Thanks Andrew! As we said in our video, we aren't supposed to disclose in the report, but you can bet your butt we tell our customers everything we smell and skype to show everything we've found. Its the only way to be...transparent! ;-)
One thing I would add is that air quality tests should be an optional part of the inspection if water leaks are suspected. More importantly if people live full time in the unit. After owning 2 units a 2020 and a 2022 that are just garbage that fall apart and loosing tons of money at resell, I think purchasing new or used without a professional inspection is just too much of a gamble.
Not sure I've ever disagreed with you more. Our rv inspector did a full work up of the engine, found three codes the dash didn't have. Ended up being 3k worth repairs the dealer ended up doing for free. It was expensive, cost 800 and he spent 10 hours inspecting. I was with him, and he showed me points of concern, but not bad areas, gave me tons of tips and tricks as well.
I am an RV Inspector in Central Indiana. If I walk in and smell something nasty, I let my customer know. I do agree there are some inspectors that do more travel trailers and shouldn't be inspecting high end motorhomes. I recently inspected a 2006 Newell P2000i a few weeks ago and had zero issues operating it. Myself as a business owner and inspector want to be known as a motorhome specialist. But at the end of the day unfortunately I do not get enough inspection for only motorhomes. I do travel and I am willing to travel any where to perform inspections. So if anyone is needing an inspection please let me know.
i live in California, if i wanted to buy a class 1 like Newell in Florida could you inspect it there? and if I needed it delivered here to California do you do that?
This dudes a joke. Everything he said is wrong. He’s a dealer and wants to play dealer reindeer games. Inspectors can describe smell if it’s noxious and affects air quality/ability to breathe comfortably. Odor in the fridge is literally within the scope of inspection. For water intrusion, good inspectors have flir cameras to find water damage. An infrared photo of water damage is a lot better than saying “kind of smells in here” Inspectors carry error and omission insurance in the event of a significant miss. Salesmen with no training can sell a prevost and a travel trailer on the same day but an inspector with training can never inspect them? RV inspectors are trained to do both. Get out of here. “There are some good inspectors and some bad ones.” That’s true, just like there are some good salesmen and bad ones and you must be the latter.
Well, i have to call you out on one comment. You mentioned that you kind of have an issue that inspectors are not liable for things they miss. Like you said, these are extremely complex machines, and being mechanical in nature, things can definitely be missed or hard to find. To hold an inspector responsible for that or the repair is unrealistic. You recommend coaches that you showcase on your channel. Should you then be held liable when the coach you recommend has issues?? Just food for thought for you, and to point out a different perspective. I thought your comment was unfair this time.
Just had a used LTV inspected this week and am so glad I did! Found several things that the dealer is going to fix and things missing. Well worth the $$!
Andrew, I’ve been a subscriber since your detailing days with big Tony. Love your videos and information but I have to respectfully disagree with you. I understand the complexities of a very high-end motor coach may be beyond the ability of some inspectors, but the purchaser should make sure interviewing the inspector, and doing homework that they have a qualified inspector.
Blue Ox RV inspectors in the video are AMAZING! They actually use moisture reading tester so even if you can’t smell moisture but something looks fishy, they can tell if there is moisture behind a wall or under a floor. Plus, as RV buyers we don’t always know everything to look for, BUT when you have lived in RV’s and have been trained and have inspected as much as “Blue Ox” has, you are getting great value and expertise! Plus, they have lots of high tech testing equipment that most RV owners don’t. 👍😃
Great idea. We will look over things before we hire an inspector. I am NOT looking for all of the little stuff but if I find enough stuff that makes me and Darci say Hmmmmm, we can back out before hiring an inspector.
Agree that you should do your own inspection if you are well versed in RV systems and chassis but I have seen many buyers that are clueless on what they are buying and many times do not even know how to operate those systems once they drive it off the lot. So in their case they should definitely have a third party inspection.
Yeah, the RV dealerships have sued inspectors over "opinions" like smells. Its not the inspectors fault, it all comes back to the dealerships. As for inspectors, you have to hired certified inspectors, a bit shocked that Andrew didn't mention that. But along with inspectors, you need to have a certified diesel mechanic to inspect the engine and drivetrain. But you need to have a independant inspector, especially with the quality of RV's coming from the manufacturers.
