Chickery's Travels

Chickery's Travels logo. A blue-green Earth globe with continents surrounded by dots with an arrow denoting movement or travel and "Chickery's Travels" as part of the dotted circle. Next to this is a photo of their blue and white Arctic Fox 5th Wheel with the awning out.
  • Home
  • Campground Reviews
    • The Best U.S. National Park Campgrounds
    • 28 Must-See State Park Campgrounds You Can’t Miss
    • Alternatives To National Park Campgrounds: Discover Hidden Gems Just Outside the Park Boundaries
    • Best Luxury RV Resorts For All RV Types
    • Best Waterfront Campgrounds For Every Budget
    • Alabama
      • Gunter Hill Campground (Montgomery, Alabama)
    • Arizona
      • Best Campgrounds in Arizona
      • Aspen Campground (Payson, Arizona)
      • LazyDays KOA (Tucson, Arizona)
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, AZ)
    • Arkansas
      • Catherine’s Landing (Hot Springs, Arkansas)
      • Downtown Riverside RV Park (Little Rock, Arkansas)
    • California
      • Best Campgrounds in California
      • Crescent City Redwoods KOA (Crescent City, California)
      • Sea Breeze RV Park (Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station)
    • Delaware
      • Cape Henlopen State Park (Lewes, Delaware)
    • Florida
      • Best Campgrounds in Florida
      • Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area (Pensacola, FL)
      • Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Southeast FL)
      • LazyDays RV Resort (Tampa, FL)
      • MacDill AFB FamCamp (Tampa, FL)
      • Military Camping in Key West
      • Patrick AFB FamCamp (Cocoa Beach, FL)
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Ocala, FL)
      • Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness (Orlando, FL)
        • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
        • Chickery’s Travels Podcast Episode 5: Fort Wilderness Campground Review
    • Maryland
      • Cherry Hill Park (College Park, Maryland)
    • Michigan
      • Port Huron KOA (Kimball, Michigan)
    • Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
      • Boondocking Near Las Vegas
    • New Hampshire
      • Lincoln / Woodstock KOA (New Hampshire)
    • New York
      • Round Pond Recreation Area (West Point, NY)
    • North Carolina
      • Outer Banks West / Currituck Sound KOA (Coinjock, North Carolina)
    • Oklahoma
      • Oklahoma City East KOA (Choctaw, Oklahoma)
    • Texas
      • Best Campgrounds in Texas
      • Alsatian RV Resort (Castroville, Texas)
      • Maverick Ranch (Lajitas, Texas)
      • Texas Wine Country Jellystone (Fredericksburg, Texas)
    • Tennessee
      • Camp Margaritaville (Pigeon Forge, TN)
      • Crossville I-40 KOA (Crossville, TN)
      • Midway RV Park (Memphis, TN)
    • Virginia
      • Complete Guide to Camping at Shenandoah National Park
      • Fort Belvoir Travel Camp (Alexandria, VA)
      • Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA (Broadway, Virginia)
      • Shenandoah Views Campground (Luray, Virginia)
      • Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA (Monroe, Virginia)
      • Shenandoah River State Park (Bentonville, Virginia)
    • Washington
      • Crescent Bar RV Resort (Quincy, Washington)
    • West Virginia
      • Harper’s Ferry KOA (Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia)
  • USA
    • Alaska
      • 5 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Trip To Alaska
    • Arizona
      • Apache Trail: A Crazy, Scary, Beautiful Drive
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, Arizona)
      • Phoenix Faves: Best Activities to Enjoy on Your Arizona Vacation
    • District of Columbia
      • Budget Friendly Fun in Washington D.C.
      • Favorite Hikes near Washington DC
      • Indoor Skydiving and TopGolf: Just Another Day of Family Fun!
    • Florida
      • Best Walt Disney World Festivals For Adults
      • Blowing Rocks Preserve – Jupiter Island, Florida
      • Bok Tower Gardens
      • Daytona Beach – The World’s Most Famous Beach
      • Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
      • Gasparilla – Tampa’s Pirate Invasion
      • 3 Days on the Nature Coast 
      • Florida Freshwater Springs on the Nature Coast
      • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
      • Kennedy Space Center – Cape Canaveral
      • Island Hopping at Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks
      • Must See Sights in St. Augustine, FL – America’s Oldest City
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Dunnellon, Florida)
      • Enjoy the Best of Sunny Sarasota
      • Tampa
        • Get Back to Nature in Tampa Bay
        • Take Me Out to the Ball Game – Spring Training in Tampa, FL
        • The 5 Best Beaches in the Tampa Bay Area
        • Why We Love Tampa
      • Tarpon Springs – The Gulf Coast Town with Greek Flavor
      • Top 5 Things to Do on Florida’s Space Coast
      • What Not to Do When Kayaking on the Weeki Wachee River
      • Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
    • Georgia
      • Visiting Atlanta? Don’t Miss These Civil Rights Museums
    • Hawaii
      • Everything You Need to Know About Camping in a Jeep Wrangler in Hawaii
    • Illinois
      • One Day In The Windy City – Chicago Itinerary
    • Maine
      • Coastal Maine Road Trip
      • Discover the Beauty of Monhegan Island, Maine
      • Acadia National Park: Highlights You Can’t Miss
    • Nevada
      • Planning an RV Trip to Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
