Current RV Market

[bentjm]

Originally Posted by TK3ZRV

bentjm - Did your boat experience give you an advantage when inspecting the RV to the point where you felt comfortable without getting an inspection? I'm mechanically inclined, but have little experience with RVs and diesel engines. I'm worried I would miss a major structural or engine/transmission issue when looking at an RV.

It helped to some extent.

Boats/RVs are both a bunch of discreet systems put together to make a whole.

Check all of the systems and make sure they work - run the slides in and out, run the ACs and appliances, flip every switch, check the awnings, run the levelers, open every door and cabinet, check to see if the windows are fogged, ...

You should be able to see any major structural issues with the body of the coach. Get up on the roof. Crawl under the coach and look for obvious leaks.

The driveline is going to be the biggest potential blind spot. That is where the test ride/drive comes it. Unless RV inspectors are also diesel mechanics, you won't get any more information from them about the driveline than you will learn from a test ride/drive.

Review any documentation that is available. If it is an individual selling, talk to them. You should be able to tell if they are lying.

Make a check list before you go and take a flashlight and some coveralls. Use your eyes, ears, and nose.

Finally, when you are setting your budget, include the tax/title/license fees and add 10 to 15% for repairs/upgrades. For example, if the coach costs $100,000, be prepared to spend $120,000 all in.

Good luck.

[Ohio44718]

Although prudent, as you have found out, difficult to get an inspection performed right now. If you are not familiar with RVs, then get some experience on what to look for or hopefully you have someone you know that is knowledgeable. Look for something that has been well taken care of. You may have to pay a little more, but that is the market we are in. I purchased my first RV, low mileage, but was not taken care of overall. That was a HUGE mistake on my part. I figured cosmetic items can be easily replaced, what I found out the hard way, it is the hidden things that can be really expensive and labor intensive.

After that fiasco, I searched long and hard for my second coach. It was well taken care of and got to really enjoy it. When it came time to sell it, it sold within a few days, twice! The first deal fell through because he could not get an inspector within the time specified.

[TK3ZRV]

Thank you both for the advice, much appreciated. I have a much better idea of how I'm going to approach the next potential purchase.