I would add, in addition to the comments made by others, to look very critically at any RV with low miles. It is an indication that the RV has spent a lot of time sitting rather than being used, which is never good.
Good suggestion Robert. That's when getting a fluid analysis on all of the engine, drivetrain and generator fluids can be especially helpful to find out what is going on in those mechanical parts.
If you're in love with an older RV & all it needs is its tires changed, you could subtract the price of getting them replaced from the seller's asking price. Of course this depends on how desperate the seller is to unload the RV.
That's a good point Celeste. Many RV owners aren't paying much attention to the age of their tires. So when you point out that you will need to replace them soon, that is often a good bargaining chip. Thanks for the sharing that tip with us!
Duane I believe that every individual needs to check out all that they can safely check. Then call you know who. Inspector! Get the professional! SAFE TRAVELS!!
Heading to the comment below a diesel pusher let’s just say 10 years old only has 20,000 miles that’s not even started to the break-in. Nor the major service.points. My experience is that a well running diesel machine doesn’t even start its ultimate performance. Until 30,000 miles so 50 or 60 is really nothing. Thomyt
Good idea Carmen. RV inspectors make a visual inspection of the chassis. But we are not mechanics and therefore it would be good to have someone with more advanced mechanical knowledge look it over too. Thanks for that suggestion!
@@RVInspectionAndCare You or someone @NRVIA perhaps thought of this before...is there any particular alliance NRVIA has with - or at least has a list of - reputable RV mechanics/garages, etc? That would be a good way for NRVIA to make some $$$ - have mechanics/garages jump thru some hoops to be part of a sought-after NRVIA Gold Standard Recommended RV Mechanics List they share with customers.
@@celestepalm6949 That's an interesting idea Celeste. So far the NRVIA hasn't gone that route. But you never know what the future may bring. Thanks for the suggestion!
Every time I told a dealer I would like to hire a National Inspector, the dealership stopped communicating with me. When I spoke to an Inspector, he told me he only inspects RVs in the $100K-$200K range and I should hire an RV repairman to do the inspection, because then I would have someone who could also give me a repair estimate and I would have someone who could fix anything that needs repair. The national inspector didn't want to inspect a used RV, only new ones.
Well, if a dealership denies a third party RV inspection, that is most likely a dealership you wouldn't want to do business with anyway. Clearly they aren't demonstrating concern for the welfare of their customers as it doesn't cost them anything for the inspection. You didn't say if the inspector you spoke to was NRVIA certified or not. But I have a hard time believing that a certified inspector would suggest that you use an RV repair tech so they could repair the problems they find. The NRVIA considers that kind of thing a conflict of interest and we are not allowed to do that and we shouldn't recommend it to others. To find a certified RV inspector in your area visit nrvia.org and click on the link for "Find An Inspector".
@@RVInspectionAndCare I shopped for an RV for five months before I finally bought one. I considered both new and used ones. I went to dozens of dealers, both new and used, big and small. ALL of them discouraged me from getting my own inspection. When I insisted they all ghosted me. ALL OF THEM. I ended up buying a used one from an individual. And then the National Inspector I tried to hire told me he only inspects RVs that cost over $100K and advised me to find a repairman to do the inspection. He said that way I would have someone who could give me an estimate on what it would cost to fix any issues, and they could work on it for me. He said he doesn't give repair estimates, nor fix them, and that would be more valuable to me. So that is what I did.
Love your insight Duane. We are RV noobs and are getting our Elli (2008 Itasca Ellipse) inspected tomorrow. We are located in California and the Coach is located in Florida. We are having an inspection done by a NRVIA certified inspector, so unfortunately we can't be there. My only issue is obtaining service records as the broker doesn't have access to any. Would it be beneficial to contact the dealer that this Broker got the Coach from and see if they can find any service records? I have the VIN, so maybe they can look it up that way, if they serviced it while it was in their possession. We're really excited to pick it up, we're just praying the inspection comes out good and there won't be many repairs needed. The Broker did just put 6 new tires on as they 2018's. Thanks again for your videos, we've learned a lot.
