What To Know Before Buying A Camper Or RV

Different Kinds Of Fish

A motorhome and a recreational vehicle have a lot of crossover, but they’re not the same. A lot of people don’t clearly distinguish between them. Campers, or fifth wheels, are often lumped in with motorized vehicles that include beds, showers, refrigerators, burners, dinettes, and other trappings of a home. But the addition of a motor changes everything. 

In this writing we’ll go over a few things you should know before purchasing either sort of recreational vehicle. Because the term “RV” refers to something you do for fun, all types of mobile camping units are often lumped under this category, but there are quite a few differences. We can’t cover anything in depth here, but we can give you a good idea what to watch for.

Fifth Wheel Considerations

The term “fifth-wheel” refers to the hitch; a coupling shaped like a “U”. This is generally in the back of the tow vehicle, which is usually a pickup truck, and makes it so the trailer can be pulled along behind. In the 1800s, a wheel that was horizontal was fitted to the back of horse-drawn carriages allowing pivot room. 

Well, for one thing, you need a vehicle rated to pull the weight of a fifth-wheel camper. For another, you need to keep in mind the realities surrounding hills and flats. But fifth-wheel campers do tend to have some staying power, because they are mobile, and have no need of a motor. So there are many situations where they’ll last a few decades.

Airstream fifth-wheel camping trailers are the “creme-de-la-creme” of the RV world in terms of non-motorized units. Teardrop fifth-wheel trailers, those small enough to be pulled along behind even a light vehicle like a Subaru, also tend to be expensive and retain value. Also, you can park a fifth wheel trailer somewhere, then go driving. 

This has advantages and disadvantages; it all depends on what you’re planning on using the fifth-wheel camper for. Urban camping, or “boondocking”, is a lot harder with a fifth wheel. Also, the tires can get flats just like with any vehicle, and they often are sized differently than what is carried at most auto shops. 

Motorized RV Realities

Motorized RVs tend to be a bit more expensive to maintain than some other options in this writing. You’ve got to handle the “home” part of the vehicle, as well as the motorized component. It’s like combining minor costs of home ownership with average expenses associated in vehicle ownership. 

As a rule of thumb, the cost of owning a motorized RV is about 40% higher, every year, than the cost of owning a conventional vehicle such as a pickup truck, or a sedan. Motorhome repair costs tend to be a little bit higher than conventional vehicles, and many shops won’t work on these vehicles.

They are separated into three categories: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A motorhomes are the big ones the size of a school bus. Class B motorhomes are those like a van with a bed, bathroom, fridge, and burners. Class C RVs can be long or short, but generally feature a bed resting over the cab where the vehicle is driven.

Truck Campers

Truck campers are fit in the back of a pickup truck, and there are some exceptional models out there; but since they’re being “added” to a pickup, they don’t have quite the same structural stability as fifth-wheel campers and motorhomes, so you want to consider that. Still, parking is easier, and you can remove the camper to leave it in one location if that suits you. 

Choosing The Best Option For Your Situation

You can buy a used motorhome for under $3k, if you’re willing to deal with a $500 engine or cab issue every 500 miles or so. Meanwhile, you can buy new for as much as $100k or more. That’ll be your cost range. The question you should ask yourself is: how will you use the vehicle? 

If you’ve got a truck that can pull a load up a hill, fifth-wheels aren’t a bad idea. If you want everything consolidated in one vehicle, you might want to go with a motorhome. If you’re looking for a light camping solution for weekend getaways, maybe go with a camper. Whatever you do, explore all your options carefully, and only buy after you’ve looked into each. 

To learn more about RVs like motorhomes, fifth wheels, and campers, be sure to explore our blog at Anybody’s Autos!