    • North Carolina
      • Complete Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Uncover the Coastal Charm of North Carolina’s Outer Banks | A Guide for Visitors
    • Tennessee
      • Complete Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Burgess Falls: 3 For 1 Waterfall Special
      • National Civil Rights Museum – Memphis, TN
      • Window Cliffs, TN – I’m Not Afraid of Heights, But I am Afraid of Falling!
      • WWII History in Tennessee
    • Texas
      • Best Restaurants in Fredericksburg
      • Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View of Texas Hill Country
      • Explore Nature’s Untamed Beauty at Big Bend National Park
    • Virginia
      • Explore Great Falls Park, Virginia
  • RV Resources
    • 3 Simple Steps to Find the Best RV Campgrounds
    • 5 Years Full-Time RV: Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret
    • Boondocking – What We Learned From Our First Dry Camping Experience
    • Tips for Boondocking Success
    • Essential RV Gear
      • Essential RV Gear Guide
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • RV Must Have: Tire Pressure Monitoring System
      • RV SnapPads Product Review
      • RVLOCK Keyless Entry Door Handle Installation and Review
      • Shop “RV Local” With TechnoRV
      • Top RV Gadgets & Accessories
      • WeBoost Cellular Booster Review
    • Maintenance
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • DIY Power Upgrade – “Solar Ready” Arctic Fox Fifth Wheel
      • An Easy Way to Protect Your RV Water Heater
      • Easy DIY Project to Protect Your RV Water System
      • How to Reduce the Likelihood of Tire Blowouts on your RV
      • Odor Free RV Black Tank Tips
      • RV Condensation: What It Is, What It Does, and How To Stop It
      • RV Roofs – What You Need to Know
    • Living in an RV
      • 9 Lessons From 2 1/2 Years on the Road
      • Biggest Regret Full-Time RV Living
      • Dealing with my Biggest Full-Time Travel Struggle, Missing Family While Traveling
      • Downsizing: 3 Areas That Make The Biggest Impact
      • Full-Time RV: 2019 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV: 2018 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV Travel – 2017 Year In Review
      • How Full-Time RVers Celebrate the Holidays
      • Get Ready for Full-Time RV Travel
      • Internet Solutions for RV Travelers
      • The Ultimate Guide to Embracing the Full-Time RV Lifestyle
      • Living in a Tiny, Traveling Home
      • Making Friends (and reconnecting with old friends) While Traveling Full-Time
      • Pros & Cons of Full-Time RV Travel
      • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
      • Short-Term RV Storage: Leaving The RV Behind
      • Top 3 Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret: 3 Years Full-Time RV Living
      • What We Wish We Knew Before Full-Time RVing – Stories from the Road
      • What You Need To Know Before Selling Everything And Moving To An RV
      • Why We Are Traveling Full-Time In Our RV
    • Must Read Books Before Becoming A Full-time RVer
    • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
    • RV Remodel
      • Planning an RV Remodel
      • RV Kitchen Cooking Videos
      • Painting Your RV Interior
      • Update the RV Kitchen – Backsplashes & More
      • Updating Your RV Window Treatments
      • RV Bedroom Makeover
      • RV Remodel Costs with Before & After Photos
      • Vintage Camper Renovation
    • RV Holiday Tour – Decorating Our Small Space
    • RV Hurricane Evacuation
    • RV Misery Can Be Overcome By The Generosity Of Others
    • How Book Readers Can Space and Weight in the RV
    • Slow Travel
    • Small Kitchen Cooking
      • Cooking Videos
      • Eating Healthy on Travel Days
    • Staying Healthy
      • Traveling with Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and Other Chronic Pain Conditions
    • Trip Planning
    • Traveling with Pets
      • RVing with Your Cat
      • Traveling with Restricted Breed Dogs
    • Why I Prefer RV Travel Over Flying
    • Your Guide To Planning The Best Family Vacation This Summer
  • Travel Finance
    • 5 Tips to Save on RV Travel
    • 5 Ways to Fund Full-Time Travel
    • Creative Ways To Save Money On Your Next Vacation
    • Full-Time RV Expenses
      • Annual Full-Time RV Expenses – The Big Three
    • Five Credit Card Strategies To Improve Travel
    • How Much Do Campgrounds Cost?
    • How Much Does it Cost to RV Full-Time?
    • How to Camp for Free
    • How to Start a Profitable Blog
    • How to Save Money on RV Fuel Costs
    • How to Save on Food While Camping
    • How We Earn A Living While Traveling Full-Time (And How You Can Too)
    • How We Paid $139,000 of Debt in 2 Years While Full-Time RVing
    • Learn How to Finance Your Dreams
    • The Top 7 Ways to Save Money While Traveling Full-Time
    • RV Purchasing
      • RV Purchasing: Understanding RV Types
      • Benefits of Renting an RV: Try Before You Buy
      • Should I Buy A New or Used RV?
      • The Costs of RV Ownership
      • The True Cost of Financing an RV
      • Attend An RV Show – Even If You Already Own An RV | Exciting Reasons Why
    • Save Money Using the Public Library (On More Than Just Books)
  • Military Travel
    • Guide To Using Military Campgrounds
    • Health Care for Retired Military Full-Time RVers
    • Why Military Retirees Should Fly Space-A
  • About Us
    • RV Shows We’re Attending
    • Contact Us
    • Follow Us
    • Why We Are Full-Time RVers

