Venturing into new territory can be overwhelming. For new RV owners, the allure of freedom and relaxing road trips can cause you to drive your new RV off the lot and straight towards a campsite. Wait just a second! Before you begin your exciting new RV lifestyle, read about common RV mistakes and how you can avoid them!
Your first RV brought you into the RV lifestyle – and you couldn’t be happier! But over time, you start to wonder what other RVs that might be out there. Is it time for an RV upgrade? It can be hard to tell, but if you’re on the fence, here are some of the most common things that may mean it’s time for an RV upgrade.
The most common reason for an RV upgrade is an upgrade to your family! Whether you started out as a single camper, a pair, or with room for your first child, the addition of new members to your family can mean your old RV just doesn’t have the space you need. RVs can have sleeping capacity for a massive range – from just a few to 10 or more people!
It’s not always just about getting more space for sleeping, either. You may be able to find ways to give your growing family places to rest, but that doesn’t mean your original choice in RV still makes sense today. RV floorplans and sizes vary dramatically, and a new RV with a more open design could reduce some of the constant shoulder-to-shoulder feel of trying to move four people through an RV built for two.
On top of that, storage space is at a premium when it comes to RVs. The more people you bring along, the more you need to pack. Clothes and toys are one thing, but you’ll also have to consider the increase in food you need to keep everyone full and happy for even a short weekend trip.
Upgrading an RV for more space is easily one of the most likely reasons to sell your old RV and start fresh. It’s an investment that’s worth it, too. Those family trip experiences are things that will stay with your kids forever, and it helps keep your family close in an age where it’s easy for everyone to go to their corner of the home and plug into a phone or TV!
How long ago did you buy your RV? Was it a few years ago or a decade? The person you are today doesn’t necessarily reflect the preferences you had when you first dove headfirst into the wonderful world of RVing!
One of the biggest things that may change from when you start RVing to when you’re an experienced camper is how often you prefer to be away from the hustle and bustle that can take place at popular RV campsites. Sure, the hookups are nice and there’s always a friendly face nearby, but when you’ve seen it all, you may be comfortable going off-the-grid and enjoying some peace and quiet!
Of course, the RV you purchased a few years ago may not be the ideal dry camping RV. Maybe it lacks the battery capacity you need, or you’re looking for a newer model that’s ready for solar power.
Alternative, if you started off camping to get away from it all, but discovered a love for living on the road with your gadgets and gizmos perpetually powered, your boondock-ready RV might not have everything you wanted to enjoy your trip. If that’s the case, your shifting RV preferences may lead you to our next common RV upgrade cause…
RVs can accommodate all kinds of campers. From those who just need a retreat after a long day in the sun, to those who want to travel but don’t want to lose the comfort of “home” amenities. And if your RV doesn’t reflect your desires, you may not be enjoying it as much as you could!
Like cars, the more modern your RV, the more features you’re going to have access to. Newer RVs come with all sorts of things that may not have been available when you first purchased your RV. Or maybe you’re just tired of sleeping on a smaller RV bed and want a luxurious residential-style king mattress in your RV retreat.
No matter the reason, shopping for an RV upgrade can be just the thing to revitalize your love of RV travel. New spaces, new gadgets, and new features are all great reasons to find enjoyment in replacing your dated RV with a new (or new to you) RV.
An RV is really a home – and every home comes with maintenance. No matter what that maintenance is, it costs time and money to stay current on. Over the years, maintenance for an RV can become more frequent, more costly and more frustrating. While this isn’t always true (and good RV maintenance can extend the lifespan of an RV by plenty of years) it’s something that some RV owners experience.
Especially if it was your first RV, you may have realized down the road that you were skipping critical parts of maintenance and now you’re paying the price. Whatever the reason is, if maintenance hassles or costs are starting to turn your dream RV into a bit of an unwanted expense, an RV upgrade could offer you a chance to start fresh.
It’s easy to think bigger RV means better. For many campers, that’s simply not the case. An RV upgrade can be more than, well, getting more. Small RVs offer several benefits that can easily outweigh the smaller space for living:
For RVers who just need a retreat after a long day of enjoying their destination, a smaller RV can be smart upgrade from a larger model with space you just aren’t using!
If you’re planning to upgrade your RV, chances are you’re doing it for a reason. But with all the new RVs out there, it’s easy to get lost in the excitement! When you’re making your plans to upgrade your RV, you should really focus on what’s changing from your old RV to your new one.
Like a home, the best RV is one that feels right to you. Now that you have some time RVing under your belt, you’ll better understand what you want (and don’t want) out of an RV. So when you hit the lot, you can make a much more informed decisions.
You should make sure it really fulfills your goals for the upgrade. There’s nothing more frustrating than making the switch to a new RV only to realize it’s still lacking. Fortunately, good planning and consideration can make sure you avoid this problem.
It’s easy to have eyes for an RV that are a bit bigger than your tow vehicle can handle. When you expand your RV to fit more family members or just to enjoy a more spacious interior, you need to make sure your tow vehicle can still pull its weight.
You can usually find your vehicle’s gross towing capacity pretty easily from the manufacturer. This number is critical to know when you’re shopping, so write it down. Keep in mind that an empty RV isn’t going to weigh as much as one loaded with all your travel supplies!
