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Picking the Right RV Dealership is more important than Picking the Right RV! The RV Odd Couple share tips to getting the best deal on your RV and their top RV mistakes you need to avoid before buying! If you’re looking for RV advice for first-time owners, stick around!

First-time RV owners make tons of mistakes, and there are many decisions to make. This video aims to provide some RV help by pointing out how RV Dealership financing and warranties work, along with common mistakes RV buyers make. These are the big mistakes to avoid before buying a motorhome, so make sure you watch this video first, before you sign on the dotted line.

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We’re the RV Odd Couple. We sold our house and most of all our possessions to live in an RV, pursuing freedom, independence and adventure. We documented the process to transition into full-time RV living with our family and experienced the RV travel mistakes. This channel provides trailer travel tips and tricks, RV life basics, and motorhome beginners tips. We upload fifth wheel RV vlog adventures as we travel! If you’re into traveling vlogs, RV country traveling, or want to start full time RV living on the right foot, join the adventure of our lives.

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[billking]

Great Video Guys! We have been RVing for over 30 years and have owned several units during that time. We have bought both new and used units both from private sellers and dealers. Although this may sound cruel and some people make take offense to this statement, but we have generally found that if an RV salesman's lips are moving, he is generally lying to you. I have caught salesman in out right lies and when I challenged what they were telling me about an RV or about a tow vehicle I have been told straight out by the sales manager that maybe our RV's are not for you and have been asked to leave the dealership. I have found several good dealers but there definitely are a lot of bad dealers. The good dealers have always admitted when they were not sure of the answer to a questions and have said they would have to check on it with the manufacture and get back to us. The good dealers have never pressured us into buy on the spot, they have allowed us to leave and think about the deal and we have even had them give us money to go out to a restaurant on our own to talk and about and think about the deal with no requirement to buy a unit just because they bought us lunch.

We researched our current unit for 4 years prior to buying. We had made a list of must have's and nice to have based on our years of Rving experience. When we purchased our current unit we got all items on our must have list as well as about 95% of all items on our nice to have list. Now I do all work on our RV and rarely if ever take it back to a dealer for service so prior to buying so I am pretty good at know what to look for and look at. My best advice to people buying is to never get distracted by the bling, to have a third party inspection prior to purchase/delivery and never accept delivery of the unit until everything is fixed. Since we have always researched the dealer as well as the unit we are buying from heavily, we have always found the dealers we have used to take between 2 -3 hours with us for walk thru/ delivery inspection and everything we found was fixed before taking it off the lot. On one unit we purchased used, we got it home and the first weekend camping we found a slide motor wouldn't work even though I spent a half day at the dealership looking and making sure everything on the unit worked. I contacted the dealer we purchased from and he advise us to bring the unit in right away for them to look at. Unfortunately that dealer was several hours away. I advised him what the problem was and sent him pictures. I advised if they could send me the parts I could fix it. The dealer ordered the parts and once they came in they overnight me he parts to repair the unit The total time took about two weeks as they had to wait to get the parts. This was all done at no additional cost to us. With our current unit, we found a sensor leaking in our gray tank when it was 2/3rds full. I call the dealer and because we were several hours away again they arranged for a mobile tech to come out and look at and fix the problem again at no charge to us. This is definitely the importance of picking not just the right RV manufacturer but also the right dealer.

I know this was a long comment but it I wanted to post it so that your viewer can see the importance of taking your time, doing your research and what happens when you find the right dealer to work with. Anyways, again guys Great Video! Looking forward to your next video!

[reneevasquez]

This info is invaluable. I am not on the road yet. At the research stage. The more I research the more I realize how ignorant I am. Bless you both. May Creator watch over you and protect you .

[pmhnic]

Excellent advice folks. We were fortunate to buy out first RV from a family owned business that knew this was our first experience and they spend four hours walking us the operation of every system, making sure our hitch was adjusted correctly and took me on a half our towing instructional drive. We learned a lot during that first purchase experience and lot more over the next six years before we purchased our 2nd RV. At that point we were much better prepared and probably drove the dealer a little crazy with our pre-purchase inspection of our 2nd unit. As you said, never be in a rush, never let your emotions get the better of you and be willing to walk away if things don't look or feel right. In most cases that inner voice telling you something isn't right is right.

[virginialemm]

Hi John! Hi Mercedes! I loved this video and got quite a few chuckles out of it!...we bought our Lucy from a large, well-known dealer here in California. It had been a “special order”, but the family had to get out of the contract due to emergency health issues (so it was told to us.). Our walk-through was a nightmare...our salesman wasn’t the one doing it, but some elderly gentleman who didn’t know ANYTHING about our unit. WE knew more than he did! The first year, we had her back in the dealership for a multitude of problems, but mainly our refrigerator kept heating-up and ruined our food. We finally demanded a new one be installed, specifically accordingly to the manufacturer’s instructions. Little did we know that the rv manufacturer doesn’t install them per the units instructions...just so they don’t lose more space by venting the breathability of the refrigerator! (Cutting corners). I can’t tell you how many hundreds of dollars we lost in rotten food, before we were “granted” a new refrigerator...installed the SAME way as before. We also had bought an extended warranty (😳)...we come to find out that the process was not complete, as the insurance salesman never turned-in the policy application, nor billed our credit card! When we found out about it, we insisted that they make good on it, and the dealership split the premium cost with us. Longer story short, we had her in the shop fixing and adjusting things, for so long, that we insisted the manufacturer extend our warranty for the length of time that Lucy was in the shop and we didn’t have use of her....which they did. FELLOW RVers: If you find yourself in the same situation, you do have recourse...have your warranty extended. Just keep good records of what, where and when you didn’t have your RV, and demand a warranty extension. John, Mercedes, thanks again for your honest and sincere information. You always make my day brighter during these difficult times. Love you both ❤️❤️❤️, Virginia

