First Time RV Buying: How I Chose My RV
Here’s TT at her first RV park in Weatherford, OK
“I didn’t buy the biggest or fanciest RV. I bought the one that matched the life I envisioned for myself.”Why I Bought the RV I Did
I didn’t choose this RV because it was the biggest, the prettiest, or the most impressive on the lot. I chose it because the moment I stepped inside, my body relaxed, and my intuition said, “This is it.”
I wanted a travel trailer that felt solid, quiet, and designed for quality living, not weekend fantasies. One that could support long work hours, deep sleep, and inspire creative play to offset the unglamorous reality of road life.
This is the story of why I bought the RV I did, what I filtered for, what I refused to compromise on, and how I chose the travel trailer that matched the lifestyle and sanctuary I envisioned.
There are many types of recreational vehicles
aka “RVs”
-
Get clear on how you actually live and let that guide every decision that follows. I want to show you how to slow down the process, trust your discernment, and make your first RV purchase that supports your real life, not a fantasy version of it.
-
Don’t go to a dealership before defining your non-negotiables
Don’t chase the biggest floorplan or the flashiest features.
Don’t compromise on the budget you set for yourself.
Don’t forget to calcuate the interest rate and total cost in the end.
-
Define your non-negotiables
Pay attention to how each space feels & the vibes
Walk away from anything that doesn’t fit, even when it is tempting or “almost right.”
Create a budget and be realistic
Negotiate EVERY.SINGLE.NUMBER the extended warranty, the price, the walkdown, everything.
The Non-Negotiables I Filtered For
Before I ever stepped onto a dealership lot, I had a very clear list of what I wanted and, maybe more importantly, what I refused to compromise on.
What I wanted:
A king-size bed (for just me)
Fiberglass exterior (not trying to deal with hail damage)
A travel trailer
A separate bedroom
Feng Shui bedroom (the bed in a command position (diagonal to the door, not in line with it)
No more than two slide-outs
A layout that felt livable, not “instagrammable.”
One entry door
What I absolutely did NOT want:
A front bedroom (I’m a light sleeper and hate road noise)
Aluminum exterior
A curved or corner shower
No island in the kitchen
Not to pay more than 50k
Must be less than 40ft long
No bunk beds
No outer door directly into the bedroom
This list saved me from being sold dreams I didn’t ask for.
Dealership #1: San Angelo, TX
(The Plot Twist)
I went to my first dealership in San Angelo with a friend for moral support. The plan was simple: look, don’t buy. I didn’t want to fall in love on the first visit. I don't want to get suckered by a slick salesbro.
Well, my friend highkey failed me.
After about an hour of looking around, I followed them right into the office trailer like a puppy. I sat down and was like WAIT! I didn’t wanna get this far. I was just window shopping! We ended up talking about which ones I liked. Then the finance guy was like, "We have a sale next week. We can start it now if you wanna buy today."
Long story short, they wrangled me into swiping my credit card for a $500 refundable deposit. Thank gawd it was refundable, because that could’ve gone sideways fast.
But here’s the thing. He also showed me THE ONE on that very first visit.
It came down to two options:
A KZ Connect
A stunning Forest River destination trailer with a loft, patio, hidden pantry, sectional sofa, bar seating along the windows… truly Pinterest-worthy
The Forest River was gorgeous. But it was massive and 15k more than I wanted to spend.
The KZ Connect felt Goldilocks right.
In the end, I didn’t buy that day. I managed to slink away without much damage, which gave me more time to do more research. At this point tho, my heart decided on KZ before my brain and wallet caught up.
This was the first one I saw and the first one I fell in love with.
Dealership #2: Midland, TX
(Practice Leaving)
The second dealership was completely random. Midland, Texas.
This man showed me nothing I asked for. Not a single rear-bedroom option. He kept trying to redirect me toward trailers I had already said no to.
And here’s the growth moment.
I left.
No guilt. No over-explaining. When he asked for my name and phone number, I said, “Nah,” and walked out.
That alone felt like a win.
Dealership #3: Houston, TX
(Trusting your Intuition)
After finishing a work project, I had a week at home and suddenly remembered: there are RV dealerships near my house.
I searched specifically for KZ, the brand I couldn’t stop thinking about. And there it was. The exact KZ Connect I had seen in San Angelo.
As I was standing there, I had this moment where my intuition spoke out loud before my conscious brain caught up:
And then my intuition said, “Now show me one that’s even better.”
And that’s exactly what happened.
And that’s when I found the one I actually bought.
It was another KZ Connect, slightly bigger, with a walk-in closet in the front. The price difference? About $1,000 more than the smaller model.
I loved the smaller one because it had a bigger bathroom.
But I chose the closet.
Why the Walk-In Closet Won
That closet changed everything.
It gave me storage for:
Linens
A vacuum
Hanging clothes
Air-drying laundry
All the invisible life stuff no one shows on Instagram
I didn’t realize how much I’d value that until I was actually living in it. I also didn’t realize how much time I’d spend in the living room. I was able to store so much more in the closet that my living room felt much more spacious and cozy.
She’s the ONE! better than I imagined and didn’t know I needed.
The Irony I’ll Never Admit Out Loud
At the Midland dealership, I told that sales guy:
“I work 10-hour days and sleep 10-hour nights. I don’t care about the living room. I need a king-size bed.”
He tried to sell me a queen bed with a giant TV, fireplace, and two sofas because he said that the living room is where most people spend most of their time. I dismissed him because I felt he wasn't listening to my needs, and I focused on having a king-size bed, which was my priority. (so I thought)
And listen.
I will never tell him he was partially right.
Turns out, I do spend a lot of time in the living room.
But in the end, I got BOTH…..
A king-size bed and a spacious living area.
A quiet bedroom and a cozy living room to exist during the day.
A trailer that supports how I actually live, not how someone thinks I should.
The Real Reason I Bought This RV
I didn’t buy an RV to escape my life. I bought one to support it. I wanted a travel trailer that felt solid, quiet, and designed for real days, not weekend fantasies or the cheapest thing to get by.
This RV isn’t about escape
It’s about:
Sleeping 10-hour nights
Working 12+ hour-long days & 6 days a week
Having space for a cozy and creative life
Choosing intention over impulse
I bought the one that matched my life.
Quality
Aesthetic vibes
a Sanctuary to nurture my soul
This RV is my thesis statement for how I want to live: alongside nature, minimalist, with inner peace, and location freedom.
This post isn’t about convincing you to buy the RV I bought. It’s showing y’all how to decide for yourself the life you want to live. It’s about you also using your power to walk away when it doesn’t feel right. It’s about using your intuition to design the life you envision for yourself. It’s about choosing an RV as your thesis statement for how you want to live.
Hope to see y’all on the road too!
