Looked at an older RV

The problem with water damage is if you are seeing some evidence on the interior it's usually worse when you open that area up. Not always but often it is. Did you look at the bottom of the slides carefully, often times if you push on them you might hear crunchiness of bad wood or feel softness. Often near the outer corners.

I always buy used stuff but you have to be covered for the worst case scenario. if I didn't have the resources on hand to do numerous repairs and even large repairs like thousands for a transmission or engine I wouldn't buy it.

Class A is probably the most common RV out there but to me it carries a high degree of risk. All of the RV issues are there from water damage to refrigerators or whatever plus a drivetrain.

With a towables when you get past the RV issues like water damage or a bad propane refrigerator you really don't have much mechanical suspension to go wrong with it. you can buy many axles from numerous places for about $450 each complete with brakes and hubs.

You do also have to have a tow vehicle then but the tow vehicle can be driven everyday it can be resold much easier than some RVs. If anything happened to the RV and it was in the shop you still have your vehicle.

It's all about money and risk so again I wouldn't buy something like that and ride off in it unless I had at least $10,000 or so sitting there that I could dump it if needed. that doesn't necessarily mean the spending would be over I would just have that question if that cushion isn't there I wouldn't mess with that. That's your finances and you only you know that part but that's what the risk is about.

There is a big difference between a person who has to pay for everything and someone like myself who could pull the engine or transmission out and rebuild it. DO NOT let fevers or emotions get involved in this or you could easily be taken advantage of

My 02 If this is your first RV - find one that has no signs of water damage. Water damage is the nemesis of RV's and unless your experienced with assessment and repairs stay away.

Hello neighbor.
If that was Arts be careful with them. I don’t trust them. My brother bought a PuP from them and I didn’t get a good feeling from them. Look at the floor and lower wall by that window leak. If it was bad those would be soft. As for the AC it could just be condensation. Those felt ceilings liked to wick water. And the felt was installed from the factory. It makes it very quiet inside especially when it rains.
If everything checks out it sounds like a good deal!

With so many used RV's out there I would find one with no water issues. I think you noted 2 or 3. It's nice they offered a pressure test and maybe all the leaks have been fixed. Still may not solve the problem of damage that was done while it was leaking. And aside from damage, my concern would be mold.

dodge guy wrote:
Hello neighbor.
If that was Arts be careful with them. I don’t trust them. My brother bought a PuP from them and I didn’t get a good feeling from them. Look at the floor and lower wall by that window leak. If it was bad those would be soft. As for the AC it could just be condensation. Those felt ceilings liked to wick water. And the felt was installed from the factory. It makes it very quiet inside especially when it rains.
If everything checks out it sounds like a good deal!

Hey what a coincidence! I'm shocked someone on the forum is actually close to me. ;)

No way, I would not use Art’s. That place if good if you need to buy a part off the shelf, that’s about it.

DH and I thought the same thing with the air conditioner. Absolutely no soft spots on the ceiling and the roof looked good. No smelly spots either. Leaks by windows are common, it’s just to what extent we do not know but could always dig deeper if we wanted. Dealer was willing to remove as much as he could to see what damage is there. And as others have pointed out, water leaks are like cancer but sometimes can be resolved. We understand this.

My main worry is the age and the roof being rubber, if it is rubber. I don’t know much about rubber roofs except that they are bad.

Doesn't look too bad from the pictures.
I would look more into the rust even though you said it was minimal.
The brake lines were replaced so I bet there's more to check.
Have them turn on the fridge before you get there and spend some time making sure all systems work especially electrical both AC and DC
good luck

signs of water,time to run ,even if the leak could have been fixed the damage is still there.

Has anyone ever lived in it?
What is the mileage?
Does the owner have maintenance records?
Do you have the budget to fix it if you have a few problems?

The roof wouldn't concern me especially if they are going to reseal it. Just check it for penetrations and make sure it's in decent shape.

Is it me or does that passenger side slide not sit flush? It looks racked coming out further in the bottom even when extended.

For the technically challenged: Clicky