Avoid These 5 Pitfalls When Purchasing Your First RV

A few weeks ago, I took the plunge and bought an RV to reclaim travel experiences for my family.

As a complete novice, I had a lot to learn and many questions to ask when I embarked on my journey to purchase my first recreational vehicle. Thanks to RV owner groups I discovered on Facebook and a wealth of helpful videos on YouTube, self-education became quite accessible. With dedicated research time, you can quickly become informed.

I dedicated about six weeks to research and spent countless hours exploring RVs for sale, both from private sellers and dealerships. Many enthusiasts of points and miles would likely enjoy the RV scene, as it may be complex, yet it offers various strategies to save money and find good deals. However, there are several things I wish I had known or prioritized from the very beginning.

Here are the five key lessons I learned during my RV buying journey. This isn't an exhaustive list, but keeping these tips in mind will help you steer clear of common mistakes as a first-time RV buyer.

For the latest TPG news sent to your inbox every morning, be sure to subscribe to our daily newsletter.

The RV market is booming like never before

A growing number of Americans are entering the RV market for the first time. With travel restrictions due to the pandemic, many have found the allure of hitting the road in their own mobile home appealing.

However, if you're looking for a bargain, now is not the ideal time to purchase. It’s a seller’s market, and you’ll quickly notice this when visiting an RV dealer and seeing limited inventory. Dealers have mentioned that, in some cases, they’re operating with only 10% of the usual stock on their lots.

The dealership where I made my purchase, RV Connections in Panama City, Florida, typically has around 300 travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes available. However, lately, they struggle to keep more than 50 in stock.

In addition to the rising demand, most U.S. RV manufacturers shut down their factories in March and April after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. This has further tightened the supply of new RVs. If you’d prefer not to put down a deposit and wait two months for your desired model (which is a possibility), you’ll need to select from the current inventory.

At the moment, traditional RV selling practices have been turned upside down. Typically, new RVs can be negotiated for up to 40% off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), but right now, there’s much less room for negotiation. Private sellers on platforms like RV Trader have listed used travel trailers and fifth wheels at prices comparable to new ones.

I interacted with several dealers while searching for the best price for the travel trailer I wanted. During negotiations, it became evident that the dealer didn’t need to offer much flexibility because if I rejected the inflated price, they could easily sell it to another buyer.

Units are moving so quickly that dealers can’t keep their website inventory updated. I called twice to verify that the make and model I was interested in was still available, but by the time I arrived later that day, the RV had already been sold.

If you spot an RV you like and want to secure it right away, you can usually place a $500 refundable deposit to hold it for you.

Understanding towing calculations can be tricky

For those unfamiliar with towing, my best piece of advice is to disregard what car, truck, or RV dealers say about a vehicle's actual towing capacity.

I dedicated much of my RV purchasing journey to learning how to tow safely due to the serious consequences of getting it wrong. My goal was to protect my costly truck and travel trailer, while also ensuring the safety of my family and other drivers. Unfortunately, every truck and RV dealer I consulted provided incorrect information regarding one or more key aspects of safely towing a travel trailer or fifth wheel.

Let's debunk some common towing myths:

The advertised towing capacity doesn't determine a safe RV weight

You’ll likely surpass several other limits of your truck or trailer long before reaching its stated towing capacity. If your truck claims a 12,000-pound towing capacity, chances are you won’t safely tow anything near a 12,000-pound RV.

The "80% rule" is baseless

There's a prevalent myth suggesting that you should only tow up to 80% of your truck's rated capacity. However, this is not grounded in any mathematical reasoning. In reality, the advertised towing capacity is a figure you'll probably never approach before exceeding other critical limits of your towing vehicle or trailer.

Upgraded features won’t boost towing capacity

Upgraded suspensions like airbags, Roadmaster Active Suspension, or stiffer coils don’t enhance your truck’s towing capacity. They merely improve ride quality or reduce the "squat" of your towing vehicle.

Often, your towing vehicle's limitations stem from its "payload" capacity (which refers to how much weight your truck can carry on its own axles). This payload includes everything on those axles, aside from the vehicle's curb weight, such as fuel, passengers, cargo, and notably, the tongue or hitch weight of the RV you intend to tow.

