What type of RV should I buy?

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By Wes Gunther

As an RV enthusiast, I follow several RV websites and groups on social media.  Every day, someone who is about to enter the RV community asks this question: “What type of RV should I buy?”    Everyday it is met with the same response: “Depends what you want?”    Let’s take a quick look at your basic RV styles and we will showcase some advantage or disadvantages of each. 

The Popup

Many RV enthusiast, myself included, began their RV journey with a popup.  They are affordable and easy to tow.  I was able to tow my first popup with my family minivan so I was able to begin RVing without any tow vehicle expense or upgrade.  

Popups do have some disadvantages which is why most people, myself included, end up upgrading to something else.   The popup is a pain to set up.  Cranking it up and pulling out the tent ends can be tiresome.  Then there is putting it away after the trip.  It seems like most of the time, the canvas was wet from rain or dew and when I got home I had to put it up again to let it dry out.  Then there is the storage issue.  Since most of the canvas, bedding, seating and kitchen have to fold down into the camper – that leaves very little room for storage.  I have found it somewhat frustrating when you can’t remember if something is packed in the kitchen cabinet but now that the popup is down, it is too hard to get to. 

The biggest reason my wife and I upgraded to a travel trailer is our dogs.  We could not leave out dogs in the popup without us.  It was not safe or secure. 

The Travel Trailer

The travel trailer is the largest segment of the RV options.   I live near “America’s Largest RV Show” in Hershey, PA and have attended every RV show they have held.  Most of the units on that vast parking lot are travel trailers. 

Travel trailers give you so many options.  From various lengths to ones with or without slide-outs, the options seem endless.  Most (not all) travel trailers require some type of a truck or SUV tow vehicle.  They are ideal for families as many of the travel trailers have bunks or dinettes or couches that sleep a number of people.   You will have your own bathroom and an indoor kitchen area.   These make travel trailers an upgrade over many popups. 

It seems too many people upgrade their travel trailer before they upgrade their tow vehicle and end up pushing their weight limits.  This can make for not only an unpleasant driving experience but an unsafe one as well.   Travel trailers can seem “bouncy” when they are set up.  Most people wish their travel trailer felt more stable. 

The Fifth Wheel

The Fifth Wheel is the RV of choice for the camper who is spending larger amounts of time in their RV.  Those that travel for weeks or months at a time; those that are living the full-time RV lifestyle; those that work on the road for construction companies, etc.   The Fifth Wheel RV is designed for more comfort and longer stays.  They are easier to tow – especially turning and backing up.  They feel more stable.  They have larger bedrooms and bathrooms than most travel trailers.  They often now have full size kitchen appliances and full size couches and fire places. 

The Fifth Wheel though requires a dedicated tow vehicle.  You must have an appropriate sized pickup truck with the installed fifth wheel hitch  No more SUV’s here which might make it more difficult for the large family with pets.  The fifth wheel RV is almost always much higher.  You have to be careful around bridges, tunnels, limbs, etc.   The fifth wheel will cost more (cost per square foot). 

The Class C RV

The Class C is a drivable RV.  No need for a tow vehicle here as this RV is all inclusive.   With a Class C it is easy to camp in non-traditional places (such as a Walmart parking lot).  It is easy for the family to travel as they have access to the kitchen and restroom along the way.  The Class C has a van-like driving cockpit which is easy to adjust to and not intimidating. 

The downside of a Class C is that it is a vehicle and as such is subject to your state’s registration and inspection requirements.   The Class C usually does not get driven often enough so it is common for the owner to encounter dead batteries, dry rot on the tires, mechanical issues, etc.  

I could not find any specific statistics to back this up – but it seems to me that the Class C is the category of RV that most often has leaks or water damage. 

Class A Motor homes

The Motorhome is the “cream of the crop” when it comes to the RV lifestyle.  If you look at touring bands, celebrities, Nascar drivers, etc., they all use Class A Motorhomes.   They are luxury living on wheels.  There are many, many levels to the Class A Motorhome.  This article does not have the space or time to delve into all of the options in a Class A type RV. 

The downside of a Class A – the cost!   

Five Advantages of Buying a Used RV

On By wesgunIn RV ReviewLeave a comment

By Wes Gunther

Should we purchase a new RV with a warranty or should we save money and purchase a used one that might have some issues?  This is the question many first time and even seasoned RVers ask themselves.  There are clearly advantages for either options and in this article we will look at the positive aspects of purchasing a used RV.

Let me begin by saying that my wife and I have been RVing now for fifteen years.  This summer we purchased our fifth RV.  That puts us on a pace of changing RV’s every three years.  We have no intention of buying a new RV. 

