Strategies
Why a cheap RV may be best for you. Or not!
By By Chuck Woodbury
Mar 17, 2008, 16:47

Not all RVs are created equal. Remember the Three Little Pigs and their houses of straw, wood and brick? It's kind of like that with RVs -- some are built a whole lot better than others. In general terms, you get what you pay for.

A coach's frame may be wood, steel, aluminum or a combination of these. When looking for your RV, be aware of what's beneath the surface. While the cheapest construction may be just fine for the weekend camper, sturdier construction would serve the avid or full-time RVer far better. . . and for longer.

This Escapade motorhome from Jayco is built cheaply, but its low pricetag may make it a good buying choice for use on occasional weekend camping trips.

That said, here is something you should consider when buying an RV. How much do you plan to use it? A little? A lot? If you plan only occasional use, an inexpensive rig will likely be adequate despite its barebones construction. But for heavy use or full-timing, you should buy something better for both comfort and the RV's lifespan.

It's sort of like buying shoes: if you need a pair of dancing shoes for a once-in-a-lifetime event, you needn't spend a fortune: buy a cheap pair that will last eight hours. But if you plan to dance every Saturday night for the rest of your life, pay more for a pair that will endure. And so it goes with RVs.

I have rented cheap RVs that were so bad it was laughable. Terrible beds, noisy heaters, cabinets with sharp corners, drawers that refused to close, cockeyed cupboard spaces, TVs placed in oddball positions, and walls so thin you could punch a hole in them with a pencil (slight exaggeration). And yet, if I were only using such an RV for a couple of weeks each summer, it would be okay, considering its low price tag. But for long-term RVing: No way!

On the other hand, a new motorhome just came on the market with a retail price of $2.5 million. I don't think you will find too much shoddy construction there.

Chuck Woodbury is the editor of RVtravel.com. This article is excerpted from the eBook Buying an RV the Smart Way.



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