Knowing what to look for when buying a used camper can feel overwhelming. From towables to motorized, narrowing down which RV type best suits you is just the beginning. Then, the RV’s condition, price, and features should also align with your budget and needs. In this used RV buying guide, we offer step-by-step considerations when shopping for a pre-owned RV to ensure you get all the benefits of a used RV while eliminating potential risks.
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ToggleFactors When Buying a Used Camper

Here are a few considerations to help you buy a used RV that will work best for your travel style.
Tow Vehicle Compatibility
As you would with a new RV, consider your current vehicle’s towing capacity before purchasing a used camper. Knowing what your vehicle can tow will help filter RVs that catch your eye but you don’t have the ability to tow. If you happen to come across a used RV too good to pass up—or you plan to upgrade your vehicle with the purchase of a new RV—factor in the cost of the tow vehicle and whether its size (like the RV size) could limit your campground selection.
Spend time researching to ensure you find a used camper that matches your current or prospective vehicle. You never want to approach your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity—see the 75-80% rule. If you do, you’ll regret that choice when traveling in mountainous regions, and it can cause unnecessary damage and repairs to your vehicle. A little research goes a long way in making the right choice. If you aren’t sure, check out the towing calculator below to learn what your vehicle can safely tow.
Condition

You are looking for a well-built, used camper from a trusted manufacturer that has been treated well by previous owners. Research the top RV manufacturers and familiarize yourself with their reputation and products. Identify preferred lasting structural features, like aluminum framing within the walls and flooring, or a fully walkable roof. Then, don’t compromise when it comes time to look at specific units. Once you identify an RV of interest, its condition is a significant variable. Some necessary checks include:
- Look for signs of water damage
- Check electrical components and lights
- Complete a roof inspection
- Test the appliances
- Inspect walls for cracks, unevenness, or bulging
- Complete a run-of-the-mill annual RV check
Tire quality, age, and condition may be one of the most overlooked features when shopping for a used camper. If a used RV has cheap, no-name tires that are too old or overly worn, you should replace them immediately to prevent blowouts and factor the additional cost into the negotiated price. (Some recommended tire brands include Michelin, Goodyear, Carlisle, and PowerKing). Learn more about trailer tires.
An RV walkaround is an important, necessary step when shopping for a used camper. But sometimes, it’s the unapparent problems that come back to bite you. For example, it’s hard to fully inspect every inch of the water, plumbing, and propane systems. Even if you know what to look for, it’s time-consuming and requires the correct tools and testing procedures. A professional RV inspection can help
A Thorough RV Inspection

One of the most underutilized RV buying tips is to have an inspection completed before purchasing. Like a residential home inspection, an RV inspection can reveal many hidden problems. Knowing what you are dealing with can keep you from purchasing a lemon or getting stuck with expensive repairs. An inspector can identify potential issues or repairs—big and small—that should factor into your buying decision.
While most people think RV inspections are only for used campers, they can also discover issues in new camping units, such as errors in manufacturing. Learn more about Camping World’s service inspection. When buying used, it’s helpful to work with a service provider from the start who you can trust with routine maintenance and any future repairs.
Budget
The term “house poor” can refer to more than traditional living arrangements; it’s possible to spend too much money and have a steep loan on an RV or your tow vehicle. When shopping for used campers, remember your reasons for buying, and stick to your budget. Don’t spend so much that you won’t have the funds to visit the places or enjoy the activities to intended in the first place! Furthermore, a used RV will require routine maintenance at best and significant repairs or replacements at worst. Budget for a used RV.
What does that mean? Research common 5-year and 10-year common RV repairs. Whether upgrading an aging refrigerator or replacing brake components, you should know the average lifespan of major RV components and have a rough idea of how much future repairs will cost. Working with a trusted RV service and maintenance can help you get the most longevity and value out of a used RV.
Lastly, do your diligence in valuing the RV. RVers have many free valuation tools at their disposal to ensure they are paying a fair price for a used RV, and there has never been more transparency in the used market than what is currently available. Tools like the RV Valuator access real-time market data to provide the most accurate assessment of a preowned RV’s value. There is no reason not to have a ballpark estimate of what an RV is worth.
Size

Bigger isn’t always better when you buy in an RV. You may want as much living space as possible when transitioning to RV life, but large RVs have limitations.
It’s important to consider how comfortable you are driving and parking a large vehicle. Don’t exceed your comfort level, or driving, parking, and navigating into campsites will be more stressful. Also, consider where you want to stay. If you desire to stay in national parks, state parks, or on privately owned land, going too big will limit your choices.
Buying an RV under 30 feet is ideal for stays in national parks and many state parks. Large fifth wheels need more space to maneuver into campsites. They are also the tallest RV option, which increases the chances of damage from low trees on privately owned land and within tight campgrounds if you’re not mindful.
It’s tough to balance the need for daily living space with easy driving and parking. From our experience, ensuring you can fit in the places you wish to visit is a priority. That can mean sacrificing living space, but we find that we spend more time outdoors anyway when we’re excited about where we’re staying.
Floorplan

