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RampantRoamer's avatar
Aug 31, 2016

RV Shopping for a beginner - What to look for?

Hello all.
I have been RV shopping for a few months now and have narrowed down my search. still shopping but i'm not totally sure what I should be looking for when it comes to durability and leakage(other than internal stains).

I looked at an RV tonight and it had an unusual amount of dirt built p around some of the exterior seams on the exterior. should this be a concern at all?
here is an example.
http://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2006-Gulf-Stream-B-TOURING-CRUISER-119383387
any thoughts or comments will be appreciated.
thanks all. :)
  • What you see in that picture could just be from accumulated dirt on the roof. Anyone serious about selling would have that cleaned up. I would want to see what condition the roofing material is in, the sealant on the roof seems should have no cracks and the plastic vents on the roof should be flexible and not brittle. Look for ceiling staining, evidence of water in the light fixtures, rust on the upper cabinet metal hardware, peeling or delaminated wall boards.
  • Sometimes RV's sit under trees and the owners get to some place where they can't keep them clean. Drive a hard bargain if it's been sitting for awhile and enjoy a cute rig.

    I realized with mine I needed undercover storage because as I age, it's getting more and more difficult to do a good roof inspection, clean, and renew.

    Now I am prepared to pay for the expense of covered storage, and the rig is deep under a three sided roof so nothing gets onto it. Nice.

    But with yours, it's 11 years old, might never have seen a dry winter. If you can go see it when it's pouring rain outside, I certainly would take that opportunity. Check the walls, if they don't feel dry all around, water is creeping in. Never a good sign, but only you can determine what to do about it.
  • I wouldn't worry about the outside dirt but I'm surprised it was advertised like that Overall, it looks like it was well taken care of. Definitely check the roof and look for any water stains at the ceiling.
  • The outside will wash
    I don't see anything that indicates damage
  • try out the jack knife sofas for sleeping comfort, probably need an air mattress on them.
    bumpy

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