The Smart Guide to Buying an RV

Make your first purchase of a trailer or motorhome an enjoyable and easy experience.

Words by Perry Mack

Browsing the models at an RV show can be a daunting experience. An initial question among many consumers is ‘How do I choose my first model?’ 

Your friends who own a trailer or motorhome are often a good place to start, especially if you like to do the same outdoor activities. Scheduled RV seminars as well as your local dealer are also very helpful to narrow your choices.   

Do I Choose a Motorhome or Trailer?

Let’s start by looking at driveables versus towables. Each category has an extensive range of sizes, designs, and floorplans. We’ve owned everything from a tent trailer to a Class A. They all served a purpose with pros and cons. Ultimately, they met our needs for the type of RVing we like to do.

There are several advantages of a driveable RV whether it’s a van conversion (Class B) or a luxury 13 m (44 ft) dream coach. The Class A that we owned was perfect for our family of five (six with our dog). We were active in sports and the basement storage allowed us to easily bring along all of our gear. This included lifejackets, wetsuits, drysuits, windsurfing gear, bikes plus all the clothing and safety equipment. 

Not all drivables have this expansive storage. What is common is you can use most of the RV amenities during travel without stopping. Our friends nicknamed our class A ‘the Taj’ - as in The Taj Mahal.

Aside from the driver (me), everyone could prepare meals, take bathroom breaks any time, stretch out on the couch, enjoy a nap in the bed, play games, and find their own space. Naturally, with a towable, you can do the same by finding a place to stop safely. It also provides a good break. 

The level of comfort for a large family with children of differing ages is exponentially better and more comfortable in a driveable, rather than being sandwiched in a tow vehicle. The longest trip in our class A was from Southern BC to San Diego, CA, with stops everywhere along the way. 

There was virtually no fighting or arguing between siblings. The class A during the trip also provided the best driver experience with the order of a fresh sandwich and cold beverage easily voice-activated by our family’s co-pilot. 

Now that our children are grown and never go RVing with us anymore, we’re considering a Class B (van conversion). Most have all of the benefits of accessing household amenities at any time or place with better fuel economy and much lower ferry fees.

The key advantage of a towable versus a driveable is the lower cost. A towable doesn’t have an engine and drivetrain to maintain or require additional, expensive insurance coverage. 

We started RVing with our children and a dog when they were young in a vintage (barn find) 4 m (14 ft) travel trailer that we restored. Our friends also nicknamed it the ‘vintage.’ Using my work van, we towed it all over British Columbia. The van was already insured and maintained.

Aside from the sweat equity involved in the restoration, this was very inexpensive RVing. The trailer slept three (mom, dad, and daughter) and we put an inflatable mattress in the van to accommodate our boys.

The second advantage of a towable is having a tow vehicle ready to explore the area we were visiting. We just disconnected the trailer and started driving to any typical destination without any concern about parking or travelling on rough terrain. Forest service roads to waterfalls, visiting downtown cities for shopping, and even accessing drive-thru banks and fast-food locations were never a concern.

Yes, you can pull a towed vehicle behind a Class A or even many Class C RVs. It just requires more effort and expense. The longer rig can be limiting in accessing some national, provincial and state parks. 

Always Consider Comfort 

We realized that RVing is not so much about living space as it is about comfortable sleeping and storage space. If those were the only considerations, everyone would buy the largest RV they could afford. However, the size of a unit impacts where you can go and the cost it takes to get there. 

Comfortable sleeping often means not having to fold out a bed or break down a dinette. Determine what type of mattress comes with the RV. We have also owned a fifth wheel that came with quality, sleep-inducing memory foam but a previous 9 m (28 ft) travel trailer had something that shouldn’t have been called a mattress. 

For larger families, some fifth wheels, toy haulers and Class As have two bedrooms and often en suites. Class C models and newer coaches have one bedroom plus a bed over the cab in various configurations. 

