The 5 Most Common Questions When Buying an RV

Purchasing an RV is an exciting time for new AND seasoned RVers. There are 5 questions that all RVers should ask themselves when they start the process of purchasing an RV – either new or pre-owned.

What Type of RV is right for your travels?

When it comes to freedom and flexibility motorhomes offer the ultimate experience. RVs range from Class A motorhomes for those who stay in their coach for an extended amount of time and may want a washer and dryer and other features to ease their time spent in their RV. Then there are compact Class B camper vans which may offer 4WD and the flexibility to drive off road but are still small enough to park in the city. And finally Class C Motorhomes which all include the overhead cab area and range greatly in size and features. Regardless of the motorhome class, all motorhomes are RVs that take transportation and living quarters and combine them into one comfortable experience. With something for everyone, motorhomes range from compact and space saving models to luxury buses that can pull a family car in tow for daytrips. Read our in-depth blog post on how to choose the perfect RV for you here.

What are my options for financing an RV?

Financing is a great option for those planning on purchasing an RV. Financing allows the RV lifestyle to be more affordable by breaking up the cost into manageable monthly or bi-weekly payments. You can work with your local lender to secure financing, or you can work with the experienced team at Lichtsinn RV. Kevin and Brandon in the Lichtsinn RV Business Office are authorized agents for several large national banks like Bank of America, US Bank, Bank of the West and more. Our relationships with these banks provide you with a competitive rate often lower than your local lender.

Benefits of Financing at Lichtsinn RV –

We offer financing and are authorized agents for several large major RV banks including Bank of America, US Bank, Bank of the West and several other major lenders.
We generally provide a credit application to these banks and allow them to compete for the lowest rate.
All of our loans carry no fees at closing, no closing costs and no points.
In most cases, the interest can be deducted for tax purposes by qualifying as a second home.
We can generally do terms of up to 20 years! Pre-payments can be made in full or in part, at any time, without penalty with nearly all of our lenders. All of our loans are conventional fixed rate loans.
We offer both monthly and bi-weekly payment options.

Learn more about financing with Lichtsinn RV here.

What kind of additional expenses should I plan for when buying an RV?

RV Insurance: After you purchase your RV there will be some additional costs you want to plan for, the first being RV insurance. While it may be enticing to look for the cheapest RV insurance you can find, you will want to make sure it properly covers your RV. When looking at RV insurance, you will want to make sure it is RV-specific insurance and offers RV Full/Total Loss Replacement – offered on newly purchased RV’s one model year old or newer: if your RV is totaled within the first 5 years, this policy provides the monetary equivalent of what it costs to buy a brand-new RV of the same or similar model, even if it costs more than what you originally paid for your RV. You may look for additional offerings like vacation liability, pet injury coverage, fire department service charges or personal effects coverage for contents inside the RV. Most “other” insurance policies do not offer these additional benefits. Kevin and Brandon in the Lichtsinn RV business office are licensed insurance agents and can answer any questions you have regarding RV insurance. Learn more here.

Parts and Accessories: There will be additional parts and accessories you will want to purchase for your new RV like tow bars, hoses, waste dumping chemicals, and more. The Lichtsinn RV parts team has identified the top parts and accessories you will want to purchase for RVing and your factory trained technician who provides your orientation will review these during your complimentary half-day orientation.

Camping Fees: There will be additional costs when traveling in your RV like campground costs. There are several loyalty programs that include camping discounts including Winnebago’s WIT (Winnebago International Travelers) Club.

Extended Service Contracts: You will want to consider the long-term costs of maintaining an RV. Most new RV Warranties cover 1-3 years so if you are purchasing a pre-owned RV or planning on keeping the RV for more than 3 years you will want to consider an extended service contract. Learn more about extended service contracts and why you should get one here.

Do I get a pre-delivery inspection of the RV?

A reputable RV dealer will provide you with a walkaround inspection and review of your coach. At that time, you can see how to operate your RV. At Lichtsinn RV, a Factory Trained Orientation Specialist will provide you with a half-day educational orientation of your coach. You will learn how every single switch, component and feature works in your RV as well as learn maintenance tips. This is also dedicated time where you can have all of your operational questions answered by a knowledgeable source.

Will the dealer support and service my RV in the long run?

RVs require service and maintenance and it is imperative that buyers find a dealer that will support them for the life of their vehicle and not leave them high and dry when it comes to servicing it in the future. You may find a fly-by-night dealer with a low price tag on an RV with one or two service bays and techs, and no way of servicing your RV in the future. Or you may find a mega-dealer, whose only interest is to sell you the RV and doesn’t want to hear from you again once you drive off the lot.

The Lichtsinn RV Experience starts from the moment you pick up the phone or chat with us online and extends throughout the lifetime of your RV ownership. Your dedicated Lichtsinn RV Sales, Service and Parts team members will support you along every step of your RV journey. In 2014, Lichtsinn RV built a new, state-of-the-art RV dealership and has continued to expand since that time. Lichtsinn RV currently has 8 RV service bays and is under construction to add existing bays. Inside of Lichtsinn RV you’ll find a large indoor RV parts and camping accessories store, a spacious service check-in area, a video production studio, indoor delivery and service drive area, and a guest lounge equipped with the latest technology. Lichtsinn RV also offers dealership guests complimentary electrical hookups while visiting for RV delivery or service.

At Lichtsinn RV we are happy to answer your RV questions thoroughly and patiently so you can ensure you are selecting not only the right RV for your needs, but the right RV dealership. Call a Lichtsinn RV consultant today to have your questions answered.

Experience the Best® at Lichtsinn RV, the #1 Winnebago Dealer in North America for the last six consecutive years. Lichtsinn RV is located 1 mile north of Winnebago Industries in Forest City, IA and we proudly sell new Winnebago motorhomes and pre-owned RVs from various manufacturers. While at Lichtsinn RV, you can expect no delivery miles on new RVs, a complimentary half-day educational orientation of your RV, excellent guest reviews, an assigned support team from sales, parts, service and the business office, superior accommodations, no-hassle pricing and competitive financing. See our extensive new and used inventory here.