Tips for Buying a Used RV

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Purchasing a second hand RV that is still intact can help you really save a lot of money. After considering a number of factors like depreciation, additional cost, upkeep as well as financing, an RV that has spent three or four years after purchase can cost almost the price of a brand new one.

So how can you get a used RV that’s best for you?  Here are a couple tips.

Research your options

It’s possible to get carried away and begin fantasizing about the nice times you’ll have traveling down the highway in your RV but the first thing you must do is to carefully research you options. You could seek advice from experienced Rvers who are always willing to share their experience and offer their advice.  Some RV sites and forums can also offer great suggestions for purchasing used RVs.

There is a countrywide listing of nearby RV clubs, shows as well as rallies on rv-clubs, which includes clubs for people who have particular RV models, they are a great way to check out the model and make of the RV you are actually considering. If you are a newbie to the RV lifestyle you could rent out one for a few days or a couple of weeks to ensure the RV lifestyle is one you’ll love.

Know exactly what you want

The majority of those who sell their RVs are seeking an upgrade, a newer model or whatever. That is the reason we see a lot of used RVs available for purchase: some RVs are a greater value compared to others, subject to the circumstances and the RV’s intended use. For instance, a more aged, high-mileage, RV would not be suitable for long journeys but perfect for those who want to travel occasionally and park it at home.

Search the internet and on the street

Sites like RVT.com and others let you browse countrywide listings of second-hand RVs by price, model, and other specifications. Other sites also have a listing of ‘for sale’ RV’s by sellers and owners. You could also check out your neighborhoods or RV parks in your area to see if anyone is selling.

Figure out a reasonable value

As soon as you have found an RV that is right for you, NADA Guides for RVs enable you to type in the make, model, year as well as other information for a second hand RV and obtain an estimation of that vehicle’s reasonable market worth, although the NADA Guides are generally popular among lenders and traders understand that you could do even better than the expected worth, especially if you purchase straight from an anxious seller.

Check out the RV’s history

For a small charge of around $25, you could get a vehicle history report on rvchecks.com. You only need to supply the RV’s 17-digit VIN to get the report. Depending on the vehicle’s history and the data available, the report may include information on whether the RV has ever damaged or has been stolen before as well as the manufacturer’s specifications and other necessary information.

Make an offer

Get a lot of information on recent sales, fair market values and prices for similar vehicles as well as possible problems the RV  you want to purchase could have. This will support your point for making an offer of a lower price. Offering to pay for the vehicle immediately and in cash is also a great bargaining strategy. To find a willing lender to finance  your vehicle check out DRVFinancing but note that some lender might opt to inspect the vehicle first before  approving it.

How to prepare for Fulltime RV Living

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Have you thought of embracing full time RVing before? The full time RV lifestyle could be summed up as a great deal of fun with a few challenges. The freedom and openness of the road, a life immersed in nature along America’s vast wilderness, simple lifestyle as well as slow paced living are among the many fascinating features of RV living. You are not on a permanent vacation neither are you a tourist in every destination you camp but rather a short-term resident. That is just how you live.

The transitioning process to full time RV living is usually an exciting and emotional one: downsizing, selling your home, sorting your stuffs and finally moving into the RV.

Here are a few ideas to help you prepare for the fulltime RV living

Minimize your stuff

RV has less space compared to a house; it can’t hold everything you have including some of your most treasured items. The RV does not have room for extra clutters hence; unused items must be done away with.

It is advisable to start disposing extra clutters well in advance to make the final downsizing process easy. Sorting your stuff into different categories would make it easier to dispose your stuff. You could group your stuff into the Sell category, donate and trash categories as well as stuffs you will use in the RV.

Getting rid of most of your things would make more sense financially as you wouldn’t need to rent a big storage unit to keep your favorite items and a few sentimental stuffs.

Mentally Prepare Yourself

While making the transition to full time RV living not everyone would understand your journey some might be unsupportive while others would be really thrilled and supportive but might not be in a position to help since they are not experienced in the RV lifestyle. The experience of going through piles of stuff can be emotionally exhausting and extremely overwhelming but if you are lucky to have great and supportive friends they might help ease your work.

Be patience as you experience this emotional roller coaster, in addition, having friends around who are already living the lifestyle can be a great source of inspiration and support to you.

Work you can do from anywhere

Having a job that is not location dependent is best for full time RV living. This means you can work from anywhere and get paid without your physical presence. Creating a passive income from either investments or other businesses is also a great idea. You could start a successful blog or start selling on Amazon and so on.

Create time for good-byes

Ensure you bade everyone goodbye. A good-bye to family and friends would take both time and energy so make your schedules far ahead of time, preferably months ahead. You could as well try seeing them in group if you are short on time.

 Start collecting the essentials

Create a list and start gathering the essentials. Here’s an idea of some essentials to get started!

KITCHEN ITEMS: Instant Pot, Ninja Blender, Toaster Oven, Collapsible Highchair, Water Filter

RV ITEMS: RV Leveling Blocks, Wheel Chocks, Garden Hose, Sewer Hose Kit etc.

