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Ever heard of an RV hangover? No, we’re not talking about too many campfire beers (though those are real too). We’re talking about that gut-wrenching feeling when you realize weeks after signing the papers that you made a huge mistake with your RV purchase.

The excitement has worn off, and now you’re stuck with buyer’s remorse that’ll last as long as your loan payments. It happens to thousands of RV buyers every single year, and most of them never saw it coming.

But here’s the good news: it’s completely avoidable if you do your homework. Think of this as your cheat sheet to dodge the biggest purchase regret of your life.

1. Keep One Eye on the Sky and One Eye on the Ground

The RV Wingman shares a brilliant hunting story that applies perfectly to RV shopping. When he took his young daughter dove hunting, he taught her to watch for birds in the sky and rattlesnakes on the ground. Why? Because you can’t just focus on the exciting stuff—you’ve got to watch out for the dangers too.

When you’re RV shopping, you’re probably focused on all the fun stuff: the fancy kitchen, the cozy bedroom, those Instagram-worthy campfire moments. But what about the rattlesnakes? We’re talking about hidden problems, sketchy dealers, and quality issues that could bite you later.

According to the RV Industry Association, over 600,000 RVs are sold annually in North America, and a significant percentage of buyers experience some form of regret within the first year. The key is balance—get excited about your dream RV, but stay alert to potential problems.

What to Look UP At (The Doves)What to Watch OUT For (The Rattlesnakes)
Beautiful interior designPoor build quality and craftsmanship
Exciting features and amenitiesHidden fees and surprise costs
Fun camping adventuresMaintenance nightmares and repairs
Sales promotions and dealsPushy dealers with bad reputations

Here’s the reality check: You’ll probably spend more time dealing with your RV’s problems than admiring its pretty cabinets if you don’t watch for those ground-level dangers. Your future self will thank you for being the person who asked the tough questions instead of just drooling over the slideouts.

2. Stop Shooting at the Whole Flock—Pick ONE Bird

Here’s another hunting lesson that’ll save you thousands. The RV Wingman tells the story of wasting 24 shotgun shells trying to hit a flock of doves—and missing every single shot. Why? He was aiming at everything instead of focusing on one bird.

Sound familiar to your RV search? You’re watching hundreds of YouTube videos, reading thousands of online reviews, and looking at dozens of different RV models. Your brain is on overload, and you can’t make a decision because there’s too much “noise.” That’s exactly how you miss your target.

Industry experts suggest that the average RV buyer spends over 220 hours researching before making a purchase. But here’s the kicker: more research doesn’t always equal better decisions if you’re just adding more noise.

What you need to do instead:

  • Pick ONE trusted dealer to focus on first
  • Choose ONE or TWO RV models that fit your actual needs
  • Listen to ONE expert voice instead of fifty contradicting opinions
  • Focus on what matters to you—not what everyone else says you need

The irony is almost painful: You’re spending hundreds of hours “researching” when you’re really just confusing yourself more. It’s like standing in the cereal aisle for three hours because there are too many choices. Pick your bird, aim carefully, and take your shot. Stop pretending that watching one more YouTube video will suddenly make everything clear.

3. The “RV Hangover” Is Real—And It’s Brutal

What exactly is an RV hangover? It’s that sinking feeling that hits you weeks or months after buying your RV. The excitement has worn off, and reality sets in. Maybe the RV has problems the dealer didn’t tell you about. Maybe you realized you bought way more (or less) RV than you actually needed. Maybe you just got a bad deal and you know it.

According to various RV owner forums and surveys, studies suggest that 20-40% of first-time RV buyers experience some form of purchase regret. That’s a LOT of unhappy campers (pun intended).

Common symptoms of an RV hangover include:

  • Waking up at 2 AM worried about your RV payment
  • Discovering major problems right after the warranty expires
  • Realizing the dealer you bought from has disappeared
  • Finding out repairs cost way more than you budgeted
  • Knowing deep down you got ripped off
The “Buzz” (Before Purchase)The “Hangover” (After Purchase)
“This RV is PERFECT!”“Why didn’t I notice all these problems?”
“The dealer was so nice!”“Now they won’t return my calls.”
“I’m getting such a great deal!”“I definitely paid too much.”
“We’ll use this ALL the time!”“It’s been sitting in storage for 8 months.”

Let’s be brutally honest here: You’re not special. You’re not the magical exception who somehow picked the perfect RV from a sketchy dealer without doing homework. If you skip the research and just follow your feelings, you’re going to wake up with a hangover. The only question is how bad it’ll be.

4. YouTube Is Both Your Best Friend and Your Worst Enemy

Here’s the paradox: YouTube is an amazing resource for learning about RVs—but it’s also creating a ton of “noise” that’s making your decision harder, not easier. The RV Wingman calls out this problem directly in his video.

Every channel has a different opinion. This brand is great! No, that brand is terrible! Buy from this dealer! No, avoid that dealer! After watching 50 videos, you’re more confused than when you started.

Research shows that consumers who experience “choice overload” often make worse decisions or no decision at all. A study by psychologist Barry Schwartz found that too many options leads to anxiety, paralysis, and dissatisfaction.

