How To Complete a Used RV Inspection

It’s always important to know what you are purchasing. To know if you are getting a good deal or not, you need to know what to look out for. The more information you have about the RV, the more confident you can make the purchase. Nobody likes getting ripped off or having the regret of making a purchase you wish you hadn’t. When spending a considerable amount of money on an RV, you can’t just trust the owner. Therefore this article, how to complete a used RV inspection, will give you all the information you need going into an RV purchase.

Paperwork

It’s quite common that the paperwork is often done last. You get the pink slip, complete the financial transaction, get the keys and hit the road. This is common practice in the likes of Rv dealerships and with new vehicles. However, second hand RVs have a history, and it’s important to know this. The last thing you want is to find out the RV you are purchasing doesn’t have a title. No title means you won’t be able to get RV insurance, and you might just be stuck with a stealth camper. Therefore seeing the vehicle title is a good place to start and checking this matches their driver’s license because how would you know the vehicle is there’s otherwise?

Other relevant paperwork, such as a warranty, could be useful if it has one. Service and MOT history paperwork are beneficial. You can see if the vehicle has been maintained well and predict potentially what costs you may have to incur, such as if the RV hasn’t had a new clutch, it may be due soon. The RV owner should be happy to show the paperwork if they aren’t; however, or it is missing, this could imply an element of sneakiness. They may be trying to hide an issue, so having seen the paperwork, it’s time to check the RV out.

External Walkround Check

How To Complete a Used RV Inspection starts when you first see the vehicle in person. Online photos must be taken with a pinch of salt as they don’t truly reflect the vehicle’s condition. Things such as scratches and dints can be hidden easily in photos and may be totally out of the photos. There you are next to the RV, and it’s time to do some checks.

Wing mirrors are a good place to start. Without them, intact, you can’t drive. With them sticking out, they are often damaged.
Windows and glass. Chips can be small but eventually crack the whole glass panel, so these need to be avoided at all costs.
Bodywork. This check will take the longest, but you must look all over the bodywork. You must be happy with the condition of the RV. You may be content purchasing with a few dints, but substantial damage could be an eyesore and cost a lot to fix.
Lights and indicators. Get the owner to get in and turn the vehicle on. Walk around and check it all works. Even a tail light out is enough to get you pulled by the Police.
Tyres. Tyres can be extremely troublesome. Check the tyre wall for any damage or splits. Critically the tyre tread depth needs to be checked. Firstly to check they are legal but that they are also safe. They are the only contact between you and the road, so you need to be healthy 3mm plus condition as an absolute minimum. This inspection will give you an idea of how long the tyres may last, which allows you to plan.
The awning (if it has one). Ask for the owner to extend and set it up. This way, you can see if there are any issues.

Internal Checks

If you are happy with the outside of the RV and are looking to proceed with interest in purchasing the RV, it’s time to get inside. The most obvious place to start is to get into the driver’s seat and turn it on. Even better, you could ask the owner to take you for a little drive. This way, any mechanical issues can be spotted. Following this, you can check all the electrics and controls work from the dashboard. Such as the radio and speakers. These checks are all done in the front. Now it’s time to get into the living space.

Checking the living area

You will spend most of your time in this space; therefore, you must give it a thorough check. This is not something to rush, and it may take some time.

Did you notice any bad odours as you walked in? Funny how your first check doesn’t involve your eyes, right. Things such as dampness produce a foul smell. So will a budget toilet or a filthy living space. Any bad smell could indicate issues ranging from a cracked holding tank to fault plumping.
A bathroom is a place that can be plagued with problems and germs. Check the tap works and if it has a heater, check the water can get hot. Run the shower to see if it works. Flush the toilet, too but don’t do a number two in it before just in case it doesn’t flush. Check the extractor fan if it has one, too, as these can get clogged up and not work. Finally, black mould is a pain to fix, so hopefully, you don’t find any of this on your bathroom checks.
Furniture checks. This one is obvious, but you are looking for any missing cupboard doors. Latches that don’t work. Any upholstery damage, stains or mould. Anything obvious that sticks out like a sore thumb is worth noting.
The kitchen appliances. Check the microwave works if it has one. Like any appliance, it’s only useful if it works.
Electrical sockets. Sockets are only as good as they are useful. The last thing you want to find out on a road trip that they don’t work.
The energy system. If the RV has solar or batteries, it’s worth knowing how old the system is. If it has previously had problems, these are worth knowing.