A Guide to Buying Pre-owned Motorhomes
Owning a motorhome can be a practical investment for those who enjoy long road trips across several states. However, the high price tag on brand-new vehicles can make them unaffordable for some. In such cases, a pre-owned motorhome can be a good option to consider . It is financially viable and can help save a significant amount of money. Considering factors like features, prices, and benefits of owning a pre-owned motorhome before purchasing is important.
What is a motorhome?
A motorhome is a type of recreational vehicle or RV. Sometimes also referred to as coaches, these vehicles are like home on wheels.
- Class A
Also known as integrated motorhomes, the Class A type is the most luxurious and pricey among the three . Most models have a solid body with the driving portion of the vehicle integrated with some of the standard living accommodation features. For example, sleeping berths can be folded and easily converted to a lounge or dining area. Besides this, large windows offer expansive views of the road and the landscape. - Class B
These are usually known as semi-integrated or low-profile motorhomes. Similar to Class C motorhomes, these vehicles do not usually have berths in the driving area. Instead, a double bed is fixed towards the rear end of the vehicle .
Referred to as alcove or coach built , Class C motorhomes are usually attached to a trailer. Sometimes, these have a caravan-style body, which can be mounted onto a truck chassis or van. Along with this, these motorhomes have a double berth right over the driving cab, making them quite spacious.
Benefits of buying a pre-owned motorhome
- Affordable
One of the biggest benefits of buying a pre-owned motorhome is saving significant money. Usually, brand-new motorhomes are priced between $35,000 and $300,000, based on the class, miles driven, included features, and other costs. With vehicle depreciation typically being quite fast, a used vehicle will cost a fraction of this price range. One would also save a lot of upfront costs with one. - Low maintenance
Usually, buying a brand-new motorhome means dealing with unexpected problems, requiring additional money and extra effort to resolve and fix these issues while on the road. With pre-owned vehicles, the previous owner has already fixed any issues, and those covered under warranty have likely been addressed, too. This means there is no need to spend extra time taking the motorhome back to the dealer to resolve any problems. - Extra modifications
Many customers often hit the jackpot with a pre-owned motorhome that comes with additional modifications such as solar panels, larger tanks, composting toilets, and bike racks. So if one has been planning to add any of these extra features, a used motorhome may already have them. Besides, it will save a lot of money since these components do not have to be purchased at full price. Additionally, there will be no need to hire someone to install these extra components. - Added equipment
Owning a motorhome involves having a few extra gears, such as hoses, wheel chocks, barbeque stoves, camping chairs, tables, and so on. Sometimes, a seller of a pre-owned motorhome does not intend to buy another one in the immediate future, so they do not really have any use for the extra gear. In such situations, they willingly throw in the extra kit at minimal prices or no price at all.
Features to look out for while buying pre-owned motorhomes
The features of brand-new and used motorhomes are nearly the same unless there are significant differences between specific models. In general , most typical motorhomes can accommodate two to eight people, with sleeping spaces that can either be fixed or folded down. For instance, there might be a fold-out sofa that can be pulled out at night.
Additionally, there is a kitchenette area that comes equipped with all the necessary cooking equipment. The type of equipment in the kitchenette varies depending on the class and model of the motorhome, but most of these vehicles typically have the essentials such as a stovetop, oven, refrigerator, and sink. Some luxury models, such as the Class A motorhomes, may also come with a microwave oven.
Another common feature that can be found across all types of motorhomes is a small bathroom that includes a shower, sink, and toilet. In some smaller vehicles, one may find cassette toilets, which are similar to portable toilets or container-based toilets. Some models may have toilets that are capable of swerving to provide extra room, while others have toilets that are easily accessible from outside for convenient disposal. Meanwhile, larger RVs usually include a separate shower cubicle in addition to the bathroom.
When looking at the cab area, one may find that the driver and passenger seats can swivel so that the seats can be used in the living space. Aside from this, bigger Rvs may also include a dinette area with a table and seating space and some may also have a lounge area in the rear or side with a sofa included.
