Buying a recreational vehicle, whether it is a motor home, fifth wheel, travel trailer, folding or pop up camper, truck camper or any other type of RV can be as much fun as you make it. Since the entire family will share the pleasure of using the new RV, let them share in the fun of shopping for it. Buying an RV should not be an impulsive decision, take your time, make sure you get the one that is best fitted for your family. The first decision that you need to make is how much you can afford to spend on the recreational vehicle, and how much you will need to spend to set it up to use. You want it stocked with everything that you will need to go camping, there is nothing worse that forgetting something important.
Once you have determined how much you can afford to spend, you will want to explore the different types of RV’s and decide which one will best fit your family’s needs. A motor home is the most comfortable to travel in, since everyone can move around freely while driving down the road. While they may be the most comfortable, they are also one of the most expensive and can be difficult to get around, once you reach your destination, which is why most tow a vehicle. The newer, larger motor coaches are truly like a house on wheels, while the older and smaller ones are more affordable, they are also less luxurious.
Travel trailers or fifth wheel trailers can be very comfortable to spend time in, once you arrive at your destination. The least comfortable part of traveling with a pull behind is that the driving portion of the trip is spent in a vehicle. Depending on how many people you are traveling with, and how long the trip is, and how rushed you are to get there, all play a part in determining how cramped the trip is. If you can make somewhat frequent stops and take breaks, traveling in a vehicle may easily out weigh the cost of a motor home.
A folding or Pop up camper or a truck camper are usually the least expensive and least luxurious way to travel. If you prefer a more primitive style of camping, the pop up might be more for you. While they are light to pull, easier to maneuver, less expensive, they also leave out many of the comforts of home. Many have bathroom facilities, but they are more on the lines of a portable potty than the facilities in a travel trailer or motor home. The same goes for the kitchen and sleeping areas, if you like primitive camping, this wont be an issue, but if you enjoy the comforts of home, you might want to look at a few before you decide to buy one.
Take your time, go to as many dealerships as you can and look at all of them. RV shows can be a lot of fun, and provide a great selection of types, brands and allow you to meet different sales people and ask different questions. Once you have a good idea what you want, I would suggest shopping on the Internet before you buy. The selection is endless, and you can save money, if you take your time and are willing to travel to buy one. Since travel is the reason for buying an RV, why be afraid to travel to buy one?
In summary, take your time, involve the whole family, make the shopping part of buying a recreational vehicle the beginning of the fun. Camping is a great way to bring the family together, so start enjoying it as you explore which RV is the best fit for your family. Be careful not to buy one that is over your budget, that can take a lot of fun out of using it. You can have just as much fun in an RV that cost half as much, the most important thing is that you can afford to use it, the more you go the more fun that you will have.
