If you’re anything like me, you’re a cheapskate who enjoys saving money. So naturally, you gravitate toward used things or second-hand items. Clothes, furniture, even used cars. But for me personally, something about a used RV doesn’t sit right. If I’m going to be living somewhere full-time, I’d like to have a fresh space, not one inhabited by strangers. So if you don’t own a pickup truck capable of towing a fifth-wheel trailer, what’s the cheapest new motorhome you can buy?

Updated: 9/14

What is the cheapest new RV?

I’ll start with the good news: for the price, you’re getting a brand new, squeaky clean RV loaded with features. The bad news, however, is that there’s no such thing as a cheap RV. The Coachman Freelander 22XG has an estimated MSRP of $96,430. And yes, this is the cheapest full-sized RVs come.

The Coachman Freelander is a Class C RV, which features amenities such as a shower, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room. The Coachman Freelander has room for four or five people, depending on how intimate you’re willing to get. But every room in this RV is fitted with everything you’d ever need.

The bathroom has a shower, toilet, and sink. The kitchen is fitted with an oven, another sink, and cabinets galore. There are also plenty of cabinets that could fit a minifridge and an optional microwave that can be installed. There’s even a 32″ TV that can be hooked up to cable.

All of these features are standard on this brand-new RV. That makes it the cheapest fully enclosed motorhome possible. But if you’re willing to sacrifice a couple of features while still purchasing a new RV, then you may want to consider a camper van.

The cheapest new camper van is the 2022 Pleasure-Way Tofino

Camper vans are smaller and cheaper than full-sized RVs but typically sacrifice showers. The cheapest new Class B RV is no exception. The 2022 Pleasure-Way Tofino costs $78,650, but you’ll have to give up a shower and toilet. That means relying on campgrounds and rest stops in order to do your business.

The good news about camper vans is that they’re easier to maneuver and cheaper to run. And while you lose the bathroom, the Tofino is still loaded with standard features. There’s room to sleep four people, with a couch that converts to a queen-sized bed on the “ground floor” and another small bed in the popout tent. The kitchen features a sink, a stove, and a refrigerator as standard.

There’s even an HVAC system onboard, with optional solar panels to power it. But maybe $78,650 is still too expensive for you (it is for me). This begs one more sheer curiosity question: Is it cheaper to buy a brand new truck and a brand new trailer than an RV or camper van?

Is it cheaper to buy a new truck and trailer than a new RV?

The short answer is yes. As of writing this, the cheapest new truck is the 2022 Ram 1500 Classic, which is priced at $29,420. That’s for the base model, but throw $480 on top of that, and you can equip it with the towing package. So at a total of $30,000, that leaves $48,650 for a nice, full-sized trailer. And because the Ram 1500 Classic base model can tow 4,350 lbs, the trailer has to weigh less than that.

Enter the 2022 Jayco Flight SLX 7. It weighs 4,150 lbs and costs just $26,267. That brings the grand total of a new truck and trailer to $56,267. And it features everything you’d need in a fully enclosed RV. The bathroom includes a shower and a separate toilet. The kitchen has a sink, stove, refrigerator, and microwave. Inside, there’s a single queen-sized bed and a couch big enough for one other person.

In truth, buying a new RV will never be cheap. So if you can get over the fact that a used RV has already been lived in, you’ll save a lot of money in the long run. Otherwise, start saving, and one day you’ll be able to own a brand-new RV.