  1. Buying used will save you money.    Clearly the number one reason people purchase used RV’s is because they are cheaper.   Purchasing a used RV means that the original owner took the largest depreciation hit.  As with an automobile, the RV loses value the moment you drive or tow it off the lot.  One can often find great deals if they are patient.  You can find an RV that someone just wants to be rid of or that is being sold to settle an estate and the sellers don’t really care or know the true value.  You have to do your research, but you can clearly save money buying a used RV.

Just because it is used doesn’t mean it is a good deal of course.  You may end up with a money pit if you are not careful.  Be sure to check out our next article Five Cautions in Buying a Used RV.  The goal is to find a fair deal and not be end up with someone else’s headache. 

  • You can try it without losing your shirt.   With the surge in RV ownership there are many first time RVers that are looking to purchase their first RV without having the experience or knowledge of seasoned RVers.   You can try RVing and see if it fits your family’s needs without losing a lot of money.  Perhaps you have been RVing for years and are now interested in switching from, let’s say, a travel trailer to a fifth wheel.  Once again, you can try something to see if it works for you without the large financial obligation. 

You are going to have to determine if you are purchasing from a dealer or from a private seller.  I have purchased all of mine privately because dealers are looking to make a profit (of course).  It is often more of a headache buying used – but the cost savings may be worthwhile. 

  • You may be able to break even!   If you pay attention to the market and keep your eyes open for deals, you may be able to upgrade from RV to RV and break even each time.  This is something that my wife prides herself in.  We have always purchased used RV’s and we have always been able to sell it for at least what we bought it for.  There are routine maintenance costs, of course, but there is not reason you shouldn’t be able to sell your RV for close to what you bought it for. Here are some keys to help make that a reality:
    •   You must be willing to make improvements.   When purchasing a used RV, there will be some things you can quickly and easily fix.  I purchased one travel trailer that had the power cord knotted inside the storage area which ment that when the power cord was pulled out it would only reach about twelve feet.  It was made to be twenty five feet long.  We took the cover off of the outside of the electrical area and my wife reached her smaller hand inside and untangled the cord.  The cost was nothing but the improvement was immediate.  Replace that cracked vent cover, put on a new spare tire holder, paint the hitch, fix the step – little things that we accept when we buy used but will help us when we go to sell it ourselves.  Plus – these things make the RV experience better for us when we are using it
    • You must be willing to buy and sell quickly.   All of my used RV purchases have come along almost spontaneously.  A brother in law’s boss was too busy and wanted to unload his camper he had barely used; we took the grandkids camping and realized we need bunks and my wife saw a great deal that same day on Marketplace.  You have to be able to move quickly.
    • Don’t hold onto your existing unit too long.  If you want to try to sell your RV for what you bought it for then you are going to have to make a change every couple of years.  The original depreciation is quick – but after that it slows down.  You can buy a RV that is 6 years old and one that is 9 years old (comparable models) for about the same price.  Don’t keep yours too long.
  • You become more willing to make it your own.   When you purchase a new RV you want to keep it looking new for as long as possible.  It is heartbreaking when you get a scratch or dent.   However, when you have a used RV, a scratch or dent is an invitation to make an improvement to it.  When you have a used RV you don’t think twice about reupholstering the cushions, painting the cabinets, changing the backsplash, installing hooks in the closet, etc.  You make a used RV your own much quicker.
  • You will begin the adventure sooner.  For those looking to start RVing – they will begin the adventure much sooner if they are willing to buy used because, with the cost difference, they can begin much sooner.  Don’t wait to start RVing – get started as soon as possible!

What I love and hate about a RV Toy Hauler

On By wesgunIn RV ReviewLeave a comment

By Wes Gunther

My brother in law called me one day a few years ago to let me know that his boss’s business had grown quickly and now his boss did not have time to use his RV anymore and he wanted to get rid of it.  It had only been used a few times and was in great shape and he would be willing to sell it for a good price. 

The catch – kind of – was that it was a toy hauler travel trailer.  It was a little heavier than I was used to (7800 pounds dry).  Also, I didn’t really have any toys that I needed to haul.  The price was right though, so my wife and I went to look at it.  To make a short story even shorter – we bought it. 

We grew to really like the toy hauler.  For a short time we carted around an electric golf cart but that just made the weight all the more heavier.  We ended up just converting the garage area into a large living room area.  We put in a couch from Value City and a chair from Ikea.  We then installed a television and put in an area rug.  On days that the weather was nice we would open up that large garage door in the back and put down the screen door that was rolled up inside and enjoyed the weather.  We liked this toy hauler enough that when the time came to sell it – we bought another one.