One company told me they won't let there inspectors go on the roof due to liability, well that's #1 problem area on most coaches, would never use that company or anyone else that says that.
Inspectors, of any kind, are there to find material defects. Smells/scents are not evidence for material defects and are subject to an opinion. Some folks are more hypersensitive to odors/scents then others and would call something out while others might not even be able to smell it. And let's not even talk about liability in this sue happy world. I feel this is up to the buyer.
Thank you so much Andrew. I’m not sure how many times I’ve heard that no one has ever smoked in a particular RV. Now I know that it’s just an opinion. I wouldn’t buy any RV without having a full inspection and I’d want to be there if humanly possible. Heck even the dealers have inspections! Sometimes twice as with The MotorCoach Store. New or used I’d definitely have it inspected as there’s increased errors in every aspect of the build.
Andrew I have a question that I hope you can answer .... Do any of the motorhome companies produce coaches that are right hand drive for countries like Australia, New zealand etc???
No opinions will be stated in any report ...but verbal exchanges are going on with customers...come on people 🙄 Andrew never stated not verbally sharing 🤨 Read between the lines...😊
A well-trained and certified inspector adds value to the RV purchase by identifying issues the potential RV owner may not know to look for or recognize are possible problems. A competent inspector will research the vehicle to be inspected in advance of the inspection to be as familiar as possible with the systems onboard and may turn down an inspection they feel is beyond their knowledge. A Prevost may take two full man-days to thoroughly inspect because of system complexity. Any responsible inspector will note everything they see or smell, many wear body cams to document the process and almost all will include hundreds of photos in the report. During an inspection, any concerning items, like noxious odors, mold, stains, sidewall delamination, roof cracks, roof soft spots, etc., may cause a call to the potential buyer to express the inspector's concerns and verify whether the buyer wants the inspection to continue. There are times when the issues discovered cause the inspection to be canceled before completion and the purchase terminated. Relying on dealer PDI to find issues is not sufficient in almost every case.
Why hire an RV Inspector when some manufacturers state “Lifetime Warranty on Sqeaks and Rattles to the original owner” on used rvs definitely hire an rv inspector
Same with house inspectors. They can't indicate abnormal smells, presence of mold, etc. For mold, for instance, they can only indicate a "black discolored area" or similar if they note it at all.
If I was to buy another beater for the river and the lake for an overnight or two fishing trip and maybe a road trip now and then, then all I am really interested in are the mechanical systems. I can repair or replace the fridge, heater, a/c, lights ect. But I dont want to pull another engine and tranny from a motorhome. Especially the newer rv's. Too old for that crap. I dont care much about paint but, is it structurally and mechanically sound? Most rv inspectors I have talked to wont run compression checks, pull an oil sample, or many tests like that. Having said that, if I were buying a used Newell or Liberty or similar then I would demand a qualified person go thru the coach with a fine tooth comb. Its all irrelevant though....unless I win the lottery. If it costs much more than 25 or 30k then I cant afford it. I just missed a nice old diesel pusher a few months back for 19k. No one bought it, the owner decided not to sell. Was winterizing it and putting it in the equipment barn for the winter. Darn! Maybe I can talk him out of it this spring. No inspection needed or wanted. Its 26 years old with faded paint but pretty well maintained but most importantly....used regularly. He bought a bigger, newer coach for his family to travel in. He is in no hurry to sell, obviously but his wife doesnt see the need for two. They just don't understand I guess. Aren't they like Harleys, tools, tv's, and beers in the fridge? You cannot have too many? Mine is the same way. Oh well. Thank you and be safe.
The purchaser should be present during an inspection by a certified inspector. Two sets of eyes. And I cannot imagine actually buying a high end coach without seeing it in person beforehand.
Second that for Gil. He did a fabulous job, and then Kyle fixed things even he missed. Glad there are competent people willing to do that level of investigation.