The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (419) 786-1126
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When the RV life comes calling, it’s hard to resist. The open road, endless campsites and the amenities of home no matter where you go! But shopping for an RV can feel a bit overwhelming – especially if you haven’t done your research yet! So, where do you start?
Read on to learn the questions to ask yourself to help you when shopping for an RV so you can find the perfect model for your needs!
The number one question when it comes to shopping for an RV is your budget. This is a great starting point for you to figure out what range of vehicles are right for you. This can help narrow down major choices like whether to get a new RV or a used one.
RV prices have a massive range depending on what you’re shopping for. Modest trailers can be purchased at extremely low costs, where massive luxury RVs can a major investment that reflects their interiors as a spacious home-on-wheels!
Ask yourself what your top end is for purchasing an RV – but try to keep it a bit flexible. Like cars or homes, when you find the RV that’s right for you, it often jumps out and feels like you found “The One.” You’ll be spending a lot of time in your RV, so you want to make sure your investment is in the right model!
Your budget isn’t the only logistical concern when it comes to figuring out the best RV for you! When shopping for an RV, you should also make sure you understand your tow vehicle’s limits on what it can and cannot pull. Every tow vehicle and every RV will come with a list of important numbers to consider, like towing capacity, gross vehicle weight rating and more. Pay close attention to these numbers.
Some compact RVs are surprisingly lightweight and can be towed by even modest SUVs. But many trailers out there are going to require you to own a larger vehicle with hefty tow capacity. Nobody wants to get attached to an RV only to find out they can’t actually pull it!
Additionally, if your tow vehicle is a truck, you’ll have a large pool of “fifth wheels” available to you. These types of RVs use a unique fifth wheel connection to the bed of your truck, which comes with its own benefits!
From the outside, RVs may look pretty similar. But when you step inside, you’ll quickly realize that even two identically sized RVs can have extremely different interiors! That means you need to think about what your RV interior really needs – and that often hinges on how many people you plan to camp with!
RVs can sleep anywhere from just a few campers to a dozen. Between luxurious master bedrooms, bunkbeds and convertible sofas, there’s an RV for a family or group of friends of every size. While the specific amenities of an RV may be negotiable, you want to make sure you always have enough room for anyone who plans to tag along on your relaxing trips over the years.
Do you plan to just camp with you alone? You and a spouse? Your whole family? Do you expect friends to come along? All of these questions can dictate what type of RV you need to keep everyone comfortable. Bunkhouse RVs can be a great option for big families – but if you don’t need that kind of sleeping capacity, you could opt for a toy hauler instead and to bring your ATVs or other fun bonuses along with you on your trip.
Shopping for an RV means understanding how you plan to use it. Not every RV is built for the same types of camping trips as others. While they’ll all provide you excellent shelter and some comforts from home, some RVs are better suited for going off the grid than others.
If your RV goal is the dream of parking out in the middle of nowhere and enjoying serenity for a day or a week, you’ll want to make sure your RV is equipped to stay charged away from a hookup station. That means extra battery capacity, deep cycle batteries, and even solar power features to help supplement your daily electronics usage.
Beyond that, you’ll also want to consider things like the size of the fresh water tank, storage for propane, and anything else that may limit how long you can stay away from civilization on your trip. The higher the capacity for storing these critical resources, the longer you’ll be able to extend your stay.
Are you the type of person who wants to explore your destination and only return to your RV when you’re exhausted and ready to hit the hay? Or are you looking for that home-away-from-home that lets you sit down in a heavenly recliner and watch sports even when you’re 1,000 miles away from your house?
Every RV comes with some standard amenities. Things like a place to sleep, store your stuff, and even cook. But what about luxury seating? Big screen TVs? Residential-sized refrigerators or beds? All of these bonuses are things you can find – if you want them!
RVs can provide a complete “home” experience or simply act as a retreat when you need it. When shopping for an RV, think about your dream vacation. How much time do you plan to spend in your RV? Do you think that might change over the years? Answering these questions can help you decide how many luxury amenities you need.
When shopping for an RV, knowing who will be doing the driving should be a consideration. After all, if you’re not comfortable towing a large vehicle, you may want to think about some of the smaller RV options. Larger RVs can be more challenging to maneuver. Drivers that don’t feel comfortable towing these RVs may be discouraged from using them at all. The last thing you want to do is get an RV that you won’t want to be taking out every weekend!
If you’ll be sharing the responsibility of driving, talk about your thoughts on towing! RVs are often shared within a family, so there could be several people planning to drive.
When you do finally buy your RV, make sure to take some time to get everyone familiar with towing it in a safe space. This can be an empty parking lot, or space at home if you have it.
An RV is an investment. It’s something you could potentially be enjoying for years and years to come. Or you may only be interested in RVing for the short term, with no real long term plans after taking a few years to travel and enjoy the world. Whatever it may be, having the right expectation for how long you’re planning to use an RV can help you determine the right type of RV to buy, especially in terms of new versus used.
If you’re just dipping your toes into the RV ocean, it can be a good idea to start small and move up to bigger RVs as you get more familiar with how much you enjoy RVing and what types of additional amenities you want out of one. After all, you could start RVing only to realize you don’t need a handful of the features your RV came with.
On the flip side, if you’re planning to go for the long haul, and maybe even transition into full time RVing, you may want to get as many amenities as you can. It’s better to have more than less, especially if you’re living in the RV!
The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (419) 786-1126
Connect with us on Social Media!
