Vacationing or living in an RV isn’t for everyone. Therefore it’s best to experience an RV before you spend big on a recreational vehicle. So here’s a tip — rent.
If you love the RV after renting, you’ll likely love owning one. Despite the big initial outlay (or monthly cost), buying an RV whether new or used, can be the optimal choice for family vacations.
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1. Make Sure Your First RV Trip is a Success
Like renting a car, if something goes wrong you call an 800 number and someone is there to help you. Same goes for RV rental. Flat tire? Electronics not working? Need help connecting to campground water? Someone is a phone call away with answers. Buy an RV and you are on your own. Renting allows you to a trial run and some practice with the myriad of things that could go wrong so you are better prepared for this type of travel.
2. What RV is right for you?
There are infinite RV designs, layouts, features and functions. Most depend on the number of people traveling, and how you prefer to go. Drive a motorhome or tow? Once those are confirmed, there is a whole world of available brands, sizes, capabilities and convenience features. Renting allows you to try what you think you’ll like and modify if needed.
3. Confirm Your RV Vacation Commitment
RV vacationing requires a financial commitment but also a time commitment. There is a reason most RVers are retired. When planning a trip the journey is more than half the adventure. Driving cross country, spend time at your destination and the drive home could take weeks. Do you have the time and commitment for planning and enjoying a trip that long?
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4. Understand Why You Want an RV
Are you traveling because it’s your life’s passion and you feel incomplete without a weekend away from hectic city life, or are you just eager for the Instagram photos? Perhaps you love to travel with pets and/or just like having your own pillow. Or, maybe you’re just curious and have serious wanderlust. Renting allows you to confirm you real feelings about this type of travel so you can proceed with a clear vision of your RV desires.
5. Know if the RV life is right for you
‘RV life’ is a unique lifestyle where you spend a portion of your time on the road and outdoors. Do you like rest stops? How about campgrounds and potentially limited water? How about adventure, meeting new people and gorgeous scenery you don’t see from an airplane window? These are all elements of an RV lifestyle. Trying before buying could convince you even further or confirm this is the right lifestyle for you.
6. Practice Operating
Heavy utility vehicles are never easy to drive and harder to tow. There is a reason why many experienced drivers get nervous behind the wheel of an RV or in front towing one. Operating an RV requires some serious practice, and you don’t want to be stuck with an RV only to find out that you’re terrified to park or drive over a bridge. Practice by renting out an RV first, and get a smooth hand on the behemoth before committing.
7. Learn About the Inner Workings
Driving is all about the internal mechanisms of the vehicle. Some of which can only be felt out by regularly driving the vehicle. Do you know the difference between a black tank and gray tank? How to connect to campground power? How to watch cable TV? Renting gives you a great trial run without the commitment and fear of ruining a large investment because of lack of experience.
8. Pick and choose your functions
Big companies tend to load their products up with several features that may or may not be important to you and your travels. This normally means you’re paying for things you may not use. Separate shower? Oven? Solar power capabilities? Renting an RV helps you identify the must-haves vs. the not necessaries.
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9. Avoid Repair Costs
It is always recommended thoroughly testing out anything before you buy it. Renting an RV is a great way to test the durability, strength, and maintenance level of your potential new ride. You will get a good feeling of the quality and durability after a few miles and a few nights in a potential RV much more than sitting in a sedentary vehicle on a dealer lot. You don’t want to be stuck with a buggy old RV for several years worth of vacations.
Also Read: 10 Most Common RV Problems You Should Know About Before Buying
10. Get comfortable
Owning an RV is like owning a second home. After renting you will understand what you will need to feel comfortable while traveling. Do you prefer special linens, mattress, fancy coffee maker? Whatever you require at home is what you can have in your RV. But make sure you are comfortable with the expense of outfitting an RV to your at-home standards. After all, one of the major benefits of an RV is it can be your traveling home but that also requires furnishing it to make you feel “at home”.
With decisions ranging from customizations to the fear of being ripped off, the process of purchasing an RV has so many variables that you can never be sure. So, make sure you’re not stuck with a 33-foot-long financial regret, always rent an RV before you buy it.
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