I didn’t check everything! My DVD/Radio player wasn’t working. Also my sink is collapsing because it wasn’t installed properly. I know better now as I continue to fix little things that I didn’t check! Thank you!
I start my new job as an RV technician on Monday. These videos are helping me. There is nothing anal about "check everything". Spending that kind of money, I wouldn't want to be stranded because of overlooks and half assed inspections. Good videos and keep them coming.
Having gone through 3 brand new travel trailers in two years, we finally just gave up on the conventional travel trailer industry, as we were unable to keep up with and deal with all the issues created simply by an uncaring workforce (factories & dealers) and the use of "the cheapest" materials you can find. You are absolutely correct in everything you say .... 100% For the record, just because you have hot water, it doesn't mean that both the 110V electric & the propane systems are working (found that out the hard way) :-)
We just bought a new trailer and as part of every trailer this particular dealership sells ,they offer (and strongly encouraged us) 2 complimentary nights in the RV park located onsite to familiarize ourselves and work out any bugs in the coach. We could have gotten the same trailer at the same price elsewhere but chose this dealer specifically for the fact that they seem to care about our satisfaction. I’m not naive and understand there will most likely be problems but, to me, it’s how the dealership deals with the problems that will ultimately determine how satisfied or not I am with my purchase
Very good advice. I've been trying to get my 2018 Jayco Eagle repaired under warranty for the past 11 months has been a nightmare. They turn down everything. and if you don't like it. Try to sue them LOL They have lots more attorneys than you can afford. Tell the salesman that you want to be left alone in the rv for a couple of hours. Then give him the list of what you found wrong, and tell him you'll take delivery AFTER EVERYTHING IS FIXED. He won't like it. But i guaranty that he wasn't going to add you to his Christmas card mailing list anyway.....
Actually one of the better videos I've seen on this subject. Just one comment is find a checklist or two on the Internet and use them. I have found several and combined them for my use.
We are going to be picking up our trailer as soon as it comes off the line and delivered to the dealer ship. You can be sure I will be going over it with a fine tooth comb. Thank you for this video. This will be our third travel trailer purchase. First one we bought, we loved it and had no problems. We traded up for a larger one, didn't know about a roof leak. Fortunately we were able to get it fixed just prior to warranty running out. Whew. Plus we were able to get it done over the winter and didn't lose any camping time. We then lost that trailer to a tornado last summer. Now we are waiting on our third to be built. It's taken one month longer than expected and that's because the company is swamped with orders. (So they say) Anyway, we will be really checking this one out for any defects. You can be sure of that. Thanks again for this. Happy Camping!
Great comments and suggestions. On my fifth rv and [knock on wood] have yet to get a lemon. Have a check list of all the items to test, inspect, etc. And take your time, and make sure if repairs are needed have them done before possession and exchange of monies. Next to brick & stick home an rv is a major purchase.
Make your appointment earlier in the day so your not caught with them telling you to rush because their closing. Bring an old blanket to lay down to check the underside of the RV. Run items on propane and electric to see if they work properly. Check for loose trim, caulk, missing screws... Trust me, "EVERY" new RV from the $6k pop-up to a $500k coach will have items to correct before you sign the final papers.
Thanks so much for this video!! We are in the process of buying a brand new rig...will pick up next weekend and I am making a check list to go by. We are very new to this world as full timers (currently trying it out in a used, family members rig and we love this full time life) But we need all advice we can get!! I started to think I was being ridiculous as my list is getting longer and loooonger...but after seeing this video I feel more confident with asking for the time to completely check every-thing!! Thanks again!! Can't wait to see what other content you share! 🤗
Great video. We are picking up our first camper this saturday and the dealer has set us up for a 3:00 appointent. He said 'It will take us a couple hours to show you everything.' After watching this, I think i will change the apt to the morning and tell him 'it will take us several hours to check everything.' Can't thank you enough for the advice!
Another good tester to have is one that tests the trailer connector on the back of your truck (not the RV). Brake lights, parking lights, turn signal. Why is that important? Well, if you plug in to the rv and some of the trailer lights don't work properly, you could end up arguing with the dealer about whether your truck connector is the problem or the RV. Plug the tester in to the truck and show the dealer that your truck connector is working. Now the dealer doesn't have an excuse. Also, its just a handy thing to have. Sometimes your truck wiring, connector, or fuse actually goes bad and it quickly points to your truck as the problem. You can buy them on Ebay for a few dollars.
Very helpful video for old and new buyers. I had heard that even the best companies have units with problems right off the assembly line. Like you say, spend a day getting to know your vehicle prior to signing anything. And when the salesman says "if you don't buy now, this vehicle may be sold to someone else," you tell him "great, I hope the other buyer likes it."
Excellent advice! And, no one in their right mind that sat through this video can think it was stupid, petty, trivial or insignificant. Au contraire! Kudos for the blunt force counsel. Press On!
I couldn't agree more Heather and Ross! When I picked up my travel trailer like spent 2 and a half hours thought I caught all problems and POTENTIAL problems! And 4months later I was STILL fixing things on my own that I missed!
We are picking up our new toy hauler in 8 days and we are going to make sure we have enough time to do this all. Thanks for the video guys! Much appreciated!!
Have you guys seen the factory videos of how these things are assembled? They seem to be proud of how rushed these the folks are building these things. With that kinda rush you are bound to miss a bunch of stuff.
You hit the nail on the head! When they get the money, you are history, nada, zilch, nothing! Bottom line: do your homework! I see so many get into an RV with high hopes but no plan! Have a plan, do your homework (research), have more knowledge than the salesman and in most cases, you will! Don't be afraid to say that is not right, or this is not working, or I don't like the way this fits! It's your money, so spend it wisely! We just came back from the Tampa RV show. I did not look at the bells and whistles, I looked at the fit and finish and it was horrible! You know you are in trouble when they don't even take the time to make sure what they are showing to thousands of people has issues, so you can imagine how they present a one on one to you at the dealership!
