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The choice between shopping for a brand new vs used RV is a major determination to make. It’s a subject that usually stirs vigorous debate throughout the RV neighborhood. On this article, we delve into the small print of this decision-making course of, sharing insights from our private RV shopping for experiences, highlighting the professionals and cons of shopping for new vs used RVs.
Shopping for a New vs Used RV
Whether or not it’s the attract of an RV producer’s guarantee and a contemporary, untraveled car, or the price financial savings and potential for a well-worn in and examined house on wheels, every selection comes with its distinctive set of benefits and downsides. From concerns about depreciation and insurance coverage prices to the joy of creating an RV actually your personal, we’ll discover what it actually means to go for a brand new vs used RV and assist information you thru these concerns to make a well-informed determination in your RV buy.
“By no means purchase a brand new RV!”
“Don’t you want you had purchased used?”
These are among the hottest statements we heard after we purchased a brand new Class A motorhome. Since buying that first RV, we’ve had a Class B RV on the Ram ProMaster chassis, a truck camper, and our present camper is a Class B RV on the Ford Transit chassis…all have been new once we obtained them. The one car we bought used was the truck for the truck camper (we’ll get into that later). That stated, we’ve shopped for lots of used RVs as nicely and can share some the the explanation why you could or could not wish to go the used RV route.
Within the video beneath, I stroll you thru the execs and cons of shopping for a brand new vs used RV and why we determined to purchase our first RV new.
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Execs & Cons of Shopping for a New RV
The Execs:
- Producer’s guarantee
- No earlier proprietor
- Get the make/mannequin RV you need or have one customized constructed
The Cons:
- Premium value
- Excessive depreciation
- Have to work out kinks/points
- Increased insurance coverage / registration prices
Execs & Cons of Shopping for a Used RV
The Execs:
- Lower cost
- Decrease insurance coverage / registration prices
- Much less depreciation
- Kinks/points labored out (presumably)
- Choice for personal sale and prolonged warranties from third events
The Cons:
- Earlier proprietor(s)
- Increased potential for hidden points
- Restricted choice
Why We’ve Solely Had New RVs
We shopped for used RVs earlier than we obtained every of our campers. Kait and I spent many hours on websites like RV Dealer looking by means of a whole lot of used RVs.
The explanation we spent a lot time taking a look at used RVs is as a result of there are numerous good causes to purchase used nevertheless we stored operating into points.
- We couldn’t discover the precise make/mannequin we wished domestically. This was vital as a result of we wished to see the RV in individual earlier than we bought it.
- Undisclosed and misrepresented points with the RV. All through the years, we’ve seen used RVs with water harm, rust, dangerous smells, and so on that the homeowners by no means disclosed earlier than we got here to see them. Prior to purchasing our truck camper, we did discover a used truck and camper that we appreciated a couple of states away. After spending numerous time on the cellphone with the vendor, we determined to buy it and flew out to take supply. Once we arrived, we discovered that the truck and camper had a number of points that have been by no means disclosed and a few misrepresented points. In the long run, we walked away and flew house.
- Proper floorpan, fallacious chassis. One other factor we encountered when in search of a used Class B RV was that we might discover one with the floorplan we appreciated however we didn’t just like the chassis it was constructed on and vice versa. I share my ideas on the totally different RV van chassis choices within the movies ProMaster vs Transit and Transit vs Sprinter.
- We did purchase half of one in all our RVs used. Let me clarify. Once we selected getting a truck camper, we appreciated that we might get across the difficulty we bumped into searching for used Class B RVs. With a truck camper, we might purchase the camper we wished and put it on the truck we wished. So whereas we purchased the camper new (customized ordered), we purchased a 2000 Ford F350 because it was the right truck (for us) to journey the world in. Whereas it’s wanted numerous work, as soon as we have been prepared for one more Class B RV, we bought the camper and stored the truck.
- Each used RV we’ve seen has had points. A giant professional to purchasing used is that the earlier proprietor (hopefully) took care of all the bugs from the manufacturing facility. That stated, an RV goes by means of an earthquake everytime it goes down the highway so issues will break and put on out. We’ve seen some RVs which were VERY nicely taken care of and, in these instances, the homeowners wished nearly as a lot for the used RV as a brand new one. In different instances, as I discussed above, we’ve walked in RVs and smelled cigarette smoke, sewer/black tank smells and have seen our share of water harm. As my grandmother used to say, “if you purchase used, you’re simply inheriting another person’s issues.“
- We wished a manufacturing facility guarantee. A part of the premium you spend on a brand new RV is for the guarantee. Whilst you can nonetheless get a guaranty on a used RV, since we have been dwelling within the RV full-time, we wished to have the ability to name the corporate and have them work with us to get any points we had resolved.
- We had a selected make/mannequin RV we wished to purchase or options that we needed to have. Once we obtained our Class B RV on the ProMaster, it was a model new mannequin and we’d have needed to have waited a 12 months or so earlier than there have been any on the used market, so shopping for used wasn’t an possibility (the identical factor is true with our present camper because it was one of many first off the road). With our truck camper, we had very particular necessities for the battery/electrical system and it made extra sense for us to customized order the camper by means of the manufacturing facility somewhat than purchase used and attempt to retrofit it.
- Depreciation isn’t as dangerous as they make it out to be. Sure, new RVs depreciate greater than used RVs, nevertheless used RVs nonetheless depreciate. Once we bought our Class A a 12 months and a half after we purchased it, the worth had depreciated by 10%. We’ve learn guides that say you need to count on your RV to depreciate 30% or extra within the first 12 months. I imagine how a lot your RV depreciates is predicated on how in demand that make/mannequin is and the way nicely you took care of it. It’s additionally depending on the financial system on the time. Throughout 2020-2021, we noticed used RVs promoting for greater than new as a result of the await a brand new RV was over a 12 months.
To study extra about our first RV purchasing and shopping for course of, try my e book Take Dangers.
Would We Purchase New Once more?
Completely. However we might additionally proceed to contemplate used RVs.
If we have been to purchase used, we’d contemplate used RVs which are 5 to 10 years previous or extra as a result of we will save a LOT over shopping for new. Once we have a look at used RVs, we’re factoring in the price of fixing any points and changing many issues – particularly the mattress and upgrading the battery, electrical and photo voltaic system.
We haven’t been capable of finding an RV that checks all of the packing containers. No RV is ideal however you may get it fairly shut by customized ordering. That’s what we did with our 4 Wheel Campers pop-top truck camper that we obtained. We had numerous particular requests and the one method we might get what we wished would have been to attempt to retrofit a used unit or get it customized constructed and warrantied by the manufacturing facility.
There are advantages to new and used RVs so my recommendation to to determine your price range and have a look at RVs that fall inside it. Should you’re shopping for used, bear in mind to have a price range for repairs or contemplate shopping for an prolonged guarantee from a 3rd celebration firm. Additionally, should you don’t really feel snug inspecting the RV, rent somebody who’s. As I discussed earlier than, each RV (new or used) goes to have points and the extra you will discover on the outset, the extra you possibly can negotiate the worth and have a greater understanding of what you’re getting your self into.
📞 E-book a Name with Joe
Are you shopping for your first RV or have questions on RVing? Let’s see if reserving a 60 minute session with Joe is the proper match for you.
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