Hi Curt. I don't see why you couldn't try to locate any service records that you can for this RV. Hopefully the dealer will be helpful on that score. But even if you don't get the service records, you are doing the right thing to get the NRVIA inspection. That will give you the best overall snapshot of the true condition of the RV that you can get. I hope everything turns out well for you on this inspection, but keep in mind that even if it doesn't, the inspection will have saved you lots of frustration and money if the RV is a repair money pit.
Ok, this is a small world, but I’m going to be contacting you to do an RV inspection for us in Mesa. We’ve found a Tiffin that is right up our alley. I’m in the process of contacting the owner to get some more details and fly down to take a look at it.
How about that? If I am unable to handle the inspection myself, there are plenty of other NRVIA inspectors in the area that will do a great job for you too. So you're covered no matter what! I hope you find the RV you need soon Curt!
Thank you for sharing your video. Sir. What you recommend about the tires on the class A motor home low mileage ( make 2015, bought 2016 and just over 25 thousand miles) !
I always recommend that RV tires older than 6 years need to be replaced as they usually age out before they wear out. And that agrees with the recommendations from several RV tire manufacturers. Thanks for watching!
Oh sir, you have absolutely know idea how great a Jayco Rv is ! We bought 2019 Jayco Pinnacle. It’s incredible. Never have a problem with it. And we we’d take it over a Beacon any day and a Riverstone!! Just watched a review of a Vanleiah Beacon42RBD and it was so ugly in the interior compared to ours! And the layout! They do have great storage but the inside is ugly compared to ours and I am a finish carpenter of 45 years!
Actually I think I do have an idea how great Jayco RVs are Jim. They are one of my favorite RV manufacturers who build RVs that are affordable by most people. In fact, I often get negative comments from those who don't feel that Jayco deserves to be in a list of the best quality RV manufacturers. But I feel that they have learned how to strike the balance between high production and quality building methods very well. I'm glad that you are happy with your purchase and hope it serves you well for many years to come!
Nope, didn't do any of those 'tips'. We bought a 2012 in 2020 Class C and are very happy with it. No leaks, everything works. We did put new tires on before our 4000 mile round trip to Texas and back. We've put about 20,000 miles on it in 3 years.
You got away pretty good this time. But I wouldn't advise buying an RV like that again. If you don't do your homework before buying an RV these days you will regret it sooner or later.
Duane would you consider it a " red flag" if the current seller (dealer) does not have the historical service records or states that they have performed the servicing on their own?
Well, unfortunately many RV owners don't keep the kind of maintenance and repair records that they should over the years. If they have nothing to give you, I wouldn't rule the RV out altogether. But I would be very careful and very thorough in checking it out as best you can. And I would never buy a used RV of any kind without an RV inspection by a certified NRVIA inspector. That will tell you for sure the current condition of the RV. As a final suggestion, I would take everything that an RV dealer tells me about their RV with a grain of salt. There are lots of RV buyers who put too much trust in what they were told by the dealer and regretted it after the sale.
This video isn't really about the top brands. It's about the top 5 things to look for when buying a used RV. There are plenty of other videos I have made about the better brands to buy.
I would add, in addition to the comments made by others, to look very critically at any RV with low miles. It is an indication that the RV has spent a lot of time sitting rather than being used, which is never good.
Good suggestion Robert. That's when getting a fluid analysis on all of the engine, drivetrain and generator fluids can be especially helpful to find out what is going on in those mechanical parts.
If you're in love with an older RV & all it needs is its tires changed, you could subtract the price of getting them replaced from the seller's asking price. Of course this depends on how desperate the seller is to unload the RV.
That's a good point Celeste. Many RV owners aren't paying much attention to the age of their tires. So when you point out that you will need to replace them soon, that is often a good bargaining chip. Thanks for the sharing that tip with us!
Really great content. I'm binge watching your channel as my pursuit of an RV begins
Awesome! I'm glad that my videos are helpful for you. If you have any questions as you watch feel free to ask. :-)
Check out the ladder, if it has one to see if it's fully secure. Then really look at the front and rear caps, that's where water pools at the corners.
Good suggestions. Thanks for sharing those tips!
Duane I believe that every individual needs to check out all that they can safely check. Then call you know who. Inspector! Get the professional!