[megjohnson]

We bought a 20ft travel trailer. It’s me and my husband and two dogs. Sometimes we travel without the dogs. Purchased sway bar and leveling kit. We chose no slide outs due to the fact we knew NOTHING about RVs. Purchased it new. We wanted to keep it simple. We love our little travel trailer. It’s perfect for us recreational weekend Rvers. We are now looking to upgrade to a toy hauler as we both ride motorcycles but, know we have to upgrade to a bigger vehicle to pull the additional weight. Cant have the cart before the horse. We’ve never had an issue with the Rv in the 3.5 years we’ve had it. Our only problem is that we’ve been rear ended. Other persons fault and our dealership did the repairs. We love our RV dealership.

Yes! We financed through our credit union. Better rates.

Your information is incredible!

[MountainBeaches]

Great information for all RV buyers. Here's a couple of other items to consider when RV shopping
1. Leave the kids home when it's time to start negotiation. Kids will get restless and potentially cause you to rush. Rushing only helps the dealer.
2. Make sure you are not hungry when negotiating. Again this will cause you to rush so you can go eat.
3. This was mentioned but I wanted to stress how important it is to not be afraid to walk away if you are not comfortable for any reason.

[MickPsyphon]

Some excellent Tips for anyone purchasing an RV!

RE: Price and Financing
*NEVER* allow anyone to pressure you into discussing how you will pay for it, until *AFTER* you have agreed on a price! Don't tell them HOW you intend to pay for it. Not even if you intend to pay for it in cash. Simply: *DO NOT* discuss financing until AFTER you have agreed to the purchase price. That way, when you arrange for payment, there are no surprises!

[ARepublicIfYouCanKeepIt]

Foreword by Sage Condon in Jerry's next book! Sleeping children are angels on earth.

Great advice guys. To everything you said, I'll add these points:

1) Treat purchasing an RV as you would a sticks-and-bricks home. A home, by the way, that experiences a hurricane on the outside and an earthquake on the inside every time you hit the road! Why RV dealers attempt to make purchasing a rig more like buying an automobile is beyond me. Don't fall for it.

2) Walking away is your super power. Don't ever relinquish it.

3) Determine the make and model that's right for you through research *before* even thinking about setting foot on a dealer's lot. Then narrow down dealer prospects via e-mail. Lastly, visit dealers on your short list to tour the RV(s) in which you're interested. Use this opportunity to determine if the salesperson is a fit for you, as well as to discover their level of knowledge.

4) Tour the service center and speak with the service manager. Evaluate things like organization, cleanliness and sense of ownership the technicians take in their work. A chaotic, messy shop where people are just going through the motions is an indication of the quality to expect. As trite as it may seem, look at the technicians' uniforms and observe their toolboxes. An unkempt appearance and out-of-control toolbox are a good indication that the bare minimum is going to be done to tend to your issues. Corners will be cut. Trust me.

5) Before entering final negotiations, ask for referrals, both from sales and service, and do your research on sites such as Yelp!, Google and the like. As J&M stated, 4-stars or above...only! And if the dealership can't or won't provide sales and service references, to use one of Mercedes' favorite words in this video, *RUN.*

Before buying a new RV, first consider two things:

1) J&M have mentioned in previous videos, rent first if possible. A weekend or week-long trip will either confirm or forever dispel the notion that a particular RV is the perfect one for you and your family.

2) Buy used. There's a pretty good chance that your first RV isn't going to be the one you still with. And you don't want to be stuck with the wrong rig because you're underwater due to depreciation straight off the dealer's lot. Let someone else take the hit. Just be very careful to ensure that the rig is in the condition in which you can be happy. Check everything...three times, then get it inspected. Pay particular attention to the four corners, the roof, the belly, the tires and every "hull" penetration (window, door, slide, vent, etc.), looking closely for any sign of moisture damage/leaks.

Baby your new rig. Correct the annoyances, update the interior, and enjoy it. Then, when it comes time for your next RV, you'll likely break-even if not actually come out a little bit ahead.

Lastly, there are two times in life when we should be intentional about seeking out counsel:

1) When we lack knowledge in a certain areas, and;
2) When we're too close to a situation.

If it's your first time buying anything, especially something as consequential as an RV, find someone who'll lovingly show you the ropes.

