Thinking about buying an RV? I’ve got good news for you – you don’t need to buy a brand spanking new (expensive) RV off the lot. In fact, there are SO many great reasons to buy a used RV – even beyond just saving money. My wife Julie and I have been full-time RVing for 3.5 years after leaving our corporate jobs in Atlanta in 2017 to travel and start our own business. We have now bought 4 used RVs, and we have learned a ton through the process. Read on for our tips and tricks for buying your first used RV!
New RVs lose their value faster than ice cream melting in Arizona in July. Just like most other vehicles, you lose a big chunk of it’s value the minute it leaves the lot. Buying a brand new RV just doesn’t make a ton of financial sense. On average, you will lose 21% of the purchase price the instant you drive it off the lot. That’s a LOT.
One of our favorite things about buying used is that you can change the look easily and make it your own. Save the money that you would spend on a new RV and invest it in the upgrades that you truly want! We have actually made money on every single (used) RV that we have purchased over the past 4 years. The secret is just to improve it a bit along the way.
The overall technology in RVs hasn’t changed a ton in the past 10-15 years. Recently, there are some minor new innovations in class Bs and As but overall, it’s the same concept. For example – some of the newest RVs are starting to come with solar, but that’s an easy add on that can be added to any used RV for a fraction of the cost you would spend on buying brand new.
Tanks, fridges, propane, electrical, furniture – they are all basically the same with perhaps a slightly different look. We have walked into so many other similar RVs that are over 15 years newer than ours and every single appliance and feature has been practically identical.
Recently, a shocking number of new RVs have been reported to have dangerous levels of formaldehyde and/or ethyl alcohol as manufacturers cut corners and try to save costs. These are dangerous chemicals that can cause headaches, upper respiratory problems, asthma and even death.
You can reduce this risk by buying a good quality RV that was manufactured prior to 1999 because these RVs were well constructed, made from better materials and are less likely to leak gasses. In addition, there are other chemicals that you get exposed to from new furniture, glue, and mattresses that are harmful to your health, and buying a used RV means these chemicals have already had a chance to dissipate.
I can confidently tell you, we have heard of more issues from brand new RV owners than owners of used RVs. The first 1-2 years are the shakedown years. Things move, break, leak and although they are all covered under warranty, it’s still a lot of work to schedule it in. Under warranty doesn’t mean pain free. It may take you months to get your RV into service, get it repaired and get it back. We have heard of many instances where new RV owners had to drive to Iowa just to get their RV repaired under warranty. We can think of many other places we’d rather be on our vacation.
In conclusion, the decision shouldn’t just be about buying a new RV or a used RV. It should be about your budget and what you are looking for to meet your needs. In general, if finances are important, buying a used RV may make more sense. Using some of these tips and tricks above will help to ensure you don’t get a lemon – whether you buy used or new.
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Author
Reet and his wife Julie left 2 professional careers at a Fortune 50 company in 2017 to travel full-time in their 23-foot RV with their cat Juke and as much outdoor gear as they could fit. As they travel, they visit America’s best outdoor destinations and bike, paddle, camp, snowboard and hike. Reet and Julie started an outdoor adventure marketplace while on the road called TripOutside.com that makes it easy for outdoor enthusiasts to book human powered adventures online.
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Excellent info all in 1 place!!! I’m saving this article. Ty for your effort! -db
Thanks we’re in S. Florida looking for a use Class A or C right now.
We are looking to buy an RV and this was very helpful.
Beware of scams on Facebook Marketplace now. They bait you will a low price and have some sad, family story of why they are selling it and get you to make transactions via EBay. They assure you that you will get your money back once it’s been “delivered “ and you change your mind…you will never see the damper or your money again. They often use the same photo in multiple ads in different cities so that is a red flag right away.
I fell for something similar to the last scheme. Guy said his camping partner had died and he was no longer interested in camping. Paid $1000 down on a 1986 popup, changed my mind on the drive home. Seller said my money would not be refunded so I was out that $1000.
Most used RV’s are out of my area, so between Covid restrictions & travel costs it’s not practical to see each unit I’m interested it. Is a professional appraisal sufficient to base a decision?
For the reasons above, I would highly recommend seeing the RV in person to do an inspection. I don’t think I would feel comfortable buying an RV without seeing it myself. At the very least, I would recommend a zoom call and lots of in depth questions! Or perhaps sending a friend or relative…
Thank you everyone, my wife and I are looking at toy hauler 5th wheel and it’s a must sell. I agree I want a inspection. Any advice I am so grateful
This is a great article. Thanks for posting Reet. We currently have our Class A motor coach listed on RVTrader.com, have posted to a few RV groups and let our friends and family know we are getting off the road and back to work (after an extended sabbatical). We will look into your other suggestions as well (and want to avoid the scammers). It is a great RV and has been kept in pristine condition. We hope to find a new owner that will love it as much as we did.
I love how you suggest checking out an RV for yourself before you purchase one used. My parents are hoping to purchase a used RV. I will pass along your suggestion to them so they find the right one.