Tip 1. The Perfect RV Does Not Exist!
If you are purchasing an RV for the first time, you may struggle with analysis paralysis due to the large amount of options presented by the industry. My best advice? Just get started! Sit down and analyze what you feel is important to you and try to find something that checks most of your boxes. I can assure you, It is way more fun to camp at the campground rather than camping in a brochure. For most clients, the first RV is not the perfect fit for them- of course our goal at Beckley’s RV’s is to understand how you're going to use it and try to get it right the first time around, however you won’t really know until you start using something… Regardless of what you choose, there are always going to be things you wish were different. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, don't lose sight of why you want to do this in the first place… most of the time the RV layout won't change your overall experience that much anyways! Make a decision and go have fun!
Tip 2. Best Price is NOT Always your Best Deal!
These days, you can sit from home, shop around, and at a click of a button, you can have almost anything delivered to your house effortlessly. Oftentimes those same products you’re buying don’t require any future service after you take ownership of them. RVs on the other hand, are a long way from that and pricing on the same model will typically fluctuate from dealer to dealer- so do not base your entire decision just on best price… because your cheapest price 9/10 times won’t be the best value, as dealers have to exclude certain things to reduce that amazing price you found.
Here are a few questions to consider when thinking about your next RV purchase. What is the dealership’s reputation like? How is their service after the sale? What kind of preparation inspection will your RV undergo? What are they giving you on trade? What level of warranty do you get with your purchase? Does everything work on the camper? What kind of showthrough are you going to get? Has the RV had any previous water leaks? Do you have to finance with them to get a “ better “ price? What are their financing terms like? What does it need in order to pass your state’s inspection? Where is the RV dealer located? What additional dealer fees and add-on costs do they have to add on top of their sale price?
All of the questions were collected from experienced RV owners! They evaluate those factors because they had to learn through experience. Those items can quite literally make or break your ownership experience, and in some cases could cost you thousands of unexpected dollars along with a lot of wasted time… Before you make a commitment on that great price a few states away, consider the questions above, because not all RV Dealers are created equal!
Now of course, every dealer or salesperson is going to tell you how great they are, but upon doing your research online and asking around you can find out who really holds up to those standards and who doesn’t….
Tip 3. RV’s Are Going to Require Service!
It doesn’t matter how inexpensive or expensive you go with your RV, they all are going to require service- and as manufactured products, there are some brands that are better than others... Unlike the car industry, RV’s are manufactured by people, not robots, and humans are FAR from perfect! Also, your RV is an earthquake on wheels! Things are going to shift and move when being driven 60MPH + down the road.If you can afford it buy an Airstream, if not pick the best quality RV for your price range. Remember you can spend $500,000 on a Rolls Royce and they still have Rolls Royce mechanics! Now I understand it can be frustrating when something doesn't work properly, but having a positive relationship with a local RV dealer will help smooth over some of those bumps along your journey! You won’t believe me in the moment, but some of the trips where things aren't working properly, will likely be the stories you’ll talk about and remember the most… Which leads me to my last point!
Tip #4: You Get the Best Service from the Dealership you Buy From!
You get the best service from the dealership you buy from. You should buy locally from a dealership with a good reputation. If the dealer near you doesn’t have good service, move onto the next. When something goes wrong, and you have a trip coming up in 2 days- would you rather take it to your local RV dealership or drive it 4+ hours back to the place you bought it from?
You may be asking yourself, “well if I could buy it for less money a few states away, I’ll just bring it back to my local dealer and have them service it no problem”… wrong. With there being more RV’s on the road than RV technicians, most RV Dealers are backed up with service appointments, sometimes booking months out at a time for an appointment... Many RV Dealers have to prioritize service by starting with the significance of the problem and whether you purchased from them or not as there just isn’t enough time in the day to service everybody immediately. There is a lot here to talk about, but just take my word that building a relationship with your local RV dealership will be a little hidden secret in keeping you a happy camper for years to come!
If you’d like more information on RV’s you can contact me using my website below!
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