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.
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  • Campground Reviews
    • Alternatives To National Park Campgrounds
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    • 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)
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      • Downtown Riverside RV Park (Little Rock, Arkansas)
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      • Crescent City Redwoods KOA (Crescent City, California)
      • Sea Breeze RV Park (Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station)
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      • 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)
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      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
      • Boondocking Near Las Vegas
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      • Oklahoma City East KOA (Choctaw, Oklahoma)
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      • Alsatian RV Resort (Castroville, Texas)
      • Maverick Ranch (Lajitas, Texas)
      • Texas Wine Country Jellystone (Fredericksburg, Texas)
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      • Crossville I-40 KOA (Crossville, TN)
      • Midway RV Park (Memphis, TN)
    • Virginia
      • Fort Belvoir Travel Camp (Alexandria, VA)
      • Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA (Broadway, Virginia)
      • Luray KOA (Luray, Virginia)
      • Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA (Monroe, Virginia)
      • Shenandoah River State Park (Bentonville, Virginia)
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      • Crescent Bar RV Resort (Quincy, Washington)
  • USA
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      • Apache Trail: A Crazy, Scary, Beautiful Drive
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, Arizona)
      • Phoenix Faves
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      • 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 (Ocala, Florida)
      • 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
    • Illinois
      • One Day In The Windy City – Chicago Itinerary
    • Maine
      • Coastal Maine Vacation
      • Monhegan Island Maine
      • Two Days in Acadia National Park
    • Nevada
      • Planning an RV Trip to Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
    • Tennessee
      • 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 Eats in Fredericksburg
      • Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View of Texas Hill Country
  • RV Resources
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    • Essential RV Gear
      • Essential RV Gear Guide
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      • 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
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      • Internet Solutions for RV Travelers
      • Learn How to RV Full-Time
      • 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
      • Why We Are Traveling Full-Time In Our RV
    • Maintenance Tips
      • DIY Power Upgrade – “Solar Ready” Arctic Fox Fifth Wheel
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • Easy DIY Project to Protect Your RV Water System
      • An Easy Way to Protect Your RV Water Heater
      • How to Reduce the Likelihood of Tire Blowouts on your RV
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      • RV Condensation: What It Is, What It Does, and How To Stop It
    • Must Read Books Before Becoming A Full-time RVer
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      • RV Kitchen Cooking Videos
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      • RV Remodel Costs with Before & After Photos
      • Vintage Camper Renovation
    • RV Holiday Tour – Decorating Our Small Space
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      • Cooking Videos
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      • RVing with Your Cat
      • Traveling with Restricted Breed Dogs
    • Why I Prefer RV Travel Over Flying
  • Travel Finance
    • 5 Tips to Save on RV Travel
    • 5 Ways to Fund Full-Time Travel
    • 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 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
    • Roadmap to Financial Freedom
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report April 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report May 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report June 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report July 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report August 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report September/October 2018
    • RV Purchasing
      • Benefits of Renting an RV
      • Should I Buy A New or Used RV?
      • The Costs of RV Ownership
      • The True Cost of Financing an RV
      • Why You Should Attend An RV Show
      • Florida RV SuperShow 2018
    • 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
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    • Why We Are Full-Time RVers

January 14, 2018 by Julie Leave a Comment

Why You Should Attend An RV Show

RV Shows are great events to attend even if you aren’t in the market for a new RV! There’s really something for everyone and we always enjoy them. Two of our favorite shows to attend are the Florida RV Super Show in Tampa, FL in January and America’s Largest RV Show in Hershey, PA every September. Smaller shows are great too and we’ve been to several across the country. Here are some of the reasons we recommend attending a show even if you aren’t in the market for a new RV:

Seminars

What better way to learn about RVing than from your fellow travelers? Choose from topics like “Basic RV Maintenance” or “RV Trip Planning” and get all your questions answered in a relaxed and unpressured environment. Many of the vendors also conduct live demonstrations so you can see products in action. And guess what? We present seminars at several shows too!

