Compare Before You Buy: The Truth About RV Pricing
Buying a travel trailer is a significant investment, and comparing prices between dealerships is one of the smartest things you can do. At TowTally Camping, we actually encourage it.
The key is making sure you’re comparing the entire purchase price, not just the advertised sale price.
Not Every Dealer Prices the Same Way
One dealership may advertise a lower MSRP but add freight, vehicle preparation, documentation fees, or other charges later in the buying process. Another dealership may include some of those costs in the advertised price.
Neither approach is necessarily wrong—it simply means shoppers should compare every line item before deciding which trailer offers the best value.
That’s why we encourage every customer to compare:
- MSRP
- Freight charges
- Vehicle preparation fees
- Documentation fees
- Dealer discounts
- Final purchase price
When you compare the complete transaction, you get a much clearer picture of what you’re actually paying.
A Real-World Comparison
Recently, we compared two similar Forest River travel trailers available in our local market.
Comparable Dealer
- MSRP: $49,223
- Freight: $6,423
- Vehicle Prep: $1,475
- Documentation Fee: $85
- Total Purchase Price: $37,284
TowTally Camping
- MSRP (Freight Included): $54,425
- Vehicle Prep: $0
- Documentation Fee: $80
- Total Purchase Price: $32,072
Although the MSRP appears higher at first glance, once every charge is included, the TowTally Camping trailer comes in at over $5,000 less in this comparison.
The lesson isn’t that one dealership is right and another is wrong. The lesson is that shoppers should always compare the final numbers, not just the advertised price.
Why We Don’t Charge a Vehicle Prep Fee
Every new RV sold at TowTally Camping goes through a thorough Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI).
Our technicians inspect major systems, verify the operation of appliances and safety equipment, and prepare the trailer for delivery.
We believe this inspection is simply part of delivering a quality RV to our customers—not an additional fee that should be charged separately.
That’s why our vehicle preparation fee is $0.
Transparency Builds Trust
We understand purchasing an RV can feel overwhelming. Our goal isn’t to pressure customers or criticize another dealership’s pricing model.
Instead, we believe informed customers make confident buying decisions.
If you’re comparing multiple RVs, we’ll gladly walk through every line of the pricing with you and answer any questions. We want you to understand exactly what you’re paying for before you sign.
The TowTally Difference
When you shop at TowTally Camping, you can expect:
- Competitive pricing
- No vehicle preparation fees
- Transparent pricing with no surprises
- A knowledgeable team before, during, and after the sale
- Honest answers without high-pressure sales tactics
We don’t expect customers to simply take our word for it.
Compare the numbers.
Ask questions.
Do your research.
When you compare apples to apples, we believe the value speaks for itself.
If you’re shopping for your next RV, stop by TowTally Camping in Anderson, California, or contact our team. We’d be happy to show you exactly how our pricing works and help you find the right trailer for your family’s adventures.