Yes, I completely agree! We went through 3-4 months of repairs before we got our rig usable. Thankfully, my husband was able to do most of the work and the dealer was very helpful and did everything they could for us as well. We had power issues, the fridge wasn't getting cold enough, the power inverter failed, and the switch to go from city water to using the tanks did not work. All seemed well at the dealer but we didn't know to check for some of these things at the time. What happens when you aren't on 50 amp power or not hooked up to a hose for water? The fridge seemed cold...but we definitely should have had a thermometer to check. I wish we had this video a year ago! Thanks for the effort to make the video as I'm sure it will be helpful to a lot of people.
+Missouri River Soap ughh, I'm soo sorry to hear about all the issues when you purchased your rig. Its soo hard to not over look things when you buying because your alol wrapped up in the excitement and the omg did we really just buy this beast lol. I'm glad to hear your hubbers is as handy as mine. Honestly, when your Rvi9ng your have to be !! Thanks for watching and loving our shenanigans
Once you sign for it you take position of it. Its then yours to deal with.. Plan to drive them nuts. Bring sticky notes and start posting them on everything that has a problem.. you then can see them. . Good luck and remember your not buying a car..
Totally agree! We had a loose connection on the stove and could smell the gas long after we turned off the burner! 😮 Dealer resolved, we retested. All good now. These steps PAY OFF!
Wife and I are considering purchasing a coach in a few years. Just getting into our research phase. So glad you posted this video. It was very informative and opened our eyes to so many things we had not considered. Our intent is to purchase a new Class A coach. Not a used one but, your heads-up as to the great many things to check and the cost of repairs and the time needed to wait for those repairs is eye opening. Thank you both.
Nice checklist. I wonder if the dealership offered you an “orientation.” I’m picking up our first rv in a few weeks and was told to plan at least 2 hours for walkthrough and orientation. I will definitely be keeping this video in mind and bring an outlet tester.
We are going be 1st time RV/Motorhome owners next yr (019)- Personally, I found your video very, very helpful and thorough. I took alot of notes while watching, and I would hope other watchers did as well. Thanks, and happy camping.
Just watch your video and have to say, you guys give some great advise. The one about checking all the electrical outlets with the tester is great. I would of just plugged a hair dryer into each outlet but your right as it would not tell you if the ground was bad or reverse polarity. We are getting ready to pull the trigger on a TT. I am a retired general contractor and boy are they going to love me. I will be checking everything you said to and more. the more may be checking the guys shorts when we are done to make sure he is still ok..
Very true and good advice, no matter what kind of RV you are buying or what dealership your getting it from. And don't let them tell you to come back in the future to get the things fixed! You'll be fighting with them for months.
I like how you pointed out stuff a newbie would not know what to check out. Yep once they have the money they don't want to be responsible for a QC check.
very good video, always do things your way not the reps way. if they're a good dealer they shouldn't mind having every thing running and tank's full if they won't do it your way then move on to the next dealer.
Even when I look at a car to buy, i take my super bright LED flashlight and start looking in every little space under the hood. I'll open the radiator cap and make sure the coolant is nice and green. You start doing that and they'll know you're a serious buyer and aren't easily parted with your money unless you're satisfied. Great vid guys!
That electrical tester also shows if the outlet is wired wrong even if it does work, important for things like computers and such. Make sure the inverter will put out the advertised surge watts, they often won't even if they do put out the stated standard watts.
Great Video! Been thru this on a Travel Trailer, What you say is so True! Remember these units have been towed from Indiana, so if there were any issues the dealer should have fixed. I have towed units where the outside door wouldn't stay closed, a misaligned door, they throw these units together.
Great video! It's exactly like buying a house that doesn't roll. INSPECT, TEST and RE-INSPECT! When I bought my house, I had a professional inspect it before and after any repairs done. Best $600 I ever spent because I'm almost 5 years here now and I've had to do just regular maintenance to the house. It's almost the same with a 5th wheel/RV. If you can't spend the time yourself inspecting/testing, hire a professional to do it, and get a full report with pictures! Yes, EVEN ON A NEW ONE!
Mine had propane problems, all of my appliances did not always lite, I did research and fixed it myself by adjusting the propane regulator, because the dealership was a three and a half hour drive from home so it took less time to research it and fix it myself, also check the gas struts that hold the beds up, the manufacturer shipped me a new one for free and it was an easy fix but I should have checked it. also the speakers on my stereo were hooked up out of phase and it sounded like crap, I switched the wires and it sounded so much better. They build these things fast and cheap and don't do much double-checking. Check it out thoroughly ....JACK! ! ! ! !
The Deprey's i know I asked but you may not have seen. Is there maybe a list? I know we were told to do a wet run in the tubs and toilet. But a check off would be great. We are getting ready for for the RV life.
Wow, I work at THD and had a customer come in yesterday that had purchased a new Terry travel trailer. She was gutting the entire trailer and replacing all the components due to the formaldehyde in the materials used. She had been unable to get the dealer or manufacturer to address the concerns and was a full time RV'er. So, I will be helping her cut the new materials to size as she deconstructs her NEW trailer and rebuilds it. So sad the low standards in the RV industry.
How true !! Our 1st RV, coat rack fell out (wood screws only 1/4" into plywood) 2nd season, fresh water tank leaked at out fitting (fitting over torqued to aim in needed direction) other than that, we enjoyed , but upgraded to bigger/better. Always bring a basic tool kit.
OMG Love you guys! The best video on U-Tube about RV's. wish there was a check list. I did keep stopping your video to write down everything you were saying to check for. I will be spending a considerable amount of time at the dealers. My fat rear doesn't move fast when I don't want to. I will spend all of the time I need to then I will make them fix it before I give them money! Thanks guys!
