The fact that you were allowed to shoot and publish this insightful video says a LOT about the integrity at Bish's!

Last year when working at a campground in Montana, we had a young male solo camper come in with one of those rented Class Cs. Outside staff guided him into his site, he stayed a day and then came into the office saying he was done with camping. I asked if there was anything we could do to help or solve a problem and he said, no, that after 10 days of rving, he had just decided it wasn't for him. He didn't like driving it around, every campground had different rules and different connection set ups. At every campground something went wrong with the rv (I tried to explain to him that sometimes the rental class c rvs are rented out so fast that a flaw or need for maintenance could be overlooked but might be just simple fixes) I again asked if there was anything we could do to help him out. He said he didn't like the work of setting up, he'd rather be in a hotel where all he had to do to get rid of his $hit was to push a lever and it was done, no sewer tank to worry about along with other comments about rving vs staying in a hotel. He brought in cases of water, a brand new cooler, two cannisters of bear spray and other equipment. He said to give it away for him because he was done. Just done. Even when outside staff went over to talk to him, he was polite but again said he was just done with rving. Expensive and sad lesson to learn but at least not as expensive as buying one and then deciding it wasn't for him.

I hired a private inspector when I bought my NEW 2020 Kodiak qb. I paid him $250., he spent 2.5 hours on it. They fixed 3 minor issues and I bought it. To everyone……Josh is right on point!! This is valuable information. Take it!

You've won me over 💯. When I buy an RV, I'm gonna book a room near Bish's and work with your salespeople. The whole idea that Bish's has you represent them & put out these vids? You brand the company as honest, dependable, fun, hard working, and fair. I appreciate the RV tours you give (thorough & honest) as well as the industry knowledge you share. In this tech age, when us middle aged and younger folks are doing most things by social media, I wonder if Bish's understands how far-reaching these videos are? Whether they do or don't understand the golden egg you (Josh) are laying, this marketing is stellar. A lot of future sales (including mine) will be because of the work you've put in to grow this channel.

We paid 650.00 for an inspection and found out there was water damage and the electrical system was faulty. We passed. Feel like the inspection saved us money in the long run. Still shopping.

All excellent advice. Personal story. Partner had a trailer, decided we wanted a motorhome. When we purchased the motorhome, we had it inspected (cost $250 in 2015) found 3 minor issues. The coach only had 45,000 miles on it. Also had it inspected by a mechanic (and I'd been one for 25 years) - both inspectors were followed by the dealerships service manager. We added up the costs. Then went for the deal - either take care of the items or reduce the price from which we had offered - your choice - - - they reduced the price and did all the work, we had some items added and changed, they did the additional at cost. On a Motorhome - - - demand you take it for a test drive especially if it's used. When we managed a campground for the county it was amazing how many had just bought - - then said they wished they had bought uses or rented first. They ended up not liking features - - - also we purchased an "extended Warranty/Service policy from USAA as well as RV insurance. So that is out there but KNOW who you''re buying from and reputation. PS. We paid cash - - sold it 5 years later for what we paid, yes it was that clean. Keep up the good work Josh.

We hired an inspector here in California and it was a $500 ~ totally worth it. In our case, it was the 2022 A class motorhome, and there were issues that we would not have otherwise known about. We were able to bring that to the dealers attention and get that fixed at no extra cost to ourselves. In the end, the inspector cost paid for itself.

I've been living in a 30 ft RV for 6 years and I love it. I've saved myself so much money. I rent a space in a RV Park and considering buying a newer one because the one I have is about 18 years old.. that I remodeled and replaced a few things. Bust still it's been great.

If you are a new or seasoned RV'R, pay attention to this video. Josh is on point and I agree with him. I have learned a lot from him and I hope he doesn't get his feathers ruffled when I call things out about builds. Love you NERD.

Such valuable information. We’re 1st timers…found an RV but when the dealer didn’t want a private inspector we left. We realized that where we purchase can be just as important as what we purchase. Your truthfulness gives me hope that we may still be able to find somewhere reliable with something we want. Appreciate all the tips! In my opinion you give the best detailed videos and the most valuable information!! 💯👍

There are times I wish I could give a content creator two thumbs up, and this is one of them. Thank you for this! Well done!

