| In part 1 of this article we covered three ways to | | | | * Talk to other motorhome owners who already |
| help do the homework necessary to make an | | | | have had some experience with the buying |
| informed motorhome buying decision. They are | | | | process recently and get their impressions, ideas, |
| reading current and past issues of RV magazines, | | | | and recommendations too. This can be one of the |
| attending RV shows, and reading through the RV | | | | best sources of unbiased, impartial consumer |
| buyers guides by Trailer Life and Woodall's. But | | | | information that you can get, so try to talk to as |
| there is much more that you can do to get | | | | many RV owners as possible, and gat as much |
| thoroughly prepared for making your motorhome | | | | input from them as you can. Again, taking notes |
| purchase. Here are a few more ideas to consider: | | | | as you go can be very important. RV owners are |
| * Visit the RV dealers in your area and get | | | | a talkative bunch as a rule so you shouldn't have |
| completely familiar with all the models on their lot | | | | any problem getting very clear feedback from |
| that interest you at all. You can expect to be | | | | them on both motorhomes themselves and the |
| accompanied most of the way by the dealer's | | | | dealers who sell them. |
| sales person and that is their job, but remember | | | | However, keep in mind that sometimes emotion |
| that they are most likely not unbiased in their | | | | can affect the recommendations made by some |
| recommendations and so take note of what they | | | | RV folks as well. Try to determine if they are |
| say but keep in mind that they aren't necessarily | | | | reasonable in their expectations, or if they seem |
| impartial. | | | | to be a little overly picky. Also give weight to how |
| Also, very often you will have to go through a lot | | | | experienced they are with RVs. Those who have |
| of motorhomes on each lot and before you know | | | | been buying and selling RVs for a long time will |
| it you can get confused and no longer are able to | | | | usually have the best information overall. But try |
| remember the impressions that you had of each | | | | not to comment much on what they say, just |
| coach clearly. That's why it's a good idea to be | | | | ask as many questions as you can. Then put |
| organized about this investigative procedure and | | | | together the responses you have received and |
| have a method of recording your findings and | | | | look for clear patterns that can help guide your |
| inpressions as you go for recall later on. A simple | | | | buying decision. |
| notepad can do wonders for this, or you may | | | | There is still more research to be done to be |
| even choose to employ a camera, or even a | | | | ready to buy your motorhome and that will be |
| video camera in the process too to help bring | | | | covered in Part 3 of this article. |
| back to mind what you have seen. | | | | |