You guys are great, we did something similar, this was my 3rd RV so had the wife do the PDI while I walked around to tempest everything and had the dealer on a used RV replace all Propane Regulators due to a leak, and 5th wheel 7 Pin bc the end was broken, I decided to replace the malfunctioning water pump with a better more powerful pump and rebuilt the old one as a spare. Keep up the good work and hope one day we can bump into you and say Hi 🤗
Seems funny, but I wonder how many people just go thru their PDI just to learn how things work.... My 1st new one was like that, 2nd new one was a little longer, 3rd new one (I know, we keep upgrading) took about 4 hours since we now know how things are supposed to work, just looking over things for fit and finish... Thinking about our last one, I think we signed all of the paperwork a week before we took delivery. I know, that was bad!!!! I did find some things wrong during the PDI and those were fixed right away, and more after using it for awhile... The dealer has a policy that you schedule an appointment (sometimes a month or more out) and they will keep it from that point till its 100% complete, and what I was told, it could take a few months for what I was needing to be done. So we called the factory (it was 2 months out since Northern Indiana really has a winter) but the repairs needed would only take 3 days (time to fine a good Bed & Breakfast). So we made it our spring vacation - 2 1/2 weeks and 3200 miles, glad diesel was cheap! We even went thru our units (Redwood) manufacture tour, and the next day, went thru Jayco's Pinnacle line tour. Awesome place!!! BTW - my wife really had a hard decision between Jayco Pinnacle w/ front bathroom verses the Redwood Sequoia.. Sorry, in our case the Sequoia won!! Anyway - thanks for bringing this real PDI to light, It might save someone some frustrations in the future!!
Excellent advice Ross. I wish I'd looked closer. I hired a professional Rv inspector( we were 500 miles away) but he overlooked several major things. Again excellent advice. Thanks, you guys!
Add a Bee screen on your furnace vent. This prevents them building a nest that costs $200 $350 to clean out or the need to replace it if the furnace is damaged. I know several people in our camping group that have had this happen.
OMG never thought about this. The wife and I are getting ready to move into an RV full-time and we are picking it up out of state and it would suck if we had no place to live. Great video! As a newbie I assumed it should all be checked and guaranteed before we pick it up. Crazy! Thank you!
Great advice. Thank you both for your videos. So many things to check. We are thinking about buying. My husband is a master mechanic by trade, but there are so many different factors to an R.V. Im getting him hooked on your channel! :) Heather I'm glad you are feeling better. Have a great week.
Love your very informative advice...am selling my house going debt free and becoming a full time RVr...wanted to do this for many years....awesome advice...thank you! I plan on getting a used one..but am bringing a very handy and knowledgable person with me when I go...
sir and ma'am thank y'all for this advice god bless y'all and your information was extremely educational especially for a person in my position who is thinking about purchasing an RV for full-time living most of the things you talked about in this video have never even cross my mind so by that being said thank you and once again god bless y'all
WOW! Clearly you guys have been thru the ringer. This is an Awesome video that you put together that will hopefully help other potential RV buyers in the future. I'm sure Chris of (Chris & G Travels) would have loved this video during his purchase. Haha! Also, this is NOT being anal. You guys spent a lot of money and everything should have been 100%. Once the dealer sees that either you are inexperienced, short on time or desperate, they got you! Really, really great job guys. Thumbs up!!!!
Excellent video and great advice. Remember you are spending A LOT of money for a new RV. Just as you said, if they don't like it I would have no problem just walking away. Take care guys.
Ross you and Heather should do the RV inspections for people as another career choice. If you let someone you can trust do all that stuff then buying an RV would be much easier. I would not trust a dealer or anyone associated with a dealer do an inspection. Great video.
both with our new RV and our previous RV we really lucked out. besides a very minor plumbing issue (bad valve that I replaced for free) everything has been flawless with our coach. we were really surprised that our Coachmen Chaparral was assembled so well and without any of the issues you all experiences. we had thought quite a few things would pop up during the first 5 trips we've taken it on, but nothing yet. hopefully we just got one that was assembled by a crew who just got a raise and were told they have tenure.
Great video .... My new travel trailer was a lot smaller than yours, but I had similar experiences .... We paid cash and the rep wanted to quickly go through the orientation because he wanted to go to lunch with his buddies .... Fortunately, we didn't have any really major problems to be solved later that we could have identified during the walk thru ... Of course, later we did have to get new tires and have the axle straightened at a frame shop for a few hundred dollars. It appears that it was bent when it came new from the manufacturer.
Guys.... stellar... looooooved this video...appreciate you guys so much...thank you for caring...thank you for wanting to pay forward your knowledge that now I can pay forward...you have helped more than you know and more people than you know...I so enjoy you guys...let us know if you are ever over around the Ontario Canada area of things...i am a believer in friends...and tea...just fyi. lol...thanks for being you. Cheers.
Really good video guys. We are actively searching for a used rig to move into and live in for year to save money to get the rig we are going to travel in . I'm going to watch this video several times and write down the info to take with us for our walk thru. Thanks, I just love your channel. I watch my subscription channels at night when in bed getting ready to sleep.. I have to tell you if I'm tired and can't watch my channels I do make sure I watch yours every day.
+sun Shine Awe, we soo love that you love our shenanigans soo much!! Love that your getting ready to take the plunge into full time. Just take your time, think about what you want exactly and know that no matter how many times you go over a checklist or your wants something will be off or you'll be making a compromise for something for the other., Good luck !!!!
Thank you so much for this video. No you're not anal and this check-up. This information is super helpful, it just takes a lot of time. We plan on buying a new motorhome soon and doing a thorough check-up is essential especially if you are buying the unit in another state.
I only deal with family owned dealerships. I bought 4 Jayco's from the same dealer not one issue. I'm on my second Open Range from another family owned dealer here in NC the first one developed a lamination problem and OR replaced the entire back end. Their customer support is great. At the time only company with a two year warranty. When Jayco purchased OR last year that was a sign that they made a quality product. I would never buy any RV from a mega store because of the reasons you and others cited. Family owned dealers operate on word of mouth. One bad experience can cancel out a hundred good ones.