Borrow/rent is big! We were able to borrow my in-laws trailer for a "trial run" trip. We had fun, but also learned a lot about what we need to function well and comfortably

Josh I got to say that you're pretty awesome and last year when you said that it was changing over to a different company I was scared that we were going to lose you and I'm so glad that we're not because I've learned so much from you and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart you are an amazing person and keep up the good work and God bless you

Also if going for a bumper pull and planning on getting a weight distribution hitch: if the trailer comes with such a hitch, like mine did, lift it yourself and make sure you can actually manage putting it in place and putting it away. They can be very heavy. If you are buying new or plan on buying a new weight distribution hitch go to a reputable hitch store and talk to them about the different hitches, preferably before you buy the bumper pull trailer, and again lift the hitches and make sure you will be able to manage them. I can manage mine, but when my arthritis flares up it gets iffy.

Speaking to your point on hiring an RV inspector before purchase: ABSOLUTELY YES! When I found a trailer that I was interested in I hired a certified inspector to give it a thorough going over before purchase. It cost me over $700, but considering I was going to spend over $20,000 I figured it was a worthwhile expense. And yes indeed, it was. (Cost of the inspection is at least partially dependent upon size and complexity of the rig they will be inspecting.) While my inspector did not find any problems that caused me to walk away from the trailer immediately, he did find several issues, some of which were life safety issues (sneaky little things easily overlooked, but that could pose a real danger). I was buying from a dealership, buying a used rig, and they claimed to have done their PDI. They did not catch these life safety issues. I told them all of the flagged items had to be fixed or replaced or I would not buy the trailer. The dealership did not argue, and agreed to fix or replace all of them. One of the reasons I bought from this dealership was because when I initially visited them and asked them about bringing in my own third party inspector they were all for it. Other dealerships I had visited and asked the same question of either waffled a bit and hemmed and hawed, or in the case of one dealership actually tried to actively discourage me from bringing in an inspector of my own. I promptly decided that that particular dealership would not get another visit from me even if they got in the perfect trailer. The inspector's report is very detailed and thorough for whatever they are able to test. Able to test is the key here. They need to be able to run all of the different systems in order to test them. However they usually cannot drive an RV or tow a trailer, so there will be elements of it that they won't be able to inspect. After I bought my trailer I took it to a local hitch and trailer shop near my home and had them do a separate inspection of the bits that make it a trailer, especially the brakes. I got a good report and advice on when to expect certain work to need to be done, especially on the brakes. For finding a certified inspector the national RV inspectors association, NRVIA, is one source. I believe they are based in Texas, but their inspectors can be found all over the 48 contiguous states at least. There might be another inspector credentialing organization out there, but I do not know of one at this time offhand. Please do web searches to find out more.

Hey y'all, I've posted a lot of comments here about my personal experience in shopping for and buying a camper. My husband and I spent a full year making a decision. We watched Josh's videos for a year, we shopped various vendors in our area (Texas) and we literally spent an entire YEAR to make a decision. We did the same thing when we bought our home. It's a BIG investment. We've owned multiple pleasure items,(4 boats, jet skis, 4 wheelers) so when we decided to buy a 'tiny home' for vacationing in and use as a weekend getaway, we did our research and came up with the very best plan for our future. The camper we bought was NOTHING that I ever expected to buy, but I'm SO HAPPY that we bought a TOY HAULER. I would have NEVER thought we'd get a toy hauler, but it turned out to be PERFECT for us! It's really important to get what you want in life and NOT live with regrets, so, as Josh says, use your common sense, and if you're not sure, hire a professional to inspect what you are trying to make your 'happy place' in your life.

I used to work on boats with grad students when I was an undergrad. We had an opening/closing checklist to go over EVERY SINGLE TIME we used a boat to make sure the boat was safe and fully functional before we got 2 miles off the coast, plus we kept a log of the checklist and all repairs/maintenance done (even when we filled up gas and the cost!) in a handy dandy binder. I plan on creating a similar checklist for my future full-time RV. I don't want to take the chance of doing something stupid because I'm tired after hauling a big baddie 5th wheel across 4 states in a day to my next job assignment.

