With spring just around the corner campers of all stripes are dreaming of hitting the open road and enjoying their specific brand of camping. Whether you favor a pop-up tent camper or a bus conversion, shopping for a new (to you) RV is exciting. For this article I’ll assume you’ve identified a general type of RV – pull behind or motorized – and have a good idea of the dealers in your area or better yet RV shows you can attend. Perhaps you’ve spent some quality time online researching brands and consumer feedback. Smart move. Now you’re ready to get out there and look in earnest.

Shopping for an RV is a delicate balance of quality, amenities and yes, floor plan. I’ve heard it said that the floor plan is secondary in choosing a rig but I don’t see it that way. The first thing that will make an impression on you is the floor plan. Step inside, wander around, sit a spell, get a feeling for being inside the camper. If it feels good, comfortable it’s time to delve deeper.

Is it livable? No matter how long your camping trips are you’ll inevitably run into inclement weather. Is there room inside for everyone to co-exist? Are the windows plentiful allowing ample light in? Do they open and how? Where is the escape hatch/window located and is it realistically usable? Are the climate controls adequate?

Take a good long look at the quality of the RV. The cabinets can tell you a lot. How’s the quality of the wood? Are they constructed with screws or staples? Take a close look at the drawers. Open and close them – do they glide or stick? Are there enough drawers, cabinets, cupboards and pantries to hold what you’ll need to bring along on your camping trips? Examine the molding around countertops and where the walls and ceilings meet. Does the manufacturer use pocket doors, accordion doors, regular doors? Look to the ceiling – are there enough vents? Is a ceiling fan a must for you – is there one there? Is the flooring acceptable and will it hold up under the type of usage you have in mind?

Move to the galley or kitchen area. Is there enough counter space? Is it roomy enough to prepare meals? Does the rig offer the appliances you want such as a microwave, convection oven, stove top, double door fridge? Make sure the sink and counters are a good height for you to work at. Where will your garbage can go?

Lie down on the bed. Sit at the dinette. Relax on the couch. Are they comfortable? Is the bed long enough? Are the table heights okay? Will you bring a TV? Where will it be located and is it in a location that will allow viewing from the seating areas?

Check out the bathroom. Step inside the shower – is it tall enough and wide enough for you? Is there a place for your soap and shampoo? Don’t be shy – have a seat on the pot. Surprisingly, this area is often skimped on by manufacturers and is too tight to be comfortable. Where will your towels go? Is there a medicine cabinet – do you need one?

Once you’ve decided the floor plan is for you and the quality is there you can take a closer look at the amenities such as Fantastic Fans, counter extension cutting boards, flat screen TVs, day/night shades, central vacuum, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, mattress upgrades, etc. In general, be careful not to be swayed by bells and whistles. Those niceties are great to have but only after you’ve determined the unit is a quality product.

Pick up brochures and make notes on them as needed. Make a checklist of what’s important to you to take along once you become serious about a specific model.

Next time we’ll talk about what to look for on the exterior of your prospective RV.