When we decided to transition from van life to a bigger home on wheels, we found a ton of online resources to aid us in our search. We knew we wanted a travel trailer, but narrowing down the exact length, make, model, etc. was like finding a needle in a haystack. While we knew van life inside and out, finding the right RV had us scratching our heads. When we asked around, it seemed like everyone had an opinion or recommendation.
“Get a Grand Design Fifth Wheel!”
“Find a trailer that your van can tow!”
“We love our [insert any rig here] and you will too!”
I’ll be honest… it was a bit overwhelming! Like most people looking to buy something, we started our search online. We found lots of sites and listing platforms out there, and we spent hours scrolling through each of them and researching various makes and models. We found lots of conflicting information about the quality of various travel trailer brands, and it seemed like different campers’ experiences with the same exact make and model could vary wildly. Filtering through all of this information across so many different sites was helpful, but there was also a lot of noise.
It wasn’t until later we discovered RVUSA, which we wish we would have known about all along in our RV search! This site ended up being our choice for parting ways with our van, which I’ll get to shortly. ?
Once we had a better idea of all the options out there, it was time to narrow down the field. We were certain that we wanted a travel trailer – and I had my heart set on an Airstream. Steven was less committed to the Airstream idea and wanted to shop around for alternative options. After talking it over, we decided to start at ground zero to truly explore what could work best for our family.
We had many things to contemplate. We needed something that could fit our family as our boys grow over the next 2-3 years. Because we have boys, we wanted a trailer that was well-made and could handle the abuse they were sure to dish out. We also had to consider the fact that we are full-time travelers and would be driving and using our rig constantly. There are lots of great options out there for folks who want to camp a handful of times a year – but we wanted something that would hold up under extreme conditions.
Our kids also had their own ideas as to what we needed. For them, they really wanted to have a real bed. When we built the van, we thought we’d only be traveling for a year! Levi and Harvey grew so much after that first year that we had to move them to the van floor in sleeping bags and sleeping pads. So, a bed was a necessity! The kids also wanted a TV as they missed that creature comfort from traditional living. It was important for us to take their requests into consideration, because let’s face it… if we wanted to keep the adventures rolling, keeping our kids happy and comfortable would be key.
After agreeing on our “must haves” it was time to start our search anew. After a few more weeks of casual browsing, saving, and asking questions of sellers, we were still leaning towards an Airstream, but we kept coming across other travel trailers that offered options not available in the Airstreams (like outdoor kitchens and tons of exterior storage). These also came with significantly lower price tags. We decided that to truly understand what we’d be getting for our money, we’d have to go out and take a look at a few options in person. Luckily, our hometown is home to one of the largest RV dealerships in California. We spent the good part of an afternoon exploring different makes, models, and floor plans. It was super helpful to see them in person, and better understand what set certain brands and models apart from one another, and why they cost what they do. We also got a much better feel for what size travel trailer we wanted.
For us, we liked the flexibility and freedom that came with van life. Much of that freedom came from having a small rig that could fit and go just about anywhere. The trade-off, however, was limited living space. This forced us to chase good weather and maximize our time spent outside – which was great but had its own set of challenges. Having done pretty well in a 19’ van, we decided that a 26’- 30’ travel trailer would be the right length to both travel and live comfortably. Most of the models under 26’ didn’t offer the floor plan or sleeping arrangements we were looking for and didn’t seem to offer enough additional living space to justify making the switch to a truck/trailer combo. Travel trailers over 30’ offered some nice amenities that would make day-to-day living easier but would limit our camping options and make towing a greater challenge.
Having narrowed down our search criteria, it was time to see what was out there. Steven would text me links to various listings, and we’d look them over together each evening. Some he sent for reference, some were real contenders, and others just for fun. After a few weeks of this we narrowed down our search to a newer 28’-30’ Airstream. It took a few more weeks, but we lucked out and came across a new listing for a 28’ Airstream only 80 miles away!
The couple who owned the Airstream were the original owners and took great care of it. They were super nice and took their time explaining to us in great detail how everything in the Airstream worked and even had fresh baked cookies for us and the boys! We fell in love with it straight away and new we wanted to buy it. They only problem was, we had nothing to tow it with! Luckily, the sellers agreed to tow the Airstream to the campground where we were planning to spend the summer a few hours away. They even gave us all the hoses, power cords, their tow hitch and sway bars. We couldn’t have asked for a better buying experience!
But now came the hard part. Moving into the Airstream, meant it was time to sell “The Beast,” our beloved 2016 Mercedes-Benz Custom Sprinter Van. Having just spent the past few months searching for our Airstream, we had a pretty god idea of what buyers would be looking for and where they’d go to find it. After getting the van ready for prime time, we decided to list our 2016 Mercedes-Benz Custom Sprinter Van for sale on RVUSA.
This online platform is the longest-standing RV classifieds and lifestyle site, with hundreds of dealer locations who list their RVs for sale, as well as countless private party sellers around the country. We love that RVUSA allows you to create a free account, and we were really impressed with RVUSA’s online overview of every rig type – from Diesel Pushers (Class A Motorhomes) and Mini Motorhomes (Class C) to Fifth Wheels and Skoolies. They even have listings for tiny homes!
It’s super easy to look up rigs for sale on RVUSA. You can start your search here, and search RVs by type, make, state and city. You can also narrow your search down quite a bit by utilizing their search filters, which include Condition (New or Used), Model, Keyword (like “Outdoor Kitchen”), Year, Price, Length, Fuel Type, Dry Weight, Mileage and Sleeping Capacity. You can even enter your tow vehicle on MyRVUSA so it will narrow down your search to RVs that work with your vehicle.
When you find something you like, your free account allows you to save all your favorites by hitting the “Add to MyRVUSA ❤” button, and you can reach out directly to dealers and private party sellers to make them an offer.
It’s a great resource for buyers, but it’s also a great tool for sellers. To date, our listing has received nearly 500,000 views, and we have exchanged numerous messages with interested buyers. We’re confident that the right buyer will come around soon. Maybe it will be you! 😉
If you’re on the fence about buying an RV, there are TONS of awesome resources on RVUSA.com. They offer a Specs Guide, a Tow Guide, Parts & Services, a forum where you can chat with experts, and even a whole section dedicated to renting an RV to test the waters! They also have an RV Loan Calculator to help you determine the monthly payment and interest charges for a traditional RV loan.
If you’re in the market for an RV – or a rental – we highly recommend checking out RVUSA!
