Buying your first RV? Here’s how I chose mine by focusing on real life, not floorplans or hype, plus a decision process you can copy.

I bought an RV to avoid paying $2,300 a month for a noisy rental while already juggling a mortgage. After falling in love with van life during trips to Yellowstone, owning an RV felt like the perfect way to work on the road, save money, and have a place that was truly mine. What I didn’t expect was the hidden costs and maintenance that come with RV ownership—but the serenity makes it worth it.