This maximizes space during the day while providing a comfortable sleeping area at night. However, having a permanent bedroom versus a convertible sofa bed or dinette allows these features to be used for their intended purpose rather than bothering the occupants in the morning.

Determine the Right Size and Weight 

Ask yourself where you want to go in an RV. We found that the 4 m (14 ft) travel trailer could be towed practically everywhere. However, as our kids got older, we wanted more space and comfort. So, we chose a 9 m (28 ft) travel trailer. Most public campgrounds have a limit of 9 m (30 ft) but the opposite is also true. Some resort-style RV parks only allow Class A’s. 

This towable was still able to access every park and most terrain we experienced given its high ground clearance. However, bigger means heavier. At this time, our business owned a one-ton diesel truck so size didn’t matter and we could easily pull the larger trailer. 

You always need to consider the weight of the trailer when determining what unit to buy. You need to know what tongue weight the vehicle can manage and the maximum tow capacity. Purchasing a new or pre-owned tow vehicle also has to be factored into your budget. From experience, we can confidently say that we don’t recommend a trailer that tests the upper weight limit of the tow vehicle. 

Other considerations include driveability and towability. A trailer that’s more than 4,600 kg (10,000 lbs) GVW (gross vehicle weight) in British Columbia requires a heavy trailer endorsement, which includes a written and driving test. 

If your Class A is equipped with air brakes you will need an air brake endorsement. These requirements are not show-stoppers but definitely should be factored into your decision as there is an extra cost and time involved.

What’s Your Style?

If getting off the beaten path is how you see yourself RVing, then choosing an RV with a high ground clearance is key. You can choose a travel trailer that meets your size requirements while class B, class C and truck campers are also very popular options.

You need to decide how long you plan to get away. For boondocking or rustic sites (no hook-ups), you’ll want large-capacity black-, grey- and freshwater tanks. Solar power is also important to keep devices and your vehicle charged enough for a week’s worth of off-grid time or just weekends.

Plan for Outdoor Recreation

If ATVs, side-by-sides, dirt bikes, and/or motorcycles are in your future, a toy hauler will be perfect. If you want peace and solitude in a secluded location take a close look at teardrop trailers. They’ll set your imagination on fire with their possibilities.

On the other hand, luxury comes in the form of larger Class A models, which are required for some motorcoach resorts with amenities including golf courses, pools, and clubhouses. They are a very relaxing way to spend winters at a snowbird destination or summers near home. 

We chose an 11 m (37 ft) fifth wheel for semi-full-time RVing. Roughing it became a thing of the past with its large screen TVs, rocker recliners, king-size bed, constant hot water, kitchen island and residential-size fridge.

The Dirty Six-Letter Word: Budget

Don’t let your budget be a dream crusher, either before or after your purchase. Choose a model wisely and then stick to it. Knowing what unit you want before you shop will make your experience much more enjoyable. 

Further, avoid being pressured into purchasing an RV that’s so expensive that you’ll cringe looking at your bank statement every month. It’s also important to buy an RV that you look forward to using and that provides pride in ownership. 

Your budget should also include the costs after the purchase. This includes maintenance, insurance, fuel, campground fees, propane fills and winter storage.

New is always nice but a pre-owned model can fulfill all your needs if you get the right model. We always recommend looking for RVs that are three to five years old as most of the depreciation has already occurred. 

Avoid a motorhome or trailer that is eight years or older since some campgrounds are instituting a ten-year model rule. If your RV is ten years or older they may refuse you entry, unless you can get an exemption. Remember, when browsing pre-owned models take an experienced RVer with you or even an experienced RV technician. They can recognize the danger signs that you can’t see.

Finally, when browsing the models, take pictures, videos, and notes of the units that appeal to you. After viewing just a few RVs, we always found that when we got home we couldn’t remember which RV had which features. The number of choices can be daunting but the positive is there is certainly one out there that is perfect for this time in your life.