New vs. Used RV: Deciding Which Option is Right for You

New vs. Used RV: Deciding Which Option is Right for You
Plus, how to choose used with confidence. 

By: Kenny & Sabrina Phillips

If you’re considering buying an RV, one of the first decisions you’ll run into is whether to buy new or used. It’s something almost every RVer goes back and forth on. The truth is, there’s no wrong answer; both have their pros and cons.

When Sabrina and I first started shopping, we were convinced we were going to buy new. It just felt like the safer option. But the more we got into the process, the more our thinking started to shift, and we ended up going in a completely different direction.

Here’s how that all played out for us, and what we learned along the way …

Why We Initially Avoided Used RVs

Before we bought anything, we rented a Class A motorhome to see if the RVing lifestyle was really for us. It didn’t take long to realize we loved it. The freedom, the flexibility, and having everything with us made it feel like a home on wheels, and it just clicked right away for us. (Read more tips for choosing your RV here.)

The RV itself though … that was a different story. Our rental had a handful of issues, and cleanliness definitely wasn’t its strong suit. That RV rental really stuck with Sabrina in a negative way. We walked away thinking used RVs were going to come with problems, and we pretty much said right then we’d never go that route.

The RV Buying Advice That Changed Our Thinking

Then, somewhere along the way, a friend gave us a piece of advice that completely flipped our thinking. He told us not to be afraid of buying used. 

In his experience, when you buy a used RV, the previous owner has already worked through a lot of the early issues that can come up when an RV is taking to the road for the first time. On the flip side, when you buy new, that first year can sometimes be spent dealing with repairs, adjustments, and warranty work. He called it “shaking out the bugs.”

That really stuck with us, especially since we weren’t just buying something for weekend trips; we were planning to travel regularly for Sabrina’s work. This meant staying on schedule and getting from place to place without delays. We didn’t want to take time from our travels for warranty work in the shaking out period. We needed it to be dependable right away. 

While the peace of mind of a warranty makes sense for many new RVers and is an important factor for them, it was more important to us to eliminate downtime. 

Once we made that shift, we focused on finding something lightly used. Our sweet spot was about six months to two years old. That’s when things really started to click. We saw RVs that were only a few months old selling for significantly less than new. It was honestly a bit of a wake-up call on how fast some RVs depreciate once they leave the lot.

The Used RV Buying Process

After a lot of research, we ended up finding our RV in Ohio in early 2017. It was about six months old and listed under $80,000. That was about ten thousand dollars less than anything else we had seen, which made us pause to question it.

Before committing, we hired a certified RV inspector to go through it top to bottom. This is something we always recommend if you’re buying used because he checked everything: roof, structure, signs of water damage, etc. He found a few minor things, but nothing major, and the dealership agreed to fix those before we arrived.

After the inspection, we flew out, rented a car, did our own final walkthrough, and made the purchase. The RV was in great shape because the previous owners had only taken it on a few trips before trading it in for a diesel pusher—which worked out pretty well for us!

Note: For a deeper dive into the RV inspection process, read this article. If you’re new to RV shopping, we also put together a full list of tips here. 

Why Buying a Used RV Worked for Us

Looking back, one of the biggest advantages of buying used was avoiding that initial depreciation hit. The second a new RV leaves the lot, the value drops, sometimes fairly significantly. By buying lightly used, we skipped that entirely.

More importantly, it’s been reliable. We’ve put over 170,000 miles on our Winnebago Vista, and overall, it’s held up really well. We have spent a minimal amount of time in service centers, and it ended up being a great fit for how we travel. 

Note: If you do have to get your Winnebago serviced, we highly recommend taking the trip to the Factory Service Center in Forest City, IA! Read why here.

That said, buying used does come with trade-offs. You don’t always get exactly what you want. In our case, we ended up with a drop-down bunk we didn’t think we’d ever use. If we ordered new, we definitely wouldn’t have chosen it. However, funny enough, we’ve actually used it more than expected when family comes to visit. So, sometimes those “extras” you didn’t plan on end up being pretty useful.

What About the RV Warranty with a Used RV?

One of the biggest concerns people have with buying used is the RV warranty since, in most cases, the factory warranty is already gone. To offset that, we picked up an extended warranty. Over time, we basically broke even on it, so it’s something we’d probably do again.

The reality is, no matter what you buy, things are going to need attention. New or used, RV ownership comes with regular maintenance and repairs. A warranty can help with the cost, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for fixes.

Read tips for maintaining your RV here.

Advantages of Buying a Used Motorhome

In summary, here are the top advantages of buying a used RV in our experience:

• Significant cost savings
• Avoid that steep initial depreciation
• A lot of the early issues have already been worked out
• Potential to step into a higher-end RV for less money
• Possible to spend more time traveling and less time dealing with service (as long as the used RV doesn't have any hidden issues)

If you are planning to buy a used RV, read this article for additional insights.

Why Buying a New RV Might Make Sense for You

Now, just because we went used, doesn’t mean that’s the right move for everyone. Buying new definitely has its positives:

• Choice of features and floorplans. When you buy new, you can pick your exact floorplan, features, and finishes. You know exactly what you’re getting, and there’s no guessing about how it was maintained or what might have been patched up along the way.
• Everything is clean, unused, and fresh. This can matter a lot if you’re sensitive to things like pets or smoke. We definitely walked through a few used units that didn’t exactly smell like a fresh start.
• You’ll get the latest technology and features. Upgrades like solar and lithium batteries can cost a pretty penny aftermarket. Of course, you also get that factory warranty that typically covers the RV for the first year of ownership, plus multiple years on appliances. 
• Good deals on new RVs are still possible! If you can find something on the dealer lot, or a leftover from the previous year, that is going to give you the best negotiating price. If you want to see a lot of inventory, attend a big RV show (like the annual events in Tampa, FL, and Hershey, PA). Dealers are typically very aggressive with their sale prices at these events and have most models marked way down. 

Advantages of Buying a New Motorhome

In summary, here are some of the top reasons you may choose to buy a new RV:

• You can customize your RV to match your exact travel style, not just colors but layout and features.
• If the dealer doesn’t have what you want, many RVs can be ordered to your specifications.
• Buying new makes sense if you want a very specific floor plan or a completely clean, unused space.
• Get today’s modern features without spending time and money on aftermarket upgrades.
• End-of-year sales, RV shows, and leftover inventory can still offer discounts.

The right choice ultimately comes down to how you plan to use your RV and what matters most to you.

Final Thoughts on Buying a Used vs. New RV

If you’ve already gone through this decision, it’s always interesting to hear how others approached it. Did you go new or used, and would you do it the same way again?

I’d love to hear what you chose and why. That kind of real-world insight can go a long way in helping someone else figure out what’s right for them. Please share in the comments.

Note: If you are completely new to RV shopping, be sure to read this guide.

Safe travels all and happy shopping!