One other comment about getting an RV inspector: The inspector works for you, not the dealership or owner of the rig. The report goes to you, the customer who is paying the inspector. A legitimate inspector will not automatically give that inspection report to anyone else. If the dealership wants a copy of the inspection report they must get it from you, the person who paid the inspector. Anyone who tells you otherwise has something shady going on. You are not under any obligation to provide the full report to anyone, however, if there are items flagged for repair or replacement you may need to share those parts of the report with the dealership so they understand exactly what needs attention.

Honestly Josh this is great advice for all RV buyers!

Great tips! When I was in car sales and was demo'ing a car to a customer that was looking at a car at another dealership, I would actually tell and educate them on specific questions to ask the other dealership about their car, dealership, and service after the sale. Build value in yourself as a sales rep, your dealership, and your willingness to help them get the right vehicle. It made for a great relationship and referrals.

As our family considers buying our very first travel trailer, I've been doing a lot of research, and your channel has really helped me out, Josh. Thanks so much for helping me demystify this process a little.

Hey hey Josh!!! Great information, as always, from you. Thank you for being the honest person that you are. Keeping it straight up with everyone!!!

As always thanks for the common sense, and confidence boosting pep talk.

This is great advice Josh even for us not so newbies There's always room for more learning. I appreciate all your upfront honesty. Thanks for the video

Josh, Ron (“in Utah”) here. I have watched many of your videos in the past few months and want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your honesty, integrity & empathy for your fellow man! We used to have a one-year-old class A National RV SeaBreeze 30 foot RV on a Ford chassis & loved it. Medical issues caused us to sell it, & I am exploring the possibility of purchasing another RV of some type. Keep up your great, very informative videos! (( Folks, Please Consider Thanking Josh by purchasing him a “Thanks.” Very easy, just push that button & buy him a coffee, or lunch ‼️😀 ))

Josh, thanks for all the great information! I'm new to the idea of an RV and am grateful for people like you who are in the industry and are willing to help folks like me who know nothing about RV buying! 😍

Great video. And I totally agree, the payload capacity of our truck was something that THANKFULLY our dealer was very thorough with investigating before they sold us our current trailer. It was fine for the smaller rig we had before, but thankfully we upgraded to a bigger truck before we bought our WhiteHawk. The dealership was very thorough, I appreciate them for that.

Great advice as usual. As a 25 year RV owner, I would also add floor plan, floor plan, floor plan. We have had trailers for as long as 14 years when the floor plan worked for our family and as short as 1 year when it did not.

Wow. It never occurred to me an RV park would turn away a customer because of the age of the vehicle. That's a huge deal if you're looking to stay in them and buying a used RV. I was looking at older ones as a long-term commitment but thinking of doing a mix with staying a RV parks and camping. That's something important to think about.

You have a great recording personality!

We appreciate your videos and especially appreciate your opinions. We have been watching you for some time now. With all our “uncle Josh” knowledge tucked under our belt we went off shopping. We still don’t own an rv. We were able to walk away and not give our money to someone who wouldn’t have passed your integrity standards. Thanks so much for all you do. Big hugs for saving us 1000s

Great information Josh!! Love the video!

Thank you for this Josh! We have camped before but are first time buyers and REALLY appreciate this!

God bless you Josh for help everyone the way that you do. We have a small RV van but looking to get a 5th wheele down the road and your information videos are a huge blessing to us. Thank you for your honesty. Your extremely helpful and knowledgeable it’s making it easier for us to do our research. This will be a big purchase for us thinking about what type of truck we’re gonna need and the type of fifth wheel your videos are helping us with so much. Also getting an understanding about how much we need to start saving up now. God bless you, thank you again so much, hope to work with you once we are ready.

Thank you for the advice. That’s one of the many reasons why, I watch your channel. You pass on some excellent knowledge.

Totally appreciate you Uncle Josh! 👍 👍 👍

All good advice. My first camper, I pretty much had to rebuild. This helps because you know how to fix anything and know how almost everything works. The saying I've heard about owning an RV is you either need to be handy or need to be patient. I wasn't able to buy a used because of the floorplan issue. It was a floorplan that had only been out a couple of years and it wasn't until later that anybody else built similar. Good luck with the inspector. I contacted 2 inspectors listed in the area, neither replied. The dealership was ok with the inspector but they were going to require I pay for any time they had to dedicate to the inspection. I was my own inspector but because I had built a camper, I knew what to look for. I was using my camera to video my walk through....I wasn't paying attention and the camera went to sleep so I lost about 3/4 of the walk through. I was ok without the inspector because Josh the RV Nerd told me that the brand I was buying had a history of being well made. (He wasn't the only one to say that) Another advantage of buying new compared to used is insurance. My insurance has a lot more advantages/perks to new campers than used.

