What’s the Difference Between an RV Motorhome and Camper?
There are many differences between an RV Motorhome and a camper. Unfortunately, many people do not understand these differences and get confused about what they want to buy. There is no point in investing in the wrong type of vehicle for your needs!
Of course, buying a new or used vehicle can be expensive. Even the most affordable vehicles can be worth thousands of dollars. As such, it is vital that you know what you are buying.
If you end up buying the wrong type of vehicle, you might find yourself wasting huge amounts of money. This is often for a vehicle that you never wanted in the first place.
So, what is the difference between an RV motorhome and a camper? And how can you be confident when buying or selling your RV motorhome or camper? After all, both parties deserve to be getting a fair deal during the trade!
Content List
Where to Buy Campers and RV Motorhomes
Why Buying from Private Sellers Might Be Better
What Is the Difference?
The differences between RV motorhomes and campers can seem subtle at first. This is especially the case for people buying their very first camper or RV. However, understanding the difference is essential if you are to get that perfect new vehicle for your needs!
The first thing that you should understand is the fact that the terms “RV” and “camper” are not really official terminologies. Instead, these are just generic terms. They are used to describe recreational vehicles in general. Indeed, people use these terms interchangeably but the differences between the two should always be considered.
RV Motor Homes
An “RV” motor home is one that operates as its own vehicle. An RV contains all the amenities that one might expect in a modern home such as a shower, a fully functional kitchen, and everything in between.
RV motorhomes are categorized into one of three different groups, as standard. These include Class A Motorhomes, which are the largest (and most expensive) motorhomes on the market. These models come with the most amenities. Class A motorhomes are followed by class B and C motorhomes.
Campers
A camper is notably different from an RV motorhome. Instead of being its own, fully operational vehicle, a camper is more of a trailer. They hook up to the back of a car and can then be towed to the desired destination.
Campers are generally smaller and a little less luxurious in nature; they have to be, in order to be towable by a van or vehicle. There are also some campers available on the market that can also be used as “ride on” campers, which fit onto the back of a vehicle instead of being towed.
Contrastingly, trailers (campers) are not generally categorized. Their size and length typically fall about halfway in the range for class C motorhomes. They can come with many different design features and stability accessories.
This makes them arguably more practical for many people than an RV. Some come in specialized popup designs, while others can be made complete with all of the luxuries of an RV—but on a slightly more compact scale.
When buying a camper, you should always consider your budget and the benefits of the camper in question. You should also think about your vehicle’s towing abilities. Many vehicles will be too low in horsepower to tow the largest of campers, which means that you should always think about this first before agreeing to buy a new camper.
Where to Buy Campers and RV Motorhomes
When it comes to trying to find the perfect camper or motorhome for your needs, it is important that you consider many different factors. One of the most important factors, of course, is whether you want to buy a new or a second-hand RV/camper.
Buying New?
New RV motorhomes and campers have their benefits, of course. Most campers and RVs will come with some form of warranty when you buy them new from a dealership. You can be confident that it won’t have been involved with any collisions and the like.
However, new motorhomes and campers come with an incredibly hefty price tag. This price tag will rapidly fall in value as the years go by. This can mean that new RVs are not the ideal choice for many people.
Why Buying from Private Sellers Might Be Better
While you are more than entitled to buy your motorhome or camper from new from a dealership, buying privately from a private seller might be a better choice. There are many different reasons why you might wish to consider buying second hand.
Fall in Value
New vehicles can rapidly fall in value. This means that the vehicle that you might have purchased from new a year or two ago could potentially be as much as half of its original value
In addition to this, new motorhomes also come with much larger price tags. Before deciding on whether to buy new or used, you should always consider the fact that you will often get more for your money when buying a used vehicle.
High Mileage Isn’t a Problem
When buying a used motorhome, you might find that you are concerned about the mileage of your new potential vehicle. However, this shouldn’t be concerning because most people won’t use their motorhome in the same way as they would use their car.
After all, you will not have to worry too much about the mileage. Most people only use their camper or motorhome once or twice a year. The average five-year-old motorhome will generally have as few as 20,000 miles or less on the count!
Fewer Risks of Theft
There can surely be no doubting the fact that a brand-new RV motorhome or camper will be at a far higher risk of being broken into or potentially even stolen. While new models are often equipped with some highly advanced safety and security features, it has to be considered that low lives will invariably be more drawn to a shiny new vehicle that has not yet suffered from a large depreciation in value than a slightly older one.
You Could Get a Badly Made Vehicle When Buying New
If you do your research when buying a second-hand vehicle, the chances are that you will be able to find out about all of the information that you might need to know. This will help you to get an idea of the quality of the vehicle and its reliability.
However, this is not always the case when buying a new RV motorhome or camper. Without any previous experience to go on, you will be buying a vehicle that could potentially have faults. Though not the norm, it is still perfectly possible for a new RV to have problems. This can lead to a whole lot of hassle for you to get it replaced or fixed, even under warranty!
Why Buy and Sell Using Escrow
If you are considering buying or selling your RV motorhome or camper, then you may want to consider doing so through Escrow.com. Using Escrow’s services offers many different benefits for private sellers and buyers alike, helping to protect everyone’s interests!
Escrow uses a simple and easy to follow, a 5-step process during its transactions. This helps to ensure that everyone’s interests are protected. For some people, this can be a concern when dealing with such large amounts of money.
The first step in the process is for the buyer and the seller to determine and agree to the terms of the sale. The terms of sale include factors such as shipping fees and inspection periods.
Second, the buyer pays money through to Escrow. The Escrow servers are fully secured, thereby protecting the funds. As soon as the payment has been verified, Escrow will then send a notification through to the seller of the vehicle. This ensures clarity for both the buyer and the seller.
Once this transaction has been approved, the third step in the Escrow payment process is for the vehicle to be delivered safely to the buyer. This may be by many different methods. Once the vehicle has been delivered successfully, the buyer will then be given a number of days—as set out by the inspection period in terms of the transaction—to check that they are happy with the quality of the RV motorhome or camper.
Assuming that the vehicle meets the predetermined standard, the buyer will then send a notification through to Escrow. Escrow will review this notification. Once approved, Escrow will use the information to release the funds.
Benefits of Using Escrow
There are many benefits to selling vehicles through Escrow.com. The most notable of these is the security for both buyer and seller. Buyers can be confident that the vehicle will meet the predetermined standard. Sellers can be sure of getting paid the amount that they are owed for the RV motorhome or camper.
Escrow also offers users access to many different companies that can help to make the process of buying and selling vehicles easier. This can be an invaluable resource for many people, especially those who are new in the field of buying and selling vehicles.