5 RV Dealer Scams That Could Cost You Thousands (Plus One Dealer That Actually Cares About You)

You’re about to discover some eye-opening truths about the RV industry that could save you from financial disaster. The RV Wingman recently exposed a dirty new scam that’s targeting buyers with shaky credit, and it’s completely illegal.

But here’s the good news: not all dealers are trying to rip you off. Some actually go above and beyond to earn your trust. In this article, you’ll learn about the sneaky tactics to watch out for, plus hear an incredible story about a customer who drove 17 hours just to do business with a dealer she trusts.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to protect yourself and find the good guys in the RV world.

1. The Illegal Credit Approval Scam That’s Spreading Like Wildfire

Here’s how this dirty trick works: You walk into a dealership with less-than-perfect credit, and the salesperson gets you all excited about your dream RV. They tell you they need to run your credit to see if you qualify. A few days later, they call with “great news” – you’re approved!

But here’s where it gets sleazy. When you come in to finalize the deal, they hit you with a bunch of expensive add-ons and say, “Oh, your loan was approved based on these extras being included.” When you try to remove them, they claim they’ll have to run your credit again and you might not get approved.

This is completely illegal. Banks cannot force you to buy optional products, and neither can dealers. According to the Federal Trade Commission, these bait-and-switch tactics violate consumer protection laws.

Red Flag	What They Say	The Truth
Credit approval	“You’re approved based on these extras”	Banks don’t require optional add-ons
Re-running credit	“We’d have to check again if you remove items”	They’re lying to pressure you
No choice	“Take it or lose your approval”	You always have the right to refuse

You might think dealers wouldn’t dare try something so obviously illegal, but desperate times make some people do desperate things. When RV sales are down (they dropped 6.9% in 2024 according to industry reports), some dealers resort to these underhanded tactics.

2. The PPL Motorhomes Phenomenon: Why One Customer Drove 17 Hours

This is where the story gets really interesting. A customer who calls herself a “PPL superfan” actually drove 17 hours from Michigan to Oklahoma just to consign her RV with PPL Motorhomes. Her family thought she was crazy.

But here’s what happened: PPL sold her RV the same day they listed it, for more money than she could have gotten selling it herself. The generator was blown, but their professional techs fixed everything. She didn’t have to deal with tire kickers, haggling, or unsafe strangers coming to her house.

PPL Motorhomes has some impressive numbers backing up their reputation:

• Over 850 consigned RVs across six locations
• 150-250 potential buyers visit their dealerships daily
• Over 5,000 RVs sold in the last two years alone
• 48,300+ consigned RVs sold since 1972

You’re probably wondering why she didn’t just sell it online like everyone else does. Well, she tried that before with a different RV and it was a nightmare. With PPL, she paid nothing upfront – they only take 10% when it sells, and only for a price she agrees to.

3. The Camping World Problem That Everyone’s Talking About

You’ve probably heard horror stories about Camping World, and there’s a reason for that. The customer in the video mentioned she stopped going there years ago, and she’s not alone. Oregon’s Attorney General actually made Camping World pay $3.5 million to settle complaints about overcharging customers.

Here’s what makes this even more frustrating: RV dealer margins can be anywhere from 15% to 35% of the MSRP, so there’s already plenty of profit built in. When dealers add junk fees on top of that, they’re just being greedy.

The FTC has had to step in because car and RV dealer scams got so bad. They’re specifically targeting bait-and-switch tactics and hidden fees because consumers were getting ripped off left and right.

You might think all big dealers are the same, but that’s not true. The difference is in their business model and company culture. PPL makes money by building long-term relationships, while some others focus on squeezing every penny out of each transaction.

4. Why Most People Can Actually Get RV Financing (But Dealers Won’t Tell You This)

Here’s something most dealers don’t want you to know: Almost everyone can get RV financing. You might not like the interest rate or terms, but qualification usually isn’t the problem.

The real issue is that some dealers use your credit anxiety against you. They know you’re worried about approval, so they make you feel grateful for any loan – even one loaded with expensive extras you don’t need.

RV financing facts that might surprise you:

• Average RV salesperson commission: 20-30% of gross profit per sale
• Financing markup potential: Dealers can add points to your interest rate
• Optional product profits: Extended warranties and insurance can have 50%+ profit margins

You’re being set up from the moment you walk in. The salesperson knows exactly which buttons to push to make you feel like you need their help. But remember: you’re the customer with the money, which means you have all the power.

5. The Real Cost of Not Doing Your Homework

Let’s talk about what happened to the customer who drove to PPL. She mentioned her RV had problems – the generator was blown and she thought it would be hard to sell. But PPL’s professional technicians fixed everything, and she got more money than she expected.

Compare that to trying to sell a problem RV yourself:

• You’d have to disclose all the issues
• Buyers would lowball you because of the problems
• You might spend months with no serious offers
• You’d end up taking whatever you could get

The consignment model works because it aligns everyone’s interests. PPL only makes money when your RV sells, and they want to get the highest price possible because their 10% commission depends on it.

Selling Method	Your Work	Time to Sell	Final Price	Hassle Level
Private sale	High	3-6 months	Variable	Very High
Trade-in	Low	Immediate	Below market	Low
Consignment	None	1-2 months	Market value	Very Low

You might think consignment dealers are too good to be true, but the numbers don’t lie. PPL has a 3.9-star rating from over 15,000 reviews on Sitejabber, which is pretty impressive for any large business.

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SOURCES:

1. RV Wingman YouTube Channel – PPL Superfan Video
2. Federal Trade Commission – Discriminatory Financing Alert
3. Bish’s RV – March 2025 RV Sales Report
4. PPL Motorhomes – Determine Motor Home Pricing
5. Oregon Department of Justice – Camping World Settlement
6. See Dealer Cost – RV Buying Guide
7. Forbes – Car Dealer Scams FTC Action
8. Sitejabber – PPL Motorhomes Reviews
9. RV Travel – How to Avoid RV Dealer Sales Fraud
10. The RV Geeks – What is PPL Motor Homes