How to use YouTube the RIGHT way:

  • Pick 2-3 trusted channels and stick with them
  • Look for channels that show real customer interviews (not just sales pitches)
  • Focus on educational content, not entertainment drama
  • Use videos to learn what questions to ask—not to make your final decision

The uncomfortable truth: You’re using YouTube as a way to avoid making a decision, not to help you make one. Watching another video feels like progress, but it’s really just procrastination in disguise. At some point, you need to stop watching and start doing.

5. Do Your Homework: Listen to REAL Customer Reviews

Here’s your actual homework assignment (and it’s way more fun than algebra). Before you buy from ANY dealer, go to their website and look for real video testimonials from actual customers—not Google reviews that could be fake.

The RV Wingman specifically recommends checking out dealers like Barryland Campers and Cheyenne Camping Center, which have hundreds of video interviews right on their homepages. These aren’t scripted—they’re real people talking about their real experiences.

Why video testimonials matter MORE than written reviews:

  • You can see the customer’s genuine facial expressions and emotions
  • It’s much harder to fake a video than to fake a written review
  • You hear specific details about the buying process
  • You learn what real customers care about (not just what marketers want you to hear)

According to consumer research, video testimonials are 12 times more trusted than written testimonials and can increase conversion confidence by up to 80%.

Type of ReviewTrustworthiness LevelWhy It Matters
Anonymous Google Review⭐⭐ (Low)Could be fake, competitor sabotage, or outlier experience
Written testimonial on dealer site⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)Could be cherry-picked or edited
Video interview with real customer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (High)Hard to fake; shows genuine reactions and details

Here’s what you’ll discover: When you actually listen to these videos, you’ll notice patterns. Good dealers have dozens (or hundreds) of happy customers telling similar positive stories. Bad dealers either don’t have these videos at all, or the few they have sound sketchy. Your gut will know the difference—if you actually do the homework instead of just winging it.

6. Slow Down and Be Patient (Even Though You’re Excited)

The RV Wingman’s main message is simple: SLOW DOWN. You’re excited. You’ve been dreaming about this RV for months (or years). You want it RIGHT NOW. That excitement is exactly what makes you vulnerable to mistakes.

Think about it like this: If you had too much to drink, you’d probably make some bad decisions that night and wake up with regrets. Same thing with RV buying. When you’re “intoxicated” with excitement, you’re not thinking clearly.

Statistics back this up: Research in consumer behavior shows that emotional purchases (buying based on feelings rather than logic) have a much higher rate of buyer’s remorse—sometimes as high as 50-60%.

Signs you need to PAUSE and slow down:

  • The dealer is pressuring you to “buy today or lose the deal”
  • You’re making excuses for problems you noticed during the walkthrough
  • You haven’t done a thorough inspection because you’re “sure it’s fine”
  • You’re ignoring your spouse’s concerns because you want it so bad
  • You’re already imagining Instagram photos instead of asking practical questions

Reality check time: That “amazing deal that’s only available today” will still be there tomorrow. And if it’s not, there will be another one. You know what won’t be there tomorrow? The chance to avoid making a massive financial mistake. Take a breath, sleep on it, and make sure your brain is involved in this decision—not just your heart.

7. Choose a Dealer Who’s Been Around (and Plans to Stay)

Here’s something most RV buyers don’t think about: What happens when your brand-new RV needs warranty work… but the dealer you bought from has gone out of business? It happens more often than you’d think.

The RV Wingman specifically mentions Cheyenne Camping Center, which has been family-owned since the 1960s and has turned down offers from big corporate buyers. That kind of longevity matters—a LOT.

Why dealer stability is crucial:

  • RVs need warranty work (almost all of them do)
  • You’ll need service and parts for years to come
  • Established dealers have a reputation to protect
  • Long-term dealers have experienced technicians who know their stuff
  • Family-owned businesses care more about relationships than quick sales

According to industry data, the RV industry sees significant dealer turnover, with many dealerships closing within their first 5 years. In contrast, established dealers with decades of history have a much lower failure rate and higher customer satisfaction scores.

Dealer TypeProsCons
Big Corporate ChainLarge inventory, competitive pricingLess personal service, high turnover, may close locations
New/Small DealerHungry for business, might negotiate moreUncertain longevity, limited service department
Established Family-OwnedLong-term reputation, reliable service, community tiesMay have smaller inventory, potentially less negotiable

Let’s get real for a second: You’re not just buying an RV—you’re entering into a relationship with your dealer that could last years. Choose wisely. Would you rather buy from the flashy new place offering crazy discounts, or the family business that’s been successfully serving customers since before you were born? Your future self already knows the answer.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Wake Up With an RV Hangover

Buying an RV should be exciting—not terrifying. The difference between a dream purchase and a nightmare is simple: homework. Do your research, listen to real customers, slow down when you’re excited, and choose dealers who’ve proven they’ll be around for the long haul.

The RV Wingman’s lessons from the dove hunting field apply perfectly to RV shopping: Keep one eye on your dreams and one eye on potential problems. Focus on one clear target instead of shooting at everything. And most importantly, learn from other people’s mistakes so you don’t have to make them yourself.

Your RV adventure awaits—just make sure it’s the right one. ✨🚐

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