How to Pick the Right RV to Meet Your Needs: Part 3
Welcome back to the third and final part of our series on how to pick the right RV to meet your recreational needs. By now, we hope to have given you a pretty good idea of some of the most pressing questions you need to ask before buying an RV. However, such a serious financial commitment shouldn’t be made lightly, or without all pertinent information. So, let’s take a final look at a few more questions you should consider in order to determine which type of RV might be right for you.
Who’s the Driver?
For most people, a full-sized RV will rank as the biggest vehicle they’ve ever driven. Driving such a massive vehicle takes some getting used to, and it’s certainly not something everyone will enjoy. If you plan on sharing driving responsibilities with a loved one while out on the road, you need to pick a vehicle that everyone will feel comfortable piloting.
Thinking you might be okay driving such a large vehicle is much different than knowing every family member will feel okay behind the wheel. That’s why it’s important to test drive different types of RVs to find which type of vehicle each member of the family feels comfortable with driving. Just like a car, each type of recreational vehicle will feel a little different out on the road. Finding a style and, importantly, size that fits everyone’s needs will go a long way towards ensuring each trip in your RV is a pleasant one.
What are the Lifestyle Features You Just Can’t Life Without?
An RV acts just like a tiny home, which means you’ll probably need to do a little downsizing from what you’re currently used to enjoying. While some items will be easy to say goodbye to, trying to imagine living without certain creature comforts of home may seem impossible.
Here’s a list of a few things you may need to choose from:
- Dishwasher
- Washer/Dryer
- Cable TV
- Big Screen TV
- Pantry
- Large Closets
- Desk
- Multiple Bathrooms
- Multiple Sleeping Areas
- The Ability to Tow
- Diesel Engine
- Bunk Beds
Deciding which of these items are a must and which you can learn to live without will go a long way towards informing you on which type of RV to buy. While practicality is important, you shouldn’t sacrifice too much comfort. After all, your RV will act like a new home, and you need to be comfortable in your home. Know that you will need to make some compromises when selecting your RV features, but take some consolation knowing that there will be some room for your favorites.
How Long do You Plan on Owning Your RV?
Do you plan on taking your RV on the occasional weekend trip, or do you plan on spending the majority of your time driving from one RV park to another? If you plan on becoming an RVer for the majority of the year, don’t be surprised if your vision of the “perfect” RV changes over the years.
It’s not uncommon for many full-time RVers to start out buying a big rig and then downsize over time. Some might start small to see if the RV life is right for them before moving up to a bigger and more expensive vehicle. Simply put, the more people travel the more they begin to understand the type of RV, and lifestyle, that best suits their needs.
Buying an RV is a huge investment, but don’t feel like your first decision will need to be one you live with forever. The buying and selling of RVs is a robust business, and you’ll always be able to trade in your vehicle for one that better suits your needs.
Buying an RV Made Simple
We hope that our series on how to pick the right RV for you was informative to those considering an upcoming RV purchase. While buying a RV is a major financial decision, it’s one that can greatly change your life for the better. Once you experience the freedom of being able to travel comfortably wherever you want, it will be hard to imagine life without your RV.