Come out and meet us at an RV Show. We provide seminars at several RV shows throughout the year. We'd love to see you at one.

We keep this list updated, so please let us know if  you’ll be attending one of the same shows as us. We’d love to meet you! 

Vendors

The larger shows have every kind of  vendor you can imagine: RV accessories, Satellite TV experts, and numerous campgrounds. We’ve received expertise from someone on a satellite tv system we already had, purchased a new sign for our “yard”, bought a custom RV mattress (that they later delivered), and got offers for free stays at various campgrounds all at one show. The Florida RV Super Show has two buildings full of vendors with many more outdoors and most often they offer great deals! Click here to see our list of 17 essential items for every RV. 

Factory Representatives

Most of the RV shows will have representatives from the various RV manufacturers right there to talk to you and answer your questions. Talking to dealers is one thing, but let’s face it, they are trying to make a sale. The factory reps can tell you what can be done (or can’t be done) at the factory level as far as options are concerned.

We were very fortunate to be able to talk to the Arctic Fox representative at the Outdoor Expo in Scottsdale, Arizona last year. We went back all three days with more questions, and each time he was very patient and helpful. On that last day, we purchased it. Learn why we choose the Arctic Fox.

Looking for a show near you?

Click here to check out this list of RV shows published by the RV Industry Association.

Thinking of Purchasing an RV?

In the market for a new RV? Click here for our free RV shopping tips download.

If you are in the market for an RV, read our article: Should I Buy A New Or Used RV? Also watch our video on Calculating the True Cost of Financing a RV.

Still have questions? 

Feel free to drop a note in the comments below or send us an email. We’re happy to help. 

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Learn why you should attend an RV show even if you aren't in the market for a new RV! RV shows are for all camping enthusiasts. There are seminars, vendors, campgrounds, along with RVs and campers of every type including motorhomes, fifth wheels, travel trailers, and campers.

Filed Under: RV Purchasing Tagged With: buying an rv, chickerys travels, full time rv living, full-time rv, how to prepare for an rv show, learning about RVs, new or used RV, rv life, rv lifestyle, RV Living, rv living full time, RV shopping, rv shopping tips, RV show, rv show 2018, rv shows, RV SuperShow

November 15, 2017 by Julie 2 Comments

Podcast: Tampa Bay Fall RV Show

See the best new RVs from the Tampa Bay Fall RV Show. We picked our favorites from each category: Class A Diesel, Class A Gas, Class B, Class C, Fifth Wheel, Travel Trailer, and Truck Camper.

We just attended the Tampa Bay Fall RV Show hosted by the Florida RV Trade Association. This was a great warm-up for us since we plan to attend the big Florida RV Supershow in Tampa January 2018. Now, you may be asking why we are attending these shows? Are we shopping for a new RV? Yes, and no. Yes, we eventually want to purchase a smaller RV as we discussed in our previous discussion in Episode 4: Top 3 Lessons Learned After 3 Years of Full-Time RVing. However, we’re not planning to buy it in the next few months, but we still enjoy the shows to see what new features are coming out and to see the vendors as well.

Click here to listen to the podcast episode now. 

RV Show Tips

We’d like to share just a few tips on how to get the most out of your RV show shopping experience. First off, attend a small one like this first if you can. There was still a lot to see, but we felt we were able to cover it all in about 3 ½ hours. If you’re going to a larger show, consider attending more than one day. You can look at RVs one day and vendors another. This will allow you to enjoy it more fully. Finally, know your budget before you go don’t allow the sales people to pressure you into a sale with, “This is the last one at this price…” Usually the pressure comes from them needing to make a sale, which should tell you something.

RV Dealerships

At this particular show there were 7 RV dealerships represented:

  • General RV (Largest Representation)
  • Lazy Days
  • Como RV
  • RV One
  • America Choice RV
  • Gerzeny’s RV World
  • Arrow RV

Between the dealers, all types of RV were represented from truck bed campers to large diesel class A coaches. In addition, most of the major brands were represented. The only brand we did not see was Airstream.

