The Pros and Cons of Buying a Used RV

This could be one of the most important and expensive purchases you will ever make!

By Alan Wiener
Editor: Everything About RVing

You're seriously considering buying a used RV (that's the reason you're here, right?).  Depending on the type of RV you are considering, this could be one of the most important and expensive purchases you will ever make in your life.  So it is very important that you research your choice thoroughly.  We will do everything we can to help you with this research.

Buying a RV is not like buying a car, unless the car you are looking at has a stove, sink, refrigerator and king size bed in it.  Hopefully, you will be spending a lot of leisure time in your RV so you want it to be the right fit for you.  

Buying a RV is more like buying a vacation home. When you are looking for a vacation home, you are looking at the floor-plans, the amenities, the size of the living area and where the home is actually located. Those are the same things that you look for in a RV. 

Let's talk about location;  the advantage of an RV is that the location can be wherever you want it to be.  Your RV can be in the mountains one day and on the beach the next (try doing that with a vacation home).  So, in reality your RV is going to be your vacation home on wheels.

Here Are The PROS And CONS Of Purchasing A Used RV:

PROS

• Considerably less expensive than a new RV
  

• You get more bang for your buck.  You will probably be able to afford an RV that has more of the luxuries you want

• License and registration costs less than a new RV

• Insurance will cost less
  

CONS

• Used Recreational Vehicles are usually sold AS IS with no manufacturer warranties.

• Loan interest rates are higher for used vehicles (of course you could always pay cash).

• You could be inheriting someone else's lemon (in other words they did not maintain it properly and it is now falling apart).

• You will not be able to choose from a wide variety of floor plans, furnishings etc (of course with the money you will save you can always upgrade this later).

• If considering a Motor Home It may not be as fuel efficient as a newer vehicle

• A used RV could have hidden maintenance issues.

If you feel that we have missed some Pros or Cons, please feel free to to leave a comment on the bottom of this page and we will be happy to add them in.

Hopefully, the above information will be helpful in steering you in the right direction.  One thing for sure is that you will never regret becoming an RVer regardless of the type of RV you choose.

Do you have any suggestions or comments on this topic? You can add them to this page by using the comments section located below.

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