Thinking of buying an RV? Here are mistakes to avoid

Recreational vehicle sales are soaring, and the RV industry expects 2021 to be a record-breaking year. Dealerships say much of the demand is coming from first-time buyers and others anxious to find a safer way to vacation during the pandemic.

As any RV owner will tell you, though, buying a motorhome, camper or trailer is a complex process that requires a ton of decisions. The more choices you make, the more opportunities you have to make mistakes, especially when you’re a novice.

We had some great family camping experiences in the motorhome we owned from 2011 to 2017, and we learned a lot. If you’re considering your first RV, these are some of the errors to avoid.

Mistake No. 1: Assuming you’ll save money on travel

If you want to make a motorhome owner laugh, say something silly like, “I bet you save a ton of money on hotels!”

Well, maybe. But new motorhomes typically cost $60,000 to $500,000, according to the RV Industry Association. Add in the cost of gas for a vehicle that gets 6 to 10 mpg, plus insurance, maintenance and the inevitable repairs. Campground fees typically run $25 to $80 a night. You may need to pay for storage if you can’t park the rig at your house, since many cities limit the time that RVs can be parked on the street. Storage can cost $30 to $450 a month, depending on whether it’s outdoors or indoors, heated or unheated, near a major city or out in the boonies. (We paid $125 a month to store ours outdoors near a favorite campground about 90 minutes from our Los Angeles home.)

Campers and trailers can be more economical — as long as you already own the truck or SUV you need to haul them. Pop-up trailers and truck campers start at around $6,000, according to the RVIA. Travel trailers usually range from $6,000 to $55,000, while fifthwheel trailers range from $18,000 to $160,000.