Best in Show


We focused on looking at smaller RVs at this show. By smaller I mean smaller than our 44’ fifth wheel, so that covers a lot space. Here are some of our favorites from this show and the pricing that was displayed:

Class A Diesel: Tiffin Breeze 31BR – MSRP $241,993 Show Price $196,780

We considered a Class A before we purchased our Fifth Wheel and decided on Tiffin based on their reputation among RV consumers. The thing I liked about this one is that it is diesel, but it is smaller than many. Some of the diesel Class A’s these days are 40’ so this one was refreshing. However, I don’t like how the bathroom is right across from the kitchen. Just seems icky to me. We also looked at a Tiffin Allegro Red 33BR (MSRP $257,250 Show Price $216,965). It was also beautiful, but had the bathroom in the same place.

Class A Gas: Winnebago Vista 29VE – MSRP $132,971 Show Price $99,728

This is a nice little gas Class A that has everything you need for under $100,000. We didn’t really like the placement of the TV in the front room, and again-the bathroom in the kitchen. This is such a popular feature, maybe it’s just me that doesn’t like it.

Class B/C: Leisure Van Unity MB – Starting at $130,000

Leisure Van calls this a luxury Class C, but it is on a Mercedes Sprinter Chassis, which I usually considered a Class B – so you decide. Either way, I fell in love with this RV online and have been hoping to see one in person. It did not disappoint! We sat inside this RV for quite a while, and went back to it three times! The sales personnel from Gerzeny’s RV World of Lakeland were very helpful and answered all of our questions. The thing that I really love about it is that with the murphy bed, you get a full bathroom in the back. The draw back is that this thing is in such high demand, there is no break on the price and you have to wait about 10 months for delivery.

Class C – Winnebago View 24J – MSRP $159,040 Show $119,280

I think this is a cute little unit for someone with a child who wants to RV and be very maneuverable. It has the over the cab bunk and the dinette that makes into a bed. I personally don’t like the bed tucked in the corner so you have to crawl into it, but some people don’t mind.

Fifth Wheel – Grand Design Solitude 360 RL MSRP $95,249 Show Price $74,970

We’ve heard good things about Grand Design and are thinking of getting a smaller Fifth Wheel (unless we decide to splurge on the Unity) so I wanted to check one out. We looked at the Reflection as well (MSRP $48,304 Show Price $39,907), but the Solitude is the winner to me. I pretty much loved everything about it (except maybe the bowl sink in the bathroom—not a huge fan), but that was minor. The major problem is that this particular model is still 39’, and we’d like to go down to no more than 36’. They do have a shorter Solitude floorplan, but I’ll have to see one in person.

Light Fifth Wheel – Open Range Light MSRP $54,018 Show Price $45,915

This had a surprisingly spacious layout in the living room/kitchen area. It had a small refrigerator/freezer instead of residential, but perhaps that was for weight considerations.  The weird thing to me though was the bedroom. The headboard end of the bed was against a slanted wall. I don’t understand why it was like that but it seemed odd. Also the only dresser was 3 little drawers in the closet.

Travel Trailer: Winnie Drop WD170S – MSRP $24,911 Show Price $19,985

This was a cute little travel trailer that I thought would be perfect for a solo RVer or a couple that doesn’t mind being real close all the time. There is no separation between the living room, kitchen, and bedroom like you may have in something larger. One thing I really liked about it was the lighter cabinetry.

Travel Trailer: Forest River Wildwood HG 282RK – MSRP $43,976 Show Price $29,999

I was really surprised when we walked into this travel trailer. The layout was very similar to a Fifth Wheel and I felt like I was in a small apartment. The only thing I didn’t like was the slanted bedroom wall like the light fifth wheel. This one had some cabinets on each side and they stuck out awkwardly.

