunch of bananas under the sink, you might as well plan on a new refrigerator or, well, get used to it.

We are First Time RV Buyers, Too!

For us, the travel trailer is going to be our retirement home in many ways. We like to vacation at places like the beach. In December 2017 we spent a week on the Florida panhandle. The rental for our beach front condo came in at about $1,800 for a small studio apartment (50 yards from the beach with a huge dune between us and the view) and included a couch so uncomfortable it could have been used as an Enhanced Interrogation Technique at a CIA black site in Egypt or Romania or wherever they had those things. There was a small kitchen, a bathroom, and a room with a couch and a bed. The travel trailer might have a few less square feet but it’s a lot classier. And on-beach sites are about $80 a night with very few hidden fees.

Adventures await us, and we can hardly wait for our first long distance over-the-road trip. Stay tuned for updates from the “Couple of Greenhorn Retirees”.  In fact, if you want to follow our adventure, click here for the next installment!

10 thoughts on “A First Time RV and Trailer Owners Buyer’s Guide”

  1. Amazing guide to spread information about camper RV. I really like the article and appreciate the sharing of personal experiences.
    keep the good work up.
    Cheers!

    Reply
  2. thanks for the tips, but I am still having a hard time to compare different models. for example, what makes a winnebago 2x more expensive than a similar Sprigdale?

    Reply
  3. Thank you for the heads up that it’s best to purchase trailers during the start of the season. Dad would love getting really interesting deals for last year’s models when he buys an RV for Uncle Charles. He might not just get big discounts, but also free trailer beds!

    Reply
  4. I’m interested in purchasing a travel trailer but I only want the shell of it and the electrical and plumbing done I don’t want any stove or any other equipment in is that something that is possible to do only because I have my own idea of what I am going to do with it I don’t need anything more than 20 ft

    Reply
  5. So many things I wish I knew before I made my first travel trailer purchase. My Mom was asking me about travel trailers. And, the more I stay at RV parks I start to see how many full timers have them. They are much more cost efficient depending on how you use them. I had a 30 foot trailer, but my tow car was a Ford Expedition and that was a mess. A very expensive learning experience for my first RV purchase. And, I wish I would have bought used. My new RV has been about a year of working out kinks and problems. Used and new have their pros and cons. I love the fifth wheelers if I had to choose a travel trailer. Moral of the story don’t rely on the dealerships for advice and do all your own research.

    Reply
  6. we would like to let you know that the smaller 24 foot Winnebago motorhomes are being equipped with the 3.2 Cummin Onan diesel generator. This generator was discontinued about 3 years ago and obtaining original replacement parts is extremely hard to nearly impossible. Wait times for pressure or temperature sensors can be weeks.
    In addition, the generator return fuel line is T-connected with the engine drive return fuel line. This is causing pressures in excess of 10 PSI and resulting in high rates of generator failure. According to the manufacture of the generator the return fuel line should be independent. As a result Cummins is refusing to honor warranties.
    Your readers should have this information. I am submitting this information unaminously so I do not loss by job,

    Reply
  7. My wife and I want to get an RV to take camping, so thanks for sharing this. I like your point about getting an RV with covers. We’ll be sure to do this so the sun doesn’t face the furniture.

    Reply
  8. I wanted to thank you for these tips for buying and RV. I like that you mentioned you should make sure that you do maintenance on the tow vehicle. It sounds important to do this even when you aren’t using it to tow, especially so it can be in good condition for when it does eventually tow.

    Reply

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