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Old 06-02-2013, 04:47 PM   #1
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Minor Damage/Wear Normal?

During our enjoyable journey planning for a new RV I've noticed that some of the used Class A's (<5 years old) have chips on the body paint primarily on the front, some evidence of rust on the retractable stairs and bolts on the awning etc.

Yes, I'm the ACD guy who, on his 5th wheel went around every spring and touched up any sign of rust on the exterior bolts with Tremclad paint.

The interior of the rigs are fine, so is this minor stuff I see normal for the Class A's and really small potatoes that shouldn't discourage a purchase?
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Old 06-02-2013, 05:06 PM   #2
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Sounds like normal wear and tear. Rust can depending on where the RV lived and how it was stored.
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Old 06-02-2013, 05:11 PM   #3
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I tend to be very anal-retentive also but it just gets too much of a chore to keep everything looking new. I could probably work on my possessions for 16-hours a day and still not have them looking the way I'd like. My goal would be to have everything I own look and perform the way they did when they were brand new but there's just not enough time nor money (if I was to hire it out) to do that.

DW complains about my OCD and I've improved as I get older as I just can't continue to dwell on how my "things" look. When I was younger, my co-workers would line up to buy my used cars because they knew how I cared for them. One guy commented when I sold him one of my cars, "gee, this is great, I'm getting a brand new 8-year old car!"

But yes, it's common to have dings and road rash on a motorhome. On our last RV, I had all the little dings numbered. I had them touched up the best I could. When we went to put it on the market, I was afraid that a prospective buyer would notice all the little paint dings and scratches. However, the guy who finally purchased it, once again, was highly impressed at how good it looked and didn't even seem to notice the little touched-up chips and scratches in the paint.

I can't keep up with all the little rusty bolts and screws nowadays. I'm sure that anybody looking at a used seven year old motorhome would expect a bit of rust around bolts, screws, hinges, etc. I try to clean and lube my stairs about every three months but I still see a bit of rust where it hinges and along the edges. I try to keep on top of the major rust or the type that might cause issues if left unattended but the little stuff is just too difficult to keep up with now.

But I know where you're coming from.

-harry
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Old 06-02-2013, 05:17 PM   #4
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I try to age gracefully with a modicum of maintenance. Same for my RV.
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Old 06-02-2013, 05:30 PM   #5
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My old girl has a few bumps and bruises but nothing that detracts from the reliability of the coach. I bought from the o/o because he had every manual and record from day one. I laugh now as I think about our discussions about the coach, he knew about and wanted to talk about every scratch on it! I could tell he and his wife were sincere because no attempt was made to hide or minimize the imperfections. I am making no attempt to improve upon his maintenance procedures or overall care of the coach. What money I am spending is because I want to, the systems and components are 21 years old and while they do work, I prefer newer technology.
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Old 06-02-2013, 05:40 PM   #6
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Thanks Gents...I guess I can stand down from DefCon 3....

....and the comment about people lining up to buy your old stuff...I hear ya.
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Old 06-02-2013, 09:47 PM   #7
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To me, worrying about the cosmetics is really missing the ball and a lot like buying a car because you like the radio (my sister). . We bought a used Rv and I focused on the engine, tranny, chassis, house systems and body in that order. Of course, some people will say that the physical appearance of an Rv reflects its maintenance history but I don't agree. Look at the maintenance records first, then look at what type (and when) did they do any upgrades. For a diesel Rv it's all about maintenance which is much more expensive than a gas engine.

Have fun.
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