

Things To Consider Before Purchasing Your First RV
So, you’re thinking about buying a recreational vehicle. Maybe you’ve done some searching online, checking out various models and floor plans on RV manufacturer websites. Perhaps you’ve even visited a local RV dealership or two. Those are great ideas. As you may have already discovered, though, the process of deciding whether to buy an RV and then which RV to purchase certainly can be overwhelming.
We highly recommend the RV lifestyle, but there are important things to consider before making your first purchase. We’ll be sharing some thoughts to help you as you research and ponder whether you’re ready to start your RV adventures and, if so, how to find an RV that meets your needs.
One key recommendation is to rent before you buy. Many avenues for this exist. Possibilities include everything from online RV sharing platforms to brick-and-mortar rental agencies. Do your homework when looking for rentals. For online rentals, established sites such as RVezy.com or Outdoorsy.com are great options. When renting from a physical location, deal with reputable companies such as Cruise America or rental depots affiliated with large RV dealerships.

Decide whether you want to travel to a small geographical area and explore there or if you would rather drive to different locations. The former lets you enjoy putting down roots in one place so you don’t have to pack up the RV every day or so, while the latter allows you to explore different parts of the country or continent. This decision likely will depend on how much time you have to travel by RV.
Renting an RV is a great way to investigate the world of RV travel without going “all in.” Some people rent RVs on a regular basis. Others rent a few times and then purchase their own unit. Renting allows you to try out different RV types, lengths, and floor plans to see what suits you, but that’s a topic for a different day.
Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing tips about things you need to know before you take the plunge and go from “RV curious” to RV aficionado.
Steve Froese is a longtime member of FMCA, a nonprofit organization for owners of recreational vehicles, and writes the “Tech Talk” column for Family RVing magazine. He is an experienced RV owner and a certified RV technician in both the United States and Canada. Steve is also a licensed professional engineer in British Columbia and a busy professional musician.

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