Checking out used rig

I checked the motorhome out today the Ad with pictures that looked pretty good said 1999 32 foot with slide out good tires needs some interior work. I think the rig must of been in a flood the floor had weak spots. the inside needs to be gutted out and start all over. the rear tires were shot and it smells inside so I said I will pass on this one.

I assume you are a "car guy" and plan to do all your own work and rebuild or refurbish the rig. My neighbor, years ago, purchased a rusty wrecked Bentley, totally refurbished it, made it sparkle with original or machined parts, and eventually sold it for a bundle. Then he and his wife went to England with the profits and purchased another Bentley in even worse shape.
For personal use or for resale as a "classic" vehicle salvage title probably doesn't matter. If you think you may want to resell it as a used vehicle, or if you cannot do the work yourself, you may be digging a very deep hole.
Best to you and yours.
Happy Trails.

Don't just check the tires for wear. Look for the DOT date on the tires. RV tires rot out faster than they wear out. 7 years is about the maximum life.

Sight down the sides looking for bulges, this could be a sign of delamination.

I "googled" Salvage Title in California and this is what I found!

SALVAGE VEHICLE

When you dismantle, destroy or change the character of your car so that it no longer is a complete car, you must surrender your Certificate of Title to the Clerk of Courts for cancellation.

When you sell your car to a salvage dealer, you must surrender your Certificate of Title to that dealer with the assignment completely executed.

To convert a Salvage Title to a Regular Title, a HP 106 inspection must be made by the State Highway Patrol. A fee of $50.00 is charged. The HP-105 application for the inspection may be obtained at the State Highway Patrol.

In the State of California a Salvage Title is just that, it exists for a specific reason. A vehicle is assigned a Salvage Title because the car was written off as a loss by the insurance company. There are various reasons which would cause this to happen. A Salvage Title does not always mean that the car was involved in an accident. It may have been a theft recovered vehicle, it may have water damage, it may have been in a fire, these are just some examples of why a vehicle may receive a salvage title. The State of California does not distinguish between different salvage types as some states do. Once the car receives a "branded" title there is no legal way to wash the title in the State of California. The reason for this is to protect the consumer. If there were a way to remove the salvage designation from a vehicle then the purpose of issuing that title in the first place would have been defeated


Hope this also helps!

Can you title a salvage unit? I don't believe you can in New York (where we live)! Just asking!

There are many files that tell you how to do a PDI inspection - I'd follow those same steps. Here is a start!

INSPECT EVERYTHING; all appliances to make sure they are in working order, check for any leaks near the HW heater,check floors, walls, ceiling for any signs of water damage. Fill the fresh and black water tanks and check for leaks. Check tires to see how old/worn they are. Run the slide in/out a few times.

But most of all check to see if you can title/use a salvage unit on the road.!