I believe they should tell you there a smell in your rv or not and older can tell you a lot water leak or the rv was not taken care of or treated bad, so tell me before i spend thousand or million of dollars on and rv. Please let me know that what i am paying you for to look out for interest . For I mad be to excited about buying the rv and over look it.
In home inspecting and appraisals if you become known for being too critical or conservative your career can be short lived. That said, most of the hiring is done through realtors and agencies and the word gets around. I have to wonder if captive RV inspectors suffer from the same pressures.
In order to have work, a lot of them play hand in hand with salespeople and dealership to protect sales. Some call that giving a helping hand 🤔. Shouldn't the inspector work for you ? 😉
@@RVingwithAndrewSteele a little research on your part would reveal your statement to be false. I am sure, as with any industry, there are some inspectors who are "in bed" with the RV dealers as you assert. However, this is a direct violation of the ethics that every certified RV inspector agrees to abide by. The NRVIA Code of Ethics #8 states "RV Inspectors will not accept any type of direct or indirect compensation for recommending service providers, products or other features to parties having an interest in the RV being inspected." That would include any direct or indirect compensation from the RV dealer or seller. I mentioned it before on another one of your videos, but have you ever sat down with a certified RV inspector and had an open and honest conversation with them? As I challenged you before, next time you are visiting your friends at Newell in Miami, Oklahoma, I would be glad to meet and help educate you and your viewers about the services that certified RV inspectors provide and why it is needed in the industry. Posting videos like this one do not tell the full story, but are one sided and misleading.
So how do you inspect the RV? You talked about a RV inspection sheet, is the dealer going to allow you that time to follow the sheet. I can imagine that it is going to take most of a day to go thru it. Now, if you find something wrong what then?
Inspect a used RV, I get it! If we have to hire an inspector for a new RV, you lost me, and most of us. It is pathetic! And anyone who promotes this sort of behavior, is pathetic too I am NOT an inspector, nor did I ever claim to be; but you want people to believe you? Then let the BEST inspectors loose on a Lady! Let us see if 2.9 million is actually worth it! I suspect they are as suspect as every other RV out there. They fail, and if someone coming to your rescue makes people happy, then you gotta remember, that is only for 1, 2 or 3 years. So how about it Andrew, put up one of these 2.9 million ladies for inspection; or even one of those who are recycled. Let me tell YOU--------->their is NO WAY the seller of these new Ladies would ever allow this, and once you realize that, you understand that to inspect any used units, is smoke on the water. lol. I am glad your channel does well. How unfortunate that you mislead people who are spending huge bucks!
Thanks
Andrew! As we said in our video, we aren't supposed to disclose in the report, but you can bet your butt we tell our customers everything we smell and skype to show everything we've found. Its the only way to be...transparent! ;-)
One thing I would add is that air quality tests should be an optional part of the inspection if water leaks are suspected. More importantly if people live full time in the unit. After owning 2 units a 2020 and a 2022 that are just garbage that fall apart and loosing tons of money at resell, I think purchasing new or used without a professional inspection is just too much of a gamble.
Thanks blue ox on the run! I enjoy your channel and hope you pick up a few subscribers and views from the mention!
Not sure I've ever disagreed with you more. Our rv inspector did a full work up of the engine, found three codes the dash didn't have. Ended up being 3k worth repairs the dealer ended up doing for free. It was expensive, cost 800 and he spent 10 hours inspecting. I was with him, and he showed me points of concern, but not bad areas, gave me tons of tips and tricks as well.
I am an RV Inspector in Central Indiana. If I walk in and smell something nasty, I let my customer know.
I do agree there are some inspectors that do more travel trailers and shouldn't be inspecting high end motorhomes. I recently inspected a 2006 Newell P2000i a few weeks ago and had zero issues operating it. Myself as a business owner and inspector want to be known as a motorhome specialist. But at the end of the day unfortunately I do not get enough inspection for only motorhomes. I do travel and I am willing to travel any where to perform inspections. So if anyone is needing an inspection please let me know.
whats your email address
i live in California, if i wanted to buy a class 1 like Newell in Florida could you inspect it there? and if I needed it delivered here to California do you do that?
