I tend to look an RV purchase a different way. As others have stated it’s certainly not an investment in money, it’s an investment in travel, relaxation, family, fun, memories and other intangibles. Depreciation on an RV is bad enough that I would just put the pencil back in the drawer. I assume what you are getting at is cost of ownership. With a used unit you are likely to get a better deal as someone has already eaten the top end of the depreciation. So your up-front cost may be less, or you may get a nicer coach for the same money as new, but the caveat is how it was used and maintained. That’s an unknown. You can do your best homework but at the end of the day anything can go wrong and it comes out of your pocket. Hard to forecast that cost. With a new RV you may spend more to get less but you also have the benefit of being a new owner and the luxury of a warranty. You also have pretty limitless choices as far as floor plan etc in a budget. Used is at the whim of what the market has to offer. So you are really talking about which strategy fits your plan. You want a used better deal and take your chances, or new beaten up by depreciation but less to worry about with respect to repairs. Personally I would choose new every time. Sure lots of folks tell me I am dumb for the depreciation hit etc etc. I wouldn’t buy an RV to sell it. So the depreciation argument means nothing to me. I also have this thing about not liking to own other people’s stuff, that’s just me. I know I get less of a coach but I also love having a warranty. I means more to me than a used coach. Many if not most like the used path and it certainly has merits. That’s why they sell new and used. Pick your poison.