You are very correct about not signing on the dotted line until all PDI concerns have been addressed. I worked as a electrical system tech for an RV dealership years ago and I can attest to the lack of caring on a tech level at most places. The technicians get paid commission hours and don't make the big bucks doing warranty fixes. When I was working the system I hated warranty work. I could pad the bill on the complicated repairs but warranty work limits the money that can be made.
So to be clear ... You do all of this checking of everything possible for 3 to 4 hours “before” handing the dealer any down payment of any kind? Then let’s say you find 15 or 25 items ... then you make them fix it “before” you sign any sales docs or handing over any cash? Will they let you do all this without you giving a commitment? Also, once you hand them the list of things to fix, I’ve been reading that frequently the dealer says they fixed everything but some owners have been saying their dealers didn’t address half and sometimes any of the issues.
What was the result of your inspection? If there are 10 or 20 things wrong with the RV, did the dealer repair them all before you handed them your cheque? And how long did it take for them to do the repairs before you signed off and took final delivery?
We are getting ready to pick up our brand new 5th wheel. We are brand new RV’s! We are nervous! This is a great video!!! I wish there was a link to print this check list to take with us.
It's a little late for me to watched this video. Right after the first trip brought our brand new motor home, we brought it back to near authorities rv dealer to check couple minors things (water not hot,video player not work....) Because it's still under guarantee so we were not worry. They walk through what on the fixed list when we pick it up.3 days later on the next trip when we were in a campground away from home,we couldn't drop the cockpit bed.We called back to the dealer from there and told them that we dropped the rig to fix something but now the bed could not drop.Now we have to make an other appointment for that. But it still a big THANKS from me to you about the checking tips,it is late but not too late for the next appointment. Have wonderful trip wherever you go.
I realize that you guys are still a bit new to your 5th wheel but let me ask anyway. How do you like the build quality and customer service of Jayco? I am considering a Jayco Seismic 4112 or 4212 toy hauler to fulltime in. I like the 4112 better, but will probably go with the 4212 because it has only 2 slides. I wish Jayco would build a big toyhauler with no slides but that's unheard of these days. Safe travels!
How do I find someone like this to do an inspection for me? I've been trying to find the equivalent of a home inspector but have had no luck. If this isn't a profession some of you full timers out there that have been doing this for a while should definitely think about it as an extra income!
Awesome video we are about to buy our first new unit, and I have a huge list, this helped me cover some items I that were not on my list, awesome your Two :)
sorry it took so long to respond , Key West now for about 2 days be here till the weekend going deep sea fishing tomorrow on our way back headed to Disney will cross paths again someday thanks to Mike if you're ever in Ohio give us us reach out
I didn’t check everything! My DVD/Radio player wasn’t working. Also my sink is collapsing because it wasn’t installed properly. I know better now as I continue to fix little things that I didn’t check! Thank you!
I start my new job as an RV technician on Monday. These videos are helping me. There is nothing anal about "check everything". Spending that kind of money, I wouldn't want to be stranded because of overlooks and half assed inspections. Good videos and keep them coming.
The information they offer is very helpful. They appreciate your feedback.
Having gone through 3 brand new travel trailers in two years, we finally just gave up on the conventional travel trailer industry, as we were unable to keep up with and deal with all the issues created simply by an uncaring workforce (factories & dealers) and the use of "the cheapest" materials you can find. You are absolutely correct in everything you say .... 100% For the record, just because you have hot water, it doesn't mean that both the 110V electric & the propane systems are working (found that out the hard way) :-)
wow sounds like you had it worse then us.. my god..
Manufacturers cut corners wherever they can.
We just bought a new trailer and as part of every trailer this particular dealership sells ,they offer (and strongly encouraged us) 2 complimentary nights in the RV park located onsite to familiarize ourselves and work out any bugs in the coach. We could have gotten the same trailer at the same price elsewhere but chose this dealer specifically for the fact that they seem to care about our satisfaction. I’m not naive and understand there will most likely be problems but, to me, it’s how the dealership deals with the problems that will ultimately determine how satisfied or not I am with my purchase
Who's the dealership???
Very good advice. I've been trying to get my 2018 Jayco Eagle repaired under warranty for the past 11 months has been a nightmare. They turn down everything. and if you don't like it. Try to sue them LOL They have lots more attorneys than you can afford. Tell the salesman that you want to be left alone in the rv for a couple of hours. Then give him the list of what you found wrong, and tell him you'll take delivery AFTER EVERYTHING IS FIXED. He won't like it. But i guaranty that he wasn't going to add you to his Christmas card mailing list anyway.....
Ya they d ont have any lemon law on rvs yet .. the dealer can tell anyone to take a hike.. I'm going to do a vidoe on this
Actually one of the better videos I've seen on this subject. Just one comment is find a checklist or two on the Internet and use them. I have found several and combined them for my use.
AWESOME advice! It doesn’t matter if it’s $5k or $300k. When someone puts their faith in a dealer and manufacturer, the product should be right.
We are going to be picking up our trailer as soon as it comes off the line and delivered to the dealer ship. You can be sure I will be going over it with a fine tooth comb. Thank you for this video. This will be our third travel trailer purchase. First one we bought, we loved it and had no problems. We traded up for a larger one, didn't know about a roof leak. Fortunately we were able to get it fixed just prior to warranty running out. Whew. Plus we were able to get it done over the winter and didn't lose any camping time. We then lost that trailer to a tornado last summer. Now we are waiting on our third to be built. It's taken one month longer than expected and that's because the company is swamped with orders. (So they say) Anyway, we will be really checking this one out for any defects. You can be sure of that. Thanks again for this. Happy Camping!
Great comments and suggestions. On my fifth rv and [knock on wood] have yet to get a lemon. Have a check list of all the items to test, inspect, etc. And take your time, and make sure if repairs are needed have them done before possession and exchange of monies. Next to brick & stick home an rv is a major purchase.
Make your appointment earlier in the day so your not caught with them telling you to rush because their closing. Bring an old blanket to lay down to check the underside of the RV. Run items on propane and electric to see if they work properly. Check for loose trim, caulk, missing screws... Trust me, "EVERY" new RV from the $6k pop-up to a $500k coach will have items to correct before you sign the final papers.
we did at 10 am.. they made us wait all day! i was about to lose it .. lol
Even new cars have bugs in them when you buy them.
