My hot tips from my RV search

AsenathBarzani

Advanced Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2025
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46
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Usa
I went through a very intensive 2-month process of researching rvs, after having to flee my house in the wake of a toxic mold situation. I'd like to share some key points of what I learned, in case they are helpful to some other people.

First, if you're on this forum, well done. This is a great place to ask questions and get intel. The things people shared here were super helpful for me.

Second, get an RV inspector on board asap. You'll need that individual whether you buy a new or used, and they might be kind and offer you some pointers along the way. When I got an RV inspector, everything turned around. He gave me tips that led to my getting a fantastic, well maintained rv.

Third, it is my opinion that the major manufacturers - Jayco, keystone, Grand design, etc - are the equivalent of factory farmers. For me, Northwood manufacturing stood above the rest. They make rugged RVs with real wood cabinets, more storage than I've seen anywhere, unique floor models for people outside the target market, extra insulation, and as far as I'm aware, American parts. I feel a confidence in the durability and quality of what they build, which I did not feel with any of the other companies.

4th, I made a Google document with bullet points of what I wanted and what I did not want in an rv. I went to an RV expo, found the person running the whole show, handed him my list, and got taken around to floor models that fit what I was looking for. That was a starting point where I was able to get a visceral experience and handle on what I needed.

Fifth, I stayed at airbnb's next to areas that had clusters of RV dealers. I called ahead of time to see if they had what I was looking for. They tried to pressure me to come in, but I insisted on first finding out if they had what I wanted. when I discovered the RV I wanted, it was from one of a cluster of about 20 RV dealers, and they were the only ones that have what I wanted. So I saved myself a ton of time and energy and hassle by calling first.

Six, I thought I needed to buy new in order to avoid inheriting someone else's problems. In particular, I was really concerned about moisture in the walls. But I realized that because I was hiring an inspector, and because that inspector was giving me pointers on what to look for and look out for, I was able to get a used rv. I live in the Pacific northwest, where it is very rainy. I chose to get an RV from someone who lives in eastern oregon, where it is very dry. These kinds of details are critical in researching the right rv. In addition, the inspector was kind enough to review the Links of the RVs that I was considering. He pointed out that the one in eastern Oregon was also in a carport for an rv, which demonstrated that this person was likely taking good care of the rv.

7th, if the bank does not finance you, do not despair. My credit union denied me financing based on outdated tax returns from a couple years that I was in a place of financial hardship due to family and medical emergencies. It's ridiculous. I panicked it first but then I just asked the RV owner if I could do financing with him, giving him the APR that I would have given the bank, and getting it all in a contract that is notarized. He said yes. So here I am living in my rv.

Eight, if it feels overwhelming looking for an rv, that doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. It is literally overwhelming. There are tons of rvs, there are people trying to sell you s*** you might not need, there are many floor models that may not serve your interests. It is really hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, just keep going. Ask questions from everyone you meet - you never know where you're going to get critical information. I found that there is no comprehensive download anywhere. It's just a matter of asking questions and following the trail and learning from each conversation what questions to ask next time.

9th, YouTube is your friend. I watched probably hundreds of videos on YouTube. There are a bunch of about what to ask and look for. It can be extremely overwhelming because it's not filtered the way that it would be in a university course. But just keep going, and things will start to reveal themselves. You will start to notice themes and start to get clear on what you want and don't want. Also change up your search terms that you are using when you look for videos. As you go through the process, you will get more educated, and you can reference things in more detail, the more you learn.

I hope that's helpful. I'm really grateful to all the people who helped me out on my journey, just paying it forward.
 
Oh I forgot to mention, 10th, Facebook marketplace is filled with RV sales. I did not know that until the very end, and that's where I found my rv, from a private owner. There's also RV trader and another one whose name I forget. But Facebook marketplace was the jackpot for me.
 
Happy you found your RV. Private sales are generally the best way to go, face to face with the owner usually tells the story. Good luck, now plan on becoming handy with repairs. Given your excellent navigation finding and buying, basic upkeep should be a breeze. This place, Google, and YouTube can fix most everything.
 
Great write up. Glad things worked out. You are obviously very determined and sensible. Enjoy your new home.
 
