HELP!!! OKAY, SAY THAT ONE HAS A BUDGET OF AROUND 15-20K, LIVES IN FLA, AND IS WANTING TO SPEND THE MONEY TO GET OUT OF FLA B4 SHTF. WHAT DOES ANY1 SUGGEST, AS FAR AS, IS IT BETTER TO BUY AN ACRE OR SO OF LAND SOMEWHERE, AND THEN BUY AN RV...OR, SHOULD 1 BUY THE RV FIRST AND THEN GO FIND THE LAND??? OR....SHOULD THE RV BE BOUGHT, AND NOT INVEST IN BUYING LAND AT ALL OR VICE VERSA. THIS IS A TIME SENSITIVE SITUATION, SO PLEASE, IF POSSIBLE, ANY ANSWER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.
RV owner for over 25 years . I agree with most of what you said but no used RV is going to be perfect, or new one for that matter. You will eventually or immediately (or both) have to do repairs on pretty much anything you buy. All RVs at one time or another will leak, not can leak, or might leak but will leak. Don't panic if you see say a 10 year old RV with a water stain. As long as it is currently not leaking and minimal damage was done then its no big deal. Check the bottom of the slide outs from the outside for signs of soft spots or rot. Don't sweat small repairs. Make sure all the major systems work. You can fix the little things yourself. Being able to repair small things and do a lot of your own maintenance is essential to being a RV owner. You can't always leave something at a dealers service lot for weeks and then pay 150 bucks an hour labor for something you can fix yourself in a hour or two. Rving is a expensive hobby. You will always have little projects to do or fix on one just like a house. This next point shocks people too. It cost more money to full time or live in a RV then it does to rent a small apartment in most parts of the country. You full time for the experience not to save money. You will never start out a expert no matter how much research you do and you will make mistakes. Always buy your first RV under the assumption you will sell or trade it in the first year or two (so start out with one several years old that has already depreciated out). Reason being what you think you need before buying your first one will be totally different then what you realize you need after using one several times. Remember lightweight means a flimsy build quality and less insulation. Heavier is built better. Good luck.
I'm actually looking to RV full time myself. One of my concerns is finding a place to stay during the winter. I've been told that places where it snows will just close up entirely, and where it doesn't, every place will be crowded from everyone migrating South. Is that true?
Having just bought a used RV this summer for the first time, I found a couple surprises afterwards despite having watched a bunch of videos on the subject. Here's a few things to check for: - check the spare tire (mine was blown out inside the cover) - if the floor was repaired, check that it was done PROPERLY. (mine just had a new plywood added on top of the rotted wood. It was solid at first but as we used the RV, it became softer and had a teeter-totter effect. The plywood was also visible at the door). One quick way to check is to see if the dinette table will fold down properly onto the benches or the wall brackets have been moved up (mine didn't because it wasn't adjusted for the added height of the plywood). Check for different flooring inside cabinets compared to the rest. -check that the axles are straight (my rear axles are slightly bent outwards compared to the fronts, was likely overloaded) - fully open the awning and inspect the top of it (couldn't open it before purchase as the trailer was parked next to a fence. Once home, opened it and found a delaminating and mouldy mess) - if it has a slide-out(s), inspect it (them), both open and closed, to be sure they seal well and the mechanicals are good (mine had the bolts holding the screws falling out and a seal was off for when it's open) - bring an electrical plug tester and test all the plugs (mine had the plug at the kitchen counter that didn't work, wiring problem) - check that the gas detector works (mine was dead/expired) - check that the propane tanks are not expired (mine were OK)
We bought a used trailer that had some banged up, somewhat rusty tanks. I sanded them down and repainted them, then got them checked out (and recertified) at a local propane company. Spent much less than I would have for two new tanks, and my 1984-vintage tanks are good for another 7 years.
I'm keeping this ist with me! 1. Did The price made sense (NAA) 2. Get a Clean title 3.Towing capabilities 4. Major repairs? 5. Have it operating upon arrival 6. Look for water damage 7. Look for clues of repairs 8. Get up on the roof (check weeks &old caulking 9. Research local laws (title, bill of sale template, etc.) 10. Bring someone who knows more than you.
