We hate to say it, but it can be easy to make a few mistakes when buying an RV, especially if you’ve never done it before. The salespeople are sweet talkers, and whatever they say they make it sound pretty good. If you’ve bought an RV, you know this to be true.
When you bought your current RV, would you say you made buying mistakes? If so, after you vote will you please tell us in the comments what you think those mistakes were? You can use a nickname if you don’t want to share your full name. We’re curious to hear your stories, and they might save other buyers from making the same mistake(s). Thanks!
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Just ONE mistake, but it’s a big one. I bought a 2008 motor coach. That was the year that engine manufacturers initiated new pollution controls on the big diesels. None of those controls have been a complete success, even today. If I had it to do over again, I’d look for the same coach I bought but with a pre-emission controls engine. I.e. no newer than ’07.
Amen.
Still a pain 11years later.
Having on do days to replace our RV that a box truck decided was 4 feet too long. In Michigan you have 30 days to replace a totaled vehicle or you don’t get the sales tax included in the replacement cost. With an expensive RV that can be a lot of money, so 30 days it was. We are very happy with replacement RV, in fact happier then old RV.
I bought the right trailer but I should have bought the truck after buying the trailer. I was plus or minus 200 pounds of the GCVWR every time I weighed the combination – sometimes over, sometimes under. That truck was working at its design/build limits and maintenance costs skyrocketed. Buying a new, bigger truck a couple of years later reduced per mile all-in costs by 50%, increased the safety margins, and reduced the risk.
Working in a campground for four years, I saw so many truck/trailer combinations where the truck was simply not up to the task. If I had any advantage over most of them it was that I had weighed my rig and knew that it wasn’t – shall we say – ‘optimum’. Most had never weighed their rig because the salesman had said it was all OK.
Pre-ordered, flew out to pick it up, met all my expectations – sadly the high quality ‘builder’ has gone out of business.
No, no and no. My husband says I am anal (and he is not wrong). We bought our current used travel trailer in 2016. After going to several shows, I determined what was and wasn’t a deal breaker (this process started in 2015). For over a year, I refined my list (my husband laughs at my lists – but they work). I found brand new was not for us. Materials seemed to be not up to standards, not as much storage as I wanted and the layouts just didn’t work. I was not about to settle for less than what I wanted. I would find units on line and my husband would go take a look at them. I found one and he went and looked at it. Came home and said it was spotless, people only used a few times then had to stop due to health issues. He was correct, it was spotless. The storage is more than enough, has the layout I was looking for. The only thing I didn’t like was that it had a tub instead of a shower, but it isn’t as big an issue as I had thought. We both enjoy our camper a lot!
In 2015 I purchased a Forest River Ultralight 5er. I traded in a Sunline TT for the 5er.
My first long trip out I started a list of things that needed to be repaired. By the time I got back I had a list of 22 items, to include repairing the rubber roof that had come loose and was lifting up. Yes Forest River fixed everything with the warranty but I have had many other problems and now wish I had never made this purchase.
They are built cheap !
Buying a new rv w was our biggest mistake, that being said, it never needed any repairs .
We thought we were making the right choice when we sold our house and got our 42’ 5th wheel to go full time. While we chose it to ensure we had ample room to serve our needs, it didn’t take long to realize we’d have been just fine in a 30-35’ rig. Though we haven’t had real problems, there have been some challenges with where to stay and we’ve definitely tested the ‘big rig friendly’ language that many campgrounds and rv parks tout.
Picked out 2 rvs felt fit our needs. Went to a monthly rv show and saw both. Fell in love with both. Test drove 1. Loved it!Shocked driver seat fit my 5′ body very well. Next week sent emails asking differences between 2 rigs.Told no difference. Went camping next week with our usual tent. After a miserable 3 days and fire evacuation we got a message from the dealer. Decided to buy rv when we got home. Body was just too old for tenting anymore. Memorial day, last day of month and rv show, dealer looking to sell. Pushy. I was sick with the flu and just wanted to get this done with and go home. Asked to test drive 2nd rig. Told don’t need to because rigs are exactly the same. I let it go. Leg issues I really needed the outdoor kitchen. Nothing is the same.I couldn’t even touch the pedals to drive. Inverter smaller, no side cameras, quality very different, etc. Serious issues every trip. Salesman, manager, no one would even talk to us to fix this. 5 years later finally fixed rig to work for us.
