Newbie: Best Manufacturers for Used?
We have a 2002 2500HD Silverado. I had been paying attention to towing capacity (9900lb), but only just learned this morning I need to look at payload data, which I will review later. We're only loo...
Forum Discussion
Airstreams are very expensive but do have issues as they do have roof vents and caulked vents etc. I really do not have too much knowledge on them. The things I say here may or may not reflect Airstream. But anything exposed to UV that rolls down the highway at hurricane speeds while twisting and turning can't possibly remain as solid as it was new.
All it takes is a tree branch to poke a hole in caulking and you have a potential leak. Most owners NEVER climb onto roofs as a normal thing after a trip and often, branches scrape our RV's.
As said by many , brands do not matter too much. Its the care that the previous owner took to keep what he/she had in good condition.
I have seen inexpensive RV's last many years with no issues.
Its basically an exterior project and a build project due to the fact that most of the internal appliances are the same throughout this industry.
Learn what to look for during an inspection.
Use a flashlight , look for old water stains on outside walls under cabinets.
use your nose,
bury your head inside cabinets and under beds, do you smell dampness (mold) ? if so make a U-turn and walk.
remember, water seeks a low level area,check those surfaces well .
a wet (soft) floor can mean a leak in the roof or from a clearance light which is very common.
Look for dried cracked seams on caulked lights and caulked seams around baggage doors etc.
Entrance doors, have been a big repair project at rv repair shops.
The glass windows in them tend to leak if not caulked by owners. The doors rot out at the bottom and allow water to penetrate sill plates, then floors. Quite often you will find a soft spot in a floor as you enter an RV .
Look at the quality of the doors, they are all pretty bad. They are aftermarket and normally not made by the RV mfg.
(same with windows)
Check exterior moldings and cappings at seams. Most all are screwed in place. At a low point, remove a screw and see if water pours out. It should be dry . If not, there water in that wall.
Lastly, check the roof. Many people never climb onto a roof . That's where your major holes for vents are unless you buy a unit with a slideout, then you really have a major hole and you may have more issues than you could ever dream of. Lots of people sell due to slide issues.
Do yourself a favor a lift up the carpet under a slideout and check the floor. I have helped take apart slideouts where owners had no idea they had a leak and guess what ....they had a leak. We once extended a slide and fell it onto the ground. That was after the owner said " I have never had any slideout problems".
All it takes is a tree branch to poke a hole in caulking and you have a potential leak. Most owners NEVER climb onto roofs as a normal thing after a trip and often, branches scrape our RV's.
As said by many , brands do not matter too much. Its the care that the previous owner took to keep what he/she had in good condition.
I have seen inexpensive RV's last many years with no issues.
Its basically an exterior project and a build project due to the fact that most of the internal appliances are the same throughout this industry.
Learn what to look for during an inspection.
Use a flashlight , look for old water stains on outside walls under cabinets.
use your nose,
bury your head inside cabinets and under beds, do you smell dampness (mold) ? if so make a U-turn and walk.
remember, water seeks a low level area,check those surfaces well .
a wet (soft) floor can mean a leak in the roof or from a clearance light which is very common.
Look for dried cracked seams on caulked lights and caulked seams around baggage doors etc.
Entrance doors, have been a big repair project at rv repair shops.
The glass windows in them tend to leak if not caulked by owners. The doors rot out at the bottom and allow water to penetrate sill plates, then floors. Quite often you will find a soft spot in a floor as you enter an RV .
Look at the quality of the doors, they are all pretty bad. They are aftermarket and normally not made by the RV mfg.
(same with windows)
Check exterior moldings and cappings at seams. Most all are screwed in place. At a low point, remove a screw and see if water pours out. It should be dry . If not, there water in that wall.
Lastly, check the roof. Many people never climb onto a roof . That's where your major holes for vents are unless you buy a unit with a slideout, then you really have a major hole and you may have more issues than you could ever dream of. Lots of people sell due to slide issues.
Do yourself a favor a lift up the carpet under a slideout and check the floor. I have helped take apart slideouts where owners had no idea they had a leak and guess what ....they had a leak. We once extended a slide and fell it onto the ground. That was after the owner said " I have never had any slideout problems".
