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A Guide to Buying
an RV
Tips on buying a used motor
home or travel trailer
A Recreational Vehicle (RV)
can bring a lot of fun to families, sportsmen and weekend warriors. Kids are
especially blessed because camping trips can form family bonds and you can
always expect some kind of challenge to work through and overcome together that
will provide stories to tell.
New RVs
If you’ve ever gone onto an RV lot you know that these vehicles are not cheap.
However, buying new has its advantages because you’ve got something that
presumably will be trouble-free and a warranty if there should be any problems.
Used RVs
For those of us who can shell out the big bucks and still want to camp
comfortably once in awhile, a used RV is a great solution.
However, the vehicle is used and probably doesn’t come with any warranty so
you’ve got to be careful when purchasing.
Here are some tips on buying a used
RV
Decide on the type of RV you want - start researching online and read up on
features and reviews.
Travel Trailers: Travel trailers can be less expensive because you’re not
paying for the engine of a motor-home. This is advantageous in that you won’t
have another engine to look after and service. But of course you’ll need a
vehicle to tow the trailer.
So then we’re talking weight. Look up your car or truck and find out how much
your vehicle can tow. Now you’ll have an idea of what kind of trailer you can
pull. I wouldn’t be pushing anywhere near your maximum towing limit because
trailers weights are listed as dry and you’ll have water, supplies and a whole
lot more in there. When driving, you don’t want your car or truck to struggle
and you want power left over.
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NOTE:
Your local hitch installer has a wealth of information. I recommend
finding the specialty installer in town and making friends. Try to visit
when it’s not too busy and you’ll be able to ask a lot of questions.
Motor Homes: The advantages of a motor home are fantastic. If you
plan on long trips, it’s certainly a lot easier. You can drive a lot
faster on the highway and you don’t have to stay in the right lanes.
Your bathroom and all your amenities are right inside so you don’t have
to pull over to use them. You don’t have to worry about winds and
weather as much. Steering, backing up, and parking are all a lot
easier. The disadvantages are that you’ve got another engine to take
care of, you’ll need insurance and you’ll get less space for the money.
The Seller
Create a list of questions that you want to ask the seller. You can go
to a dealer for used RV but you’ll be paying retail. If they offer a
warranty this might be worth it. If you’re going to a private party
you’ll want to know a few things.
Here is a sample
below:
a. How long have you had the RV? The longer they’ve owned it, the more
knowledge they can offer. The best case scenario is that they were the only
owner.
b. Why are you selling it? Best case scenario is they hardly ever used it
and decided it’s time to get it off the driveway.
c. Has it ever been in accident?
d. What kind of trouble have you had? Hopefully very little, but you’ll
be able to see how honest they are if they let you in on some fixes.
e. Does it have any leaks? Hugely important. Almost all RV’s will leak at
some point. They all need to be resealed every so often. If they leak, they’ve
got mold.
f. Where have you gone with it? This will give you an idea of the wear
and tear. Some responses might be, “Oh we used it just locally a few times a
year, but not much anymore.” Another might be, “Oh we’ve loved this RV, we took
it all over the country for the last 10 years and it’s been very good to us.”
There’s probably a little more wear on this one, but they may have also
maintained it well.
g. Are you including any extras? This is another great advantage of
buying used. Most RV owners have purchases a lot of extra’s that they are
including in the deal. Spare tires, camping gear, generator, etc.
Motor Home Engine: How many miles? Do they have a pile of service
receipts? Is the title in their name? If not, they may be just buying and
selling RV’s as a side business and I would not recommend buying from them. They
do not really know the vehicle and interested in turning a quick profit. Where
has it gone? Who owned it? Get a Carfax report. Read everything you can on this
model. This would be good for a mechanic to look at. The mechanic can run
compression tests for the cylinders check belts, seals, battery, charging
system, computer. Does it leak oil??? Very important! Does it burn oil??? Do you
smell any fumes as you drive?
Water Damage: Ask them if the seals have been replaced at all. Check
carefully for water damage. Does the ceiling look like it’s been replaced or is
original? Does the floor look replaced? Do you see any little bumps beneath the
wall paper? If so, this is probably mold. Climb up on the roof. Is the roof dry
and cracked or supple? Look at the seals around the vents and air conditioner.
Are they dry and cracked or supple? Look at the seals around the windows for any
signs of water damage. If you feel safe, you can walk on the roof and see if
it’s solid or squishy.
Check the tires for wear.
Check the appliances and make sure they work. Does the fridge get cold? Do the
burners work? Does the heater work? Does the water heater work?
Lights: Are all the headlights, running lights, interior lights working?
Plumbing: Check the toilet and faucets. Check the pump. Do they work well?
Check underneath the RV and look at the pipers and both tanks, grey water and
black water.
Animals: Were their cats or dogs on these trips and are you allergic? If you are
allergic or environmentally sensitive, you’ll want to really spend some time in
there to make sure you don’t have any reactions.
Emotions: Keep control of them. Stay in control of any sense of urgency. There
are many RV’s out there for sale especially when the economy is poor or gas
costs are high. RV’s can be an impulse buy for many. People see themselves going
everywhere, but life happens and it can just sit out there for years. If the
owner is unwilling to let you check out the vehicle or have a mechanic look it
at because “he’s got too many calls on it”, well, you’ll find another one.
Online Scams: If you see an Ad in CraigsList for an RV that is too good to be
true, it probably is. Copy the Ad and paste it into Google. Scammers usually
have the same ad in many other cites. They are looking for email addresses
to sell, or a deposit to steal or something else...
Price: It is usually a buyers market for used RV’s. Check with NADA about
values. Check comparables online. Make an offer. You can always offer more if
they refuse. See how committed they are to their asking price.
Enjoy! Once you’ve got the RV, get ready to have lots of fun. Get some local
guides to parks and have a great time!
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