Buying a Used RV? Know What to Look for
The Market for Used RVs Has Never Been Better, but Shop like a Pro
Wise Words From RV Owners
Check the condition of the upholstery, carpet, kitchen, and bathrooms. If they haven't been well cared for, there is good reason to believe that the working parts underneath have also been neglected.
Check the toilet tank, known in RV terms as the black tank. Does it reek? Obviously it's not going to smell like roses. But if it hasn't been maintained properly it will have a strong odor that can invade the whole RV.
Don't forget to check the tires, battery, air conditioner, and the refrigerator to make sure they are all in good shape.
Will your family fit comfortably in the RV? You expect to have limited space when traveling in an RV. But if too the unit is too small to house your family for several days in reasonable comfort, an RV trip may turn into a nightmare.
It Pays to Sound Like You Know What You're Doing
Know ahead of time what you are looking for so you don't end up buying a unit just because the price fits your budget. Check out enough models so that you know what floor plans are comfortable for you. A good pre-buying tip might be to take a weekend trip in a rental RV to see if the floor plan is a good fit for your family.
Before you shop, here are a few RV terms you should know:
Class A Motorhome: single chassis, sleeping and kitchen area, self-contained, 24 to 40 feet long.
Class B Motorhome: "Van type" has all the features of a larger RV.
Class C Motorhome: "Cabover", self-contained, living, sleeping, and kitchen areas, 20 to 32 feet.
Fifth-Wheel Trailers: A towable RV, attached to a hitch in truck bed by king pin of the trailer.
Listen to the Pros; They Know
As RVing grows in popularity, the availability of good used RV's has never been better. But like anything else, buyers beware.
RV technician Les Doll tells potential buyers this: "Many dreams and hard earned dollars are involved in purchasing a used RV. Attention to details is essential. Educating yourself is the most important aspect."
The Search
A good deal is only a good deal if it still feels like one later. RVSearch.com helps purchasers find used RV's for sell. But they suggest that you don't spend a dollar until you read the warnings on their website, like this one:
Acquire and verify the seller's address, phone number and e-mail address. Match the address to the title to the RV, and if they don't match, be sure you know why.
Published by Teresa Ambord
I'm a lifelong resident of California, fortunate enough to have migrated to the northern, rural end of the state back in 1971. I'm a divorced mother of one grown son, and now I spend free time helping with a... View profile
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- See Les Doll's Web site, RVer's Corner for help making a good purchase: www.rverscorner.com/ ; While on the Web site, consider purchasing the Guide to Buying a Used RV. ; It's a gold mine of information from someone who knows. Also go to RV Search at www.rvsearch.com/ On RV Search, you can use their insurance quote function to get an idea what you'd have to pay to insure your purchase.
- No matter how great the price, is the RV a comfortable fit for your family?
- Remember a poorly maintained black tank can ruin the pleasure of RVing.
- Look at esthetics like the carpet and upholstery care for signs of overall maintenance.
2 Comments
Post a CommentIf you're buying a used RV, I highly recommend you disinfect the interior.
Especially for children or small pets. I had a very bad experience and lost a very loved pet because of a type of bacteria that was in the carpet. I've done some research and found a great product called RV shocker that will completely disinfect the interior of the RV and eliminate any severe orders in the process. The stuff works really well and is easy to use. I just wish I would have known about it a year ago. You can find it on a website called BiocideSystems.
Great article and very useful information.