According to MJ and Izzy of Endless RVing, a whopping 70% of RV owners regret their purchases. Yowza, that is a lot of unhappy travelers!
The couple has learned from their own experiences buying RVs and from countless conversations with other RVers. In the video below, they break down some of the biggest reasons why people regret buying an RV, and what you can do to prevent RV buyer’s remorse. They’ve made mistakes in the past and don’t want you to repeat them.
Izzy and MJ know firsthand what it’s like to jump into an RV purchase without fully understanding their needs. They excitedly bought their first RV, however, they quickly realized that it wasn’t the right fit for their lifestyle.
Think about what type of RV travel you plan to do. Are you planning to be a full-timer, a weekend warrior, or something in between? Do you want to go off-grid, or do you prefer the amenities of a campground?
The couple says it’s important to be selfish. I learned this mistake the hard way, myself.
It’s tempting to buy an RV that can accommodate all your friends and family, but resist the urge. Buy for your needs, not for the occasional guest. I did this, but honestly, on-the-road guests are so rare that I would have done better with another floor plan.
Towable considerations
If you’re considering a towable RV, make sure your truck can handle it. Is your truck capable of towing the weight? Can it handle long distances? Towables also have some inherent inconveniences. It’s harder to use the bathroom while traveling, and setup time can be longer.
The real price tag: Beyond the sticker shock
The sticker price of an RV is just the beginning. There are many other costs to consider, and they can add up quickly.
Think about all the hidden costs of RV ownership:
- Fuel
- Insurance
- Maintenance
- Campground fees
- Storage
- Transportation
For example, if you buy a destination trailer, you’ll need to factor in the cost of seasonal campground fees, storage, and transportation. As a general rule, Izzy and MJ say you should budget an extra 10-20% of the RV’s purchase price to cover these additional costs.
Here are additional reasons many RVers regret their expensive RV purchases:
• Separating fact from fiction: Salespeople can sometimes exaggerate the capabilities of an RV. It’s essential to do your own research and not believe everything you hear.
• Solar power deception: Many people want solar power so they can go off-grid. However, solar power has limitations. Do your research on RV forums to get real-world experiences from other RVers.
• The long game: Think about how your needs might change in the future. Izzy and MJ’s son used to love camping in the RV. Now that he’s in college, he doesn’t come as often. They’re planning for their next RV to have recliners instead of bunks. If you are planning to add to your family in the future, you might want to consider an RV that can accommodate that growth.
• The $700,000 wind noise: Izzy and MJ test-drove a motorhome that cost more than $700,000. There was excessive wind noise coming from the passenger door. When they asked the factory rep about it, he simply said it needed to be adjusted. That’s not acceptable for a motorhome in that price range!
• Financial reality check: RV loans can be for long terms. What will your life look like in 10, 15, or 20 years? It’s important to consider the financial implications of a long-term RV loan.
Don’t skip the checkup: The importance of RV inspections
Even new RVs can have problems. RVs are built by humans, and mistakes happen. A thorough RV inspection can identify issues before you take delivery. It’s important to choose an inspector who is unbiased, knowledgeable, and working in your best interest.
Choose an inspector with:
- Qualifications
- Certifications from manufacturers
- Certifications from component makers
Even if your RV has a warranty, it’s best to have any issues fixed before you take delivery. Once you take possession, you might go to the back of the service line at the dealership.
Kick the tires (and drive it around the block)
Izzy and MJ didn’t test drive their current motorhome, “Nelly,” before they bought it. They got lucky, but they won’t make that mistake again. A reputable dealer will allow serious buyers to test drive a motorhome.
Remember the $700,000 motorhome with the wind noise? A test drive would have revealed that issue. A test drive can reveal a lot about an RV:
- Wind noise
- Handling
- Overall feel
Do you know of other RV buying mistakes? Be sure to share in the comments below so that we can all learn from each other.
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##RVT1201
Determining actual usage. RVs are lousy lawn ornaments.
Truth to your HUMOR. Thanks Tom!
Great article that hits on important considerations! I laughed at the “be selfish” part but how true! Not everyone shares our hobbies, goals, and bucket lists.
We are full-timers and run into so many other that, as the article states, regret their decision. The simple reason is, they know nothing about RVing. Things like the holding tanks, leaving the fullway termination valve open or closed, reducing water usage, or storage space. A huge storage compartment does not mean they can fill it up with can goods, laundry detergent and tools, since these items just too heavy in mass.
I’d say start small. We were clueless about RVing with a trailer but got a very inexpensive pop up that we could tow with what we had. We cut our teeth on this setup and found we really liked and moved up to hardside trailers and still camp 25 years later.
If possible, rent first…try it on for size and fit. We rented 3 different motorhomes before setting our “must have” list. Research is your friend! 70% is a huge number..happy to say we are part of the satisfied 30%. Love our girl and she has served us well for the past 4 years of full time travel!
We don’t regret our first RV purchase. That’s how we learned what we really wanted and needed in an RV. We sold it after two years, making almost all our money back, and now we have the RV that really fits us.
Thank you for the video and summary, Cheri! Take the time to imitate living in it. For example, pretend to make a meal to see how well arranged the pantry, refrigerator, stovetop, oven/microwave, and dinette are. Get in the shower and see what elbow-room there is. Examine every feature as if on a trip. Echoing Tom, buy according to anticipated usage. Toward that end, rent an RV to help form a realistic expectation of use. I wonder if only 30 percent of RVers are happy with their purchase? Maybe so. Have a great week and safe travels!