SAFE TRAVELS!!
You got it right Ron. I couldn't have said it better myself! :-)
IMO, a road test is highly recommended. If a buyer is not familiar with air brakes, it could be a real eye opener! Thanks for the great info.
Totally agree! That's a great point. Thanks for sharing Jim!
Love your videos! Lots of great information!
Glad you like them! And thanks for supporting the channel by watching!
Great information!
You’re such a great explainer of topics and make things very easy to understand! Thanks for what you do!
You are so welcome. I appreciate the positive feedback on my videos. It helps inspire me to make more!
Heading to the comment below a diesel pusher let’s just say 10 years old only has 20,000 miles that’s not even started to the break-in. Nor the major service.points. My experience is that a well running diesel machine doesn’t even start its ultimate performance. Until 30,000 miles so 50 or 60 is really nothing. Thomyt
Good point Thomas. Thanks for sharing that with us!
Crazy good information. I will be watching many, many more videos.
Awesome Gary. Thanks for leaving some positive feedback!
I will suggest to have a mechanic to inspect the chassis since the rv inspector will only do the house.
Good idea Carmen. RV inspectors make a visual inspection of the chassis. But we are not mechanics and therefore it would be good to have someone with more advanced mechanical knowledge look it over too. Thanks for that suggestion!
@@RVInspectionAndCare You or someone @NRVIA perhaps thought of this before...is there any particular alliance NRVIA has with - or at least has a list of - reputable RV mechanics/garages, etc?
That would be a good way for NRVIA to make some $$$ - have mechanics/garages jump thru some hoops to be part of a sought-after NRVIA Gold Standard Recommended RV Mechanics List they share with customers.
@@celestepalm6949 That's an interesting idea Celeste. So far the NRVIA hasn't gone that route. But you never know what the future may bring. Thanks for the suggestion!
As always you provide great information.
So nice of you to say Joe. Thanks for watching and leaving a positive comment!
@@RVInspectionAndCare you are most welcome.
Every time I told a dealer I would like to hire a National Inspector, the dealership stopped communicating with me. When I spoke to an Inspector, he told me he only inspects RVs in the $100K-$200K range and I should hire an RV repairman to do the inspection, because then I would have someone who could also give me a repair estimate and I would have someone who could fix anything that needs repair. The national inspector didn't want to inspect a used RV, only new ones.
Well, if a dealership denies a third party RV inspection, that is most likely a dealership you wouldn't want to do business with anyway. Clearly they aren't demonstrating concern for the welfare of their customers as it doesn't cost them anything for the inspection. You didn't say if the inspector you spoke to was NRVIA certified or not. But I have a hard time believing that a certified inspector would suggest that you use an RV repair tech so they could repair the problems they find. The NRVIA considers that kind of thing a conflict of interest and we are not allowed to do that and we shouldn't recommend it to others. To find a certified RV inspector in your area visit nrvia.org and click on the link for "Find An Inspector".
@@RVInspectionAndCare I shopped for an RV for five months before I finally bought one. I considered both new and used ones. I went to dozens of dealers, both new and used, big and small. ALL of them discouraged me from getting my own inspection. When I insisted they all ghosted me. ALL OF THEM. I ended up buying a used one from an individual. And then the National Inspector I tried to hire told me he only inspects RVs that cost over $100K and advised me to find a repairman to do the inspection. He said that way I would have someone who could give me an estimate on what it would cost to fix any issues, and they could work on it for me. He said he doesn't give repair estimates, nor fix them, and that would be more valuable to me. So that is what I did.
Love your insight Duane. We are RV noobs and are getting our Elli (2008 Itasca Ellipse) inspected tomorrow. We are located in California and the Coach is located in Florida. We are having an inspection done by a NRVIA certified inspector, so unfortunately we can't be there. My only issue is obtaining service records as the broker doesn't have access to any. Would it be beneficial to contact the dealer that this Broker got the Coach from and see if they can find any service records? I have the VIN, so maybe they can look it up that way, if they serviced it while it was in their possession. We're really excited to pick it up, we're just praying the inspection comes out good and there won't be many repairs needed. The Broker did just put 6 new tires on as they 2018's. Thanks again for your videos, we've learned a lot.