5:23 pm by Guest Post 13 Comments

Should I Buy A New or Used RV?

I see the question of buying a new or used RV on social media quite frequently. I am writing this article to capture my thoughts and research on the topic. Ultimately, it is a personal decision that the buyer(s) will have to make. However, being informed can help you make the best decision for your needs and desires.

Click here to download your FREE RV Shopping Tips!

COST

The first factor, most of the time, is the price. There is no doubt that a used RV will be less than a new one. Just like anything on wheels, an RV will depreciate very quickly once it is driven off the lot. According to a New York Times article, the average new RV loses 25% – 40% of its value almost immediately. They also report that good brands hold their values for the next two years, but drop after that and be worth 35% – 50% of their original values after 5 years.

Depreciation

Here’s a comparison from the NADA guide of four 2021 RV models: a 5th wheel/toy hauler, a diesel class A, a class C, and a travel trailer. The used price is the national average used sales price for a 2019 model.

RV Price New 2021 Used Price 2019
2019 Heartland Cyclone 4200 $101,577 $59,900
2019 Tiffin Phaeton 36GH $310,697 $227,250
2019 Winnebago Aspect M-30J-Ford $109,991 $80,600
2019 Keystone RV Cougar Series M-29 RBK $38,085 $23,850

The depreciation over two years for the 4 RVs averaged 33%. The 5th wheel/toy hauler had the highest depreciation at 41%. The diesel class A and the class C, both had a depreciation of about 27%.

