Apply through your credit union.

Why a credit union

Often the best rate, member-owned.

Credit unions are not-for-profit, member-owned cooperatives — surplus that a commercial bank would return to shareholders gets returned to members as lower interest rates and better terms instead. For an RV-class loan in the $30,000–$50,000 range a credit union commonly comes in 0.5–1.5 points below the equivalent bank product, and many will offer longer terms (10–15 years) than a personal loan can. The trade-off is membership: you usually have to join the credit union before they'll close the loan, and joining requires a small share deposit ($5–$25 at most CUs).

What to bring

Documents your loan officer will ask for.

Frequently asked

Credit-union financing, answered.

Will my credit union finance a slide-in truck camper?

Almost always yes — but the loan officer may need to confirm how their underwriting treats truck campers, because most states classify them as 'cargo' rather than 'vehicles' (no axles, no VIN issued by the state DMV). Use the words 'RV-class slide-in truck camper' and reference the federal RV definition (ANSI A119.2). Kimbo builds aluminum hard-side slide-in campers with permanently installed sleeping, cooking, and heating facilities — that qualifies under every major credit union's RV-loan program we've seen. We supply the itemized build sheet, factory invoice, and a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin at delivery so the loan officer has every document they need to underwrite and (if your state titles truck campers) perfect a lien.

Should I apply for an RV loan or a personal loan?

Most Kimbo buyers go with a secured RV loan. RV loans are secured by the camper itself — lower interest rate (typically 6–10% APR in current conditions), longer term (commonly 10–15 years; up to 20 years on loans of $50,000+), and lower monthly payment. The trade-off is your credit union holds a lien on the camper until it's paid off. An unsecured personal loan has no lien hassle and faster approval, but rates run 2–5 points higher and terms are shorter (2–7 years), which pushes your monthly payment up. For Kimbo's typical configured price of $32,000–$50,000, a secured RV loan over 10 years almost always wins on monthly affordability. If you have substantial cash on hand and just want a small short-term loan for the balance, a personal loan can make sense.

Do I need a title for my truck camper?

It depends on your state. Most states (roughly 40 of 50) treat a slide-in truck camper as cargo, not a titled vehicle — the same way they'd treat a toolbox or a topper. The exceptions, where truck campers ARE titled, are typically: Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington (always verify with your own state DMV — statutes change and a handful of other states have edge-case rules for certain weights or lengths). In a titling state, your credit union perfects its lien against that title the same way an auto lender perfects a lien against your truck's title. In a non-titling state, the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) that Kimbo provides at delivery is the proof-of-ownership document the credit union uses instead.

What documents does Kimbo provide for my credit union application?

Everything a credit union loan officer needs to underwrite an RV loan: an itemized build sheet showing your model, every option, and the total purchase price; a factory invoice on Kimbo letterhead; the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) at delivery, with the camper's manufacturer-assigned serial number; and our manufacturer business identity block (legal name, Bellingham WA address, federal tax ID on request) so the loan officer can confirm Kimbo is a real registered business. If your credit union wants a written confirmation letter for a specific underwriter, email us at the address on /contact and we'll send one within one business day.

What loan term and down payment should I expect?

Credit union RV loans commonly run 7–15 years for a camper in Kimbo's price range. Down payment is often 10–20% of the purchase price, though some credit unions offer 0% down for strong-credit members (Navy Federal and a handful of regional CUs have advertised this). A larger down payment usually shaves a few tenths of a point off the rate, so if you have flexibility on cash, putting more down up-front saves on total interest. Kimbo doesn't dictate any of this — your credit union sets the terms based on your credit, income, and the loan amount.

Can I finance the truck and the camper together?

Sometimes — it depends on the credit union and your situation. A few credit unions will bundle a truck purchase and a slide-in camper into a single RV-class loan with the truck as the primary collateral, especially if both purchases are happening at the same time and the buyer is a member with strong credit. This is more common at large credit unions with dedicated RV-loan products. More commonly, the truck and camper end up on two separate loans — a standard auto loan for the truck, and an RV loan for the camper. Ask your loan officer specifically; if they can do a combined loan it's usually a simpler payment structure.

Can I finance my Kimbo through Kimbo directly?

No — Kimbo doesn't underwrite loans. Your two paths are LightStream (the online consumer lending division of Truist Bank — unsecured, no fees, online application, funds direct to you — see /financing/lightstream) or a secured RV loan through your own bank or credit union. For the credit union path, this page lists what to ask for, what documents we'll provide, and the most common questions loan officers raise. If your credit union turns you down or quotes a rate you'd like to compare against, LightStream is the natural alternative for unsecured RV financing.