Recreational vehicle (RV) sales went through the roof in 2020, thanks in part to the coronavirus pandemic. Since Americans couldn’t travel long-distance as easily, many decided to hit the road themselves. With that said, RV sales have actually been on the rise since the 1980s.
If you’re interested in buying an RV, you’re probably trying to decide if you should buy a new or used one. Like buying a car, there are pros and cons to both options. So if you’re trying to figure out which is the right option for you, you’ve come to the right place.
Keep on reading and we’ll help you decide if you should buy a new or used RV.
The Pros of Buying a New RV
Many people will buy a new RV for the same reason they buy a new car. The vehicle smells nice, everything looks good, it’s clean, and nobody has used it yet. It’s hard to beat that “new coach” smell.
Another big benefit is that a new RV is going to come with a warranty. Anything that might go wrong will likely be covered by the manufacturer for one or two years.
You should be careful with your research about which manufacturers are going to give you responsive and quick service.
Other than the warranty and freshness that you get with a new RV, there isn’t a whole lot more when it comes to positives.
The Cons of Buying a New RV
To put it simply, you’re going to end up losing money when you purchase a new RV. When you get a new RV, you’ll likely be paying top dollar. That value is going to depreciate the second you take it off the lot.
And if you try to sell the RV at a later time, the price gap between what you paid and what you sell it for is going to be significant.
If that’s not bad enough, a new RV has also not been broken in yet. Your first year with the new RV might very well feel like a rotating door into a dealership rather than a carefree open road.
The Pros of Buying a Used RV
While it might seem obvious, it can’t be understated – you are going to end up saving a lot of money if you decide to buy a used RV instead of a new one. If you have enough patience and do your due diligence, you can likely find that new RV you want that’s only been used for one to three years.
If you’ve never bought an RV before, then you might be hesitant when it comes to buying anything used. But if you get the used RV from a reputable dealer, like Leisureland RV, you could end up with a big steal on your hands. You can save up to forty percent on that new RV you want if you just wait it out and spend enough time scanning the internet.
Not only are you going to save a lot of money when you buy a used RV, but you’ll also be getting a vehicle that’s already been broken in. Also, the previous owner might have installed solar or satellite, added perks like new tech, or performed some other handy upgrades to the RV.
As we can see, there are a bunch of positives to buying a used RV. However, there are some downsides that you need to be aware of as well.
The Cons of Buying a Used RV
If you buy a used RV, there’s a chance that you could end up buying a lemon. Of course, there’s a chance that you could also end up buying a lemon even if it’s new. Buying a lemon RV is rare but it does happen.
If the previous owner didn’t disclose something to you, such as structural or water damage, then you’ll end up with a costly and broken vehicle on your hands. You can avoid that kind of embarrassment by getting the RV inspected first.
If the seller is legitimate, they might even be willing to pay for the inspection themselves.
While people tend to save money when they buy a used RV, you could also still end up paying more than it’s actually worth. Perhaps the previous owner did some custom work to it and they want to get their money’s worth from the sale.
If this is the case, you’re going to have to decide if you’re willing to pay for it. Once more, you need to do the research on a fair market price and go from there.
Try not to get too impressed by the perks because you don’t want to end up paying more than those upgrades are worth.
Another possible negative is that a used RV doesn’t come with an automatic warranty. Depending on where you get it from, you might need to get your own warranty package.
In the long run, however, you’ll end up saving more money on that warranty as opposed to just purchasing a new RV.
Should You Be Buying an RV That’s New or Used?
Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now have a better sense of the pros and cons of buying an RV that’s new and used. As we can see, you’re more likely going to be better off getting a used RV. However, there are some instances where you might feel comfortable going with a new one instead.
Ultimately, it all comes down to your personal preferences.
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