Great information and a reminder that everyone can always learn something new. Thank you Josh.

Thanks so much! The RV parks vs the age of the RV was an eye opener for me. Thanks!

RV inspector. Brilliant idea! Love watching your videos and how you’re always on point.

This company earned my trust just for letting whoever works there give transparent advices toward buying this RV trailer campers.

Another thing to add is the length! The model number of the RV doesn't necessarily mean the length. If it says like 2400BH or whatever, the 24 doesn't mean total length. The main "house" might be 24 ft but from bumper to hitch you're probably looking at closer to 28ft. Something to consider if you're concerned about the length. Keep up the good work! Love your videos.

Thank you for showing up in the world in the ways that you do! I appreciate the honesty.

Thanks Uncle Josh. There were definitely some things I had not considered that are on my checklist when I'm ready to move forward

As always, You are a “Straight Shooter!” In my humble opinion, there can not be any higher complement one can receive, especially in this age we live in. I have left messages, both voicemails and text to a minimum of 4 RV dealerships and have heard nada, zilch… zero back. Sadly this is true for Bish’s as well. With that said, it has not deterred me from my future plans of purchasing a travel trailer. It will happen, but now the interview process is going to be more difficult for whom ever I hand over that hard earned 💰💰💰. Cheers, JB

Thanks so much Josh! Will be adding these tips to my RV notes. Plan to buy my first in a couple of years.

Thank you. I'm getting ready to buy and go full time and your videos have really helped me.

Great video Josh. Thanks for the info. 👍👍

My mom just bought a minnie winnie earlier this year and the inspection was 400

i was surprised by a few of these things with our first RV purchase as well, mainly the age limit at RV parks and the lesser financing options. We were able to purchase an aftermarket warranty and roadside service package with ours but with our situation, we still end up paying for repairs out of pocket and the roadside has been more useful for pulling our vehicles out of the snow. Even with our hefty down payment we still ended up walking out owing the asking price, and i still worry about us going backwards in it. It also depends on what your use case may be, our original intent was to move cross country in it and then rent it out. However, finding places to get it repaired (many service centers will only do service on vehicles they've sold right now) and paying for all the repairs to get it to pass inspection so that we could (mostly having to purchase a new set of class C tires) ended up limiting us as the warranty only covers items that aren't known at time of purchase when purchasing a as-is vehicle. Side note, even if the tread on the tires are good they're not like car tires and the life goes by the manufacture date of the tire, not the visual amount of wear. So if you plan to rent out your rig to pay for your rig there may be a few other things to consider. make sure you have the time and energy to invest into it to rent it out and you know all your available local service areas.

Excellent video, Josh! Lot's of things for newbies to consider, that they may not have thought to question or think about! Your candor & honesty is refreshing! 😄

I can't wait to use all of these tips in my first purchase....

Another great and helpful video, Josh! My parents gave me their motorhome when they got to the age it time to "pack it in." It was a 36' 1999 Bounder. We used it for a couple of years and enjoyed it. But due to illness, we had to stop and I sold it. To make a long story short, I decided I am ready to start RVing again. The tips you list are great. Because of prior ownership, I've covered the first couple. I put enough money down to cover the taxes and the add on accessories. The dealership provided a detailed list of what comes with the Jayco: a battery, cleaned and prepped, full LP tanks and a walk through at delivery. What I had not thought of was Tip 7, record it! I will do that and will also record the questions and answers that come up. Thanks again!

Josh, absolutely love the videos. I'd love one where you go over the things to look out for in a used rv that would be immediate and obvious red flags, such as internal wall damage that may not be super noticeable at first glance.

Getting ready to buy my first one, thanks for sharing your knowledge to help everyone!!

