How to Find the Right RV for Your Family

Picking the right RV for your family is one of the big concerns for most RV buyers, at least the ones I surveyed. I know it was for my family. Because I work on the Internet, I wanted an RV that had an area set aside for an office – somewhere that was separate from the living area, so I could continue my work while we traveled.

As a result, we looked at dozens of models and floor plans. We found that we really liked the Monaco Knight PLQ because it had an office in the bedroom area. For me, this was very attractive because effectively, we would have two separate living areas.

Then we looked at the Fleetwood Excursion. It didn’t have the separate office space, but we liked the ride the chassis gave us. What we found was that the Monaco had many of the features we wanted that the Excursion didn’t have and visa versa. This is normal. At the end of the day, we made a list of what was most important to us and made the decision from that.

Everyone has individual preferences when it comes to choosing an RV; that is the reason for the multitude of floor plans. Sometimes it can be very confusing. I will guide you through the process of defining exactly what you want, so you can select which options are most important to you.

The secret to finding the right floor plan is to determine your personal lifestyle and interests first, and then find the RV that comes closest to satisfying them. For my lifestyle, the Fleetwood Excursion satisfies my family’s needs in that we can serve sit-down dinners for as many as eight people, invite a dozen friends in for a stand-up party, and have enough space and activities to entertain the boys for hours. Plus, I can comfortably conduct my business in the RV as well.

Let’s take a look at some of these considerations and how they will affect your choice of floor plan. Then we will consider a number of different questions you should ask yourself and talk to the salesperson about to confirm that you are making the right decision for you.

Consider the following questions. These questions are also included in The RV Buyer's Companion Tool Kit, where you can easily fill in the appropriate answers and even number them in the order they mean the most to you. Then you can take this list with you when you go to look at RVs.

1.      How many people will travel with me?

2.      What ages are these people?

3.      Do they have special needs?

4.      Will I be traveling with children? If so, what are their special needs?

5.      Is there room for everyone to sit comfortably?

6.      Is there room for everyone to sleep comfortably?

7.      Is there a private area for my spouse and me?

8.      Do I have any special hobbies that need to be addressed with my selection of floor plan?

9.      Will I be conducting business while I travel? Will I need an office?

10. Do I want the office to be in a separate area?

11. Is there room for everyone to eat at the table?

12. Will I be able to entertain larger groups of people?

13. Is the kitchen big enough for me to cook the type of meals I plan to prepare with ease?

14. Is there adequate room in the refrigerator for the length of time I will be traveling?

15. Is the bathroom large enough for my family's needs?

16. Does the shower or tub meet the needs of my family?

17. Is there enough storage?

18. Will I be able to bring along my sport skis/dirt bike/jet ski/4-wheeler?

19. Is it easy for people to get in and out of the RV? Are the steps hard to climb?

20. Is there an out-of-the-way area for the kids to play?

21. Are the hook-ups convenient and easy for me to use?

22. Are the captain’s chairs comfortable? Am I able to adjust them to suit my body size and needs?

23. Is the ride smooth and comfortable?

24. Is there enough pickup on steep roads?

25. Do I feel at ease at the wheel, or am I unsure about maneuvering the coach?

26. Is my spouse/travel partner at ease at the wheel, or does s/he feel unsure about maneuvering the coach?

27. Am I able to back up and park the RV?

28. Do I have a tow vehicle that meets the weight standards, or will I have to buy a tow vehicle?

29. Will I be able to take the RV to the places I want to take it?

The next consideration is your interests – where you will go, what you will do when you get there, and how long you will stay. Will you bring special equipment? Does anybody have special needs? Will you camp out in the parking lot next to a sporting event or antique convention, or will you spend your time discovering the national parks or lazing at the seashore?

Are you a water-ski enthusiast or a snow-ski enthusiast, a water baby or a snow bunny? What time of year will you travel the most? What weather and temperatures will you encounter? Sultry temperatures are made tolerable by awnings, roof-mounted air conditioners, and windows that provide good cross-ventilation. Inclement weather requires good insulation, dual-pane windows, and enclosed, heated plumbing bays. While air conditioning or a good heater might be a luxury for some, it could be an absolute necessity for others.

Jeff Radich is a professional research writer and active RV enthusiast.