@user-hz6ei2to6v the majority of my inspections during the winter months are down in Florida. We could discuss transportation.
Justin, we will probably purchase a motorhome in 2025. We live south of Goshen, IN. How can we contact you when we are ready for an inspection?
This dudes a joke. Everything he said is wrong. He’s a dealer and wants to play dealer reindeer games.
Inspectors can describe smell if it’s noxious and affects air quality/ability to breathe comfortably. Odor in the fridge is literally within the scope of inspection. For water intrusion, good inspectors have flir cameras to find water damage. An infrared photo of water damage is a lot better than saying “kind of smells in here”
Inspectors carry error and omission insurance in the event of a significant miss.
Salesmen with no training can sell a prevost and a travel trailer on the same day but an inspector with training can never inspect them? RV inspectors are trained to do both. Get out of here.
“There are some good inspectors and some bad ones.” That’s true, just like there are some good salesmen and bad ones and you must be the latter.
Well, i have to call you out on one comment. You mentioned that you kind of have an issue that inspectors are not liable for things they miss. Like you said, these are extremely complex machines, and being mechanical in nature, things can definitely be missed or hard to find. To hold an inspector responsible for that or the repair is unrealistic. You recommend coaches that you showcase on your channel. Should you then be held liable when the coach you recommend has issues?? Just food for thought for you, and to point out a different perspective. I thought your comment was unfair this time.
Right on...I couldn't get myself to say it 😉
Just had a used LTV inspected this week and am so glad I did! Found several things that the dealer is going to fix and things missing. Well worth the $$!
Andrew, I’ve been a subscriber since your detailing days with big Tony. Love your videos and information but I have to respectfully disagree with you. I understand the complexities of a very high-end motor coach may be beyond the ability of some inspectors, but the purchaser should make sure interviewing the inspector, and doing homework that they have a qualified inspector.
Blue Ox RV inspectors in the video are AMAZING! They actually use moisture reading tester so even if you can’t smell moisture but something looks fishy, they can tell if there is moisture behind a wall or under a floor. Plus, as RV buyers we don’t always know everything to look for, BUT when you have lived in RV’s and have been trained and have inspected as much as “Blue Ox” has, you are getting great value and expertise! Plus, they have lots of high tech testing equipment that most RV owners don’t. 👍😃
Great idea. We will look over things before we hire an inspector. I am NOT looking for all of the little stuff but if I find enough stuff that makes me and Darci say Hmmmmm, we can back out before hiring an inspector.
I can't imagine buying any RV without going through it and driving it myself, but a good RV inspector would be a good investment
Agree that you should do your own inspection if you are well versed in RV systems and chassis but I have seen many buyers that are clueless on what they are buying and many times do not even know how to operate those systems once they drive it off the lot. So in their case they should definitely have a third party inspection.
It’s stupid to think that ANY RV inspection is going to be 100%.
Yeah, the RV dealerships have sued inspectors over "opinions" like smells. Its not the inspectors fault, it all comes back to the dealerships. As for inspectors, you have to hired certified inspectors, a bit shocked that Andrew didn't mention that. But along with inspectors, you need to have a certified diesel mechanic to inspect the engine and drivetrain. But you need to have a independant inspector, especially with the quality of RV's coming from the manufacturers.
You'll never have disclosed, more than likely, that someone has passed away in a used RV that is for sale. Home sales are alike as well.
You’re dissing an industry? Great. Thanks Andrew! Thanks. Like you are the go to guy. You’re nothing more than a salesman.
One company told me they won't let there inspectors go on the roof due to liability, well that's #1 problem area on most coaches, would never use that company or anyone else that says that.
I would walk away if the dealer or seller wouldn't let me on the roof, that's the number one problem with most RVs
Inspectors, of any kind, are there to find material defects. Smells/scents are not evidence for material defects and are subject to an opinion. Some folks are more hypersensitive to odors/scents then others and would call something out while others might not even be able to smell it. And let's not even talk about liability in this sue happy world. I feel this is up to the buyer.