All great suggestions. Just a few more. You can do everything that you mentioned but before I'd actually pay for it I'd REQUIRE that water and electricity would be connected in order to: 1. Make sure you exercise (work) EVERYTHING! Front jack, all water faucets, water pump, slides, awning, AC, heater, TV, radio, DVD player, speakers inside and out, water heater on AC and gas, microwave, fridge on AC and gas, all lights and receptacles. 2. Put some water in the fresh water tank and run the pump to test it. See if you see any leaks. 3. After testing the water faucets see if you can dump the grey tank since it was only water that you put in there. Look to make sure that the gray water tank dump valve does not leak. You really can't test the black tank but it would be good if you could. 4. Get under the trailer and look for at the wheel wells to see if there are any rub marks, a sign of weak springs. Make sure the springs are not flat. Look for rust on the shackles and any other places. 5. Check the trailer coupler mechanism to make sure it's functional. 6. Check the seals on every slide and also doors. I'm sure others will add to the list but this is what I came with tonight. Keep up the great videos....great channel.
Thanks for the info. I'd also suggest walking around the exterior of the unit and pressing firmly against the sidewalls to check for de-lamination. Check the roof membrane for de-lamination as well. Check if the AC is loose. Check for any sign of cracks in the self-levelling compound. Are there any cracks in skylights or roof vents. I've learned a lot from watching AZ expert and RV roof install.
I bought a used RV and had to go to a local bank with the seller and pay it off with part of the purchase price. Received the title direct from the bank on the spot and the seller signed it over. It’s an extra step to take, but for the right deal it can be done.
After having purchased a few 'new off the lot' in my younger years I will firmly state I will never do it again. With age & experience (& lumps n bumps) comes knowledge. Private party person-to-person sale is the only way I'll ever acquire more RVs. Find a good used private party one = save A LOT of hassle fixing bad/broken items from the factory / dealing with the dealer for warranty crap; save A LOT of $$$$ on not having to pay sales tax; save A LOT of money off of purchase price compared to a dealer & his retail pricing.
We've done it both ways... Our "new off the lot" experience has been great. In contrast we are currently helping my MIL find a good used unit. It's been a complete hassle. Not to say we won't find one but the number of con artist type who take a salvage RV, dress it up, and try to sell it as a good RV has been surprising. I've always known people did that but not at the rate I am seeing it. Pro's and con's either way. I know we've been extremely happy with our new unit!
@@WanderingWeekends A lot of environmental factors at play for sure. The area one is shopping in can be all the difference but nonetheless, patience is key. No matter if it's cars, trucks, boats, ATV/UTVs, etc, there's great pre-owned stuff out there i.e. needle in the haystack, you just have to be patient until you come across those items.
Great points, all of them. I’d add: be realistic in your expectations about reliability. RVs are unreliable, period. New ones might offer warranties, but the warranties can be such a hassle they might not be worth much. Slightly used RVs might actually have had some of the issues repaired, but there will always be something to fix or maintain. Your RV buddies you take along with you should be able to help you sort out what is a red flag vs what is something that every RVer can easily deal with.
What’s cheaper a class C I can park at Walmart or a tow behind and begging someone to let me live on their land? I am a GIS major if any farmers want free analysis all I need is a place to park!!!!
Very, very well done, but you should mention an NBRIA certified inspector - taking a friend or family member who may or may not know more than you do could cost you big bucks! Many people even recommend having brand new rigs inspected
Thanks for the great points. If I buy another RV, used or new, I will hired a certified RV inspector. We didn’t when we bought our last RV and there were several major problems. One being they had inadequate coach batteries, and the battery disconnect didn’t work. It was a consignment, as is sale on a dealers lot.
How do you hire a certified inspector if you're going to someone's home to look at it 100 miles away? Can a continent of the sale be a sale if pass inspection?
Purchased a 2017 grand design imagine just like one in your video, I guess I had God looking out over me, the people we bought it brand were very very honest people told us everything about it we’re very lucky and fortunate they only use that five times and it was basically new condition we camped four times last year with it and been very happy, everything worked perfectly no leaks, and tried everything from the furnace to the air-conditioning in all the climate we get in N W Indiana last year, thank you for your video I wish I seen it sooner, but as I said I had God looking over me because I had no idea what to look for ,
This is a very useful TH-cam! In 2017, I bought a 2009 Prowler travel trailer which had been at an RV Park for 8 years. I planned to keep it right there and live in it full-time. There were relatively few problems with it, considering what all is possible to cause trouble. But the problems I did discover were with places I had not looked for water damage and leaks, and with questions I didn't know enough to ask, specifically: the furnace shut off in weather that dropped to 35', and the roof and slide-out leaked. Great video !
