Undercarriage

[CamperKirk]

I know an older (1999) unit will have rust underneth her, but how much do they normally have?? Also, is it normal for the LP tank to get surface rust on it too.

The unit is spotless in, out, under the hood but the undercarriage concerns me. I know my 10 year old truck is all rusty underneth, but the body is perfect. And i guess a motor home just sitting around will get rusty from the ground up.

[Shadowcatche]

There is only one way to know for sure, and that is to get out the creeper and look underneath. Commercial trucks go millions of miles and certainly the technology to prevent rust is there. Whether that technology was used or was one of the cost cuts...

My experience with automakers in the US (from the supplier side) and increasingly elsewhere is that they make the product only as good as it has to be. As an example Toyota recalled the Tundra pickups for frame rust problems and I know of one individual that they would not allow to drive off after the inspection, and have heard of dealers with a stack of frames.

[ksg5000]

Pretty typical for older propane tanks to accumulate some rust - no big deal. Same goes for RV frames.

[Midniteoyl]

Surface rust on an older home is fine.. you should still see the black paint, however.. If all you see is rust and it 'flakes' off, RUN.

I was looking at one that was only 7 years old at a dealer once for a good amount of money. Opened a basement door and when I closed it, rust fell to the ground. I crawled under and started poking the frame with my ball point and in a couple of spots it went clear through.

I ran and never looked back