We spent 5 years preparing to go fulltime in 2010. We spent a full year looking at over 150 5th wheels before deciding to custom order a New Horizons 34 ft.. The research paid off & we’ve never regretted our decision. 12 years later, it’s still in great shape & we’re still fulltiming.
I was convinced against my better judgment that our coach had plenty of battery to operate our residential refrigerator ….. even when boondocking which we used to do a lot of. Now, we do little boondocking due to having to start the generator and run each morning to charge batteries for the stupid refrigerator …. should have listened to my inner voice.
I went for an expensive heat pump instead of a normal AC so I could get free heat when plugged into shore power. I never use it because it is very noisy and takes quite a while to start warming. A cheap little space heater or two does the job quickly and very quietly.
We must have lucked out. Our MH is an 02 with 2 A/C’s & 2 heat pumps. The heat pumps were not all that much more to add. Also, sometimes we have to check if we only have A/C or Heat Pump on to see if it’s on. They both are very quiet, especially the heat pump.
I really wanted on oven, but in actual use, my tiny oven will only hold a cookie sheet, or small pizza. I’d make better use of a storage cabinet there to keep a small toaster, cause toast is about all I make in the oven—> but, that is a very small issue, and thankfully, we like our camper!
Made one big mistake which was opting for the “protective” exterior coating which was touted as providing protection for ten years. Turned out to be snake oil as within 3 years, I was back to waxing the exterior 2 times a year. Buyer Beware!!!
Been there. We actually professionally waxed our rv twice the first year even after being told with the “protection” it didn’t need it. Finish was still terrible. They warranted it, turns out only once even though pw doesn’t state that. Real problem came in when dealer sanded and buffed but didn’t reapply. They said they weren’t paid for that, but they were. After arguing for 2 years and our paint job seriously going to crap, I reached out to Winnebago and RV Travel. Both had words to use for success. The manager said, “it isn’t going to make any difference anyway. The paint jobs just don’t last. They are already terrible in the lot.” Doesn’t change the fact that they didn’t do their job. RV is almost 5 years old and they finally relocated it. Looks very old because of 2 years with no finish. Seriously unbelievable. If the product doesn’t get you the dealer does. Thanks to RV Travel for helping me get this done.
I bought a new motor home. I would NEVER buy a new RV again. The first two+ years were HORRIBLE. And this was in 2005 when RVs were built “better”. The only thing that eased my pain was I learned to fix things myself instead of relying on the “RV industry”.
We were experienced campers when we bought our retirement RV, a 5th wheel. We found the floorplan we wanted. There were 2 within 200 miles. I had created a check list of items to inspect for quality, including the roof/underbelly and anything that moves and its accessibility when buttoned up for travel. I don’t think we could have asked for a more bend-over-backwards dealership than what we had. After pulling it around the parking lot we had the dealership hook it up to electrical and high pressure water and tested very circuit. We even ran the AC and held the pressure overnight. ADVICE: Make your list and add to it as things occur to you.
Overall, still pleased, 11 years later. But, it never occurred to us to look where the gas filler is. It’s ON the back wall. Makes it essential we pick the right fuel station, especially when towing our Fit. Sadly, we’re 2 feet too long for many state & national parks, but we’re comfortable, even with 2 big dogs or 2 guests.
I sealed the deal on my current motor home hungover from an unexpected night out the night before. I think if I was more on my game I could have gotten a little better price and perhaps more concessions from the dealer like four new GC2 batteries.
I knew they were poorly built but did not expect HOW poorly. I’m convinced whoever trimmed it out had only one eye. Nothing is plumb or level.
