Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, camping was on the rise. The 2019 North American Camping Report showed increased interest in camping being driven by several factors: millennials camping with their children, Gen Xers experiencing major life changes, an increase in diversity, and a growing societal acceptance that being outdoors is simply good for our health.
The rise of “glamping,” “van life,” and customizable recreational vehicles (RVs) is also attracting a younger, more diverse crowd who realize that being in nature doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort or individuality. RVs come in many styles including Class A, B and C, fifth wheels, toy haulers, popups and lightweight campers.
Because of the rise in socially distanced travel trends, campers are now a hot commodity, particularly smaller models which can be used for weekend getaways and shorter trips. We researched some of the best websites to find small new or used campers for sale, according to price, reputation and selection. Here’s what we found.
Camping World
Headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, Camping World began as a resource for camper and RV owners who needed parts and supplies. Now, it is one of the largest online marketplaces for people searching for RVs and small campers for sale. Camping World offers financing options and their website is extremely robust—in addition to for sale listings, they offer in-depth explanations of the different styles of campers and other helpful information that can help you decide which type of rig is right for you. There’s also a “Clearance” section and a wealth of information about the company, their policies and their industry partners. Camping World has more than 120 U.S. stores where you can see the inventory up close, but they also can arrange delivery nationwide.
RV Trader
This website is jam-packed with helpful information for RVers, but it’s definitely geared towards consumers who have at least some knowledge of campers and RVs. These are for sale by owner listings which can be searched by class, price, year, floor plan and other features. They also have rental campers for those who are still testing the waters. Other helpful features include a list of RV parks organized by state and an in-depth database of RV reviews. Should you need a few outdoor toys to go along with your new RV lifestyle, RV Trader has several affiliate partners such as ATVTrader.com, CycleTrader.com (for motorcycles) and SnowmobileTrader.com, all of which are linked from the main site.
Gander RV & Outdoors
If it involves being outside, you will find it on the Gander RV & Outdoors website. From archery equipment to clothing to hunting gear—and of course, campers and RVs. We loved the neatly-organized sections devoted to different types of campers and what types of situations they are best for. They also have sidebars with links to best sellers, new arrivals and clearance models and an easily searchable database of campers for sale. Like its parent company Camping World, Gander knows that there is much more to RVing than the actual structure, so the site offers a large selection of RV furniture, accessories, hitches and much more. They also boast a large maintenance network with more than 170 locations in the U.S. so you can keep your rig running smoothly.