| It's a home on wheels. | | | | when you unplug your shore power. Repairs can |
| | | | be costly so run this little test before you |
| Keep that statement in mind as you begin your | | | | finalize the purchase. |
| motor home or travel trailer buying project. | | | | |
| Take a moment right now to inventory in your | | | | 4. Absolutely check the furnace and air |
| mind everything that needs fixing in your | | | | conditioning equipment. These can be |
| home right now. You might be imagining items | | | | expensive units to repair, and you'll want to |
| as simple as a loose doorknob all the way to | | | | ask for a little discount if these aren't |
| the intermittent problems you're having with | | | | working correctly. |
| your heating and air conditioning system. | | | | |
| | | | 5. Does the toilet hold water? If the RV has |
| Now, add an engine and or wheels to the mix, | | | | been sitting for a period of time the seal in |
| and you have the idea - it's going to be a | | | | the toilet will have dried out. Add a little |
| difficult to find the perfect used RV. You | | | | water to the toilet and see if it holds water |
| might have to settle for a few little | | | | for more than 15 minutes. Keep in mind that |
| problems, or decide to pay a few extra bucks | | | | the water in the toilet is what holds back |
| for something that's in pristine condition. | | | | the fumes trying to escape from the black |
| There are a myriad of things that can go | | | | water holding tank. |
| wrong with a travel trailer or motor home, so | | | | |
| a careful pre-buy inspection is a must. | | | | 6. Check for soft spots in the flooring |
| | | | especially in the bathroom and kitchen areas. |
| Here then, I offer a starter list of what to | | | | These could be symptoms of a much larger |
| look for when purchasing a used motorhome or | | | | problem. The unit may have leaky supply pipes |
| used travel trailer. | | | | or drains that are causing the wood to rot. |
| | | | |
| Your used RV checklist: | | | | 7. Check the skin on the outside of the unit. |
| | | | Look for bubbles. Although cosmetic, you're |
| 1. Check everything that relates to your | | | | probably dealing with a corrosion issue. |
| propane system. RV fires do happen and many | | | | These can be resolved, but will involve |
| times they're the result of a neglected | | | | removal of paint, treatment of the affected |
| propane system. Check the tank, the hoses, | | | | area, and repainting. Sounds expensive to me. |
| and the regulator. I can't stress how | | | | |
| important this is. You could be risking your | | | | 8. If it has a gas engine, then I highly |
| investment, and your life if you overlook | | | | recommend you carefully inspect the engine |
| even the simplest of problems in this area. | | | | records. A good owner will have kept receipts |
| | | | of all engine maintenance. It would even |
| 2. Check the condition of the house | | | | behoove you to have the engine looked over by |
| batteries. The house batteries hold the | | | | a trusted mechanic. What do you suppose it |
| charge that powers your lights and other | | | | would cost to replace an engine? |
| items when you're not connected to shore | | | | |
| power. They can be expensive to replace, and | | | | 9. Finally, do a THOROUGH walk-through. Open |
| there might be as many as six of them. Are | | | | and close everything. Turn everything on and |
| they properly topped off with water, and do | | | | off. Be suspicious and take notes as you walk |
| they hold a charge? These batteries are heavy | | | | through the rig, and at least you'll go into |
| so you really don't want to be doing this job | | | | the purchase with your head up. |
| yourself, and you'll have to take the cores | | | | |
| back for your deposit. | | | | I'll leave you with one final thought. You'll |
| | | | never find the perfect used travel trailer or |
| 3. Check to make sure the fridge works on | | | | RV, but you can minimize the hidden expenses |
| both propane and electricity. It should | | | | by following the above guidelines. |
| automatically switch from electric to gas | | | | |