The Insiders Guide to Buying a New RV

By Perry Mack

‘Spring is in the air’ as they say, and with it comes the promise of warm days RV’ing – exploring, relaxing and socializing.  All hail to Spring, the RV Show season is here, which even more than the Groundhog Day tells us that summer is on it’s way.

If you’re purchasing a new RV this year it’s an especially exciting time. Perhaps there’s a bit of anxiety mixed in with the excitement as you contemplate your new purchase? Will you get the right unit? What is the right unit?

We invited professionals in the industry including manufacturers, manufacturers representatives and RV sales professionals to provide you with the best advice available so you can get the right RV with the least amount of anxiety.

The question arises should you buy new or used. We’re going to focus on purchasing new RV’s this issue and provide you with advice on purchasing used RV’s next issue.

Advantages of Buying New

Gord Bragg, General Manager at Hub City RV says, “The main advantage to buying a new RV is the factory warranty. This is very attractive to people who are not inclined to do their own repairs. If you start with a new unit you eliminate all water damage issues, provided you follow recommended servicing. We recommend that customers trade in their old unit. In BC they gain a 12% tax savings on the value of their unit.”

Marcel Desjardins, Sales Manager at O’Connor RV Centre in Chilliwack adds, ‘… the knowledge that you are the first owner and you know that the RV has never been slept in, smoked in, had smelly food cooked in it nor has it been damaged in any way.’

We’ll look at how to prepare to shop for your new RV, how to identify whether it’s a quality built RV and how to get the most out of the RV Shows – which are an excellent shopping and potentially great buying opportunity.

Preparing to Shop For Your New RV

There are three key decisions you have to make. The first is what kind of RV are you going to purchase. You may have this figured out already. If not, I’ll refer you to our article ‘Choosing the Right RV’ which you can read online on our website – just type the title into our search bar.

The second key decision is deciding on your budget. What is the total price you are prepared to spend or how much a month can you afford to finance your home away from home?

Thirdly is a list of features and attributes, which are broken down into what you absolutely must have, what you want and what you refuse to tolerate in your new RV. You’ll know for instance how many beds you need – which will help you in choosing a floor plan and if features like an outdoor kitchen make sense (you can keep an eye on the kids and keep them outside the RV).

Be honest with yourself about how often you will use your RV. If it’s just a couple of weeks a year you can purchase a cheaper RV, however if you’re going to use it more than that, it will pay off handsomely to invest some extra dollars on a quality RV. Not only in the immediate pride of ownership but in the resale value down the road.

Next, if a towable RV is in your shopping cart, you need to know the tow capacity of your vehicle. This is important and will vary with the same model of truck – it will change with the year, engine size, transmission, axle ratio etc. etc. etc. Although there are dozens of websites out there, I would suggest you search the manufacturers web site to get this info. For instance if you own a Ram truck, search the Ram web site for ‘Ram tow capacity’.

Tongue weight is also important but is something that can be altered using different hitch systems. Get the RV you want based on your tow capacity then if necessary, get the hitch system to do the job.

Do Your Due Diligence

So far it’s been a pretty dry list but the next part is better and in the legalese talk of my wife it’s called due diligence. Have some fun finding out about different brands, dealers and features from people you know. If you have friends and neighbours who have the same sized family, age of kids, similar tow vehicle and enjoy the same style of RVing, you have a terrific resource of first hand information.

They can provide you with great insights as to how features actually performed for them in real life. One in five driveways in BC and Alberta has an RV, one thing you can count on is that an RVer likes to talk about his or her RV – good and bad. So take a walk through your neighbourhood and see what’s there –what kind of RV, what kind of truck and if you’re outgoing enough – knock on the door and say hi – odds are you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the warm reception and honest answers.

Your next most accessible resources are RV forums. By now you should have the length, max weight and style of your RV nailed down and have a few top brands you’re considering and perhaps a dealer or two recommended by friends. Armed with this information you can easily do an internet search for related forums to read and ask questions of owners of the brand you’re considering purchasing.

Spotting Quality

RV’s are homes on wheels, which means they have all the systems (electrical, heating, plumbing) and construction considerations (walls, roof, insulation, cabinetry) as your home as well as those of a vehicle – even towables, as they have axles, wheels and brakes. So how do spot quality without being a home inspector and a mechanic all in one? How do you know its well built and not a pig with lipstick – all dressed up but not what you were expecting underneath?