Truck Camper: Lance Truck Camper – MSRP $19,999 Show Price $15,330

I’ve never seen the inside of a truck camper before and was pleasantly surprised. I could live in it alone. I don’t think the two of us could because there is not much room to maneuver around each other, and it has the most limited storage space of any RVs we looked at.

Vendors

Another great thing about RV shows are the vendors. Especially at the larger shows, you can find anything and everything related to RVs and campgrounds. The show was small compared to the January Supershow, but there were still a lot of vendors representing all facets of RV travel.

  • Satellite Steve – We spent several minutes chatting with Satellite Steve. He is a great resource for all satellite questions and how to save money on satellite subscriptions. We have decided to use him to install an additional receiver in our RV as well as possibly mounting a quick-release mount on the roof of our Fifth Wheel.
  • Craft Village – We actually purchased our yard sign from this vendor 2 years ago at the Florida Supershow and it has held up perfectly to the weather. They hand paint and letter the large 16″ x 11 1/2″ x  3/4″ oak- stained resin signs. They have routed holes in back for easy hanging. You can get it at the show where they will personalize it while you shop, or you can order one online.
  • Travel Resorts of America – We’ve never heard of this campground membership that has 8 different east coast campgrounds in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. We plan to take a closer look at them next summer and try the resort at Gettysburg.

Other vendors included:

·      All American Gutter Protection
·      Ameriprise Financial
·      Bigfoot Leveling
·      Canterbury Creations
·      Cummins Coach Care
·      EZ Star Hitch
·      Fine Jewelry
·      Frogfur Woodwork
·      General RV Store
·      Health Craft
·      Hide Rugs
·      HiDow Professional Pain Management
·      Home Remodeling
·      Lazy Days RV Rental
·      Lazy Days Store
·      Luxury Airstream Escapes
·      Queen of Pain Relief
·      RV Awnings Under the Sun
·      RV Windshield of Florida
·      South Florida Water
·      Sprint
·      Suncoast RV Rental
·      Thousand Trails/Encore
·      Vision Auto Glass
·      Wyndham Vacation Resorts

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Filed Under: Podcasts Tagged With: attending an rv show, buying an rv, chickerys travels, Forest River Wildwood HG 282RK, full time rv living, full-time rv, Grand Design Solitude 360 RL, how to prepare for an rv show, Lance Truck Camper, learning about RVs, Leisure Van Unity MB, Open Range Light, rv life, rv lifestyle, RV Living, rv living full time, RV shopping, rv shopping tips, RV show, rv show 2018, RV Show Tips, rv shows, RV SuperShow, Tiffin Breeze 31BR, Winnebago View 24J, Winnebago Vista 29VE, Winnie Drop WD170S

August 11, 2017 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 2015 RV models: a 5th wheel/toy hauler, a diesel class A, a class C, and a travel trailer.

RV Price New Current Price
2015 Heartland Cyclone 4200 $101,577 $59,900
2015 Tiffin Phaeton 36GH $310,697 $227,250
2015 Winnebago Aspect M-30J-Ford $109,991 $80,600
2015 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 discounts 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.

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 replaced during the first several months. We even lived in the maintenance bay at the dealership for a few days while they performed warranty work. As we sit today, our RV is worth 41% less than when we bought it, but is still in fantastic shape as you can see in this video. We take good care of it and make sure all of the maintenance is performed. It is in almost the same condition as it was when we purchased it, but the market value has dropped by almost half. I would purchase it used today for the recommended price and feel good about the deal.

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.

For us, if we ever buy another RV, we’ve decided to seek out a 2 year-old diesel class A. We will be sure to get it thoroughly inspected  before the purchase. The drop in value those first two years is just not worth it to us when we know that many of these trade-ins have not been used very much.

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: Buy A New or Used RV, buy rv, buy used rv, buying a rv, buying a used rv, buying rv, Buying RVs, buying used rv, 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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