Great Job Josh …. Thanks for always giving us these tips & tricks to help us make the best decision for our Purchase of a New/ Used RV or Travel Trailer

Saved this video!!! Great information. With such honesty you guys show, when we are ready in a couple years, we will travel to see you guys up there. Been watching for a couple years now ( even with the transition), it's very important to trust the dealership. We are waiting to see what has prices are going to do and pay off my truck before making more payments. I will use this indoor for sure. Thank you!!

Thank you for your candid advice. I am by nature a person who asks thorough questions before I invest my money, and it is refreshing to hear someone who understands a buyer like me. I hope there is a dealer near my in my country who feels the way you do.

Thank you for your help and your famous as a public figure and personality, which means alot in that your preserved as a good guy, honest truthful and looking out for people and the trade (business) that your in.

Josh, another great and informative video! I appreciate all you do. Hoping to come up to Coldwater MI and see you and Bishs'RV.

Fantastic information. Hubby and I are going from pop up to travel trailer and this information will be invaluable. Thank you.

Regarding batteries and spare tires and propane tanks and other such external gear: oftentimes the dealerships will remove those and put them into storage for safekeeping because RVs left out on a lot often have these items stolen from them. Pay very close attention to make sure they replace these items with the proper items. One of the things flagged in my inspection was the missing spare tire, even though I told them ahead of time I wanted the spare tire available at the time of inspection. They agreed to supply the spare tire when I purchased the trailer because they failed to get it out in time for the inspector. I did not think to check the spare that they gave me, and that tire is rated with a Max pressure lower than the recommended tire pressure for my trailer. In effect I ended up with a donut, so I will need to replace that tire soon, simply because it wasn't available for the inspector to check and I didn't think to check it myself before purchase of the trailer.

We have been doing research getting ready buy a camping trailer and your videos have been so incredibly helpful! Really appreciate you and Bish for doing these videos, thank you!

Josh as an RV inspector I am seeing several dealerships who are charging the customer for what the dealer is calling an inspection. So, the dealer does their PDI and charges the customer an extra fee. I have heard dealers charging anywhere from $500 to over $1000 for the dealer to inspect the RV. I had a client where the dealer wanted to charge him a non-refundable inspection fee provided the RV passed the dealer inspection. Other things dealers have tried include having the client sign a waiver that they will pay for anything the inspector breaks. Any certified inspector will have liability insurance. In my case it is a million dollar policy.

Thank you for this. Wife and I are looking to purchase our first RV in the near future, and some of your suggestions we had not thought of. We had already decided to purchased pre-owned for our first unit, just for the reasons you mentioned. I’m keeping this video handy so I can refer to it when we are actually at the point of making a purchase.

Excellent advice as always 👍🏼

I like that he talks about financing and depreciation.

The chicken and pig 2:26 analogy was hilarious. Well done.

Good video. As you said many times, it is shocking how few people want to admit they don't know stuff and won't ask questions. Financing. Yuck! I hate to see people finance a "luxury" item be it an RV, new truck, or UTV. We should finance necessities like a home and then save for luxuries. Of course nine of us do that which is why most of us are broke. In case you can't tell...I am anti debt. I have never bought a new RV because of the depreciation factor. I have owned 4 and 3 of them were from older couples that were getting out if the hobby. 2 were Nascar fans that got tired if Nascar as their favorite drivers retired. We used to go to several races each year. Talladega in July was always fun! 150 degrees before solar options were even available so every MH had a generator.

I RV’d with my parents for years but never owned my own RV. These are very good points to remember when buying! I will definitely rent before I buy just to make sure this is what I want. Yes, set up is a real hassle for some people but I find it a small price to pay considering the enjoyment I get out of it. New subscriber here! Thanks for the great info!

I don’t own a trailer, fifth wheel etc but I’m hoping in the future we will be able to. Your videos have been instrumental in my education. Thank you 🙏🏼

Love the straight up conversation. It shows integrity and things buyers might not even think about.

Excellent points Josh I agree with everything you said. I would highly agree with figuring out what your tow vehicle can handle. If you're driving down the highway with an underperforming tow vehicle it will ruin the entire experience and put you at higher risk for an accident. At that time all the other steps are moot points and I couldn't tell you how many scary setups I've seen whipping sideways down the expressway.