We upgraded to a larger TT with a slideout. Was very leery of having a slideout as our previous smaller camper did not. Have read many stories of folks having big issues with slideouts. We found a TT with the floorplan we liked, but had a nice super slideout with a U-shaped dinette and tri-fold sleeper sofa. Well, long story short, the slideout wasn’t sealed properly, allowing for water intrusion along the bottom rail of the Schwintek gear rail. They sort of rushed us through the PDI about 2 hours before closing time at the dealer. You would think the manufacturer (Forest River) would have caught this, but no, it wasn’t. It wasn’t until we noticed water spots on the floor where the slide would come in, when we put the slide out. Had we had a professional inspection done before we took ownership, they would have caught this issue. (They said). We now regret not having that done. Warranty will cover it.
Life is changing so we got rid of the fifth wheel and bought a truck camper. We were experienced with them as our first rv was one. This one has a wet bath. Ok we can live with that. Should have tried it before we bought. To use sink and mirror it’s best to kneel with left knee on toilet cover. When using throne your knees hit the wall. And the worst thing is an 8 gal gray and a 5gal black tank.
Still better than 0 potty!
Bought our 1st TT in 2019. Found out that a bed you can’t walk around is a terrible idea. Managed to sell it without losing money. Bought a 2021 with twin beds. Very nice unit just not enough storage for camping months at a time. Sold it last year for what we paid and got the Flagstaff Micro Lite 25FKBS which is working out great for 3 months in AZ. Thinking in a few years of getting a 5th wheel.
My mistake was agreeing to a 7-year, $7000 extended warranty that was tacked on to my total cost that was financed for 20 years. That $7000 will eventually cost me twice that amount by the time my coach is paid off. Big mistake!
Can’t really think of any. Which is why on February 10th we celebrate our 02 Newmar Dutchstar’s 20th birthday!
We like the Jayco trailer we bought, but not the dealer. We bought from a dealer in Aberdeen MS. When we picked up the trailer we found several problems and pointed them out to the salesman and manager. We were told they would not fix them then and it did not matter because we had a 2 year warranty. They basically showed us where the trailer was and that was all. I fixed most of the problems myself. We went to another dealer in Southaven MS about a bad switch on the trailer jack and were told it would be a month to get parts. A month later we called and they went and picked up a switch locally and fixed it. The general manager there had a very hateful attitude toward us. I called Jayco and the directed me to a dealer in Jonesboro AR. The Jayco dealer in Jonesboro was GREAT he made repairs, let us talk to service man about how to maintain the trailer and told us that they loved warranty because it was money in the bank. BEWARE Our trailer has a loaded weight of 8k and 2-3.5k axles
We should have ordered fabric furniture instead of vinyl.
Totally agree. The fifth wheel was great except for the leather look sofa and recliners. Totally cracked and peeled within three years. Only fabric going forward.
We looked for 6 years before settling on the 5th wheel that we custom ordered. The first one that we got had serious issues and the manufacture built us another one no questions asked. #2 was just fine but as my son says, RV’s are just a kit that you have to finish the way you want! Have customized it to our liking and really enjoy it. Have had since 2015. It is a 40′ model.
I had to say no because it asked about the current RV. We, like so many people, can say that because we’ve made mistakes that we learned from and I have been RVing since I was 5 years old. I called our first RV “the learning curve” cause we made some bad mistakes!😀
I’ve only had two RVs. The first was a 2010, 17′ Casita Spirit Deluxe Travel Trailer. It was a WONDERFUL way to test the RV lifestyle without spending a fortune. Fiberglass “egg” trailers tend to hold their value MUCH better than “traditional” RVs so, when I sold it four years later, I recouped much of my original purchase price. In 2014, after three years of searching, I “graduated” to a TRUE Super-C, Diesel Puller (a 2015 Dynamax DX3-37RB). Being my first motorhome, I was woefully unprepared to do (or have a professional RV inspector) a PROPER inspection. Like most RVs, it was heavy on “flash” and VERY light on build quality under the surface. Like many (most?) RV builders, Dynamax was NOT big on Quality Control. I suspect that my DX3 was built by Moe, Larry & Curly. Fortunately, the Freightliner base was built like a tank. I’ve made numerous upgrades & fixes in the ~ 7 years I’ve owned it. It DOES have the BEST floorplan I’ve ever seen (although later models changed that).