Likewise, we're all only human. Once we've researched that perfect rig, found a great fit in a salesperson and dealer, and arrived at a drive-off price. It's time to press pause, take a breath, and call that trusted friend who'll deliver the truth. Remember the old saying: *What we **_need_** to hear the most is what we **_want_** to hear the least.* Then, be that person for someone coming behind you.

[cindym]

Hi John, Mercedes and Sage! This is a great video! Very informative and well thought out. You pointed out some things that I wish we would have been aware of before we purchased our 5th wheel. I'm forwarding this to my sister and brother-in-law who are looking to sell their home and full time RV next year. For now, be safe out there and hope all is going well with Sage.

[EverythingRVbyPat]

Great advice. One thing I learned the hard way was to change the original tires off the rig. A tire blowout will damage everything under the rig. Keep track of your tires and don't run on old tires. When in doubt throw them out (original tires)...

[markweiner]

John and Mercedes, great job and advice on this video.

RV stands for "ruined vacation", and I've got plenty of stories to document this... another time....

But, you are so correct, about financing for 20 years....a huge mistake, all RV'S like cars depreciate so quickly that you can be "upside down" in a very short period of time.

Regarding RV build quality, I think there's a lot of difference out there, depending on what you purchase. Some RV's come with a two year warranty while others are only one year.

I really think that any brand new RV is going to be the least value in terms of depreciation. And, you're right about buying used. We purchased our rig 5 model years old and being a "newbie", I didn't realize how important it was to have "lower hours" on my generator... this is not a good idea. As it turns out, higher number of hours is better, and of course service records...

Of course buying new does afford you the opportunity to ensure that all services are done, more control, but, you're going to pay a very high premium for that.

There's no perfect RV. And, the problem is that a lot of RV dealers are not willing to work with you on problems. Even if you find someone who is better, you might not always be in their proximity when you need service.

Extended warranties are filled with more exclusions and they are in it for the money. They will weasel out of anything they can.

Good luck 👍.... remember that RV'S are not like a house, they are constantly depreciating and losing value, there's no way to build equity like you can with a house. And, you cannot reverse mortgage an RV..

Medical services, especially when you are older and need access to emergency services on the road is a really big issue.

Buying an RV is an "emotional decision", not a financial one.

Stay safe..

[haulinodie]

Dealerships make or break the experience. Have had new and used RV over the years, private sale and small or big, the bottom line the seller just simply wants to cash the cheque at the end of the day. Our last new unit, purchased from a small local dealer, sales person was great at the start, tour and meet everyone in the dealership, was a great experience the day of the sale. Well that all went downhill after for us, both the dealership and manufacturer to get warranty work done and completed was nightmare.
Not sure what everyone talks about paying cash, you pay more. I pay in full, will not pay fees know my max price and no way will be more. Actually had a salesperson tell me 15 years ago when we purchased a unit, if we financed they would do "x" for us. I just looked at him and simply said thank you I expect that too. Funny thing, we did not sign the deal, walked out of the dealer, came back 4 days later, got my deal. Need to have own homework done in advance. Always have to know the buyer has the walkway power, right up to the time you sign on the agreed price. Agree 100% that most times you as the buyer will know more than the salesperson if you have done your due diligence. Safe travels!!

[Tryke_Ryder]

I bought used from a dealer in a neighboring state. I paid an NRVIA certified inspector before I drove the 600 miles. So worth it! I used the report to negotiate a better price and to have things like new tires thrown in. Money well spent. I paid cash and since it was used, I saved a ton!

[DavidHBurkart]

MSRP= Manufacturer Suggestested Ripoff Price 😂😂

[katherineb.]

👏👏👏👏👏 Such great advice. Here are my tips:
1. If you are not a good negotiator find someone who is and have them go with you.
2. If you are in negotiations do not discuss while “left alone”. Step outside because anything you say may information to them. NEVER assume you have privacy. Or just text each other and not say anything verbally.

[QBNTO]

I can't believe how happy and full of smiles you are while telling us how you got taken. I can only imagine how mad you really were when you found out. Crazy! I look forward to seeing your new rv and I'll look into that book!

[dragonflymoon]

The best advice that I can give about purchasing is don’t do more research on how to buy than how to sell. Study how they SELL the product because that is the only true way that you won’t get “screwed”. Don’t buy like a consumer. Buy like a seller.

[arete]

I just discovered your channel and LOVE IT! How refreshing to hear the good, the bad and the ugly. I wish you much continued success.

[Sebastian-dxxg]

It’s funny you said walk away. I want an RV badly and in a financial situation where I can buy one and had two friends go with me to shop at a couple different places. My other two friends never voiced that they wanted one. The funny thing is I didn’t buy one but one of my friends ended up buying one. Now that the pandemic is raging and I hear on different videos that it could be months to get an RV spot I’m glad I waited. I’m just continuing to learn more from you guys and other videos. Keep it up.

[MrLaroygetz]

Wow, So glad I stumbled on your tube channel. You have no Idea. My wife and I went to a RV dealership recently and was overwhelmed and am so glad for your info. So informative for us first timers into the RV world. Thank