It would be nice if explained how they came up with the 70%
They “did their own research”
I think a lot of newbies greatly underestimate the cost of accessories – not to be confused with luxuries, but things you will need to make your RV liveable and sustainable.
Most RVers quickly figure out that borrowing household items for each trip will not only get frustrating moving it back & forth between house and RV, but a lot of the stuff you happily use at your house isn’t truly appropriate for life in your RV.
Before you buy anything on any kind of dealers lot…learn what snake oil is and the buzzards who sell it are.
I certainly would not own one if I didn’t do a lot of DIY maintenance and repair.
I think it’s an oversimplification to say that just because we end up changing RVs after some time, we made a mistake in what we bought. Sometimes the only way to know what works is to make the best decision you can and then see how it unfolds. Also, needs change. We bought an RV for shorter trips, and only after some experience did we discover that we loved it and wanted one suitable for longer trips. I’m not arguing against being careful and thorough in the beginning, only adding that some changes based on experience are okay.
I might be wrong, but I am thinking that this “news letter” ran a poll which found very different results. Am I wrong? It is fine with me if I am wrong. According to my wife, I am often wrong.
Hi, Jim. Here’s a gold star ⭐ for you. You’re correct! In January we ran a poll, “Overall, did you make a good or bad choice when choosing your current RV?” 92% of our readers said they made a good choice. I guess those 70% of RVers in this post who regret their purchase don’t read RVtravel.com.🤔 Maybe they should, so they’d be better educated before buying an RV they may regret.😉 Have a great day! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
With absolutely no experience, we went looking for a pre-owned MH. Rather quickly found a 5 year old Winnebago with low mileage at a dealer. Made an acceptable deal within our budget (mine, not my husband’s unrealistic). Did a test drive but didn’t know to do an inspection. Did buy for my purpose – traveling to horse shows with my dogs. Although the walk thru was not adequate for newbies, we were happy with the dealer. And have had no reason to return there in 5+ years. Is it perfect? Not quite but serves the purpose. Saw many miles at first but old age has slowed us down some. Not giving up yet! Have had some necessary maintenance but not unacceptable for a now 10 year old MH.
However they came up with the 70% figure, I guess that probably is correct if taken into context. Newbies have no idea what they will ultimately need, like or dislike, towable or driveable, 20ft. or 40ft. Only after they experience the lifestyle of RV’ing can they form an educated opinion of their needs, no matter how much research they do beforehand.
However, my wife and I would be in the 30% bracket starting with a 32ft. motorhome, moving up to a 34ft, both gas, and now a 36ft. DP which may be our last rig.
Maybe a good idea to rent for awhile and see whether it suit?
In 2016, we started out with a used 20 ft. RV but found it was “too little”. So after a year we traded it back to the same used RV dealer for a used 30 ft. RV. We had that RV for a year but decided it was “too big” for us. We then traded it back to the same seller the next year for a used 26 ft. We’ve now had the 26 ft. RV for over 6 1/2 years, and it’s “just right”. Yes, we could have rented, but in the end we never regretted any of our purchases. We’re happy we found our Goldilocks which we’ve lived in full time over the past 4 1/2 years.
The first timers also don’t realize how much money for the extras like sewer hose, water fill hose, chemicals for the black tank, bedding, dishes, silverware, unless they bring it from home, 30 or 50 amp extension cords, depending on their amps, unless they buy a used one and the previous owner is gracious enough to leave it all in the camper, you don’t need it all right away but some things you need right away.
Buying used all set up with all equipment is a definite plus, and buying used from an owner who will take the time to explain and demonstrate everything and the idiosyncrasies of the unit is a plus for new buyers. Especially if the owners offer to provide support and advice after the sale if you have any trouble.
We were full timers from 2006 to 2016, We were campers since the early 70s and had owned tents, Pop-ups, truck campers and at that time a 26′ 5’er.
We started planning 5+ years out from my retirement. We had no Idea what we wanted or needed for full timing, so we read lots of books. We learned not to take what sales staff tell as gospel but verify. We went to lots of trade shows. We were looking at layouts, features, and quality. We knew that whatever we bought, we wanted it to last 10 years +. We chose a 5’er and once we know the layout we wanted, we visited RV manufactures that could provide what we wanted and build a quality RV. Our 5’er took us 150,000 mi & it’s still going.
I researched a lot first, and had a list of what I wanted. Weight was limited by my tow vehicle (an SUV with towing package), and budget. I gave up dual axles, which was not available with more weight than I wanted, and a couch. I immediately decided that I didn’t want to be bothered with a couch I’d have to make into a bed every night.
Because I researched, I knew I had to download the manuals and learn how to do repairs – that I had to add grease to the bearings & switch to decent tires. It has never been back to the dealer because I could handle everything so far. I will bring it to a trucking place for the bearings this spring.
I bought a dream, an Aliner , easy to tow, easy to set up, and impossible to sell in Texas.
Rockwood Ultra Lite 2606WS
I don’t regret buying it, only the people i bought it from.
Camping World – no compassion for customers, refused to order parts before making appointment to fix problem, and hiring personnel that don’t know their butt from a gopher hole.
Bought a forest river 30 foot, 30% of camp sites won’t fit it in. The fan over stove has never worked along with oven. dealer couldn’t get a wire diagram so as to trace power to each. The first trip half of the trim fell off. But the BIGGEST problem is 20 gallon water tank— called a park model, sad, ran out second day out.
Rent first what you are considering to purchase. Rent a second time Don’t get hookups either time. Then see if it works for you.