Hi Curt. I don't see why you couldn't try to locate any service records that you can for this RV. Hopefully the dealer will be helpful on that score. But even if you don't get the service records, you are doing the right thing to get the NRVIA inspection. That will give you the best overall snapshot of the true condition of the RV that you can get. I hope everything turns out well for you on this inspection, but keep in mind that even if it doesn't, the inspection will have saved you lots of frustration and money if the RV is a repair money pit.
Ok, this is a small world, but I’m going to be contacting you to do an RV inspection for us in Mesa. We’ve found a Tiffin that is right up our alley. I’m in the process of contacting the owner to get some more details and fly down to take a look at it.
How about that? If I am unable to handle the inspection myself, there are plenty of other NRVIA inspectors in the area that will do a great job for you too. So you're covered no matter what! I hope you find the RV you need soon Curt!
Thank you for sharing your video. Sir. What you recommend about the tires on the class A motor home low mileage ( make 2015, bought 2016 and just over 25 thousand miles) !
I always recommend that RV tires older than 6 years need to be replaced as they usually age out before they wear out. And that agrees with the recommendations from several RV tire manufacturers. Thanks for watching!
Is it better to buy new? I am looking at travel trailers and fifth wheels in the $50k range
I made a video about whether to buy a new or used RV and you can view it here Steve - ua-cam.com/video/RMEmZG7bRGE/v-deo.html I hope it helps.
Oh sir, you have absolutely know idea how great a Jayco Rv is ! We bought 2019 Jayco Pinnacle. It’s incredible. Never have a problem with it. And we we’d take it over a Beacon any day and a
Riverstone!! Just watched a review of a Vanleiah Beacon42RBD and it was so ugly in the interior compared to ours! And the layout! They do have great storage but the inside is ugly compared to ours and I am a finish carpenter of 45 years!
Actually I think I do have an idea how great Jayco RVs are Jim. They are one of my favorite RV manufacturers who build RVs that are affordable by most people. In fact, I often get negative comments from those who don't feel that Jayco deserves to be in a list of the best quality RV manufacturers. But I feel that they have learned how to strike the balance between high production and quality building methods very well. I'm glad that you are happy with your purchase and hope it serves you well for many years to come!
Jayco is now under the Thor umbrella, so I'm not sure the quality will be as good.
thanks I'm sold on your channel
That's awesome Lawrence! Thanks for the positive feedback.
Nope, didn't do any of those 'tips'. We bought a 2012 in 2020 Class C and are very happy with it. No leaks, everything works. We did put new tires on before our 4000 mile round trip to Texas and back. We've put about 20,000 miles on it in 3 years.
You got away pretty good this time. But I wouldn't advise buying an RV like that again. If you don't do your homework before buying an RV these days you will regret it sooner or later.
Thank you Sir. Awesome information
So nice of you to say. Thanks for watching and for the encouraging words!
Liked!
Subscribed!!
All!!!
😊
Awesome. Thanks for the sub and the positive feedback!
I admire you
Hi Judith. Thanks for the vote of confidence. It's much appreciated!
Duane would you consider it a " red flag" if the current seller (dealer) does not have the historical service records or states that they have performed the servicing on their own?
Well, unfortunately many RV owners don't keep the kind of maintenance and repair records that they should over the years. If they have nothing to give you, I wouldn't rule the RV out altogether. But I would be very careful and very thorough in checking it out as best you can. And I would never buy a used RV of any kind without an RV inspection by a certified NRVIA inspector. That will tell you for sure the current condition of the RV. As a final suggestion, I would take everything that an RV dealer tells me about their RV with a grain of salt. There are lots of RV buyers who put too much trust in what they were told by the dealer and regretted it after the sale.
The roof!!!!!! The sun destroys them!!
Yes, the RV roof is something you should examine carefully before buying. Thanks for watching!
Very comprehensive for a short video.
Glad it was helpful Gordon. Thanks for watching!
Why didn't he tell us which brands are the best?
This video isn't really about the top brands. It's about the top 5 things to look for when buying a used RV. There are plenty of other videos I have made about the better brands to buy.