How to Get the Best Deal on a Used RV

Here's some advice I wish some old codger had given me before I went shopping for my first used RV. I certainly made my share of mistakes (see how many you can spot).

Shop the Lower Priced RVs first

If you start your search looking at the top dollar rigs first, everything you look at at the lower prices will appear to be a bargain. So much so, that you'll tend to excuse problems or blemishes that should actually be deal killers. The conversation in your head goes something like: "Yeah, it has a few problems, but I think I can fix those for a lot less than the $2000 I can save on the price." Don't bet on it. Scoop's Law #1: Whatever you think it's going to cost you to fix a problem...double it. If you have to farm the work out to an RV repair shop...quadruple it. Now, how far does that $2000 savings get you? Instead, shop the lower priced rigs first. As you move up, you'll tend to look for justification for the higher asking price, which means you'll be more analytical. Now, any flaws you find will become a bargaining chip for negotiating a lower price.

Look for a Private Party Sale

You are much more likely to make your best deal on a used RV if you buy it directly from the owner in a private party sale. Never assume, however, that the owner knows the true market value of their rig. Do your own research on the high/low book value that RV dealers reference and check out private party ads to see what the asking prices are on the same or similar RVs. When you find an RV you'd like to look at, set a firm appointment time with the owner and tell them you will expect that everything will be hooked up and operating when you arrive. If the owner isn't willing to do that, look elsewhere for your good deal. I can almost guarantee that you'll be sorry if you do not verify that every system works before you hand over cash and drive away. Scoop's Law #2: Remember that private party sales are always "as is" and you should have no expectation that current owners will be completely truthful or forthcoming about any problems. Our late President, Ronald Reagan, said, "Trust but verify." I'm pretty sure he never said that within the context of buying an RV, but it's good advice and it certainly applies.

When to Deal with RV Dealerships

Dealerships are in business to make a profit and they stay in business by making a certain profit margin on every sale. That margin can be thousands of dollars more than the true market value of the RV you want. However, there are two good reasons for you to deal with an RV dealership. The first is financing. If you aren't able to pay cash or get your own financing for an RV, a dealership is either your best option or your only option. Dealers generally have access to a number of finance plans and should be able to get you into some sort of payment plan even if your credit history has blemishes. The second reason for dealing with a dealership is that most states have consumer protection laws that will give you as much as three days to change your mind and cancel any deal (check the laws in your state). This gives you a small safety net in case of buyer's remorse or suddenly realizing that you can't afford, don't need, and can't safely handle a 40' motorhome. Finally, RV dealerships are generally very good about giving buyers a thorough orientation on starting up, operating, and shutting down all the systems on the RV. This is invaluable if you are a first-time RV owner and you'll rarely get that sort of customer service out of a private party.

The Cream Puff That Got Away

It might happen that you find a real nice RV (everything works, price is right, etc.) and for whatever reason, you don't make a quick deal on it so it gets sold to somebody else. Disappointing, for sure, but you must let it go and move on as if it never happened. Otherwise, you are at risk of jumping on the very next deal that comes along, no matter how bad it is, out of fear that you might lose out to another buyer on that rig, too. In these situations, emotions take over and good judgment flies right out the window. If you make a hasty decision to buy, based on fear, you are almost certain to regret it and you should expect to come down with a serious case of buyer's remorse. Don't be that guy.

Bottom line: Be patient; use your head more than your emotions; shop private parties if you can and RV Dealers if you must; trust but verify. That's the plan for getting the very best deal on a used RV and saying "goodbye" to buyer's remorse.