A Step by Step guide for buying an RV or Travel Trailer
A step by step guide for buying an RV or Travel Trailer is so essential if you don’t want to end up buying a lemon. Take your time and do the research and your RV adventure will start great.
When we decided to buy an RV or Travel Trailer, we didn’t know anything about how to start and what to look out for. We bought our Travel Trailer within a couple of weeks, after looking at three different models. And then we just bought the one we thought would be o.k.
Wow, if we would have known better. If we would have known everything we know now, we probably would have bought a different trailer.
But well we didn’t and this is why I wrote this Step by Step guide for buying an RV or Travel Trailer. So hopefully you put more thought into this pretty costly decision and read on.
Start here with the Step by Step guide for buying an RV or Travel Trailer
A Step by Step guide for buying an RV or Travel Trailer
Answer the questions from the Step-by-Step guide:
- Know what you want: yes that is right, do you have a truck that can tow a trailer? Do you rather want a Motorhome because you want to go on months and months of travel all over the country? Are you only planning on going on some weekend trips? How big is your family?
- What is your budget? Knowing your budget narrows your choices down again.
- Buying new or used? If you want a new one you will spend A LOT of money. Buying used will save you a lot.
- The best month to buy a Camper? The high season for buying an RV is between April and September, which means go shopping in fall or winter.
- What is the best RV to buy? There is no best RV to buy. It depends on your needs, your budget, and also how much money on storage and maintenance you can spend. A travel Trailer is cheaper in maintenance than a big Motorhome. Plus think Campground fees, gas, and tires get pricier the bigger your rig is.
- Have you decided on a Travel Trailer? Make sure you know what your car/truck can tow. Check out the Tire and Loading Information of your car.
- The payload is people, gas, gear, and tongue weight. Tongue weight is about 10 % of the empty trailer.
- Check out different floor plans? Hate to make your bed every night? Get one with a fixed bed. Do you want to have a dinette set up or comfy recliners? Are you going to cook a lot? What about the bathroom? Can you stand in the shower? Can you sit on the toilet and also are able to close the door?
More things to know:
A Step by Step guide for buying an RV or Travel Trailer
What else should you definitely consider:
- Check out as many different models as you can and test-drive them. If you decide on getting a Motorhome make sure the seats are comfy and the dashboard works for you.
- Don’t buy it because it looks cute, know what you want and what works for you.
- If you don’t like the interior color, you can always paint and update it.
Get the E-Book and many answers to your questions:

If you buy used, make sure to check the following:
So you have decided on a used travel trailer or RV and you are already thinking of all the updates you are going to make? Before you buy, look out for the following:
Check the outside of your Camper
Go on a ladder and check the roof.
Check the date of the tires and the tread. If the tires are older than 7 years, they have to be replaced.
Check for dark spots under the windows or on the outside corners of your RV.
Check the inside of your Camper
What does the floor look like? Is it stable or uneven and soft?
Check the walls inside, especially around the kitchen and the bathroom area. Open up the cabinets and check for soft spots, any discoloring on the walls? You are looking at water damage which can be a serious issue.
Check all the appliances if they work.
Are the sensors working? Do they show the correct tank fillings?
Choosing the right Camper
Be open-minded and know what you are looking for and what you definitely want. Stay focused on the floor plans and the type of Camper you decided works the best for you.
Don’t waste time looking at models that are not right for you. Especially if you go to RV shows, there are so many shiny objects you probably can’t afford or are not the right choice for you. So stay focused and check the ones which will be best for your situation.
You bought a Camper – now what?
Congratulations – you are the proud owner of a cool RV or Travel Trailer. Now what? What are you supposed to do now?
Get the Checklist RV 101 for beginners. A lot of helpful tips are right here and is good to know before you get started.
Plan your first-weekend trip close by. Here is how to set up your RV for first-timers, what you need to get, and how to plan your first road trip:


Want to remember this? Pin ‘Step by Step guide for buying an RV or Travel Trailer’ to your favorite Pinterest board.

With every trip you take you will get more confident and know how to do things easier and faster. It can get a little overwhelming in the beginning. Therefore I would suggest informing yourself with this easy-to-read article ‘RVing for beginners‘.
And also the list of must-haves for your Travel Trailer comes in handy before you start your RV journey.
But the most important thing to do is to take it easy and slow. Start with a trip not too far away from your home, practice driving in an empty parking lot to become more confident and you are going to enjoy every trip to the fullest.
I hope to see you somewhere on the road or camping at the beach. If not, I will see you at the blog,
Conny xoxo
Also read:
RVing for Beginners (Best tips how to start)
5 bad weather RV travel tips you need to know
16 Must-haves for your RV/Camper (you definitely need)
Did you buy a used RV? Before you take it on journeys, check these essential things in order to be safe:

We have a 31ft. 2002 class C motorhome, it was recently renovated when we purchased we’ve enjoyed it for 3yrs. We’re thinking of stepping up to a 5th wheel, we’re gone 4 months out of the year. The only thing, we are would like is a slider, in the bedroom,ours only has a slider in the living room, also I would like, a bigger bathroom. It’s paid for so the gas, and space to park, is our only cost, of coarse we live in a retirement area and they give seniors a discount to park. Do you think we would be making a mistake, by wanting to go bigger.
Thank you
Hi Pauline, well it all comes down to what you can afford. If you have the money to go bigger, sure go bigger if you want to have more space. BUT if you are going to struggle to make payments for a bigger RV, I would try it out first and keep the one that is paid for already. At the end it is your decision and you have to be comfortable with it.
Hope this helps a little.
Thanks, Conny for your detailed post. I want your suggestions on purchasing a camper or Type C Series vehicle at the RV Shows. Do they really give big discounts on these shows or is it just a scam?
Hi, thank you for your question. Yes, they normally do, if they will do it this year is a question as the demand for RVs is very high. But I would definitely ask for discounts. Hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing all of your experience
Thank you, hope it is helpful.
I liked how you mentioned that you can determine what RV you want by how much storage it has. My wife and I are wanting to travel the country and we were wondering how we could decide on an RV to buy. I’ll be sure to tell her that we should look for an RV that has a lot of storage.
Hi Carl, I would definitely rent one before you buy. RV’s are so expensive and you want to be sure you pick the right one. Maybe also shop for a slightly used one and yes, check out different floor plans. Thank you and good luck, Conny
I like how you mentioned checking the walls and cabinets to make sure there is no damage done. My parents are wanting to buy an RV since my dad is retiring next year and they can travel across the country. I’ll send him this so they know what to look for and what features they want in a new RV.
Hi Taylor, thank you. Yes please tell your Dad to keep his eyes open for any water damage. Water damage is hard to repair and can turn out into a nightmare. But I am sure he will find the right one.
My husband is thinking of buying an RV since that’s always been his dream, but we are looking for advice. I like that you recommend checking for dark spots under the windows or on the outside corners of the RV. We will definitely follow your advice so that we make sure we buy a good RV even though it’s a used one.
Megan, thank you. Yes, make sure you have no water damage. This could really turn out bad. Take your time and check the roof and look inside cabinets. Take the checklist with you. I am sure you will find a good one.
Found your post interesting to read. This Guide is very helpful if someone wants to buy an rv or travel trailer. Keep Posting such informative articles.
Thank you.