In Part 1 and 2 of this article series we discussed several ways to get well-informed before making your decision on which motorhome to buy. Some of the ideas mentioned included reading past and current issues of RV magazines, attending RV shows, consulting industry buyers guides, visiting local RV dealers, and talking to several experienced motorhome owners. But here are a few more tips on how to get well-prepared for the motorhome buying process and be comfortable that you are making the right decision: * It's best to stay away from motorhome brands that are not well known and recognized in the industry. You may come across some great deals on relatively unknown motorhomes, but it's usually best to pass those up, especially if you are not very experienced yet as an RV buyer. The RV industry is still in a relatively early stage of growth and at this level there are always companies entering into the fray that are trying to make their mark and become an industry leader. But the problem with that is that you don't know if they are even going to be around tomorrow or not. Just as quickly as they arrived on the scene, they can also flame out and go away, leaving you with a product that needs support, but no one to turn to. So it's best to stick with the major recognized brands that have been in the industry for a while. Even if they get swallowed up by another company, you will usually be grandfathered into the new arrangement as a customer. * After you have filtered your list down to the handful of motorhomes that you like most both for features and liveability, now is the time to actually test drive them to make your final decision. It's amazing how many people buy RVs without having even test driving them at all beforehand. You may find that some models and brands just drive better than others and that should be a major factor in your final decision. If the dealer won't let you test drive a coach before buying it, then they don't deserve your business and you should look elsewhere. Of course, if you are new to motorhomes, make sure that you get some driving experience before test driving dealer coaches because you want to be able to focus clearly on how the coach performs on the highway rather than being too scared to notice. If you make use of the tips provided in this series of articles it can no doubt help you make a good, solid motorhome buying decision that will reward you with good service for many years. |