As with any style of RV there were some things we liked about the toy hauler and things we didn’t.  Let’s begin with the things we really liked:

  1. We liked that large door on the back.   When my wife and I go camping we like to enjoy the outdoors.  We try to cook outside and sit outside as much as possible.  That large door and screen on the back of the RV allowed the breeze and sunshine to come right inside.  That was probably what we loved the most about both of the toy haulers we owned.
  • We could easily load things into the RV.  With that large door on the back – we could load all kinds of things even though we were not technically hauling any “toys” with it.  We could put our bikes and kayaks inside.  These were things we used to put on the back or roof of the Suburban, but now it was much easier to just throw them in the back of the RV. 
  • More ceiling height.   This will of course depend on the exact model you get but both of the travel trailer toy haulers that we owned had higher ceilings in the rear of the RV to allow for a larger garage door.  This made the RV seem so much roomier inside.
  • Off grid accessories.  This also will depend on the exact model that you get but most toy haulers are designed for extended, off grid living.  I found that both of my toy haulers (Dutchman and Jayco) had larger water tanks, holding tanks, generators (or generator ready hook ups), than any of my regular travel trailers. 

There were things we found that we did not care for when it came to toy haulers. 

  1. There is very, very little storage.  Due to the fact that toy haulers are designed to carry a large “toy” like an ATV or Motorcycle, they have open garage areas in the rear.  Therefore, they do not have things like under dinette or under bunk storage areas.   I found that when I had a toy hauler, I had several totes that I would move in or out of the RV as needed for storage. 
  2. Higher roof.  I mentioned earlier the advantage of a higher ceiling inside of many toy haulers.  The downside of this, of course, is you now have a higher roof on the outside.  This is something to be mindful of in some campgrounds or gas stations.  It was actually an obstacle for me in my own yard when I wanted to park it.  There was a large branch that the earlier travel trailers could pass under but the toy haulers could not 
  • The weight.   Toy haulers have historically been heavier.  Today they are building lighter weight toy haulers but with the lighter weight comes a lighter payload.  I upgraded my Chevrolet Suburban from a 1500 to a 2500 but the weight was still an issue.  In the Northeast area where I live – I am usually fighting mountains when I travel.  The toy haulers were heavy compared to a travel trailer of the same size. 
  • Sacrifice amenities.   Because you need the garage area to park a toy – a toy hauler is giving up some comforts you may normally find in an RV.  You may have no bedroom or a very cramped bedroom.  You will probably not have a dinette. Your sofa and table are probably very temporary and therefore not as stable or comfortable.  You will lose closet or panty space. 
  • Dirt and smell.   If you are hauling a toy you are not parking that toy in your living area.  The gas and oil smells; the mud from your adventure; the leaking; the skid marks; all of these are now in an area that will be your home for the few days you are using it. 
  • Not a full-time garage.   For a toy hauler to be used the way it was designed, I have heard from many toy hauler owners who are not frustrated because once they got to the campground, they had to park their $20,000 Harley Davidson outside in the rain because they were trying to live in the camper.  That garage space can only be one or the other. 

These were things that my wife and I realize that we like or disliked.  We now have another travel trailer and the storage and bunk area are perfect for what we need right now.  I love having a regular bedroom once again.  However, on almost every beautiful summer day one of us will reminisce about how much we miss being able to open that large garage door. 

Campground Review – Mount Desert Campground, Acadia Park Maine

On By wesgunIn CampgroundsLeave a comment

Mount Desert Campground is located just outside of Acadia National Park in Maine.  This is an ideal campground for visiting the beauty of this national park and the Bar Harbor area.

Mount Desert Campground has older, but nice and clean facilities.  It is beautifully located right on the harbor with kayak rentals available.  They have a nice store, and grassy sites.  They have a pool and plenty of activities for the children.

http://www.mountdesertcampground.com/

Just Camp On rating:  3 1/2 out of 5 stars!!

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Campground Review – KOA – Saco/Old Orchard Beach Maine

On By wesgunIn CampgroundsLeave a comment

The KOA in Saco/Old Orchard Beach is probably the friendliest campground I have ever visited.  The staff was extremely helpful and went out of their way to welcome us, take us to our site, help us set up if needed and tell us what to see and what the coming events were in the next couple of days.  I know many campgrounds do these things, but it just seemed that the ‘yellow shirts’ were going out of their way to help us.

The campground is not large, but they offer so much.  The playground area was a big hit with the kids and the store with its large front porch and checkers set up for use was very relaxing.  The campground was very tidy and neat with no areas overlooked.  The restrooms were clean and well cared for.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of this campground is that on Saturday morning the staff made pancakes and serve breakfast for a very minimal charge.  It was great!

It’s no wonder that this campground was a KOA President’s Award winner in 2012!

http://koa.com/campgrounds/saco/

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