Dealer Discounts

To offset the depreciation a little, many dealers will discount below the suggested retail price. Sometimes you can get large discounts on new RVs at RV shows such as the one in Hershey, PA, and the RV Super Show in Tampa, FL. Many times these discounts can add up to several thousand dollars, but you have to be patient and seek out the deals. You can also get discounts off of the suggested prices of used RVs, but often they will not be as significant as the discounts on new RVs.

Availability

Numerous reports, and my personal experience in buying our RV, indicate that many people trade-in or sell their RVs after the first 2 years of ownership. This leaves a lot of RVs available in that sweet spot of depreciation of 2-3 years old. Many will be only slightly used and in great shape.

Condition of New and Used

Most people think that a new RV will not have any problems. That is definitely not the case. I know that in our first year after purchase, we had a lot of warranty work done. We also fixed a lot of minor things ourselves to avoid the hassle. These vehicles are assembled in a “factory” and then put on the road to travel at highway speeds and through rough campground roads. Anything that was not tightened down or had faulty parts should be discovered in that first year. Many dealers will recommend taking that weekend “shake-down” cruise to discover any immediate problems. Needless to say, the first year of owning a new RV requires patience and consistent inspection and repair. Especially since you want to take advantage of the original warranty, and identify any issues before it expires.

With a slightly used, 2 year-old, RV, the problems with the manufacturing should be resolved. This will leave you with only routine maintenance, assuming the RV was taken care by the previous owners. If you are not buying it from a reputable dealer that performs a thorough inspection, take it to someone who will. This will allow you to identify many of the problems before you decide to purchase.

Try Before You Buy 

One thing that you can do to save money is rent an RV first. Now why would I say that renting will save you money? Because it will help you avoid a mistake. It is very easy to get excited when you see a new RV for sale at a show or dealership. Unfortunately, it’s not quite so easy to find the things that might annoy you after a few months or even try out a floor plan to see if it really works for you. Companies like Outdoorsy are brokers between private RV owners and people who want to rent. Kind of like AirBnB for RVs. The great thing about that over a company that owns and rents a fleet of RVs like Cruise America is that you have so many more options of RV brands, models, and floor plans. So you can choose one similar (or even the same) as the RV motorhome, fifth wheel, or travel trailer you are thinking of purchasing and rent it for a few days or more to see if it really suits you.

Outdoorsy Rv rental website image

Our Experience

We looked for many years before purchasing our RV. I still feel like we made a mistake. We purchased a new 2015 Heartland Cyclone 4200. The first year was just as I described above. We had several items that needed repair, tightening down, or replacing during the first several months. We even lived in the maintenance bay at the dealership for a few days while they performed warranty work. Within just 3 short years, our RV was worth 41% less than when we bought it but was still in fantastic shape as you can see in this video. We took good care of it and made sure all of the maintenance is performed. It was in almost the same condition as it was when we purchased it, but the market value has dropped by almost half. We could have saved a lot by purchasing used.

It’s Up to You

In the end, it comes down to personal feelings and convictions. I know there are some that will never want to put their butt on the same toilet as someone else or sleep in a bed that has been slept in by someone else. For them, purchasing new is worth the peace of mind. Also, the fear of something going wrong with a used RV (especially without a warranty) is a factor for some. There is no need to judge anyone’s reasons for their purchasing decisions. It is how they feel about it that matters.

Want to Learn More?

Full-Time RV Finance: Learn tips for budgeting for full-time travel, earning an income on the road, and implementing techniques for saving on campgrounds and more!If you’d like to learn more about saving for your RV purchase, budgeting for the RV lifestyle, earning an income on the road, and minimizing expenses on RV travel check out our book Full-Time RV Finance (available on Amazon).

Wondering if you should buy a new or used RV? How do you know which camper is the best for you? Read our tips and for purchasing an RV, motorhome, travel trailer, or camper.

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Filed Under: Purchasing New or Used, RV Resources Tagged With: finding the right rv, how to buy a rv, new or used RV, new rv vs used rv, new vs used rv, old rv vs new rv, Purchase RV, purchase used rv, purchasing rv, purchasing used rv, rv buy, rv new vs used, rv purchase, rv shopping tips, shopping for rvs, things to consider when you're buying an rv, tips for buying an rv, used rv, what to consider before you buy an rv, which rv is right for me

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