Decisions, Decisions: How to Select Your Next RV

One of the more interesting things about having an RV blog and YouTube channel is that we get a lot of questions from readers and viewers. And one thing a lot of folks have questions about is what they should get for their next RV. A typical question might be something like this:

“My wife and I are planning to get a new RV and do some traveling. We currently have a 30-foot Class C and are interested in either a teardrop trailer or a triple-axle diesel pusher. Can you compare those two, give me a list of pros and cons for each, and tell me which model I should get?”

That’s a tall order! But over the years, I’ve come up with a process for helping folks in this predicament, and it works well. It starts not by looking at specific RVs but instead taking a close look at yourself and your RVing habits and letting that guide your decision-making.

I’ll walk you through it. This is the same process that we used when selecting our latest RV. And judging by how much we love our rig, the process works.

Step 1: Stop Thinking About RVs

Yes. RVs are cool. But nobody buys an RV just to have one to stare at in the driveway (and if they do, well, I can’t help those people). Presumably, you want an RV because an RV enables you to do something. The RV is the catalyst for your adventures—whatever flavor of adventure suits you. So the first step is not to think about specific RVs, but instead to think about what it is you want to do with that RV.

This is just like starting a journey with the destination in mind. If you set out what you want to accomplish with an RV, you’re a lot more likely to select a rig that can accomplish it. You’re less likely to be distracted by shiny new features or whiz-bang technology if they won’t help you meet your RVing goals.

The good news is, if this is your next RV, then you’ve probably already got a solid idea of what you want to do. But if you’re feeling a bit stuck at this step, here are some starter questions to ask yourself to help flesh out your RVing mission statement. Keep in mind the following comes after determining the proper weight and/or tow ratings for your tow vehicle, RV, cargo, and the like.

Step 2: Convert Your Dream into Features

Just about anything used to describe an RV can be called a feature. How long is it? How many beds does it have? What type of batteries does it have? Are the holding tanks insulated? Your job at this stage is to take your RV mission statement from step one and figure out which features an RV needs to have to enable that mission.

For example, if your RVing style has you staying at developed campgrounds with full hookups 95% of the time, then an extensive off-grid power system is a feature that you can probably do without. (It’s still cool, though.) If you’d like to take your RV out in the winter and hit ski areas, then you’ll want to look for four-season features in your RV. If urban destinations are on your dream trip, then you might look for a more compact RV so that you can maneuver it in tight environments. If you’ll be working from the road, you’ll need an appropriate place to work and connectivity options to keep you working.

List all the features you think an RV would need to support your mission. Don’t worry about getting them in order yet. Just brainstorm and get them all out. When we did this when purchasing our most recent RV, we came up with 28 things we wanted in our next rig. (And we added two more later!)

Step 3: Put Your List of Features in Order

Here’s the thing about picking an RV: You’re going to have to make some trade-offs. It’s unlikely that any one model will have absolutely all the features you want. By having your list of features in order, you’ll know what’s more important than what, and you can navigate those trade-offs better.

As an example, let’s say you’re comparing two RVs, and one has a large black tank but no solar, and the other has 800 watts of solar power but an eight-gallon black tank. If you know that solar power generation is more important than “I don’t want to empty the black tank very often,” then having your list in order makes the right choice between these two obvious.

But putting your list of features in order is a tall task, especially if you have 28 features like we did. Fortunately, there’s an easy tool you can use to put that list in order. (And once you use it once, you may find yourself using it to put other lists in order.)

I’ve always called it a paired comparison tool, but there are other names for it. The concept is simple, but it’s a bit long to explain in these few pages. We’ve got it explained over on The Fit RV website, and it involves comparing your features to each other one-on-one to arrive at an ordered list. Tally the total number of times each feature “won,” and you have your prioritized list of features in order.

Of course, if you have 28 items like we did, that’s a lot of comparisons. (We had to use a spreadsheet to keep track of it all.) And if you’ve got more than one person providing input, the comparisons can get a bit heated. But it’s worth it in the end because you’ll know exactly what you’d be willing to trade for in your next RV.