I'd like to share some key points of what I learned
I do agree with most of your points, particularly for a first time RV buyer. But there are some areas that I can't agree with completely.
Second, get an RV inspector on board asap.
While that is generally a good plan, it is also very important to realize what a good, certified, professional pre-purchase inspection will cost. It can be an important factor for those with limited budget or for someone who has an experienced RVer to assist them. If you do the research on RV dealers and pick one that is good, the need for an inspector declines when buying new.
For me, Northwood manufacturing stood above the rest.
While they are one of the top quality RV builders, they are not the only one and it is important to remember that quality materials and workmanship cost more and you will have to pay for it. Also, if you are looking at motorized RVs, Northwoods doesn't build any of them.
I panicked it first but then I just asked the RV owner if I could do financing with him, giving him the APR that I would have given the bank, and getting it all in a contract that is notarized. He said yes.
It is very uncommon for the private seller to be willing to finance an RV and it can also be very risky to do that. I have sold several previous RVs and have known many others who have sold theirs and I do not know of any who have been willing to finance the sale. If I were to do that, I would not sign over the title until it was fully paid for. I have financed things for my children and when I do, my name is also on the vehicle title until it is paid off.
 
While that is generally a good plan, it is also very important to realize what a good, certified, professional pre-purchase inspection will cost. It can be an important factor for those with limited budget or for someone who has an experienced RVer to assist them. If you do the research on RV dealers and pick one that is good, the need for an inspector declines when buying new.
I understand your points but if the few hundred bucks one would pay an inspector is too big a financial burden, perhaps one shouldn't be looking to buy an RV in the first place. :)

Even if you had a very knowledgeable RVer to assist, I doubt they would be able to cover nearly as much ground as a certified, trained, professional inspector. They go over everything.

I think that buyers who hire an inspector need to look at the inspection as a crash course in how all the systems of the unit you're looking at work. Follow them around throughout the inspection and don't be shy to ask any questions, no matter how seemingly trivial.

Make sure the inspector agrees to this before hiring. If they don't Hire someone else. That's what we did and those few hours we spent for our inspection was well worth the $$$.
 
I understand your points but if the few hundred bucks one would pay an inspector is too big a financial burden, perhaps one shouldn't be looking to buy an RV in the first place. :)
There is another thread on this forum where the prospective TT buyer was given the same advice "to get a certified inspector". For a TT purchase, if I remember the thread correctly, the price for the inspection was over $1000. That is a little more than a few hundred bucks.

The OP sounds like an intelligent person who is very good at research. Also, she added great advice to talk to everyone you can while in search of the RV of your liking. For me, that would trump the need to add $1000 to the purchase price of an RV. For example, in the thread I mentioned above, my advice was that when buying a used RV from a private seller, going to the seller's house would give you a sense of how the RV was stored and cared for by looking at the seller's surroundings.
 
There is another thread on this forum where the prospective TT buyer was given the same advice "to get a certified inspector". For a TT purchase, if I remember the thread correctly, the price for the inspection was over $1000. That is a little more than a few hundred bucks.
Our NRVIA certified inspector charged $400 and worked with us for nearly four hours. Money well spent IMO.
For example, in the thread I mentioned above, my advice was that when buying a used RV from a private seller, going to the seller's house would give you a sense of how the RV was stored and cared for by looking at the seller's surroundings.
Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. A visit to seller's house might give you a snapshot in time but would tell you absolutely nothing about how an RV had been used for the period of time the seller owned it, and hardly any info as to how it had been "cared for" for that same period.

I stand by my "hire a pro" advice. :)
 
I understand your points but if the few hundred bucks one would pay an inspector is too big a financial burden, perhaps one shouldn't be looking to buy an RV in the first place. :)

Even if you had a very knowledgeable RVer to assist, I doubt they would be able to cover nearly as much ground as a certified, trained, professional inspector. They go over everything.

I think that buyers who hire an inspector need to look at the inspection as a crash course in how all the systems of the unit you're looking at work. Follow them around throughout the inspection and don't be shy to ask any questions, no matter how seemingly trivial.

Make sure the inspector agrees to this before hiring. If they don't Hire someone else. That's what we did and those few hours we spent for our inspection was well worth the $$$.
For me, the inspector was indispensable. I borrowed money from a friend for it. Worth every penny and then some.
 
There is another thread on this forum where the prospective TT buyer was given the same advice "to get a certified inspector". For a TT purchase, if I remember the thread correctly, the price for the inspection was over $1000. That is a little more than a few hundred bucks.

The OP sounds like an intelligent person who is very good at research. Also, she added great advice to talk to everyone you can while in search of the RV of your liking. For me, that would trump the need to add $1000 to the purchase price of an RV. For example, in the thread I mentioned above, my advice was that when buying a used RV from a private seller, going to the seller's house would give you a sense of how the RV was stored and cared for by looking at the seller's surroundings.
It's not always possible though. It was not possible for me. I had the inspector of my choice go on my behalf.
 

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