Pre purchase inspection

Looking to purchase 1st motorhome. THAT SAYS IT ALL. You cannot fall back on your own experience. Motorhomes, like brick homes, are complex. You have plumbing, electric systems both 12 and 120 volt. Walls which can leak. Add to this you have a motor vehicle, with engine and drive train. At absolute very least have a really experience RV friend take a Long look through the motorhome with you. Or, call a neighborhood campground, a KOA or any nearby private campground, talk with the desk and ask who they recommend when they are asked for a mobile RV mechanic. Then call the guy and pay his time to go through the rig with you. If you were purchasing a home your realtor would probably request or insist on a Home Inspection.

Check out this site and see if there's a certified inspector close to you. There's also a list of what they check.

RV Inspection Connection

You do your own PDI while you are still looking at it on the sale lot. (Realize if this is a slim sale-the dealer may or may not fix what you find).
----You should look closely at trim pieces for fit/finish. Walls for bubbles/tears/ETC, Upholstery for stains/rips tears/discolor/ETC, open/shut ALL cabinets, drawers, doors - checking for smoothness of operation and how tight do the catches work. Open/close ALL windows AND blinds. -- Check mattress (especially if used unit) for excessive stains or cuts/tears. -- Look at flooring and ceiling for anything (water marks, tears, ETC).
----Go outside, look at the outermost corners of the BOTTOM of the sliderooms -- check for softness (which means water damage). Peak under the unit for excessive rust, oil leaks, ETC. Check tires for wear, age. Look at the INSIDE of the wheels for grease (possible wheel seal leak which could lead to many problems). Look at the roof if possible around all the seals.
----Now ask salesman to demonstrate operation of sliderooms. -- Sounds like a hassle, but you should be able to do all this WHILE looking at the unit. Likely it will consume 30 minutes. A GOOD salesman will be willing to allow you to do these things. (If he is not hiding something).

IF you find ANYTHING, Make a list of expected repairs and make sure the salesman writes up a proper "WE OWE". Both parties are to sign it. --- REMEMBER, if it is used and more than 3 or 4 years old. The dealer likely wont fix every single flaw. Some things do get "used" faster than other things, so do be TOO critical over small scratches, tears, ETC. I mean "Is it NORMAL usage, or EXCESSIVE damage"?

Give the dealer ample time to complete repairs and perform their own PDI. -- Now on delivery day. Do a quick check to insure your "hit list" has been addressed, then make sure you are shown & demonstrated how everything operates. This includes. Make sure the fridge is cold, water is hot, A/C works, furnace works, stove/oven works. -- Consider temps with furnace-A/C.

AGC wrote:
I'm buying a used unit from a private seller.

We're going to get it inspected by an RV dealer but was wondering what they do during the inspections. I've bought tons of used cars in the past and did a PPI most of the time they come back with something minor.

To find out one car I bought had body work in multiple places.

If it's used it's even more important. Water damage is number one and you want nothing to do with it and it can sometimes not easily be seen or it's been covered up.

No matter who inspects it they probably wont guarantee anything if you were to get it home and realize the floor was wet and rotted. You must come up with a plan to be 100% sure of not having water damage. It may hurt but you can replace the frig or ac unit if they go bad but you dont want to get into water damage.

DO NOT REPEAT DO NOT USE AN RV DEALER!!!

Don't go to a dealer. Get a good MobilRV mechanic to do the inspection. Have an auto mechanic check out engine and chassis.

I was doing a walk through with the salesman and I noticed the molding around the slide was hanging and ready to fall off. I pointed out to him and he said "That's no problem. Just drive some nails through it when you get it home."

My point being that the dealerships are interested in getting your money. It's up to you to make sure you're getting what you paid for.

AGC wrote:
How important is a pre-purchase inspection. We're looking to buy our first MH and wanted to know how important it is to do a pre-purchase inspection.

What do they checkout

I assume you mean a pre-delivery inspection...a walk-thru before you take delivery of a purchased MH.

for us this is a 2-step process. first, the delivering dealer should walk you thru the entire MH, interior and exterior, especially since you are a newbee. some dealers charge for this service...hopefully yours won't. all of the principal owners should go through the PDI...you, your spouse, etc. take notes...take lots of notes. better yet, film it. you want to see how everything works..all the knobs, switches, valves and so forth. inside and out.

part 2 is a short shake-down cruise of at least one overnight. this could be in your driveway or a nearby campground. during this trip use everything and I mean that literally. make a list of things that don't work or which you don't understand how to use. that list will become the basis for your first warranty visit to the dealer. hopefully that list is short.

if you truly mean a pre-purchase inspection that is crucial if you are buying a used MH. you should hire a qualified MH technician to do a thorough inspection and a qualified automotive technician to check out the engine, tranny, tires, etc. this will cost you some bucks but it is well worth it.

good luck to you.

I'm buying a used unit from a private seller.

We're going to get it inspected by an RV dealer but was wondering what they do during the inspections. I've bought tons of used cars in the past and did a PPI most of the time they come back with something minor.

To find out one car I bought had body work in multiple places.