Such great advice! I've watched so many of your videos and I continue to learn new things. We bought our first TT this year and didn't hire an independent inspector. Luckily we haven't had any major issues other than the propane quick connect recall issue and the black tank pull lever sticks. 🙄 I have a little bit of advice - Purchase from a dealer as close as possible to where you live. Makes it so much easier if for any reason you need warranty or recall work done on your rig. Also, when looking at towing capacity always call the manufacturer of your vehicle! Give them your VIN number and they can look up your specific model and give exact towing number. Keep in mind that most towing capacity in your manual or the sticker inside the driver door (CCC) does not include a full tank of gas. Towing capacity on my Toyota Tundra is reduced by 400 lbs with a full tank

Definitely food for thought. Thank you for this.

My inspection was $500 for a 5 1/2 hr inspection. Worth the peace of mind

This video is the best, thank you so much! We're planning to buy in the next six months and I legit am considering road tripping to a Bish's from Texas to do business with y'all (if these damn gas prices will ever go down). Keep the awesome coming and we'll keep watching! 🙂

An RV inspection can cost from $300 up to $1000+ depending on the type of RV.

23:54 nice to see what the new company sign looks like 👀 & thanks for this video Josh 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Very good tips. When we have discussed it, we know step one is rent when we are at a point when it is possible. I would rather spend 1k or so and find out it is "bleech". On the flip side, you spent that money to know what to look for on your unit. The new/used - It really depends on the market. I have gone in with every intention of buying a used car and an amazing deal hits on a new. Same the other way. The RV inspector is a must as it protects both sides. Each side acknowledges the state the RV and helps with repairs. On a pre-farted in...I mean used unit this is critical. Did the previous owner take care of it or run out money and just ditched it. I am already in camping groups to learn about the accessories and watch yourself along with other RV UKposts folks to get an idea of what is needed. Another Bonus tip. Realize that this is like a house, the purchase price is just the cost of entry. Are you prepared for storage, maintenance, fuel, and other costs outside of the campground?

Eeeeew Josh so glad that I ran across your video because I see so many mistakes that I would have made had I purchased the RV I was looking at two years ago. I've wanted one of these since the 80s but life happened. I've been looking at them but I became a care giver for both my parents and then Covid. The last of my parents are deceased so I got thrust into a living situation to where my interest in a RV is strong ,thank you for honesty because I'm realizing that a couple of places were trying me to rush into a purchase I didn't feel comfortable purchasing

Super advice, Josh! 🍺😋👍 I'd like to add one tip that I apply when making any large purchase. It works exceptionally well when buying vehicles, trailers, boats, etc... In fact, you mentioned it once, quite a while back: Never discuss financing, until you've agreed upon the price! Meaning the final price. If anyone so much as brings up the subject of financing, simply inform them that you'll discuss financing, once you know exactly what you're going to purchase. Doing this can often save you thousands of dollars, because salespeople want to slip in all sorts of extra things that you really don't need.

Thanks for all the information. Been thinking about buying my first camper I’ll keep all of this in mind

Thank you for this! I am looking at buying my 1st travel trailer and found this quite helpful.

Hi, thanks for your great honest content. Wanted to say in this video I especially liked your comments on tow vehicle. We just recently purchased a used rv. While looking found one online that was interested in at a used rv dealership and with asking questions to make sure my truck could tow it. They basically said if have 3/4 ton or better then good, had no idea of camper weight, GVWR, or hitch weight and couldn't care less. Said they just sale them then its the buyers responsibility to find out. I agree in the end it's the buyer responsibility but that tells me all I needed to know about them as a dealer.... run...

Great Tips Josh!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 A quick note to all management at Bish's or any other RV Dealer, I won't an RV unless Josh has Reviewed it! The information Josh puts out is So Criticality important to your businesses and the potential buyer. Josh I had a couple good experiences in my little brother's RV, B4 his divorce he set up the big yard on the property they managed as my own place, my own space and he also taught me quite a bit about RV features and functions and even shared with me his own tips on what bto look for, some even We're your same exact tips!👍👍👍👍👍

Thank you for the information. We are considering buying in the next year or two. We already dud the rental RV last summer. It was a lot of fun and our youngest son keeps asking when we are going camping again.

