The absolute BEST WAY to buy an RV and why

By Cheri Sicard
Michigan attorney Steve Lehto produced this video as a follow-up solution to the lack of rights RV buyers have when buying new RVs. (RV Travel reported on some of the scandalous practices and a recent lawsuit victory here.) In my opinion, the advice in this video is right on the money. So if you are in the market for an RV, follow Steve’s advice on the best way to buy an RV and save yourself potential headaches.

In the video, Steve cites cases of some of his prior clients who bought brand-new RVs only to have major problems the minute they left the dealer. Some could not even use their new RVs for as much as a year. You can find similar tales in posts right here on RVtravel.com.

Steve says it makes far more sense to buy used, and he has some darn good reasons why this makes more sense than buying a brand-new RV:

• The average RV owner uses their RV for 3 weeks out of 52, so most used RVs do not have much wear and tear on them.
• The owner who bought the rig took the depreciation hit; the owner who buys used gets a far better deal and lower price.
• If there were problems with the rig when it was new, chances are good they have been worked out and fixed by the time you buy it used.

How to ensure you are buying the best possible RV for you

Now, a lot of people think that buying used is buying someone else’s problems. That can be the case, but not always. And with so many RVs having BIG repair and quality issues right out of the factory, it’s no more risky than buying new. This is sad to say, but that is the current state of the overall RV industry, with rare exceptions.

It’s true that when buying used you may not have the warranty. But with the warranty issues new RV owners face, long waits and sometimes having to take the RV back to where it was built (usually Indiana) for repairs, the warranties aren’t worth much anyway.

Steve says that new or used, you should hire a certified RV inspector. Yes, it will cost you a little, but it could save you from making a major RV-buying mistake. You may not get a warranty when buying used, but an inspector will make sure you’re not buying someone else’s problems.

He also suggests that you rent an RV similar to what you want to buy, before buying. Steve says dealerships regularly rent RVs. This is a good way to try before you make a huge investment. You might, like his friend, decide that you don’t want to buy an RV at all, after renting one. Or you might decide a different type of RV would better meet your needs.

Talk to RVers

Another great idea he shares is to go camping at a crowded campground and walk around. Steve says most RVers are friendly people and if you ask them about their RVs they will be more than happy to talk your ear off about what they do and don’t like about it. I have to agree that I have found this to be the case in my travels too. Talking to people who own and use RVs will give you an unbiased view of what to expect.

Don’t be afraid to ask about repair and warranty issues and if they liked the dealer they bought from. Keep notes of the various responses you get. If you are interested in a particular RV, try to talk to several owners of that brand.

Follow Steve’s advice, rent first if possible, ask other RVers about their experiences, buy used, and get an inspection before buying, and you will be well on your way to acquiring an RV that will serve you well.

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