How to pick the right RV for you.
For most people a recreational vehicle is the second-largest purchase they will make after their home. It’s not always easy for those new to RVing to make the right choices. What works for camping at a Florida beach resort may not work so well if you’re looking to stay an a National Park campground. We can help you understand what’s important to you and choose the right equipment for your camping adventures.
Step 1 – Decide where you want to go.
Before you can decide what type of vehicle you want you need an idea of where you want to go in your RV. Do you want to use it for wintering in warmer climates (or summering in cooler climates) where you’ll be living in it for 3-6 months at a time? Are you looking to go to National Parks, National Forests or other areas for a couple of weeks at a time? Are you planning on taking weekend trips close to home? Answering these questions is the first step in figuring what kind of RV you want top buy. We have destination ideas here on our site. Surf the web, talk to friends and research other ideas.
Step 2 – Figure out How you want to camp.
You’ll also need to determine how you want to camp. Do you want to get away from it all and “boondock” with no defined campsites, no hookups and no services or are you looking to only camp in RV parks where you have electrical, water and sewer hookups? Or would you prefer something in-between? Click here to learn more about camping styles.
Step 3 – Learn what’s out there.
There are a lot of options when it comes to recreational vehicles, ranging from the small towables to 40+foot motorhomes. The recreational vehicle industry breaks them into categories like Class A or Class B motorhomes, but a number of manufacturers blur the edges of those categories and others are working on developing entirely new ones. Before you can make a decision you’ll need to have an idea of what is available in the marketplace. Start with the web to get an idea of what’s available, go to RV shows and take a look at local dealers to learn what you like.
Step 4 – Put it all together.
Once you’ve figured out where you’d like to go, how you want to camp and have a good understanding of what’s available you can use that knowledge along with your budget to narrow down the possibilities for your purchase. Remember that almost no one exclusively travels to national parks or only boondocks and never stays anywhere with hookups. Just keep these things in mind as you look at different sizes and types of RVs. All vehicles whether cars, trucks or RVs are compromises, you just want to make sure that you get the best fit most of the time.
