Tips on Shopping for A New RV
When it comes to shopping for a new RV, there are a lot of details to consider, from RV types to floor plans, amenities and the newest technology. Campers who prefer living in the lap of luxury may want one set of features. And those who prefer camping off-grid in pristine wilderness may prioritize another. Luckily, there's an RV that will suit every kind of lifestyle, whether you're a solo traveler or taking the entire extended family with you.
So instead of walking into an RV dealership without a clue, we can help you prepare before you step onto the sales floor. We'll share some basic RV knowledge to help make your shopping trip successful and stress-free.
When we purchased our most recent RV, we took our time, visiting multiple dealerships to look at more than 60 units. While shopping, we kept our list of wants and need close at hand. But over the process, it continued to grow and change. Truthfully, the features we (thought we) wanted at the start were totally different than the features we chose in the end.
So, if you're ready to get started in the RV lifestyle with a new home on wheels, these are our best tips on shopping for a new RV.
Types of RV Styles
When we started shopping for our family RV, I'm sure we looked like deer in the headlights. There were so many options to choose from. When I was a kid, you could choose between small campers or tent camping. But in today's market, there's a huge variety of RV equipment specialized for every kind of lifestyle.
So if you've narrowed your options down to towables (rather than self-propelled RVs like Class As, Bs or Cs), you're ahead of the game. Towable models attach to a tow vehicle, commonly a pickup truck, although lighter models may be compatible with a wider variety of vehicles. Here are the common types of towable RV styles:
Travel Trailer
Designed to be towed by a car, van, or pick-up truck with a bumper or frame hitch. Approximate Size: 12 to 35 feet.
Pop-Up Camper
A travel trailer with sides that collapse down when in motion, designed to be towed by a car, van, or pick-up truck with a bumper or frame hitch. Approximate Size: 15 to 23 feet.
Fifth Wheel
A style of travel trailer towed by a special hitch affixed to the bed of a pickup truck. Approximate Size: 21 to 40 feet.
Toy Hauler
A style of travel trailer that can hold motorized toys inside an onboard garage. Approximate Size: 28 to 46 feet.
Pro-tip: As you consider the kind of rig you want, also consider your current truck's towing capacity. If you buy an RV outside of your current towing capacity, you'll double your expenses when you need to buy a new tow vehicle, too.
When we began shopping, I had my head in the clouds, dreaming of all the incredible amenities and features I wanted in our fancy new RV. Then my better half reminded me of the limitations of our current tow vehicle. And I realized purchasing everything I thought I wanted would require us to buy a new tow vehicle — an expense that wasn't in our current budget.
But just because I had to dream a little smaller, it didn't mean I couldn't still get a lot of incredible features in a more modest RV.
Prioritizing RV Features
To help narrow down which features might suit your lifestyle best, think about what your ideal vacation looks like, and ask yourself a number of questions.
Duration
Do you plan to camp on long weekends and the occasional week-long vacation? Or will you use it as a part-time home in certain months of the year, for example, like snowbirds? The longer you plan to spend in your RV, the more home-like amenities you may want to include in your package.
Comfort Level
Dream of camping without hook-ups, living off the land and keeping your environmental footprint small by using solar power or a generator only as-needed? Or do you fantasize about staying in a luxurious RV with a chef-worthy kitchen, multiple slides and a full-size bathtub? If you plan to camp off-grid, look for RVs with generous tanks, solar packages and smaller appliances that don't require a ton of electricity to run. If you want a more luxe experience, check out higher-end fifth wheels designed with comfort in mind.
Terrain
Love the idea of camping off the beaten path, in untouched nature? Or do you prefer the safety and level ground of well-traveled campgrounds? Camping further afield, you may come across more unpaved or poorly maintained roads, where a heavier RV may be more harder to maneuver.
Weather
What kinds of climate will your RV need to handle? For example, if you want to camp in the desert in summer, you may want an RV with multiple AC units. And if you're hoping to camp in cooler weather, look for an RV specifically designed to handle colder temperatures.
Guests
How many people do you plan to travel with? Would you want a small, cozy RV built for two? Or do you like the idea of traveling with a big group of friends or extended family, requiring multiple beds and bunks?
Capability
How much cargo do you need your RV to hold? Would you want a toy hauler, with a separate garage designed to haul gas-powered toys like ATVs or side-by-sides? Or do you need generous pass-through storage so you can bring along a kayak or paddle board?
Special Interests
When you're buying an RV to use for tailgating, you may want a model with a generously sized kitchen or multiple bathrooms. Camping with teenagers may mean you prefer a TV and sound system to keep them occupied indoors on rainy days. If you plan to travel with pets or young children, consider a toy hauler with a garage door you can turn into a patio where they can get fresh air in an enclosed space.
Know Your Deal Breakers
Every RV has upsides and downsides. One of our best tips for buying an RV that fits your lifestyle is to spend some time inside each one and think about what it would be like to camp in it. What kind of storage does it have? Is anything missing? Pretend you're cooking dinner — how is the kitchen laid out? Can the fridge hold enough for the way you prefer to shop for food?
Lay in the bed. Is it big enough? Will there be ample bedside storage for what you might need, like phones chargers, a CPAP machine, etc.? Can the master closet hold a washer/dryer? And if so, is that something you'll want to have? How many beds are there, and are they arranged in a way that will work for your purposes?
Consider the size of the RV. Will you be able to maneuver it where you want it to go? Is it a size you're comfortable towing? How comfortable would you feel backing it up?
Narrowing Down
Go down the checklist of your ideal features, and start narrowing down which RVs fit your list. You may also want to prioritize your list of features from must-haves to nice-to-haves, which will allow you more flexibility in determining which RVs get close enough to your dream list for serious consideration. If you tour an RV that doesn’t meet your must-have criteria, walk out and move on. No point in wasting your time.
Pro-tip: The perfect RV may not exist, but you can come pretty close!
Shopping Your Budget
With so many incredible RVs on the market in a wide range of prices, there's no reason to get pushed into buying a unit beyond your budget. When you visit the RV dealership, let them know your budget upfront and stick to it. Don't even tour an RV that's outside your price range — there's no worse feeling than falling in love with something you can't have.
I looked at more than 60 RVs before purchasing. That may shock you, I know it's a lot.
When I started looking at RVs, I thought I wanted a three-slide travel trailer that was over 9,000 lbs. in dry weight. But our tow vehicle is a GMC Yukon, and a unit that heavy was way over our capacity. We would've had to purchase a new truck just to haul it. So I went back to the drawing board, keeping our towing capacity and our family's needs in mind.
Finding My Perfect Match
Even though Matt and I have been RVing for a long time, I wasn't super familiar with ultra-lite RVs — travel trailers specifically built to be lightweight for more versatile towing. But discovering them has been life changing! The first time I walked inside the Sundance 294 BH, I immediately knew I had found my home on wheels. It had everything I wanted on my checklist, and a few bonuses, like a huge closet.
Most importantly, it was small enough and light enough to tow with the vehicle we currently owned. It checked off all my must-haves, and the rest was history.
Buyer's Quick Guide to Heartland RV Brands
Heartland has a ton of different RV styles, models and floor plans to choose from. Chances are, no matter what you're looking for, they've got a model that will suit your life perfectly. Here's a quick guide to different models in each category, to help you get started.
Original blog written by Brandy Gleason, published author and owner of a Heartland Sundance 294BH.
