1. How often will I use the vehicle? Some RV owners in cold climates have to winterize and store the RV, while others use it year-round. If you think you may use it only once a year for a 2-week family vacation, it might be cheaper to rent rather than buy.
2. Where will I store the vehicle? City dwellers like us have to rent storage space because there's nowhere to store our motor home on our property. But even suburbanites may face parking regulations that preclude keeping an RV in the driveway or on the street. Owners with a large garage might consider folding camping trailers, truck campers, or telescoping travel trailers that are compact enough to store inside. Some travelers who like to visit the same park or campground year after year might want to store the vehicle permanently at the vacation location.
3. Do I already have part of an RV unit? If you have a pickup, for example, depending on its size, you're already capable of handling a towable, such as a travel trailer, truck camper, or fifth-wheel. Most family cars can pull a small travel trailer or folding camping trailer.
4. How much money can I spend? Budgeters and young families often begin by buying an entry-level RV in whichever category they want. With sticker shock a strong factor these days, more and more manufacturers are offering lower-priced models in all categories. Previous RV owners often, but not always, look to buy a larger, newer, more expensive model. A few choose to downgrade for a simpler travel lifestyle. In many cases, interest paid on your loan to purchase an RV is tax deductible as a second home.
5. How many people does the RV need to accommodate on a routine trip? There's a big difference between a salesman's estimate of how many people a vehicle can sleep and the reality of the number it can comfortably accommodate. Some people dislike the idea of making a bed out of a sofa or dinette night after night during a vacation. Others don't want someone climbing over them in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. A major consideration is how many seat belts are in the vehicle if it's a motorized RV. All states but New Hampshire now require that all passengers in the vehicle be secured by seat belts, and will not authorize more passengers than there are seat belts provided.
6. How will I be using the vehicle? People who like to stay in one place, say a private campground with swimming pools and putting greens, will want a more luxurious vehicle than campers who want to go out in the woods in a national park or forest, build a campfire, and cook outdoors. Travelers who want to stop at a different campground every night need to give priority to ease of setting up camp and fuel efficiency, while snowbirds who want to stay cheaply all winter on BLM desert lands or other self-contained camping should look for vehicles with greater capacity in water storage and holding tanks.
7. Which is more important, generous living space in the vehicle or more flexible handling, parking, and roadway options? In making a decision on vehicle size, 1 foot in length or 4 inches in width can make a tremendous difference. Spend a lot of time mentally moving around in the floor plan, or even physically moving around in the vehicle at the dealer's or the RV show, to assess its livability. Know your size requirements before setting out to look at vehicles, especially if you are considering a motor home; you'll save a lot of time on the lot.
8. How important is personal privacy? Some types of RVs offer more solid-door privacy areas than others. In particular, the shower and toilet facilities in folding camping trailers or camping vans, when they are provided at all, may offer minimum privacy, while travel trailers, fifth-wheels, motor homes, and some truck campers provide facilities in a completely closed-off area. Sleeping facilities as well may be open or shielded with curtains rather than doors, as in many folding camping trailers, truck campers, and even type C mini-motor homes.
9. What kind of fuel do I want the vehicle to burn, gasoline or diesel? The consensus is that diesel engines cost more on initial purchase but less in the long run to operate. One disgruntled RVer, however, has gone on record complaining about the high cost of oil and filters for diesel engines. Diesel engines usually seem quieter in the cockpit than gasoline engines because they are positioned in the rear of the vehicle.
10. Will I be happy with a standard "off-the-rack" model RV, or do I want some special features and options? Manufacturers are coming up with new "toys" and gimmicks for today's younger market. Hi-tech elements such as computer stations, satellite dishes, and electronic navigational systems have joined the rearview cameras and slide-outs as common optional equipment. Other design elements include slide-out patios, retractable sun roofs, roof patios, beds stored under the floor that can pop up at bedtime, voice-controlled lighting, and eye-controlled outside mirrors that can be adjusted just by looking at them.