Buying used from an owner, what do we look for?!?!?

[05Biasca06]

Just looked at a 2011 Keystone Sprinter Copper Canyon 324FWBHS for sale by owner at campground where it's been sitting for just over a year.

Or so we've been told.


My question.

Should we trust the tires on this 5er?!?

The tires are Power King TowMaxx ST235/80R60

They informed us that they bought the 5er at a dealership used and that new tires and wheels were put on before for they had it delivered to their campground site and it has been sitting on jacks since then.

We've looked the unit over pretty good inside and out and it looks very well kept!

Is there anything in particular that we should be looking for in general wear and tear?!?

They said they were the second owners and the history they were given about from the first owner is that they only took it out a handful of times before selling/trading it off.

Thank you for any all advice & tips on this matter!!!

Blessed Be 🙂

[gjwarneke]

WTG )05Biasca06 all great questions. Good Luck !! Wish we were there to help you more. Everyone on this sight has great info. We've given you some but am very happy you are asking important questions here too.
Always pays to get other opinions also.
Love you guys,
Mom

[05Biasca06]

Thank you everyone for the tips and advice!!! Will be investigating further, prior to making a decision!

[hanzfranz60]

All good comments! For real peace of mind, get it inspected by an NRVIA certified RV inspector!

[tenbear]

Check the DOT date on the tires. The last 4 digits following the "DOT" contain the week and year (WWYY). 7 years old would be the absolute max provided the tires look good otherwise. I don't think I would trust someone else's tires over 5 years old.

Sight down the sides looking for any bulges. Bulges would indicate that water has leaked into the side. Look very carefully for any signs of leakage. A small leak can cause a lot of damage.

Make sure everything works.

[Grumpy374]

I guess we were lucky when we bought our Lexington motor home. Drove 300 miles to owners home. He had the rig all set up with ac on, water heater going, fridge operating, everything plugged in to his 30 amp outlet. Had ladder available for roof check. Cut power and started genny. Water attached with pressure. Insisted I test drive it. Better half went over interior. Basically found nothing except a few minor issues which I knew I could repair. Bought it than n there.
Suggest you have owner start and operate all the systems, slides, appliances with you observing so you know what works and what dosen't. Obviously there won't be a warranty, so if you miss something it your bad.
Grumpy

[RKW]

If your circumstances allow, contract an hour of time from an experienced RV mechanic to help you survey the RV. Whatever he charges (within reason) is money well spent. Look high and low for signs that water has intruded. If you find it, walk away.

[Nutinelse2do]

Check the hangers to make sure they are not bent. Check underneath for any cracks in the frame.
Look for buckling and fiberglass separation. Run your hand along the whole outside. Open every cabinet and check the ceiling for water marks- signs of past leaks.
Double check all the appliances and air conditioner.
Walk on every spec of floor to make sure it does not " give " anywhere.
Did they have animals? Have your wife get down and smell the carpet in a couple areas.
Verify pin height compared to your tow vehicle.
Other than the other obvious things, like the tires ( that you should replace ), plan on repacking wheel bearings, and checking the roof very well, that's about all the extras I can think of.
Good luck!

[old_guy]

I bought a used keystone much like yours. I looked it over darn good before I bought it. theyonly had it out six times and relatives stayin it at home by the house. the price was right so I bought it and the first thing I did was buy new tires and had them put on larger tires than what was on it. plus I had the bearings greased and new seals put in. reason I went to larger tires is the OEM sized tires in my mind are rated at the margin of blowing out or being over loaded when you get all the traveling weight in the TT. I have had too many blow outs with OEM tires to trust them any more. TT manufactures put on the cheapest tire that they can get and I have a belly full of them.

[therink]

The first thing I would look at is the roof. Many rvs that stay in campgrounds for extended periods do not get the best of care (especially roofs). Was it parked under trees? Did the owner take good care of roof, and slide roofs. Check every inch of caulk. If caulk is cracked or weathered, I would walk. That is a good indication of how it was cared for.
If you don't have experience looking at these things, bring someone who does . You are buying it as is, no warranty.
If you plan on Towing a lot, I would forget about the Towmax. I never trust Chinese ST tires under my investment. By the way, the manufacture date will be stamped on the tires.
Plan on at least replacing the tires, removing and hand packing the wheel bearings and inspect/adjust the brakes.