Buying a used TT already winterized

[mirandamae]

This is our first camper and we are looking at a used 2011 Cherokee Gray Wolf BHKS. I have researched everything and found several checklists for when we look at it to go over. Problem is being winterized already how do we check certain items such as water pump, tanks etc? I admit to being clueless as its our first camper. I am trying to find a dealer willing to inspect it for us but that is turing out to be harder than I thought! They all want to sell me one of theirs. Anyone have any suggestions or tips.

[jspence1]

I bought mine a few weeks ago winterized. I took 4 gallons of RV antifreeze with me when I looked at it. I wasn't able to check the water heater but I was willing to gamble on that for the price I paid.

[bfast54]

If it is winterized.....check plumbing,per last post....unless you get it dirt cheap,and willing to chance it......lots other rigs out there.

[weathershak]

I have purchased all of my RV,s during cold weather and all were winterized. They were all at a dealer though and 3 of the 4 were brand new. This is what I requested for my PDI.

Have power hooked up and furnace and fridge running 3 hours before I arrived. When I got there, I could tell if the fridge was starting to cool, would fire up the water heater to make sure it kicked on for 15 seconds or so. turn the fridge on gas to make sure it ignited. Check stove, oven, microwave etc.By then its warm enough inside to run the AC. Then hook a bottle of antifreeze to the pump and turned the pump on.(left WH on bypass and low point drains closed)I was able to check every faucet and shower and would make sure the pump did not cycle resulting in a slow leak.I was also confident that the RV was winterized correctly. Check lights, tv, radio, etc and run the genny if it had one.Also hook up the TV to check lights, brakes etc.

[crickeydog]

mirandamae wrote:
Anyone have any suggestions or tips.

Somewhere close to you there's a reputable RV dealer willing to survey the TT you want to buy. Talk to the service manager and get a RV survey appointment. Service departments aren't interested in selling you a new RV. If you're ready to buy and throw down money, have the seller tow it to your dealer of choice. Expect to pay a ball park amount of $350 (+/- $50) to have the dealer un-winterize it and survey it indoors from roof to tires. Afterwards, meet with the dealer and go over their findings. The dealer will find issues. If the dealer didn't find a deal breaking issue, complete a thorough indoor pre-delivery checklist with the service department (Dealer may charge an additional nominal amount to complete a pre-delivery checklist with you present) while hooked up to water under pressure, full propane tanks, appropriate 30/50 amp power, cable TV, including filling all three holding tanks (fresh, gray, & black) full with fresh water. Ensure the TT has been indoors a minimum of 24 hours with the refrigerator operating prior to completing the pre-delivery checklist. If the TT passes the survey and pre-delivery checklist, buy it. There will almost certainly be issues discovered during the survey & pre-delivery checklist that will need to be corrected prior to purchase. You'll have to work with the seller on what the seller will repair or not repair based on the sale price. Short of this...walk away from it. There will be a few hundred more TT's just like this TT for sale next April. Good luck.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

[NanciL]

I wouldn't touch it without trying everything out.
The owner can re-winterize in a matter of ten minutes.

jack L

[mirandamae]

Oh wow thanks for that video. I'm not impressed. This worries me! I'm not even sure I want to look at this trailer now. If we do look I will make sure he has it all ready for us to check everything. Being on a seasonal site I'm not sure I want to run the risk of leaks when we can check on it after storms immediately etc.

[btcruzer]

Is the seller reluctant to de-winterize the trailer? If so, WHY? RE-winterizing (especially for whoever owns it now ) should not be a big deal. For $15 or $20 worth of the pink stuff, even an idiot should be able to winterize the thing. Heck, if I were selling you the trailer I'd have water in the tank and hot water waiting for you. Then I'd winterize it whether or not you bought. There are other trailers for sale.

[sbowman871]

sbowman871 wrote:
http://youtu.be/yixB3piNtmk
http://youtu.be/5sQjY1ALy4A

Check this out.

[sbowman871]

http://youtu.be/yixB3piNtmk

Check this out.