*This post was originally published on August 14, 2015.
Tips for Buying an RV
A note from Jamerrill: During our 4th year of homeschooling our family of then five hit the road for a full year and traveled with my husband’s job. My husband’s job provided hotel and food allowance along with basic travel expenses. Because we homeschool we were able to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity to learn on the road through roadschooling!
We hit every historical location we came in contact with including learning about Daniel Boone when we were in Kentucky, to visiting wildlife parks, beaches along the coast, amusement parks, art museums, childrens museums, forgotten mountain lakes, and so much more! Homeschooling truly opens up so many opportunities for families.
We have not gotten the opportunity to travel and roadschool by RV (yet), but based on our prior roadschooling experiences I know we would enjoy it. As homeschoolers many of us are always on the look-out for creative travel adventures. So I’ve asked my friend Danielle from Roadschooling with The Frugal Navy Wife to share her wisdom on RV traveling from her family’s adventures of homeschooling while on the road in an RV – how fun. Expect to see several upcoming posts in this new Roadschooling series here on FHD! Danielle will teach us about buying an RV, organizing an RV, ways to save at campgrounds, her thoughts on RV insurance and memberships, etc.
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This is a guest post series of Danielle of Roadschooling with The Frugal Navy Wife!
Tips for Buying an RV
There are so many things to consider when buying an RV. This process can be overwhelming when you don’t know where to start, and even when you do know where to start! I have just been there. We bought an RV to live in and travel full time. So our needs were a bit different then someone buying for the weekend. Here is what you need to consider and look for.
How often will you be using your RV? If you will be living in it full time your will need to consider more aspects then if it’s a weekend toy, or for a few weeks in the summer. If you will be just using the RV for trips, you can get away with less storage then if you are full timing. If you are looking for weekends or a few weeks here and there you can grab an Ultra-Light travel trailer for cheap! If you will be living in it full time avoid the Ultra-Lights they just won’t hold up the way you will need.
How many do you need to sleep? If you need one that only sleeps 3 you can a smaller RV then if you need one that sleeps 10. Also when considering sleeping arrangements how important is privacy? Will you want a bunk house to sleep 4-6 people plus a master? If so you will not be able to do a motor home you will want to look at travel trailers, toy haulers or 5th wheels.
What layout works best for your family? Do you need a bunk house for the kids? Is it just you and you want a rear living room with a bigger kitchen. Do you have toys to haul with you? All these items will affect the type of layout you need for your RV.
What type of vehicle will you use to tow? If you have a vehicle you are looking to use to tow, you need to know how much your vehicle can tow and the max, loaded weight of your RV. For example our RV has a max loaded weight of 9,500 lbs but our Excursion tows up to 11,000lbs plenty of tow power. If you plan to buy your RV first then find a vehicle to tow it then you have no problems other than budget.
New or Used? This one is hard, you can find a great deal on a used one but you need to watch for signs of damage. If you want to re-design the RV and older one is a great way to go. If you want a warranty or a fancy new floor plan then a new one is the way to go. We knew what lay out we wanted but it was out of our budget. We then found it in budget in a new model, while we had planned to buy used we bought the floor plan we loved, under budget, and brand new!
What RV buying tips do you have for those looking?
More Helps for RVing
Affiliate Link: RV Buyers Survival Guide
Where You Can Camp For Free in the USA (with an RV)
Affiliate Link: The RVer’s Bible: Everything You Need to Know About Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Your RV
More RV Articles about Roadschooling
You might also be interested in these other posts about Roadschooling:
→ How to Find the Perfect RV for Your Family
→ Where You Can Camp For Free in the USA with an RV
→ What Vehicle is Right to Tow Your RV?
→ 5 Ways to Save Money at Campgrounds
Danielle is a mom of 4, Former Navy Wife, Homeschooling mom, frugalista and blogger at The Frugal Navy Wife. She and her family of 6 are currently setting out on their lifelong dream to travel via RV around the United States. They are documenting their journey on Roadschooling with The Frugal Navy Wife.
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I’ve been considering getting an RV so that I can go on long road trips during the summer. These tips seem really good to know so that I can find the right RV to travel in. I have a few friends who are interested in coming with me, so I can see why I should think about how many people would fit in one. I’ll be sure to take that into consideration to make sure that my friends can come with me on my road trip. Thanks for the tips!