Thanks so much for this video!! We are in the process of buying a brand new rig...will pick up next weekend and I am making a check list to go by. We are very new to this world as full timers (currently trying it out in a used, family members rig and we love this full time life) But we need all advice we can get!! I started to think I was being ridiculous as my list is getting longer and loooonger...but after seeing this video I feel more confident with asking for the time to completely check every-thing!! Thanks again!! Can't wait to see what other content you share! 🤗
"When power goes out what are you going to do? Plug into a tree?" Hilarious! Thanks for the video!
Great video. We are picking up our first camper this saturday and the dealer has set us up for a 3:00 appointent. He said 'It will take us a couple hours to show you everything.' After watching this, I think i will change the apt to the morning and tell him 'it will take us several hours to check everything.' Can't thank you enough for the advice!
Ross and Heather are happy it helped!!
Thank you both, for being letting us know the importance of new or used RV. Bradford and Cynthia Blair.
Another good tester to have is one that tests the trailer connector on the back of your truck (not the RV). Brake lights, parking lights, turn signal. Why is that important? Well, if you plug in to the rv and some of the trailer lights don't work properly, you could end up arguing with the dealer about whether your truck connector is the problem or the RV. Plug the tester in to the truck and show the dealer that your truck connector is working. Now the dealer doesn't have an excuse. Also, its just a handy thing to have. Sometimes your truck wiring, connector, or fuse actually goes bad and it quickly points to your truck as the problem. You can buy them on Ebay for a few dollars.
Very helpful video for old and new buyers. I had heard that even the best companies have units with problems right off the assembly line. Like you say, spend a day getting to know your vehicle prior to signing anything. And when the salesman says "if you don't buy now, this vehicle may be sold to someone else," you tell him "great, I hope the other buyer likes it."
I hate pushy salesmaen
Excellent advice! And, no one in their right mind that sat through this video can think it was stupid, petty, trivial or insignificant. Au contraire! Kudos for the blunt force counsel. Press On!
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
I couldn't agree more Heather and Ross! When I picked up my travel trailer like spent 2 and a half hours thought I caught all problems and POTENTIAL problems! And 4months later I was STILL fixing things on my own that I missed!
ya they will just push it off to you..
It is really hard to touch every item when picking up a new RV. Things get missed.
We are picking up our new toy hauler in 8 days and we are going to make sure we have enough time to do this all. Thanks for the video guys! Much appreciated!!
Wow. The tip on the outlets just saved my butt! Thanks!
when I picked up my RV I wore them out, only found 22 problems had to take it to the factory they fixed most of them. Do your research!!!
22 problems wow.. thats nuts ! i dont understand why they dont get it right the first time..
Everything you buy new has problems of some sort. They never check every detail before they ship them.
That's way too meany problems.. we should do another vidoe on this..
Have you guys seen the factory videos of how these things are assembled? They seem to be proud of how rushed these the folks are building these things. With that kinda rush you are bound to miss a bunch of stuff.
You hit the nail on the head! When they get the money, you are history, nada, zilch, nothing! Bottom line: do your homework! I see so many get into an RV with high hopes but no plan! Have a plan, do your homework (research), have more knowledge than the salesman and in most cases, you will! Don't be afraid to say that is not right, or this is not working, or I don't like the way this fits! It's your money, so spend it wisely! We just came back from the Tampa RV show. I did not look at the bells and whistles, I looked at the fit and finish and it was horrible! You know you are in trouble when they don't even take the time to make sure what they are showing to thousands of people has issues, so you can imagine how they present a one on one to you at the dealership!
Yes, I completely agree! We went through 3-4 months of repairs before we got our rig usable. Thankfully, my husband was able to do most of the work and the dealer was very helpful and did everything they could for us as well. We had power issues, the fridge wasn't getting cold enough, the power inverter failed, and the switch to go from city water to using the tanks did not work. All seemed well at the dealer but we didn't know to check for some of these things at the time. What happens when you aren't on 50 amp power or not hooked up to a hose for water? The fridge seemed cold...but we definitely should have had a thermometer to check. I wish we had this video a year ago! Thanks for the effort to make the video as I'm sure it will be helpful to a lot of people.
+Missouri River Soap ughh, I'm soo sorry to hear about all the issues when you purchased your rig. Its soo hard to not over look things when you buying because your alol wrapped up in the excitement and the omg did we really just buy this beast lol. I'm glad to hear your hubbers is as handy as mine. Honestly, when your Rvi9ng your have to be !! Thanks for watching and loving our shenanigans
I'm just getting ready to purchase a rv and you kids have taught me so much...thank you!!!
Once you sign for it you take position of it. Its then yours to deal with..
Plan to drive them nuts. Bring sticky notes and start posting them on everything that has a problem.. you then can see them. . Good luck and remember your not buying a car..
+Lankster Price thats smart Sticky notes.. i wish i would of said that! thanks for the tip
If you work at it you can get them to fix all the issues.
Totally agree! We had a loose connection on the stove and could smell the gas long after we turned off the burner! 😮 Dealer resolved, we retested. All good now. These steps PAY OFF!
Thanks mary
Ground fault indicator. I own one cause I'm an electrician. Great video as always.
Wife and I are considering purchasing a coach in a few years. Just getting into our research phase. So glad you posted this video. It was very informative and opened our eyes to so many things we had not considered. Our intent is to purchase a new Class A coach. Not a used one but, your heads-up as to the great many things to check and the cost of repairs and the time needed to wait for those repairs is eye opening. Thank you both.
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
Nice checklist. I wonder if the dealership offered you an “orientation.” I’m picking up our first rv in a few weeks and was told to plan at least 2 hours for walkthrough and orientation. I will definitely be keeping this video in mind and bring an outlet tester.
