Time for the biggest “well, duh!” statement you’ll hear all day: RVs are a massive purchase! That’s just a no-brainer. But what’s not quite as obvious are the biggest considerations you need to consider when buying one. What exactly should you be looking for?
Let’s take a look at the three most important “keys” you can use to evaluate motorhomes:
DRIVEABILITY
We list this one first for a reason. Driveability is often overlooked as more of a luxury or comfort feature - but it’s actually quite crucial from a safety perspective as well. When drive, but it’s actually quite crucial from a safety perspective as well. When driveability goes, failure, and a host of other failures, become quite crucial from a safety perspectivech a high emphasis on this.
When it comes to driveability, Class B and Class C motorhomes are going to be youRegarding driveability, Class B and Class C motorhomes willre intentionally designed to drive much like a standard vehicle.
Class A motorhomes (big bus types) are where you’re going to see the largest deviation in terms of driveability - andwill have the largest deviation in terms of driveability, and much of that deviation is dependent on how much you spend. Lower-priced Class A’s willn exceed the driveability of the Class B/Class C market.
LAYOUT
This is another crucial piece of the puzzle that doesn’t get as much attention as it should. The goal is typically to emulate the comforts of home as closely as you can within your motorhome. Don’t skimp out here - we’d typically recommend going with a smaller RV that has more amenities rather than a large RV with fewer.
Does the base model have all the tech or hookups you want/need - or will you need to splurge for some upgrades? Do you need slides for more space? Do you need one bath? A bath and a half? How about beds? Some folks are fine with a Queen, others may want a King. And don’t forget about bunk beds if you’ll be traveling with kids/grandkids at any point.
All of the above are important questions to ask yourself when considering the layout of a motorhome. Make sure to take your time here in order to maximize your enjoyment while on the road.
BUDGET
Just like we intentionally put driveability first, we intentionally put budget last. It’s not that budget is unimportant - it’s still one of our Top 3. It’s just not the most important thing to consider.
Like we mentioned above, it’s a good idea to save a good chunk of your budget for amenities - which means staying well below the top end of your budget when it comes to the RV itself. For most folks, that’s going to mean going with a Class B or Class C. If you’re towing, you can narrow that choice even further, as most Class Bs are not suitable for towing purposes.
Again, you’ll also want to avoid lower-cost Class A motorhomes due to their driveability concerns. We’d only recommend nabbing a Class A if you can jump up to the mid- or high-tier models (but, be advised, these models can get very pricey very quickly).
CONCLUSION
At the end of the day, buying the right motorhome for your RVing lifestyle is one of the most critical and personal decisions you can make in your RVing journey. It’s also one of the most expensive, so you want to be confident you’ve made the right choice. We’re here to help ensure that happens - so, if you have any additional questions about any part of this article, don’t hesitate to reach out.
In the meantime, happy RVing!
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