Buying my First Travel Trailer
Did I make a mistake selling my Class C Rig?
No.
As my first home on wheels drove away I was initially worried I made the wrong decision. It was a fear of maybe not being able to find the right trailer, that inventory was going to be limited or overpriced. I was slightly fearful of towing. Overall doubt crept into the back of my mind.
First things first. I had to get a truck!
Finding the Right Tow Vehicle
When I began searching for a truck it was in the midst of the inventory crisis and shortage in the supply chains. It was going to be a needle in the haystack. I had very specific needs.
I know there is a debate among truck owners on who’s truck is best. Personally, I believe that it’s comparing apples to apples. I’m not one that cares. I want a reliable truck, one that has 4x4 capabilities, has 4 doors (I need the backseat for the dogs), can tow over 7000lbs, and is under 30K.
Yep - Needle in a Haystack.
Turns out - I found my truck within two weeks. Mind you this is after I had read reviews, researched specs discovered what “Gear Ratio” means, finally understood the difference between GVWR and GCWR*.
My New-to-Me 2013 Dodge Ram 1500
I spent even more time looking online at local car dealers for inventory. Whichever truck I purchased needed to be able to tow at least 7000lbs. While I was looking specifically at trailers that weighed 4000-5000lbs, I wanted to make sure the truck could handle it regardless of what I put in the trailer.
In July I Purchased a 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 V8 Quad-cab 4x4, Outdoorsmen. I absolutely love this truck!! The gear ratio is 3.55 which means it can tow just over 8100lbs. The trailer I purchased, is 4,385lbs dry and has a payload capacity of 1,245lbs.
How I found my next Home on Wheels
Endless hours of research, multiple walk-throughs at local dealers, checking RV Trader EVERY DAY, reading reviews, driving my mom nuts with the back and forth on Van Life Vs. Trailer Life. Finally deciding the trailer was the best option. I really wanted solar but that is not quite a built-in sufficient option on the market. I plan on adding solar (down the road).
I spent hours reading reviews online and joined Facebook groups for that model. Asked owners questions. Got opinions on bunkhouses based on experience. I learned so much from the current owners and gained an understanding of many of the reasons behind the opinions.
Once I decided on a model, I began emailing dealers, communicating with many of them throughout Ohio. A ton of emails, telling them what I wanted and getting their best options, and getting prices. It was a lot of back and forth to see what inventory they had since it was the middle of summer 2020. Inventory was constantly changing so many websites couldn’t keep up.
I almost drove to Iowa and picked up a trailer. It was $10K cheaper than local options and I happened to have a friend visiting her family that following two weeks (which meant I had a place to stay and I could visit a friend I haven't seen in 2 years). However the trip did not work out - so I held off on heading to that dealer.
I made sure to email every single dealer or contact that emailed me. They took time out of their day to find a trailer and email me the information. It was the least I could do.
Finding the right travel trailer is an important decision. You can’t test drive them, sometimes photos online don’t really help.
Crash Course in Learning to Tow a Trailer
Before bringing my trailer home, I had never done it - other than towing my cousins behind my grandfather's mower. It was a new experience. I’ve met and become friends with other solo travelers that tow and as they said and countless other travelers said…you will figure it out.
It’s something I will learn how to do and knowing me, something I’m going to get perfect and learn everything I can about towing. Thankfully my friend Kathy’s boyfriend Travis has years of towing experience, I scheduled my pick up at Camping World of Akron on a day he was able to help me out.
It was by far the best thing I could have done. Not only was he patient with me and allowed me to ask questions; he helped me get things set up and walked me through those steps. He also painstakingly helped me back into my parents narrow - narrow driveway. My trailer is 8 ft. (96 in.) wide -- the driveway is just over 123 in. (!!!!!!) wide.
I’ve always taken challenges head-on - many times because I had no choice. My driver’s license test was taken with a stick shift, and I passed! I moved to LA with no job (and survived). I drove across the country myself 4 times.
In my latest Youtube video, not only do I take you on a walkthrough inventory at a dealer, but I also recorded the day I picked up my trailer, the entire hitch instruction process with the E4 Equalizer hitch, and the nerve-racking moments of backing into my parent’s driveway.
Recommendations when buying an RV, Motorhome, Travel Trailer or Class B, Class C, and Class A
I’ve now purchased two RVs and sold one. While I’m not an expert, I do have some advice for those that are looking to step into this world. Tips I recommend to make your life easier when you take that leap into the Rv world.
Research Online
Record Your Walkthrough
Research Interest Rates.
Have 20% to put down
Buy Used
Ask Questions
Take your time
Record everything
Ask what the deal includes
Negotiate
Join Facebook Groups for the model you are interested in (truck and rv)
Read everything you can on that model
And my number 1 recommendation (my dad taught me)...learn to walk away. Take a day. If you’re sure, ask if the deposit is refundable. Get it in writing but walk away.
I will be posting a couple more travel videos and am currently remodeling the inside, those videos will be posted in the future, so be sure to subscribe to my channel on Youtube, leave a comment, and give a thumbs up!
*GVWR refers to weight capacity of the vehicle alone. GCWR, however, is a weight rating of the vehicle but takes a hitched up trailer into account. It is the maximum weight of a vehicle with a trailer attached.
