Newbies - new coach inspection and pdi

[rewillia]

Hello All, (sorry for the length here but we're looking for advice)...

We're newbies and admit it and will be taking delivery this coming week of a new Newmar Essex 4519.

We are seeking knowledge and experience input from Newmar owners here as to what we should expect to be the delivery process and the steps we should be certain to follow as well as what we should expect from our selling dealer in terms of both the PDI and the coach systems orientation they should provide us. We expect our selling dealer will similarly advise us of what the process is but we'd like to hear it from you guys - those with personal experience as owners.

Reading up in the IRV2 forum, I've seen some (but certainly not all) threads on the PDI process as well as the recommendation that new owners take anywhere from 1-5 days (commensurate with prior experience) becoming familiar with their new coach and its installed systems (purpose, operation, testing) - all to be completed before final sign-off and acceptance of the new coach.

The following is what I have gained from reading up - and will appreciate any further advice, clarifications or recommendations from others here so please help

1- Both Dealer's PDI and new owner's inspection (assisted by selling dealer's tech) should be completed prior to closing (before all payments have been made)and must be both documented and signed by both selling dealer's rep. and buyer. We understand this is Newmar's policy. We also understand that Newmar's Policy is that the customer sets the pace at which these inspections and orientations take in terms of time spent.

2- Commensurate with New buyer's experience, the buyer should expect to spend up to 1-5 days on site (or returning daily) to inspect the coach and any/all systems for defects or other corrective actions needed and report such to selling dealer to include selling dealer making necessary repairs/corrections before closing. Selling dealer should provide a location at its site where the coach can be connected to shore-power, potable water and black waste water dump station as to permit both buyer occupancy during the PDI/Orientation process and to enable full and complete testing of all utility systems. We've read (and saved) some of the PDI checklist found here in links provided by other members.

If I've missed anything here or there are areas of the personal (buyer's) inspection that we should give particular emphasis upon please let us know. The more information we have at this point - the better armed we'll be to ensure we get the orientation and PDI we deserve and can ultimately drive away knowing that a detailed and comprehensive pre-purchase/delivery inspection was performed, any items found have been corrected and that while there is no perfect coach out there....we're driving off knowing that we're off to a good start.

Thanks in advance for any guidance - think of us a needing a "Dummies' Guide for New Coach Buyer's )

Hope to meet many of you on the road soon....

Rick & Lydia Williams
Homebase: Lake Charles, LA

[Stripe34]

Following... I had started a somewhat similar thread (http://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/newm...es-304980.html) but you worded yours differently enough that I'm interested in seeing the replies you get. If you check out the replies in my thread you'll see that I was even given (10 page!) starter checklists to assist with our cutover and familiarization (thx again Norm & Ellen!).

We are hoping that we will be in our new rig during the first week of October.

["007"]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on up and coming Newmar.
If you go into QT's # 3 and read some of the HOOT's threads they will give you some incite into what to expect.
Further down you will see a ESSEX owners ramblings.
In the NEWMAR CORP Sticky you will see feed back on delivers and the Newmar PDI list used.
Enjoy your stay and welcome to the Newmar family.

[wildtoad]

Congrats on buying such a nice coach as your first ever. Wow, you have a lot to learn, but if you take it slow you will do fine. The best advice I can give is to video everything as the tech is going through the systems, and since this is your first time, there are no dumb questions. You should also request to stay in it a night or two on their site to test the systems, make sure you know how to turn things on and off, run the slides in and out, awning in and out, take notes on things you may want adjusted, fixed, etc.


And keep in mind, they are much more interested in fixing things so you will buy it than they are fixing it after you bought it.

[psi500]

Congrats and enjoy your new coach..

[LongRanger]

Rick, One thing that I did for 4 coaches during PDI is to video most of it, or at least the most complex parts. Good Luck and Safe Travels.


DickW
Blue Skies and Safe Travels
2014 DSDP 4018
2009 Honda Fit TOAD

[rewillia]

Thank you to all that have responded thus far, yes we have a lot to learn and are already investing in that. The advice from Folks like yourselves and others here will help tremendously. In further preparing ourselves we have;

- RV Driving school private instructor driver training scheduled later this week for both the wife and myself. Took the first test drive yesterday and that went well.

- have been invited by our selling dealer (NIRVC) and plan to stay on site (dealer's camp site) for as long as we feel necessary to continue learning all systems operation, address any needed adjustments, repairs, fixes, etc as well as outfitting the coach, e.g. installation of surge protector, etc.

- will video key systems operation and hand's on instruction provided by and with the Dealer's assigned PDI tech

- will take the coach out daily for short excursions to become more familiar and comfortable with driving it.

- have commenced watching a number of great you tube video/tutorials, i.e. New RV Driver's Confidence Course, and CDL Practice Test Center's General Knowledge and Air Brakes Test(s) as further learning and education.

- previously signed up for and will attend an Escapee's hosted RV Boot Camp and RV Driving Course in November that we expect will help with our continued learning...

- continue to engage with other owners/enthusiast and"listen carefully" to their advice and recommendations all of which come from their years of experience.

We really appreciate everyone's advice here at IRV2 and are reading up daily.

We're new to the lifestyle but not new to knowing the value of knowledge and training, i.e. training, training and more training....

Thanks again!