Forum Discussion

NuttyKev's avatar
NuttyKev
Explorer
Jun 17, 2018

New Vs Used

I’m currently looking for my first toyhauler and I’m torn between getting new or used. I found a really nice Heartland Torque that’s just a year old, good price. But my concern is why are they selling it. Of course they have their reason, but I don’t know the people so I have no clue if they’re being truthful. All of the new models in my price range do not even compare in both size and features. What are the most important things to look for and/or check when buying a used toyhauler, even just at one year old? And Is it unheard of to have somebody, a mechanic, look it over before I purchase it? I usually do that when buying a used car.
  • Condition is everything, and leaks are the prime killer of RV's at it leads to wood rot, new or used, you really should consider having it professionally inspected, and not rely on the selling dealer to perform the only initial inspection. If you need an inspector and don't know one there is a search tool on the nrvia.org web site. Full disclosure I took their inspector course a few months ago, and it was a real eye opener, not just on issues with older RV's but on ones that were new as well. We had 2 RV's at the course that were nearly new, one with a 2016 and the other a 2017 just picked up from the dealership a few weeks earlier with with significant issues, roof leaks, sealant gaps, etc.
  • Some people want the latest and greatest or the floor plan simply doesn’t work for them. Just do a thorough inspection.