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First Time Buyers: An Informative Article on Buying Your First Camper!
Hello campers and prospective campers!
This one is for all the prospective, first-time RV buyers out there reading this article. There is A LOT of information that you need to know before you buy an RV of any sort whether it’s a pop-up, travel trailer, fifth wheel, or motorhome… There is so much information that I cannot possibly cover everything in the half hour I’ll spend writing this. I will cover the MOST IMPORTANT things you should consider when you go around looking for your first RV.
RVing is an exciting lifestyle to be a part of. I’ve been RVing for over twenty years, sell and work on RVs on a daily basis, and I work with RVers every single day. You’d think that because I work on RVs every day that it would be the last thing I would want to spend my time in. I’m disappointed I can’t spend more of my time RVing and traveling and I want our customers to love their campers and the lifestyle so much that they are disappointed that they couldn’t use their camper more! When you get into the lifestyle, my hope is that you feel the same way too.
As a first-time buyer, it is important to ask TONS of questions about every aspect of the camper, what it will cost you to buy, what it will cost to maintain on a yearly basis, how to maintain it, etc. Also, when you’re in the buying process, ask your dealer about ADDITIONAL FEES before you even sit down to do the paperwork! I’m sure that low price tag got you interested an in the door, but that is exactly what the salesmen count on! Once you’re there, they’ve got you! Expect to pay extra for prep, shipping (FROM THE FACTORY!!!), documentation, and even a miscellaneous fee just for the heck of it… If your sales representative tries to tell you that EVERY dealer has extra fees, tell him or her to give me a call. Just beware of additional fees before you buy!
Another mistake I see a lot of is people buy their tow vehicle before they even know what kind of camper they really want. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU PICK OUT THE CAMPER BEFORE YOU BUY THE TOW VEHICLE! I feel bad when customers come to me and say that they really want that thirty foot travel trailer that weighs in empty at 8,000 pounds and their brand new half-ton is only rated to tow 6,000 pounds. But I can count on having to deal with that AT LEAST 20 times every year. If you want that 8,000 pound camper, make sure your tow vehicle can tow at least 8,000 pounds. You should factor in cargo as well and add it to the empty weight of the camper.
Going back to maintenance… Yes, your camper would need to be maintained EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. From flushing the antifreeze out of the lines, to washing and UV protecting the roof, to winterizing your camper, there is a considerable amount of maintenance that needs to be done with every camper. If you want to protect your investment and make it last for many years, develop a maintenance regimen that you repeat religiously every year. Every sales representative will recommend slightly different tricks and steps to that regimen, but it is all information you need to know to keep your RV looking sharp and fully functional.
Our family has been involved with this industry for many decades. We know just about all there is to know about campers, how they work, and can even point you in the direction of some great campgrounds! If you are in the market for an RV, please go to our website, check out our informative blogs, our stellar reviews, and take a look at the new and pre-owned campers we offer! As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (802) 265-3400 or email me, zack@exit1rv.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Zack Holzworth
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