Hi Josh. Glad you enjoyed the Zeppelin music I was playing! Didn’t know you could hear it from Colorado, but as they say, if it’s too loud, you’re too old!

In keeping with your buying used one thing I suggest to folks is to not go big on their first trailer and to keep it simple. Most folks are unlikely to keep their first trailer for a long time as they learn more about their needs and wants. It was on our first trailer where we learned we needed a walk around bed, dry bath and a slide for more space. We decided we were not stand alone booth types and preferred a couch with TV tables but could live with either depending upon the rest of the floor plan. Likewise we prefer a full range with oven and cook top but will also be fine with a convection microwave and cook top. By keeping track of the "Wouldn't it be nice if we could ..." we learned that looking at small things like where can we install a Blu-ray player, locate our wireless router, potential spots for towel rods, etc were important to finding the best trailer for us.

This is why I watch you Josh. You discuss things that other RV dealership don't. Being fair and honest about your experiences gives me a better insight when I go to purchase one. Maybe one day I'll find my way to Bishes. Who knows. Thanks and keep up the good work.

Thank you for this video!

Dude, you're straight up. I subscribed and pray you have a branch in Canada

I just bought my first camper a few months back, it's small, used, and needs some minor attention but it works for me and I feel it's a great beginner camper to get my feet wet and possibly upgrade in time if camping works for me.

Props for the Rick Flair reference!! Wooooo!

The #1 thing to remember. Most campgrounds can't accommodate anything longer than a 21 foot unit as transiant campers.

The ‘Sir Mix-a-Lot’ reference was classic, nice touch! Great pointers too. We’re picking up a pop up camper this Saturday - so very timely.

Really really great info!!!Wish I was watching this last year. Though I know this is a new video. Yes ask questions! Like "where's the inverter for the solar panel you installed?" and they look at you like your crazy until they find out you know what you're talking about. Thanks Josh! BTW where can we give you a review?

Very good advice here both in the comments and by the Nerd We actually did a lot of this moving from tent camping to glamping. Adding my .02 here Renting -- be super careful what you rent and who you rent from/through. We used RVshare for our first(and only) rental and while the unit was nice, the folks who owned it were less than helpful in helping us hook up (they never used the weight distribution setup!!!) and a lot of things on the camper were broken when we rented. Thank goodness we did an inspection before hand and I am a bit handy and could fix on the fly. Also having the owner walk through the unit with you prior to renting will help a ton Buying--used is for sure the best way to go and CASH is the absolute best way to go for first timers. While the market is red hot for campers understand that these are assets that depreciate and financing is going to get harder to obtain in the future. Buy em well used, old, and cheap for cash, get on YT and learn how to maintain one (videos galore out there) and start off camping cheap. If you luck out, you get a very well maintained one like we did. Otherwise, its a fixer and you put in the sweat equity to make it nice. Much like motorcycles, spend more on your gear/maintenance than the unit itself. Maintenance--unless you have a newer camper/RV, DIY maintenance is fairly easy even for those of limited handyperson skill. Its part road vehicle (tires, axles, etc) and part house (electrical, plumbing, gas, structure). YT is definitely a friend here, search up what is or may break and there is probably 10 videos out there showing the whole diagnosis/fix process. Many even have links to get the part for cheap. Another reason to DIY is time...you can get parts cheaper but you can install ASAP vs waiting for the dealer to slot you in. 1st timer mistakes---your are going to break things, do things incorrectly that put stress on your rig, have bad hookup experiences, all things that newbies will run into just getting into RVing. But its a lot different when its on an older/used rig than on a brand spanking new one. I have broken or EOL (end of life) so many things on our camper due to my lack of knowledge/skill and its easier to tell myself/SO that it can be fixed. When you break something on that shiny new rig still under finance that warranty probably wont cover its a real day killer. We had our awning destroyed during a freak windstorm while at home trying to let it dry out...warranty wont cover that but we fixed ourselves in a day or so and saved our camping trip. Surely there are those who will disagree and say this is bunk but this is what I have experienced so far. 20 year old camper, 10 year old truck, all fully owned. The knowledge I have gained doing my own work on it and saving money by not having payments has been invaluable. Its a project that I enjoy working on even at the campsite!

Wishing you both the best

You know your stuff! Love your honesty.