I say RV stands for Ruined my Vacation. The bigger the dealer the worse they are. Check the batteries before you pull the first dealer put old ones in as he knew I was leaving the area for good. Soon as you sign papers they basically leave you in your own.
We ordered our coach and picked out everything we wanted. We’ve had it 2 years and are still happy with the choices we made. There have been problems, but there always are.
We bought privately and the person we puchased from is a friend. We knew how well the coach had been taken care of.
We bought a lightly used but old Class A. Any problems we have had are because we have lived in it full time for 27 months.
Yes. I believed the Jeep marketing that said the Grand Cherokee could tow a 7,200 lb trailer. Got our 23′-long, 5,700 GVWR trailer, and found the Jeep could not handle it. Not long enough wheelbase for stability (yes, used a properly-set WDH), and not enough power for long grades. Got an F-150, and all is good.
We have a 07 GC and a 20 foot TT that weighs under 3000 lbs. GC pulls the TT just fine here in the Badger State but last year a trip GTNP and points west seemed tax the GC somewhat, so like you went with the Ford Expedition with the HD tow package. Camping season starts in about 7 weeks for us so we’ll find out. Yours in camping
We purchased a Winnebago 27PE, small Class A Gasser. Our plan was to use the rig for extended stays in areas such as Arizona, Utah, Nevada, New mexico, etc, but we bought it just at the onset of COVID. Borders closed, travel was severely restricted and we simply could not use the rig for what we purchased it for.
Unit was great, but as we couldn’t use it as planned we sold it, and are waiting for life to return to some semblance of normality before we purchase our next RV.
We purchased a well-used towable smallish 22′ trailer. We’ve been happy with it.
We have no guilt when it sets in the driveway and does nothing and when we take it out on a road trip it is no problem, works fine.
We purchased a 26′ Rockwood Ultra Lite. We had a few minor problems that were taken care of, but the biggest problem was buying it from Camping World at the Hershey show. The “best deal” is like getting something free. The four hour trip to the service department, after telling them what I needed, turned into “Yes, that is the problem. We’ll order the part and let you know when it is in.” It took me about 30 minutes and I had the camper in the shop being fixed and the service rep packed and walking down the street. Not even Camping World wants bad publicity from law enforcement. I complained to the company who builds Rockwood and I now take it to my local dealer 30 minutes away.
I purchased a C Class and found with two big dogs, it just didn’t work. We now have a 34 foot trailer and the layout is much better.
The RV we bought had been sitting in Texas for more than a year, but it was THE floorplan that DW wanted. We ended up getting 40% off MSRP on a 43′ DP. We replaced the tires early (at 6 years rather than 7 even though they still appeared sound and safe) and replaced the 8 AGM house batteries at 6 years because they clearly were providing less power compared to two years earlier. All other “problems” that might be associated with sitting in Texas for 12+ months were addressed under warranty, so we think we did very well. Had others shared our preferences more closely, then we would not have done so well. Sometimes it pays to be an outlier in society’s preferences distribution.
I wish I had taken one with a bath and a half as tuff when both of us needs the bathroom at same time and the extra room with sofa bed and storage for nights when hubby snores so loud.
We bought a 2010 20 foot travel trailer in March of 2021. It is not perfect but it was cheap. That was the biggest selling point in last year’s ridiculous market. Most problems have been cosmetic. Dirty, dirty, dirty! Even the black water tank was full when we brought it home. We worked for several months cleaning, painting and replacing what needed cleaning, painting and replacing. We took it out for a month last summer and two weeks this winter plus some small trips in between. It has been great fun and we are pretty proud of how it looks now. I use it as a guest room and as my “she shed” when it is sitting in the driveway (we had a 30 amp plug installed at the house). I do wish it was a little bit larger and had more seating but then we couldn’t fit it in our driveway or camp in some of the small spots we have maneuvered into. So, 50/50. We like that the trailer is small but we wish it could be a little bigger. 🙂