The joy of the open road and hours of uninterrupted, high-quality vacation time are found at last! RVing has seen a renaissance in the last decade, as everyone from corporate executives to the lowliest mail room clerks rediscover the vacation spots found right here on our own native soil. Sure, there will always be those who swear by traveling in a flying sardine can, but for those in the know, an RV is the only way to go.
As you begin the process of shopping for, and eventually purchasing, your own RV, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. That doesn’t mean making sure your RV gets television reception wherever you go. One of the most important aspects of shopping for an RV is to get a good idea of how many people will be tagging along on your family vacations. Will it just be you and the kids, or will your kids want to bring their friends? Will your parents give you the sad puppy face when you tell them that there isn’t enough room for them? Being unprepared could mean giving up all your RV’s accommodations to others and spending a cold, rainy night in a leaking pup tent outside.
While price is also a factor, a more important one is how comfortable you’ll feel driving and parking your new RV. Is it the size of a Greyhound bus? Slightly smaller? While there are plenty of RV dealers out there more than willing to help you get the hang of motoring your home-on-wheels around town, there are also plenty of sticky situations that you may need to be prepared for. It all boils down to one thing: If the thought of driving it scares you, then you should probably look at a smaller RV, or at least one that has a more truck-like cab and amenities, such as a back-up camera that allows you to clearly see where you’re going, even when you’re backing up.
Once you’ve got an idea for what size and style of RV you want to purchase, and before you begin the process of working out financing, it’s time to get an insurance quote so that you’ll see what it will cost you on top of your monthly payment. Once you’ve got all those aspects sewn up, it’s time to visit your local RV dealer and check out what’s available in your price and size range.