Step 4: Use Your Prioritized Features to Evaluate Models

It’s only now that you start looking at actual RVs. But based on the comments we’ve received over the years, 90% of people skip the first steps and try to start here. And I wouldn’t blame anyone for starting with this step. It’s fun, like skipping straight to dessert.

Spending time online, sifting through the various models and floorplans, and daydreaming about your next RV is a fantastic way to kill time, and you’ll undoubtedly learn a lot. But if you’ve done your homework with the first steps, you’ll be seeing these models with a better focus on what’s important for the way you RV.

With a solid understanding of what you actually need and want in your next RV, you’ll see right past a slick video, a feature that’s cool but you won’t use, or a floorplan that looks open and inviting in the virtual reality 360º video but won’t work for you. But if you haven’t done the first steps, this can be overwhelming, so this step is also where a lot of shoppers get stuck.

As to where to find information, these days, it’s easy to find data about prospective RVs online. There are plenty of helpful YouTubers out there walking through almost every model available. (Us included!) Find one (or, better yet, a few) that you trust. One thing you should keep in mind while browsing these videos and web pages is the dates. RV manufacturers often make running changes in their models, so prioritize content that matches the model year you’re focused on.

Your goal for this step is to narrow the RV universe down to three to five models for further in-person investigation. If you have more than that, you haven’t been selective enough. And if you have fewer than that, you might not have enough to pick from.

Step 5: Hands-On Decision-Making

If you’ve made it this far, you’re really close to selecting the RV that’s best for you. But an RV is far too large of a purchase to make without going to see one. In person, you’ll learn things you could never learn online, so this step is too important to skip. If you’re 6 feet tall, for example, a 74-inch bed might seem plenty big enough on paper. But if there are walls at the head and foot of the bed, or if you smack your head on a cabinet every time you sit up in it, you’re not going to be happy with it. Another example: You can tell the size of a black tank online. But what you can’t tell online is whether the commode is placed in such a way that your knees stick out and you can’t close the bathroom door.

Can you see the TV screen from the couch? Does that galley only work for right-handed people? These—and a lot more—are the kinds of things you want to learn with an in-person visit. Role-play, sit in all the seats, go through the motions of how you’ll really use the RV, and don’t be rushed about it. This is your dream, and it’s an expensive purchase; take the time to get it right.

One of the best places to do this kind of hands-on comparison shopping is at an RV show, where you’ll likely find the models you want in close proximity to each other so you can go back and forth between them. If there are no RV shows in your area, call ahead to dealers and make sure they’ve got the models you want to see on their lot before driving out to see them.

Step 6: Buy Your RV and Hit the Road

You’ve thought about your needs and wants. You’ve boiled that list down to RV features, and you’ve put that list of features in order. You’ve used that to narrow thousands of RVs down to a handful. And you’ve gotten up close and personal with those finalists. At this point, the right RV for you should be pretty clear, so there’s not much more to do than work your way through the purchase process.

While I don’t have any particular advice on negotiating an RV purchase, I can tell you that if you’ve done the work upfront, it’s much easier. Then, when you’re RVing and making memories, you’ll be doing it in an RV that seems like it was made just for you.

We’ll see you out there, friends!

What to Ask?

Do you prefer to stay in developed RV parks and campgrounds or in remote locations? Do you stay on the pavement or hit the most rugged dirt trails you can find?

Are you a fair-weather camper or an all-season outdoorsy type who wants to include adventures in subfreezing weather?

How many travelers will be coming with you typically? At a maximum?

Who will be doing the driving, and what’s their comfort level with towing (and backing up)?

How long are your typical trips? (Something you can tolerate for a weekend can become unbearable over the course of a two-month trip.)

Do you have specialized storage needs for your hobbies or activities?

And those are just a few. Don’t be afraid of being too specific here. There’s no such thing at this stage. This is your dream—unleash it on the world!