We are going be 1st time RV/Motorhome owners next yr (019)- Personally, I found your video very, very helpful and thorough. I took alot of notes while watching, and I would hope other watchers did as well. Thanks, and happy camping.
Great information! Let them know how you made out.
Just watch your video and have to say, you guys give some great advise. The one about checking all the electrical outlets with the tester is great. I would of just plugged a hair dryer into each outlet but your right as it would not tell you if the ground was bad or reverse polarity. We are getting ready to pull the trigger on a TT. I am a retired general contractor and boy are they going to love me. I will be checking everything you said to and more. the more may be checking the guys shorts when we are done to make sure he is still ok..
thanks
Ross does a lot of research and tries different things to be able to give the best advice.
Thanks soooo much. I love how you give us the push and courage to be firm and detailed!!
Very true and good advice, no matter what kind of RV you are buying or what dealership your getting it from. And don't let them tell you to come back in the future to get the things fixed! You'll be fighting with them for months.
Good point. Get it fixed on the spot.
RVs are selling like crazy over the past few years. Most buyers are clueless about repairs and potential problems that WILL come. Great advice!!!
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
I like how you pointed out stuff a newbie would not know what to check out. Yep once they have the money they don't want to be responsible for a QC check.
Once they have their money, you are done.
very good video, always do things your way not the reps way. if they're a good dealer they shouldn't mind having every thing running and tank's full if they won't do it your way then move on to the next dealer.
Even when I look at a car to buy, i take my super bright LED flashlight and start looking in every little space under the hood. I'll open the radiator cap and make sure the coolant is nice and green. You start doing that and they'll know you're a serious buyer and aren't easily parted with your money unless you're satisfied. Great vid guys!
Good point. Let them know you will not let them rush you through.
That electrical tester also shows if the outlet is wired wrong even if it does work, important for things like computers and such. Make sure the inverter will put out the advertised surge watts, they often won't even if they do put out the stated standard watts.
your right
Good point
Great Video! Been thru this on a Travel Trailer, What you say is so True! Remember these units have been towed from Indiana, so if there were any issues the dealer should have fixed. I have towed units where the outside door wouldn't stay closed, a misaligned door, they throw these units together.
If your the last one on the line and it is close to closing time, they really throw the parts in fast.
Great video! It's exactly like buying a house that doesn't roll. INSPECT, TEST and RE-INSPECT! When I bought my house, I had a professional inspect it before and after any repairs done. Best $600 I ever spent because I'm almost 5 years here now and I've had to do just regular maintenance to the house. It's almost the same with a 5th wheel/RV. If you can't spend the time yourself inspecting/testing, hire a professional to do it, and get a full report with pictures! Yes, EVEN ON A NEW ONE!
Thanks for sharing!!
Mine had propane problems, all of my appliances did not always lite, I did research and fixed it myself by adjusting the propane regulator, because the dealership was a three and a half hour drive from home so it took less time to research it and fix it myself, also check the gas struts that hold the beds up, the manufacturer shipped me a new one for free and it was an easy fix but I should have checked it. also the speakers on my stereo were hooked up out of phase and it sounded like crap, I switched the wires and it sounded so much better. They build these things fast and cheap and don't do much double-checking. Check it out thoroughly ....JACK! ! ! ! !
its almost like you have to fix it your self to get it the right way .
Simple things quality control should pick up but dont.
Great video! I saw something before signed the papers! Will make sure it is fixed! Will also follow all of your steps, thanks!
Thanks
I don't know anything abt a RV but I'm buying one next year...
Good advice I'm checking everything
Excellent Video. From here I found checklists that I can modify and download. We pick up our new Surveyor 33krolk this week.
thanks guys we love you all thanks for the feed back! for once i can look at all the feed back in a video and say everyone had a great point..
The Deprey's i know I asked but you may not have seen. Is there maybe a list? I know we were told to do a wet run in the tubs and toilet. But a check off would be great. We are getting ready for for the RV life.
The Deprey's s
Wow, I work at THD and had a customer come in yesterday that had purchased a new Terry travel trailer. She was gutting the entire trailer and replacing all the components due to the formaldehyde in the materials used. She had been unable to get the dealer or manufacturer to address the concerns and was a full time RV'er. So, I will be helping her cut the new materials to size as she deconstructs her NEW trailer and rebuilds it. So sad the low standards in the RV industry.
we will work on that for sure thanks
@@Amer1ca56 what's the formaldehyde on materials? Sorry trying to learn about RV.
have a pro inspect the rv, they know what to look for,and will save you a lot of money and headacks
That's what I was thinking. I don't know what to look for.
I called an rv inspector and he told me I didn’t really need an rv inspector on a new one?? Guess I had better calm someone else.
Great video! Loved the honesty. We are getting ready to purchase our first one. The salesman is going to hate me.
I am sure that was helpful, especially for first RV buyers. Good job, love mom
This is much appreciated advice for newbies like me!!! Can't thank you guys enough😊
How true !! Our 1st RV, coat rack fell out (wood screws only 1/4" into plywood) 2nd season, fresh water tank leaked at out fitting (fitting over torqued to aim in needed direction) other than that, we enjoyed , but upgraded to bigger/better.
Always bring a basic tool kit.
Thanks for shareing!!
OMG Love you guys! The best video on U-Tube about RV's. wish there was a check list. I did keep stopping your video to write down everything you were saying to check for. I will be spending a considerable amount of time at the dealers. My fat rear doesn't move fast when I don't want to. I will spend all of the time I need to then I will make them fix it before I give them money! Thanks guys!
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
EXCELLENT vlog, you guys are cool and so right❗❗❗ You paid for it you deserve to get the quality you paid for.
+One Meal A Day Modified thanks we try. Tha ks again for watching the vidoe
You guys are great, we did something similar, this was my 3rd RV so had the wife do the PDI while I walked around to tempest everything and had the dealer on a used RV replace all Propane Regulators due to a leak, and 5th wheel 7 Pin bc the end was broken, I decided to replace the malfunctioning water pump with a better more powerful pump and rebuilt the old one as a spare. Keep up the good work and hope one day we can bump into you and say Hi 🤗
These guys really share some great information. They are happy when fans share their experiences.