We found the seemingly perfect older TT. I was an 1988 & 26 ft long. Biggest problem is it's over 7,000 lbs. I showed up with my half ton. Ended up having to run all the way back home to get my F-250.
After buying my first house years ago we ended up having to spend a ton of money on repairs. I hired an inspector that was cheaper than the rest. I would definitely recommend hiring a well qualified inspector. It’s worth the peace of mind if nothing else.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. We’ve watched 3-4 other videos and none of them mentioned title, if a lien holder is involved, etc…Great content, totally on point 👍
We purchased used from a major dealer assuming major problems would be nonexistent. Boy were we wrong! Can’t begin to list here, but the first major problem was the freshwater tank was cracked at the top. During the walkthrough it was filled only a little so the water was below the crack.
I just dealt with a couple liars in WI with the title shenanigans. They told me the one who owned it didn't register it. It was signed by the previous owners. They sputtered about the reasoning. It was dated 2021. The one said the other bought it last year. The timing wasnt congruent with the date signed. On the title itself, the make was an rv company name. Not the make of the rv trailer. 🤔 Seemed strange. No true identifying info like model number or product number... let me put it this way, the banker couldnt find the exact model when trying to input the info from the title. Apparently, VIN #s arent used to find trailers. (Thats dumb. Why have VIN #s then?!) 😠 I get the money approved from the bank and let these dudes know that. When I went to look at it, it seemed like it wouldve worked. I liked it! Excited to pay for it, right?! The older guy claimed the title was CLEAN with no liens on it. Well... the one dude didnt return my call til later that evening to tell me that there WAS a lien on it. 😧 He lied about that knowing that there was. His explanation was that since the younger dipstick hadnt registered it, the title he had from the previous owners says NO LIEN. Being there is no title under the current owner's name, he didnt lie about there being no lien on it because there was no paperwork/title saying there was one. 🤯 I had been open to the offer even with the camper not being registered. I was gonna work with them to have that done. I was even going to put a down payment on it to hold it until everything was ready to transfer ownership the day I dropped off the check. Another thing the older dipstick said was that I coukd wire the money and the paperwork could be emailed after. Um, 🤔 I will not wire several thousands of dollars in hopes they sign over the title to me and then wait for an email with the picture of the title in it and other papers. No way! Im doing all that in person, ffs! I noticed they dont text or email. So the transaction would have zero record of it due to only phone calls. Can ya say, goodbye to your money any faster?! 😆 Good thing I hold such value in truthfulness. That deal was dropped. He lied to me, the bank in an attempt to rip off some mofos! Having issues in some podunk town west of Tomah? Run!
I bought a nightmare... on purpose. The frame and floors were dust, the cabinets were jacked, but the trailer and wrap were perfect. I figured for $300 I was ahead of the game for just those two things. It gives me a chance to build it to my own specs, which is what I've really always wanted to do, so I'm pretty happy.
Fantastic video....if the tire year is over 10 years but still has good tread...replace it anyway. Both of the batteries were pretty dead and had to be replaced even though the owner said they were "fine." Did you say bearings? Ask about those too. Look at paperwork. Propane smells indicating leaks.
I'd like to know or see a video: how old is the best purchase? Some classic vintage are in the market with really good reselling value, that you might not know "how old would you go". But also talking about low budgets, it's a pop up better?
I thought I made a bargain, it didn't smell like mold, or like someone was trying to cover up any smell. Pushing around windows and other structures, didn't show any softness. Until I started renovations, and moved a bench, which I luckily did, because it was hiding the wet spot, and now I have to replace the batons on the back wall, as they are soft wood and all soggy/rotten. 😅 Luckily I have TH-cam, and had seen a video regarding fixing that problem, so waiting for the opportunity to get it to its parking spot, where I get access to power, and can start working on it.