Fortunately you can. Firstly, there really aren’t any poorly built RV’s anymore. Virtually every salesperson believes that the product they are selling is the best.  In years gone by there were models and manufacturers to avoid. Mostly what you’re looking out for today, like anything manufactured by man, are units that are assembled with more care than others. Common sense and a few tips will go a long way.  The first common sense tip is ‘You Get What You Pay For’.

When it comes to styles of construction, for instance aluminum vs. fiberglass exteriors, each has it’s own pros and cons, that’s why they still both exist. If one style was clearly superior, it would be the only one in existence. The same goes for wood vs. aluminum frames, glass vs. plastic windows, bonded vs. hung walls.

Desjardins explains, “The old fashioned stick and tin (wood and aluminum) will last for many years if well maintained.  The newer generation aluminum and fibreglass seems to be the RV build of choice for most buyers today. It normally is not as heavy as the wood and aluminum built RVs.  Again proper maintenance will afford you many years of enjoyable RVing.” So the bottom line is whatever construction you choose – take care of your RV and it will take care of you.

But there are some things that suggest a better-built quality RV. But before we discuss those, many people ask what are quality features? Desjardins defines quality features as those that are ‘for the enjoyment and comfort of the buyer. Air conditioners are very nice in the hot weather to keep you comfortable. Large refrigerators with freezers are a must for hunters and fisherpersons. Power tongue jacks and power stabilizers are a comfort for those who do not like to use “armstrong” power to activate these features. Any feature on an RV for the pleasure of the owner is a quality feature.’ However Desjardins cautions buyers, ‘What to avoid is simply buying something that is on an RV that you will never use.’

Brand names are a consideration; recognizable brands typically protect their brand image – their reputation by providing good quality and service.  Do you recognize the name on the electronics; do you recognize the brand of tires?

Pull out a drawer – is it particleboard (cheaper less durable) or a better plywood or Oriented Strand Board (OSB). Is stapled together (faster and cheaper) or glued and screwed?

Since the drawer is out (and you should open the doors) have a look in behind. Are there excess glue and construction materials flying around or is it neat and clean. Look at electrical wiring. Is it lying around loose or have they used wire loom to keep the wires organized.

The common sense here is ‘If It Looks and Feels Cheap, It Probably Is’. Sure it can be under warranty and they’ll replace it with the same cheap part until the warranty runs out.

If it’s a motorized RV, take it for a drive and listen. Do you hear squeaks and creaks indicating poor quality workmanship or is it quiet and well constructed.

Ask if the linoleum is glued down everywhere. If it’s not, the linoleum can split when it shrinks in cold weather. Sure it can be repaired but undoubtly you’d rather forego the expense.

Crawl underneath; is the RV already rusty from storage and transport? Check the build date – has it been sitting on the lot a long time? Just like truck that is a 2014 model, it could have been built in October 2013 or September 2014.

Pick up the cushions from the furniture, are they super lightweight suggesting they’ll lose their shape quickly or are they a substantial quality cushion. Lie down on the mattress – you are buying a bed. Some units offer quality brand names like Sealy Posturepedic. If you don’t get a good nights sleep you’ll be buying a mattress topper or a new mattress in the near future.

If winter camping is on your list as a ‘must’ or a ‘maybe’ – ask about the features in the winter package. Is the underbelly well enclosed and heated, is the R factor in the insulation high enough to keep you warm. See the article on winter camping features in the last issue of Snowbirds & RV Travelers (Volume 10 Issue 5).

Buying at RV Shows

RV Shows provide a unique opportunity to compare a large number of models, brands and dealers – usually in leisurely indoor comfort. Plan to take your time and come with your Shopping Preparation and Due Diligence done. Then you can focus on features, quality and price. Gord Bragg also says that in addition to the large selection, ‘Most shows have the manufacturers representative present to answer the questions that the sales people cannot. You will find special show pricing and factory incentives at an RV show.’

So should you feel pressured to purchase at a show? In Desjardins opinion, ‘The only advantage of buying at an RV show is sometimes the finance rates are lower for a couple of years.  Other than that the same deals are available at the dealership as the show.’ And then declares, ‘There is no hurry! Buyers should learn from the shows if they have chosen the right kind of RV to suit their purpose.  If some RV at the show has changed their mind - they should do their due diligence again using the new RV of their dreams.’