Seems funny, but I wonder how many people just go thru their PDI just to learn how things work.... My 1st new one was like that, 2nd new one was a little longer, 3rd new one (I know, we keep upgrading) took about 4 hours since we now know how things are supposed to work, just looking over things for fit and finish... Thinking about our last one, I think we signed all of the paperwork a week before we took delivery. I know, that was bad!!!! I did find some things wrong during the PDI and those were fixed right away, and more after using it for awhile... The dealer has a policy that you schedule an appointment (sometimes a month or more out) and they will keep it from that point till its 100% complete, and what I was told, it could take a few months for what I was needing to be done. So we called the factory (it was 2 months out since Northern Indiana really has a winter) but the repairs needed would only take 3 days (time to fine a good Bed & Breakfast). So we made it our spring vacation - 2 1/2 weeks and 3200 miles, glad diesel was cheap! We even went thru our units (Redwood) manufacture tour, and the next day, went thru Jayco's Pinnacle line tour. Awesome place!!! BTW - my wife really had a hard decision between Jayco Pinnacle w/ front bathroom verses the Redwood Sequoia.. Sorry, in our case the Sequoia won!! Anyway - thanks for bringing this real PDI to light, It might save someone some frustrations in the future!!
Love it! I’m planning on going into the RV sales and I learned a lot! I won’t rush anyone! And do a follow up 15/30 days after the sale.
+Marcus Aponte rv sales are up big time it's a good thing to get into
+Marcus Aponte you would be smarter to get into rv repair more money in it
+Marcus Aponte you can charge 150. To 250 bucks to put some lap seal on a roof that takes 15 mins lol. In and out
You will sell a ton of RV's!!
Excellent advice Ross. I wish I'd looked closer. I hired a professional Rv inspector( we were 500 miles away) but he overlooked several major things. Again excellent advice. Thanks, you guys!
Thanks for the feed back!!
Really good video! I took notes and I never takes notes!!!
This was great information.
Add a Bee screen on your furnace vent. This prevents them building a nest that costs $200 $350 to clean out or the need to replace it if the furnace is damaged. I know several people in our camping group that have had this happen.
+Kevin king We have plans for it, just hasn't been on the top of a list thing as of yet. We will get to it though, thanks for the tip !!
OMG never thought about this. The wife and I are getting ready to move into an RV full-time and we are picking it up out of state and it would suck if we had no place to live.
Great video! As a newbie I assumed it should all be checked and guaranteed before we pick it up. Crazy!
Thank you!
Heather, Ross...best video yet...very informative....two thumbs up!!!
They offer the best information.
Great advice. Thank you both for your videos. So many things to check. We are thinking about buying. My husband is a master mechanic by trade, but there are so many different factors to an R.V. Im getting him hooked on your channel! :) Heather I'm glad you are feeling better. Have a great week.
Super advice from the Depreys.
Love your very informative advice...am selling my house going debt free and becoming a full time RVr...wanted to do this for many years....awesome advice...thank you! I plan on getting a used one..but am bringing a very handy and knowledgable person with me when I go...
sir and ma'am thank y'all for this advice god bless y'all and your information was extremely educational especially for a person in my position who is thinking about purchasing an RV for full-time living most of the things you talked about in this video have never even cross my mind so by that being said thank you and once again god bless y'all
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
WOW! Clearly you guys have been thru the ringer. This is an Awesome video that you put together that will hopefully help other potential RV buyers in the future. I'm sure Chris of (Chris & G Travels) would have loved this video during his purchase. Haha! Also, this is NOT being anal. You guys spent a lot of money and everything should have been 100%. Once the dealer sees that either you are inexperienced, short on time or desperate, they got you! Really, really great job guys. Thumbs up!!!!
+NoProGoPronto thanks Nopropronto
It is always best to let the dealer know you are going to be right on top of things so they they dont breeze you through the door.
Excellent video and great advice. Remember you are spending A LOT of money for a new RV. Just as you said, if they don't like it I would have no problem just walking away. Take care guys.
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
wanna bet the thumbs down are RV Salesmen ....👍
No way I would take that bet lol!!!
I would not doubt it!!
Ya I think your right. rv sales man hate us lol
probably right
..hehe..
Ross you and Heather should do the RV inspections for people as another career choice. If you let someone you can trust do all that stuff then buying an RV would be much easier. I would not trust a dealer or anyone associated with a dealer do an inspection.
Great video.
Great advice, tips and just the right amount of humor. 2 Thumbs up! : )
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
both with our new RV and our previous RV we really lucked out. besides a very minor plumbing issue (bad valve that I replaced for free) everything has been flawless with our coach. we were really surprised that our Coachmen Chaparral was assembled so well and without any of the issues you all experiences. we had thought quite a few things would pop up during the first 5 trips we've taken it on, but nothing yet. hopefully we just got one that was assembled by a crew who just got a raise and were told they have tenure.
+Wiskey Tango Foxtrot 9th Cav , Awesome to hear that you guys have had such great luck.. Thanks for watching and loving our craziness !!! n
You were one of the luck ones
Great video .... My new travel trailer was a lot smaller than yours, but I had similar experiences .... We paid cash and the rep wanted to quickly go through the orientation because he wanted to go to lunch with his buddies .... Fortunately, we didn't have any really major problems to be solved later that we could have identified during the walk thru ... Of course, later we did have to get new tires and have the axle straightened at a frame shop for a few hundred dollars. It appears that it was bent when it came new from the manufacturer.
Classic example of poor quality control.
I'm sure that was a big help to a lot of future RVers .
thanks
Very useful video.
Thanks for the tips! Was going to do a small check but now will do the 6-8 hr one!
The more you check the better!
Thank Y`all again! I never thought of all this. I wish I had been so pickey when I bought my truck,which I got lucky and had no problems.
