I have been RVing since I was a baby. Over the years we have had class C, travel trailers, Class A and 5th wheels. My goal here is to save you time and money. I have listed the most important must knows before you buy and RV.

Must Know #1

Slow down! Do not rush into buying an RV just to have one so that you can get out there. Here is why, RV Share! If you rush into getting an RV because you are worried you will miss the camping season don't be. RV Share allows you to rent multiple types of RV's so you can see what fits you.

Must Know #2

You don't have to have the perfect rig for everyone. Trying to get a rig that is best for everyone especially if you have a large family can be a task. Another reason to rent for your entire first season from RV share is to learn what your camping habits will be. Now you might be thinking I am going every weekend. However, life does happen and interest change. Travel can also be tough. After the ether wears off just the thought of loading and prepping the RV will scare you from future trips. The best way to save money is to find an RV that will fit your habits more than anything. One of our biggest mistakes was buying a floor plan we liked. We did not now how we would use it. In our mind we had an idea however that was not reality. Again I refer to RV Share. RV share allows you to rent different models so you can experience the best fit for you. It is much cheaper to rent an RV for a season than purchasing the wrong one. RV's depreciate faster than cars and boats combined. The quickest way to lose 40% of your investment is go buy the wrong RV.

Must Know #3

Towing or Driving! Towing or driving is a huge factor in what RV you purchase in the end. Everyone is different. Everyone has a different level of experience. For example if you buy a large 5th wheel because you are after the room but find out later you hate towing a monster 5th wheel. You will use it less and less because you dread the travel time towing. You could also plan on driving across country and certain locations you might want to go may not accept a large rig. You may also want to travel across country and learn a small rig is just unbearable. So you need to tow different rigs, your need to drive different rigs. You need to know your experience level when it comes to driving and towing. The best way to do this is to rent from RV share. You will also find renting from RV share, that the owners, are very helpful. They will also give you tons of information on the pros and cons of the RV you are renting.

Must Know #4

Does size matter? This is an important question for you. From driving to towing to storing to parking. To the places you will go. This is a biggie that needs a lot more time diving into. However, I suggest make a few calls to park or go to their sights ask questions about sites and sizes. Find out what size RV can fit in a particular park. Many parks are old and RV's are different today than in the past. Unless you are full time, your RV will sit most of the year. Do you have an HOA? Do they allow RV's? Will it be covered or uncovered while it is parked? Do you have room? Do you live in an apartment complex? I highly recommend you sit down and answer all these questions on a sheet of paper before you move any further.

Must Know #5

Is it an Investment or Liability? This is another question. If you are not full time your RV will sit for many months of the year. During this time you are collecting a running debt of storage fees, weathering, insurance, batteries, and much more. God forbid you forget to run your generator for more than a few months. If it is and investment you are doing what we like to do, that is rent our RV. You can offset many of these cost buy sharing the rv lifestyle with other. However, if you plan on making extra income renting an RV you need to know which RV rents the best. Also which RV fits you the best. Renting your RV just one time per month can have a huge impact on cost of ownership.

Final Thought

Back when we started RVing we thought we knew what we needed. But life changes. I wish I could have went back and eliminated a few of those RV purchases. We did not have a platform like RV share. My best advise is go RVing for 1 season, 1 year, or whatever it takes in different RV's to find out what your needs are and what your camping habits are. On a final personal note below is a video of our last trip. We are a family of 10 and what works for us might not work for you. But we do wish we had a smaller rig.

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