Things To Consider When Buying An RV

Have you been thinking about purchasing an RV so that you can tour the country with your loved ones while simultaneously creating beautiful memories that will last a life time?

You and I both know buying an RV is a serious investment which doesn’t come cheap, but can be well-worth the price tag in terms of how much fun it’ll bring to your family’s life.

However, there are some basic important facts you need to know before buying motor homes.

Motor homes or motorized recreational vehicles (RVs) come in different classes. Two of those classes are usually confused with each other, those being class A and class C motor homes.

It’s essential to look at the physical appearance of the motor home in order to determine whether it is class A or class C.

Class A motor homes resemble a bus design with a flat or vertical front end and large windows while class C motor homes have a truck cab with an over-cab bed, in some ways resembling a camper.

Considered to be top of the line, Class A motor homes measure at about 24 feet or 7.3 meters and can be as long as 40 feet or 12 meters.

Their weight can range between 15,000 to 30,000 pounds or 6,804 to 13, 608 kg; the undercarriage may be custom or a 3 to 10 ton truck chassis.

Class A motor homes come with each of the luxury amenities you can fathom like a kitchen, a bathroom with shower and a tub, and sometimes a separate bedroom at the back depending on the floor plan of the truck.

They also have heating and air conditioning, hot and cold running water, 100-125 volt electrical system, a dinette or living room area complete with couch and recliners, closets and an entertainment center.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

In fact, there are some RVs that are more elaborate than most people’s homes.

Class A motor homes are usually utilized by famous bands especially when they are in tour.

There are also some rich families that own Class A motor homes for vacation and travel. A Class A motor home is perfect for those who can afford its high cost.

Most Class A motor homes have all leather interior, a wet bar, big screen TVs, an advanced sound system and other high technology that may not be available to lower income families.

Depending on the model and the floor plan, a class A RV can accommodate up to 8 people.

But all of this luxury comes at a premium price. New, lower-end models are sold at up to $50,000 US dollars while larger and much nicer class A RVs can even cost more than any house in many states coming in at about $300,000+.

Class A RVs are really very expensive; in fact even used class A RV can still be sold for $30,000-$40,000.

If you prefer luxury lines, you’re looking at  $325,000 up to over $1 million if you prefer the crème de la crème of all RVs.

Last but not least, are Class C motor homes. Class C motor homes can also come in very luxurious models or more economical ones depending on your budget.

They are much lighter in weight, ranging only from 10,000 to 15,000 pounds and generally run from just under 20 to 44 feet in length.

They are constructed on a cutaway chassis depending on the model. The cab is usually similar to that of the truck with a bunk above plus a rear bedroom.

Just like the class A, Class C motor homes have all the amenities of home including a kitchen, bathroom, dinette, heating and air conditioning system, and an entertainment center for additional cost.

Dinettes are not always present in class C motor homes and if ever there is one included, it usually converts into a double bed.

If a dinette is not present, two captain chairs are available instead. Sometimes, the motor homes contain a couch and chairs instead of captain chairs. The couch may also be turned into a sleeper couch.

Because of the overcab bed, a Class C motor home can sleep more than a comparable Class A motor home, accommodating up to 10 people are accommodated.

The cost of class C motor homes ranges from $50,000 to $170,000.

The common features of Class A and Class C motor homes are their slide-out wherein with a simple touch of a button the wall of the living room expands outwards to extend the living space by several inches.

Another type of motor home is the Class B which is usually referred to as a van conversion.

Class B motor homes look like pop-top camper vans and are self-contained, but cramped compared to their big motor home counterparts.

The biggest advantage of purchasing a Class B motor home is their ease of handling due to the smaller size in comparison to the larger Class A & C.

The biggest disadvantage of Class B RVs is their lack of space.

For thousands of people around the world, Class B motor homes are perfect for their needs.

They are usually promoted as a place to sleep more than what is deemed comfortable by most people. The class B motor home can also be used as a second car. Its price ranges from $38,000 to $75,000.

Conclusion

Motor homes are great for camping, road trips, or just simply living in style. If you are interested in purchasing a motor home, it is definitely wise to take time to do some comparison shopping and research as these motor homes can be very expensive depending upon which class you plan to invest in.

I can’t stress the importance of taking your time with the buying process, because making the wrong choice can cost you thousands of dollars, not mention having to live with “Buyer’s Remorse” for years.

If you feel anxious, simply remind yourself that there are plenty of RVs to go around and the model you decide upon will be available tomorrow, if not from one dealership, it’ll be from another.

Take your time, do your research, and you’ll most likely end up with the RV you want at a great price!

Happy RVing!