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
Guys.... stellar... looooooved this video...appreciate you guys so much...thank you for caring...thank you for wanting to pay forward your knowledge that now I can pay forward...you have helped more than you know and more people than you know...I so enjoy you guys...let us know if you are ever over around the Ontario Canada area of things...i am a believer in friends...and tea...just fyi. lol...thanks for being you. Cheers.
Really good video guys. We are actively searching for a used rig to move into and live in for year to save money to get the rig we are going to travel in . I'm going to watch this video several times and write down the info to take with us for our walk thru. Thanks, I just love your channel. I watch my subscription channels at night when in bed getting ready to sleep.. I have to tell you if I'm tired and can't watch my channels I do make sure I watch yours every day.
+sun Shine Awe, we soo love that you love our shenanigans soo much!! Love that your getting ready to take the plunge into full time. Just take your time, think about what you want exactly and know that no matter how many times you go over a checklist or your wants something will be off or you'll be making a compromise for something for the other., Good luck !!!!
They have great information.
A very fine and necessary video - thank you.
Thank you so much for this video. No you're not anal and this check-up. This information is super helpful, it just takes a lot of time. We plan on buying a new motorhome soon and doing a thorough check-up is essential especially if you are buying the unit in another state.
💯 go through the whole RV and check everything what a great video for new rvers y'all two
Awesome video! I wish my brother had seen this! next year my turn I will use this video it is saved.
IF AND WHEN WE DECIDE TO BUY, I THINK I'LL CALL YOU GUYS FIRST. THANKS FOR A GREAT VIDEO.
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.
Great video and informative. Helps us first timers. Cheers!!!
Awesome and informative video, thank you both! I appreciate it! Safe travels!
They appreciate your feed back.
I had 4 Goodyear Marathons RV tires bow out on me. So Goodyear is not a tire I buy for my rig. Thought you would want to know.
I only deal with family owned dealerships. I bought 4 Jayco's from the same dealer not one issue. I'm on my second Open Range from another family owned dealer here in NC the first one developed a lamination problem and OR replaced the entire back end. Their customer support is great. At the time only company with a two year warranty. When Jayco purchased OR last year that was a sign that they made a quality product. I would never buy any RV from a mega store because of the reasons you and others cited. Family owned dealers operate on word of mouth. One bad experience can cancel out a hundred good ones.
+Waters Louis ohhh how right your are !!! Unfortunately when we purchased Lola we were in an area where the dealers were very limited..
Waters Louis what’s your dealership name and address?
thats a good tip
What was the name of the Jayco dealer where you had a positive experience?
Family owned anything is always the best. They give you the best service.
You are very correct about not signing on the dotted line until all PDI concerns have been addressed. I worked as a electrical system tech for an RV dealership years ago and I can attest to the lack of caring on a tech level at most places. The technicians get paid commission hours and don't make the big bucks doing warranty fixes. When I was working the system I hated warranty work. I could pad the bill on the complicated repairs but warranty work limits the money that can be made.
Thank you so much.... this was so informative.
Any time
Thanks for this! We’re picking up a new toyhauler/trailer on Tuesday and know with our last camper there were things missed.
Just saw your video. Very good information to know cause my husband and I are planning to get an RV. Thanks for sharing.
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
Fantastic video for us!! Buying ours next week. Thank you
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
So to be clear ... You do all of this checking of everything possible for 3 to 4 hours “before” handing the dealer any down payment of any kind? Then let’s say you find 15 or 25 items ... then you make them fix it “before” you sign any sales docs or handing over any cash? Will they let you do all this without you giving a commitment? Also, once you hand them the list of things to fix, I’ve been reading that frequently the dealer says they fixed everything but some owners have been saying their dealers didn’t address half and sometimes any of the issues.
What was the result of your inspection? If there are 10 or 20 things wrong with the RV, did the dealer repair them all before you handed them your cheque? And how long did it take for them to do the repairs before you signed off and took final delivery?
We are getting ready to pick up our brand new 5th wheel. We are brand new RV’s! We are nervous!
This is a great video!!!
I wish there was a link to print this check list to take with us.
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
It's a little late for me to watched this video. Right after the first trip brought our brand new motor home, we brought it back to near authorities rv dealer to check couple minors things (water not hot,video player not work....)
Because it's still under guarantee so we were not worry. They walk through what on the fixed list when we pick it up.3 days later on the next trip when we were in a campground away from home,we couldn't drop the cockpit bed.We called back to the dealer from there and told them that we dropped the rig to fix something but now the bed could not drop.Now we have to make an other appointment for that.
But it still a big THANKS from me to you about the checking tips,it is late but not too late for the next appointment. Have wonderful trip wherever you go.
Phenomenal video! Thanks, Ross & Heather, great advice as usual!
Takes hours for normal refrigerator to come to temperature. Is the refrigerator prepepped before orientation.
I realize that you guys are still a bit new to your 5th wheel but let me ask anyway. How do you like the build quality and customer service of Jayco? I am considering a Jayco Seismic 4112 or 4212 toy hauler to fulltime in. I like the 4112 better, but will probably go with the 4212 because it has only 2 slides. I wish Jayco would build a big toyhauler with no slides but that's unheard of these days. Safe travels!
IO know they had some serious issues, but Ross fixed a lot of the stuff himself so he would not have to take it back to the dealer.
How do I find someone like this to do an inspection for me? I've been trying to find the equivalent of a home inspector but have had no luck. If this isn't a profession some of you full timers out there that have been doing this for a while should definitely think about it as an extra income!
Excellent advice! I believe there is a strong calling for this type of service.
Awesome video we are about to buy our first new unit, and I have a huge list, this helped me cover some items I that were not on my list, awesome your Two :)
Lots of great information. Let them know how it helped you.
How about you guys doing a RV Inspection Check sheet? That would be awesome.
sorry it took so long to respond , Key West now for about 2 days be here till the weekend going deep sea fishing tomorrow on our way back headed to Disney will cross paths again someday thanks to Mike if you're ever in Ohio give us us reach out