WOW you are sooooooo wrong,,,,When is it ever a bad idea to have a 2nd set of eyes looking at a RV that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars .
Regarding this video’s title: No apostrophe is needed in the word inspectors. An apostrophe is needed in the word won’t.
WOW😲 Then YOU'RE right YOU should inspect the RV🚍 personally by yourself 🆗💯. 🆒 information RVing with Andrew Steele 👦🏻
Thank you so much Andrew. I’m not sure how many times I’ve heard that no one has ever smoked in a particular RV. Now I know that it’s just an opinion. I wouldn’t buy any RV without having a full inspection and I’d want to be there if humanly possible. Heck even the dealers have inspections! Sometimes twice as with The MotorCoach Store.
New or used I’d definitely have it inspected as there’s increased errors in every aspect of the build.
Everything an rv salesman would say
who wrote that rule? why pay an inspector for misinformation
A smell is not reported...an opinion is verbally shared.
Lighten up 😊
Andrew I have a question that I hope you can answer .... Do any of the motorhome companies produce coaches that are right hand drive for countries like Australia, New zealand etc???
I haven't seen one here in the states but I believe there some builders out there that do.
Thank you Andrew @@RVingwithAndrewSteele
Thanks for sharing this information
What is the point of paying a inspector to not tell you what they find is wrong with the coach. That's like paying someone to lie to you.
The dealership will sue an inspector if they report, "opinions" like smells if it costs them a sale.
No opinions will be stated in any report ...but verbal exchanges are going on with customers...come on people 🙄
Andrew never stated not verbally sharing 🤨
Read between the lines...😊
Motorhomes a al barsha south tour drive
Tk u so much. ❤
A well-trained and certified inspector adds value to the RV purchase by identifying issues the potential RV owner may not know to look for or recognize are possible problems. A competent inspector will research the vehicle to be inspected in advance of the inspection to be as familiar as possible with the systems onboard and may turn down an inspection they feel is beyond their knowledge. A Prevost may take two full man-days to thoroughly inspect because of system complexity. Any responsible inspector will note everything they see or smell, many wear body cams to document the process and almost all will include hundreds of photos in the report. During an inspection, any concerning items, like noxious odors, mold, stains, sidewall delamination, roof cracks, roof soft spots, etc., may cause a call to the potential buyer to express the inspector's concerns and verify whether the buyer wants the inspection to continue. There are times when the issues discovered cause the inspection to be canceled before completion and the purchase terminated. Relying on dealer PDI to find issues is not sufficient in almost every case.
Why hire an RV Inspector when some manufacturers state “Lifetime Warranty on Sqeaks and Rattles to the original owner” on used rvs definitely hire an rv inspector
Same with house inspectors. They can't indicate abnormal smells, presence of mold, etc. For mold, for instance, they can only indicate a "black discolored area" or similar if they note it at all.
👍
If I was to buy another beater for the river and the lake for an overnight or two fishing trip and maybe a road trip now and then, then all I am really interested in are the mechanical systems. I can repair or replace the fridge, heater, a/c, lights ect. But I dont want to pull another engine and tranny from a motorhome. Especially the newer rv's. Too old for that crap. I dont care much about paint but, is it structurally and mechanically sound? Most rv inspectors I have talked to wont run compression checks, pull an oil sample, or many tests like that. Having said that, if I were buying a used Newell or Liberty or similar then I would demand a qualified person go thru the coach with a fine tooth comb. Its all irrelevant though....unless I win the lottery. If it costs much more than 25 or 30k then I cant afford it. I just missed a nice old diesel pusher a few months back for 19k. No one bought it, the owner decided not to sell. Was winterizing it and putting it in the equipment barn for the winter. Darn! Maybe I can talk him out of it this spring. No inspection needed or wanted. Its 26 years old with faded paint but pretty well maintained but most importantly....used regularly. He bought a bigger, newer coach for his family to travel in. He is in no hurry to sell, obviously but his wife doesnt see the need for two. They just don't understand I guess. Aren't they like Harleys, tools, tv's, and beers in the fridge? You cannot have too many? Mine is the same way. Oh well. Thank you and be safe.
