Buy used when
you first break into the RV world |
|
|
|
Financing can also be arranged
at RV dealerships. As with autos, you want to have a financing deal
in place before shopping for your vehicle. That way the dealer will
have to beat the interest rate on the loan to get your business.
Once you've taken care of the financing you're
ready to begin your vehicle search. You might want to start by checking
out what's available from RV dealerships in your area and from ads
in the local paper. You never know what you might find.
Don't forget to hop online. The Internet is
a great resource for first-time RV shoppers. You can track down
all kinds of pricing information, and you may even locate the vehicle
you're looking for.
RV pricing data from 1986 to 2003 can be found
on nadaguides.com.
Pricing guides are also available from Woodall's,
Kelley
Blue Book and RV
Buyers Guide.
You can surf RV dealer sites to compare deals
as well as sites with classified ads such as RVTraderOnline,
RV
USA.com and RVSearch.com.
"It certainly saves a lot of shoe leather,"
Kieva says.
Make yourself at home
Finding a good, used RV is half the job. You'll want to give the
rig a test drive and a thorough walk-through.
Lie on the bed. Try out the stove. Go in the
bathroom, and see if the door closes when there's a person inside.
Bring an experienced RVer along with you. Someone
who's been driving an RV for a few years will know what questions
to ask and may be able to point out trouble spots.
Gummersall offers detailed instructions of
what
to look for when selecting an RV in an article for RVers Online.
Be sure to ask to see the owner's service records.
"If he's willing to show that to you, chances
are there's nothing hidden," Gummersall says.
It's also important to have the rig checked
out by an RV mechanic who will make a list of any needed repairs
and their estimated costs.
"It will cost you a couple hundred dollars but
it's worth it," Kieva says.
The repair list for a used RV may be lengthy
one. There could be a couple dozen little things that need to be
fixed.
"It could be cosmetic," Gummersall says. "It
could be a little water stain next to the window."
Whether you're buying from a private party or
from a dealer, it's a good idea to stay overnight in an RV before
making a purchase. Try out everything. Ask yourself if this is some
place you can picture yourself living for weeks at a time?
As Kieva says, "Try it on and see if it fits."
|