Take my 2020 Ram 1500 Laramie Ecodiesel as an example: my specific trim with options has a payload capacity of 1,600 pounds, as indicated on the sticker inside the driver’s door panel. From that 1,600 pounds, you need to account for:

• 25 gallons of diesel at 7 pounds per gallon, totaling 175 pounds
• My family of four, weighing around 470 pounds
• Car seats and assorted cargo weighing 40 pounds

This means that, without adding anything else to the truck, the tongue weight of my RV must not exceed 915 pounds. Typically, the tongue weight of a trailer should range from 10% to 15% of the trailer's gross weight, indicating that the maximum fully loaded weight of my trailer can only be about 6,100 pounds, or at most 9,150 pounds, to stay within the truck's payload capacity.

The dealer lists a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds, but I won’t approach that figure without surpassing the truck's capacity and likely other design limits.

After conducting thorough research on towing, you’ll discover that many drivers are exceeding one or more limits of their tow vehicle or RV. Most likely, they haven't done the necessary calculations and are only relying on the towing capacity and RV weight as told by a dealer eager to make a sale.

There are numerous factors to consider for safe towing, including axle limits, gross combined vehicle weights, trailer brakes, weight distribution hitches, sway control, appropriate mirrors, and more. Please prioritize your towing research and ensure safety. Exceeding design limits can damage or destroy your tow vehicle or trailer — or worse, result in serious injury or fatalities.

Dealers can offer enjoyable add-ons

When purchasing a new RV, consider asking the dealer to include some low-cost extras that can enhance your experience and help avoid frustrating repairs later. By making these requests upfront, you might also sidestep a secondary sales pitch from the dealer. Here are some items you might want to ask for:

Bug screens for external vents

Your RV is equipped with external vents for various appliances like the hot water heater, refrigerator, freezer, and oven. While these vents come with covers, they aren't insect-proof. Pests like dirt daubers and wasps often see these warm vents as ideal nesting spots. Dealers can install metal mesh over these vents to keep such nuisances out and protect your RV from potential damage.

Roof vent covers

Your trailer will feature roof vents to promote air circulation, typically one located in the bathroom and another in the main living space. While these vents come with mesh covers to keep out insects and debris, they are still exposed to rain. The vent covers you should request are plastic and designed with rear air openings. They are affordable but must be properly sealed to the roof, allowing the vents to remain open during rain or while driving to prevent your RV from overheating.

Hitch assembly

If you purchase your hitch from the dealer, you’re less likely to face additional labor charges. Regardless, ask the dealer to assemble your hitch on the day of delivery and check if you can bring your own. If you have a weight-distribution hitch and sway control system, you won't be able to set these up correctly until you have the actual trailer, which means you’ll have some tasks to handle on delivery day to ensure you leave safely with your trailer or fifth wheel.

The dealer may refuse your requests, but these are straightforward items that can easily lead to a win-win situation for both parties.

Consider hiring a third-party RV inspector

Purchasing used RVs from private sellers or dealers selling trade-ins can offer great deals. However, the challenge with used RVs is the uncertainty surrounding their true condition, and often the warranty is either expired or not transferable. That's why it's crucial to bring in a third-party inspector when buying a used RV.

If you're looking to save money and avoid the depreciation associated with a new RV, it's essential to ensure you're not getting stuck with a lemon. Hiring an independent RV inspector to evaluate your potential purchase is a wise move.

The National Recreational Vehicle Inspectors Association makes it easy to find and connect with a certified inspector in your area. For a couple of hundred dollars, they will thoroughly assess your RV, examining every system and structure to identify any potential issues and costs you might face. If a seller or dealer is unwilling to allow an inspection, it's a red flag, and you should consider walking away from that deal.

Familiarize yourself with manufacturer and dealer warranties

Warranties can be a significant selling point, but they often come with fine print and conditions that you need to fully understand.

Manufacturers generally provide their own warranties covering workmanship for one year and structural issues for up to three years, and these warranties are transferable to new owners. In contrast, many RV dealers offer a lifetime warranty that is non-transferable. While this may seem appealing, keep in mind that you must have your RV inspected annually, which can cost around $300 each time.

Getting warranty work done on your RV can also be a hassle. Many owners report waiting weeks or even months for an appointment for warranty repairs, and with parts in short supply due to production challenges, you might experience even longer delays before getting your RV back.

Don't let a warranty be the sole factor influencing your purchase decision unless you're fully aware of and comfortable with its limitations and requirements.

Bottom Line

Investing in an RV and a tow vehicle is significant. It's essential to approach this investment wisely, considering both financial and safety aspects. This means conducting your own research and not solely depending on dealers for accurate information.

There's a vast outdoor world waiting for you to explore, and an RV can help you experience it right now. Stay informed, prioritize safety, learn from my experiences, and embrace the adventure if you're a first-time RV buyer.

Feature photo by Richard Kerr/Dinogo.