Buying an RV

The open road awaits your family! When looking at an RV, or recreational vehicle, here are some tips to ensure you make an informed decision.

Types of RVs

Class A motor homes range from 30 to 40 feet long. Normally featuring slide out sleeping or living areas that extend when parked, this class has all the luxuries of a real home, including full bathrooms, air conditioning and multiple bedrooms. You pay for what you get, so a Class A home usually ranges from $100,000 to $500,000.

Class Bs are simply van conversions, ranging up to 20 feet in length. These attract economy-conscious buyers, featuring a self-contained toilet and sometimes a shower. They are less expensive, anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000, and are easier to drive and maneuver.

Class Cs are scaled-down versions of the monster Class As, usually 20 to 31 feet, offering sleeping bunks above the driving cabin and a rear bedroom, complete with a kitchen and self-contained toilet.

Add into the mix a wide array of travel trailers, folding camping trailers, and fifth-wheelers, and there is something for everyone.

Ask Questions

Buying an RV is like purchasing a home, so when making your selection, carefully determine which floor plan suits your needs and how many people you will need to comfortably sleep and dine.

Don’t forget about closets, cabinets, and kitchen drawers—look at location, size and storage capacity. You also need to be happy with the layout of the dinette table, oven, range and refrigerator.

The beds—are they comfortable and do they provide enough space? Are there windows where you want them and none where you don’t?

How is the electrical system wired? Will it accommodate the items you want to use when no exterior hookup is available?

Do you need a phone jack or Internet hookup?

The Bare Necessities

Fresh water capacity, sewage system, propane storage, generator output, and size of gray and black water holding tanks are also important subjects. Make sure each feature addresses your needs.

If you’re considering a used RV, request the service records that provide a detailed look into the RV’s past.

Finally, take the potential candidate out for a test drive or perhaps rent that model for a short trip. Remember, you will be behind the wheel, so make sure you are comfortable in the captain’s chair!

Credit counseling

Credit counseling agencies help you budget and even negotiate with lenders on your behalf to make your loan payments lower so that you may pay them more easily with the income that you have available. Sometimes debt consolidation is recommended. In a consolidation program, you would make monthly payments to the agency, and then the agency would pay your creditors for the term of the agreement.

 

It's important that you choose a credit repair agency carefully. They may make promises they cannot actually provide.