OUTSTANDING Presentation & Explanation ; o ...... Thank U : ) ......
The purchaser should be present during an inspection by a certified inspector. Two sets of eyes. And I cannot imagine actually buying a high end coach without seeing it in person beforehand.
Yes!!! -- Thank you for letting us know that should make sure we get a "real inspection" and be ready to walk away from the deal.....
Second that for Gil. He did a fabulous job, and then Kyle fixed things even he missed. Glad there are competent people willing to do that level of investigation.
I believe they should tell you there a smell in your rv or not and older can tell you a lot water leak or the rv was not taken care of or treated bad, so tell me before i spend thousand or million of dollars on and rv. Please let me know that what i am paying you for to look out for interest . For I mad be to excited about buying the rv and over look it.
That's strange. For this specific example, in the inspection template, there's a line item asking if odors are present in the fridge and freezer
Andrew, do you know any inspectors in the Dallas Fort Worth area?
Thanks
Love love love your content this is how it's done and not to mention how others will back you. Thank you all
Thank you so much Andrew for this video. I appreciate it.
Great video Andrew. Thanks for the information. ✌👍
In home inspecting and appraisals if you become known for being too critical or conservative your career can be short lived. That said, most of the hiring is done through realtors and agencies and the word gets around. I have to wonder if captive RV inspectors suffer from the same pressures.
Exactly!! A lot of RV inspectors are in bed with the RV dealers.
In order to have work, a lot of them play hand in hand with salespeople and dealership to protect sales. Some call that giving a helping hand 🤔.
Shouldn't the inspector work for you ? 😉
@@RVingwithAndrewSteele a little research on your part would reveal your statement to be false. I am sure, as with any industry, there are some inspectors who are "in bed" with the RV dealers as you assert. However, this is a direct violation of the ethics that every certified RV inspector agrees to abide by. The NRVIA Code of Ethics #8 states "RV Inspectors will not accept any type of direct or indirect compensation for recommending service providers, products or other features to parties having an interest in the RV being inspected." That would include any direct or indirect compensation from the RV dealer or seller. I mentioned it before on another one of your videos, but have you ever sat down with a certified RV inspector and had an open and honest conversation with them? As I challenged you before, next time you are visiting your friends at Newell in Miami, Oklahoma, I would be glad to meet and help educate you and your viewers about the services that certified RV inspectors provide and why it is needed in the industry. Posting videos like this one do not tell the full story, but are one sided and misleading.
That's a lot of food for thought, Andrew. Thank you.
Thanks Andrew! You're a good man.
That's good information to know thanks
Great info
So, I’m guessing that the Motorcoach Store would not allow inspectors on the Motorcoach that they sell.
I’m waiting on this answer.
Correct, you will find that this is the policy with the majority of large RV dealerships.
So how do you inspect the RV? You talked about a RV inspection sheet, is the dealer going to allow you that time to follow the sheet. I can imagine that it is going to take most of a day to go thru it. Now, if you find something wrong what then?
👍🇺🇲
THANKS
Inspect a used RV, I get it! If we have to hire an inspector for a new RV, you lost me, and most of us. It is pathetic! And anyone who promotes this sort of behavior, is pathetic too
I am NOT an inspector, nor did I ever claim to be; but you want people to believe you? Then let the BEST inspectors loose on a Lady! Let us see if 2.9 million is actually worth it! I suspect they are as suspect as every other RV out there. They fail, and if someone coming to your rescue makes people happy, then you gotta remember, that is only for 1, 2 or 3 years.
So how about it Andrew, put up one of these 2.9 million ladies for inspection; or even one of those who are recycled.
Let me tell YOU--------->their is NO WAY the seller of these new Ladies would ever allow this, and once you realize that, you understand that to inspect any used units, is smoke on the water. lol.
I am glad your channel does well. How unfortunate that you mislead people who are spending huge bucks!
I think your comment is most unfair and disrespectful to Andrew. He’s giving you his opinion and I completely agree with him.
One of the best things to do is run a Car Fax useing the VIN number. Its like a EKG of your Heart.