Consider how you plan to live your days inside the RV when looking at used camper floor plans. Here are a few questions to ponder:
- Do you have kids that need their own sleeping spaces?
- Will you need a workspace at the campsite or while traveling?
- How often do you cook meals?
- What rainy-day activities might you need indoor space for?
Prioritizing sleeping spaces suited to your family’s size is a great place to start. Large families are typically drawn to fifth wheels, toy haulers, and large travel trailers because of the many options for flexible sleeping spaces. Couples or single travelers may embrace van life, motorhome travel, or small campers.
Want to learn more about the options available? Check out some floor plans for fifth wheels and travel trailers, and then browse used RVs based on type:
Travel Trailer Floor Plans
Fifth Wheel Floor Plans
Features
Regardless of your family size and floor plan preferences, noting certain features will make it easier to compare different RVs. Here are some features to look for when buying a used camper:
- Storage space for gear, toys, and camping equipment
- Sleeping capacity and layout (i.e., separated rooms for privacy)
- Refrigerator size
- Pantry storage
- Counterspace
- Cooking equipment (indoor and outdoor)
- Office or school space (for remote work or roadschooling)
- Generator or solar power (for off-grid camping)
- Washer and dryer hookups (for full-time living)
- Number of A/C units
- TV hookups, inside and out
- Electronics like monitoring systems or entertainment centers
- Prep for solar power
- Water tank sizes (fresh, gray, black)
Four-Season Capability

Look for four-season capability when buying a used camper for full-time RV living. Most people who choose to travel full-time are chasing regions with warm weather year-round. Insulation may not be at the top of your mind if this is you. For a full-time camper, the weather changes–simple as that. You may need to stay for an extended period in a location you didn’t plan on. And having four-season insulation isn’t just for winter weather; it is super important in the heat.
If you’ve spent time in an RV in Florida, Texas, or Arizona during summer, you know how tough it is for a camper air conditioner to keep up. Camper insulation is your year-round friend while traveling full-time.
For full-time living, look for insulated used campers rated for four seasons. And even if you retain a residence and only use your camper part-time, an RV rated for full-time use can hold up better for daily use than other options.
Used RV Purchase Checklist
Narrowing down your list of the best used motorhomes and towable campers is an exciting process. But with so many RVs to choose from, having a checklist helps you remain organized and focused on the top features and floor plan designs you desire. The used RV purchase checklist below summarizes everything you should consider before, during, and after a used RV purchase.
Pre-Purchase
These checks will help you with research before you schedule tours at your local Camping World.
- Set Your Budget
- Choose Your RV Type
- Determine an Ideal RV Age
- Research Manufacturers
- Select Priority Floor Plans
- Read Customer Reviews
- Browse Online RV Inventory
- Research Fair Purchase Values
- Determine If You’ll Finance or Pay
- Research Financing (if applicable)
- Request Insurance Quotes
- Find Your Local Dealership
The more you know in this process, the more efficient you’ll be once you visit the dealership. So, this is also a great time to seek advice from experienced RVers. Ask them why they love their specific camper, what they’d change, and what they wish they knew before they got started. This information can prove invaluable and help you ask the right questions when you tour RVs with a salesperson.
At the Dealership
The following checks will help you when touring RVs, inspecting their condition, and finalizing purchase & financing terms.
- Establish a Preferred Salesperson
- Tour Multiple RVs
- Inspect the Condition of Preferred Models
- Research Financing Pre-Approval (if applicable)
- Negotiate Final Purchase Value
- Determine Financing Terms (if applicable)
- Select Insurance and Protection Packages
- Schedule Final Walkthrough and Pickup
Post-Purchase
These checks will help you enjoy your RV life and maximize the life of your RV investment.
- Acquire Essential RV Supplies
- Track and Schedule Regular Maintenance
- Research Clubs with Camping Benefits
- Plan Strategic RV Renovations or Decor Updates
Why Buy a Used RV From Camping World?

Camping World offers RV owners the ability to sell or trade in an RV to upgrade or downsize their RV lifestyle. When they buy used recreational vehicles, each used camper goes through an extensive reconditioning program to prepare for its next happy home. Here’s an overview of the used RV reconditioning program at Camping World:
Step 1: New Mattress
The process starts with a brand new RV mattress, which eliminates the first upgrade most RVers make when they buy used. It’s just a nice touch knowing you won’t have to spend any time sleeping on or dealing with an old mattress from the previous owner.
Step 2: Deep Clean
Then, each used RV gets deep cleaned and odor-neutralized. That process includes a complete flush and sanitization of all holding tanks. So you don’t have to worry about leftover you-know-what clogging your new RV sewer hose on your first camping trip.
Step 3: Multi-Point Inspection
The process also includes a multi-point inspection from top to bottom. This inspection looks for soft spots, signs of water damage, missing components, and much more. Basically, it identifies the need for repairs and routine maintenance work according to the RV’s mileage and condition.
Step 4: Good Sam Protection Services
Finally, all used RVs come with a three-year Good Sam Elite Membership, one year of Good Sam Roadside Assistance, and one year of Good Sam Travel Assist. And if that’s not enough, you’ll also have access to Camping World’s nationwide RV service network for routine maintenance, renovation, collision repair, and more.
Additionally, when you conduct your personal RV inspection with a salesperson, be sure to identify repairs or issues you notice. When you buy a used RV from Camping World, they can address outstanding cleaning or repairs to ensure you drive your used RV home in good condition.
We aim to provide all the resources you need to find the right and purchase the RV that’s right for you. Check out these helpful RV roundups and buying guides to learn more:
Do you have any questions about buying a new or used camper? Let us know in the comments below.
Author
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Scott, his wife Vanessa, and their 14-year-old daughter have traveled full-time in their RV for 8 years. The family has worked and homeschooled on the road through 42 states so far. They blog about RVing tips, travel destinations, jobs for RVing, and the full-time RV lifestyle on their blogs https://theadventuredetour.com/ and https://rvnomadjobs.com/. They are also RV content creators @theadventuredetour on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Be sure to reach out to them and say hi!
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I am planning to buy a used Winnebago Travato 59KL around February or March of next year. My budget all in is $90,000.00 and I will be paying cash.
Hi Willene, we have over 200 dealerships nationwide and would love to help with your search. You can use our website to find the perfect RV for you: https://rv.campingworld.com/ and you can request a VIP appointment from there!