3 Dumb Questions Non-Rvers Ask About Full-Time RVing

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Making a transition to the RV lifestyle is what some consider unusual and weird. Some might even raise eyebrows on you when you decide to make this transition.  But Living in an RV comes with numerous benefits and advantages. The RV’s small living space is a perfect option for those who desire to live simply, this is obviously one reason why the tiny house trend is becoming popular. You’ll always have to get rid of clutters and unnecessary weight on a consistent basis to create free space. And the ability to travel wherever you want to at anytime makes the RV lifestyle pretty cool.

However as soon as you trim down and get ready to make the big leap to full time RV living, you’ll have to answer a lot of questions from your friends, here are the 3  dumbest questions.

What are you going to do with Your Poo?

This might seem unusual to most people but most RVers are pretty comfortable discussing poop and even disaster stories at the sanitary dump site. Most non-RVers have no idea how toilets are managed in an RV and how water is conserve or how the black tank works.

Rvers use campground hookups to get rid of their waste and mange water but most non Rvers are either ignorant or  fail to consider these options when thinking of RV full time living, they wrongly assume that Rvers literally drive without ever stopping. However those who are used to the RV lifestyle know there is nothing to fret about with regard to the black tank.

Isn’t Gas Mileage horrifying?

Obviously, driving an RV is like driving a house they are less fuel efficient compared to cars. But you are not always driving. Most RVers tow their cars while travelling and use it for commuting when they are in the camp. Some even take bikes or motorcycle as an alternate mode of transportation.

One other thing to consider is that fuel in an RV is far cheaper than the cost of electricity in a home also the cost of RV fuel is nothing to be compared to the cost of  air travel and hotel accommodations in a year for full time travelers.

When would you be back To the Real World?

Most non- Rvers can’t just come to terms with the idea of fulltime RV living. You might even come across people who find your nomadic life offensive. They’ll accuse you of being irresponsible and running away from life challenges.  But don’t let this get you down. Full-time RVing comes with its own challenges and benefits just like living in a brick-and-mortar home.

Full Time RVing Dark Side: Thoughts before Making the Leap.

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Fulltime RVing is obviously not for everyone, to enjoy a rich and stress free full time RV lifestyle you have to be exceptionally flexible, comfortable with travels and diverse weathers, greatly love the company of your spouse and be contented in a small living space. Ultimately, you must have a great sense of humor.

Detailed planning is also important for the RV lifestyle you must be equipped for unexpected occurrences. The fulltime RV lifestyle would offer you great freedom, adventure and life long memories but here are a few take on the dark side and some great advice:

Life wouldn’t stop for Travel

Newbie Rvers must have it in mind that Life wouldn’t stop For Travel. Life happens anywhere.  Rvers have to endure a lot of unforeseen situations, make painful mistakes, deal with health related issues, lose things, and sometimes wait for days to get stuffs fixed. And none of these is convenient. Life wouldn’t stop just because you are moving in an RV. The important thing is not the challenges that surround you but how you deal with them. So, get ready to handle the most unusual challenges on the road but be optimistic that they are surmountable.

RVs have less space compared to Apartments

Some new RVers are sometimes astonished at how small RV spaces are. Although your kitchen and refrigerator might be closer  but your shower would definitely not  be that walk-in rainfall you have in a brick-and-mortar home and the toilet might sometimes give a not too pleasant smell, even more disturbing is the fact that you have to move around with the waste. Sometimes you’ll miss some of your stuff but it’s the sacrifice for this lifestyle. One great tip is to camp in nature as city RV parks make your limited space look even tighter but camping in natural environments with trails gives more generous space outside.

You are not in a Fixed Place

Living a mobile lifestyle is one of the beauties of RV living you’ll not always live close to your favorite restaurant and always have to figure out where to eat shop or even get medical supplies. It’s actually an adventure most people love about the RV life and many new RVers make a mistake of racing around too much before learning from their mistakes. It is advisable to spend some time to know more about the local scene and weather before making a move by slowing down you’ll have an even more enjoyable RV life.

Budget and Money are extremely important

Money matters a lot you have to make arrangement with regard to your finances before making the leap. You could make great income from investing and have the proceeds become an income stream to sustain your RV living. Bear in mind that unexpected expenses can come which can put extra strain on your finances  hence, you have to watch your budget closely and adjust accordingly just like in your home.  You can cut down on travel and plan on boondocking for a longer time or chose cheaper camps in order to have extra cash. RVing allows for a great level of flexibility with regards to money. You’ll never have an adaptable financial lifestyle like it.

You will get too close to your Partner

The less spacious size of the RV means you’ll be spending the whole day with your spouse in a limited space you’ll have to make the necessary adjustment if you need to because it can pose a lot of challenges for you and your partner if you are not prepared. It could literally shatter your fulltime dreams hence, it advisable to be mentally prepared for this great adjustment. You could develop separate hobbies and sometimes go on separate sight-seeing trips or take solo-walks but with time it’ll definitely work out.