We have purchased 3 RV's at this point. All used. Had excellent results and no surprises from any. The 1st was a 1976 Starcraft. Cost $3200.00 Great trailer and in immaculate condition. Purchased from private party. Short on storage and heavy. We used that trailer for 6 years. Next we purchased a used 5th wheel from a local dealer. 1991 Wilderness $9200.00 Absolutely no issues. Had that trailer for 12 years. The fridge did quit the last year, but it was a 1991 model and I expect usual repairs. Our third and current unit is a 5th wheel with slide. Sierra. $15,500.00 Going on its 16th year with us. Also, only minor repairs, water pump, battery. The fridge also quit on this one 4 years ago. Replaced and we plan on keeping this one for the unforeseen future. Maintenance is important to extend the life of your RV. Also, we always keep ours in an enclosed shed during the off season. Never buy a unit that has spent its entire life outside. Sun and UV rays raise havoc on the roofs and all the sealants on the RV. Check your roof! Every year I inspect and address any issues that show up. Roofs need a lot of maintenance to avoid future issues with rot etc. We also had everything hooked up and working prior to purchasing. We sold our used trailers privately and also had all hooked up and functioning so the new owners could ask questions etc. Common sense goes a long way when purchasing. Have a friend that owns an RV go with you, it will pay in the long run. I have seen campers sell very reasonable on auctions or estate sales, however you want to check them out prior so any issues can be addressed. Happy Camping!!
Knew a guy who was checking out a trailer where the salesman immediately walked to a spot in the trailer and awkwardly stood there for the whole inspection. Yep - he was standing in a soggy spot on the floor that costed $4k to fix.
One very important thing to look at no matter where you buy it is to do a complete frame inspection. 5th wheels develop cracks in the area of the transition from the main part of the trailer to the Gooseneck . It can literally break off or collapse when the weight of the trailer is rested on the truck. This is when you will notice deformation in the outer surface s of the Gooseneck area .. You can access TH-cam videos showing you these failures . Lippert frames are breaking even on the most expensive trailers. Also the spring clips break or seperate from the frame . On travel trailers the frame splits in the web at the crossmember because of the extreme twisting of the frame that making sharp turns causes . You will see the tires really trying to tear off the rims while youre backing into a close site .
If you're not a "handyman jack of all trades" ... don't buy an RV. Beyond the yearly maintenance routines there are equipment failures that must be addressed. Here are a few of the issues that I dealt with a 2 year old Keystone Sprinter I've owned for 8 years: 3 out of 4 made in China tires failed for no reason - the forth is still going strong with almost no wear on it. One of my 2 axles had to be replaced by the dealer under warrantee ( thank God ). The propane regulator had to be replaced as it would intermittently stop working. The kitchen sink faucet had to be replaced as it literally fell apart. The battery for the RV died the first year I had my RV and I replaced it with a Walmart Everstart - working fine now after 3 years. The air-conditioner's electric motor started to make an annoying high pitch squeal as the bearings failed so I had to replace the motor ( note: it is possible with some difficulty to find the right bearings and replace the bearings only ). The large rear window blind needed a repair for the frayed raise/lower cords. The love seat imitation leather ( plastic ) cushions completely disintegrated and after an exhausting search I found covers on Amazon that do the job. Apparently this problem is widespread and nobody cares to hold the Chinese manufacturers responsible so we keep buying their crap because it's cheap. I had a leak on one of the slide outs that required major surgery where I carefully peeled back the rubber membrane - removed the rotten wood structure - installed new wood with construction glue and screws - put back the membrane and meticulously resealed all joints with the proper sealer. I also had some delamination on my large slide out ( the outside skin starts to bow away from the structure. Fortunately my neighbor Steve who worked at an RV repair center advised me - I removed the silicone sealer around the window closest to the problem and meticulously resealed it. The problem has disappeared 95 %. Thanks Steve. A plumbing T joint under the bathroom sink cracked and started leaking so I had a pro come in and replace it. I now have the tools and parts and know how to tackle this in the future. In spite of the repairs , I absolutely love my RV because of the floor plan and the many windows. It's made for 2 adults and essentially functions like a 3 1/2 apartment during my stay in Florida during the Winter. The quality of life it offers such as summer weather, many new friends, wonderful beaches and restaurants, bicycle paths I'm sure had added years to our lives .
The roof inspection is so Important I'd bring my own folding ladder in case the seller doesn't have one . If the roof is bad or shows signs of leakage, chances are high the rest of the RV is rotten- walk away. Often, dealers will not accept such units for a trade because they know it's not worth anything.
I would say favor RVs that haven't been in rain conditions like RVs from the south west. If they haven't been rained on there's probably less chance of water damage. Also inspect the sides and look down the length from the edge with one eye to look for wavy surfaces.
another good point would be to ask the seller to see the title or registration it will also have a issue date on it and if they say i have owened it for a few years and the ownership was only recorded 6 months earlier RED FLAG
I buy RVs with issues, fix those issues and if I sell the trailer I list what was done. My latest is a 2012 Skyline that had a rotten floor that has everything else in good shape for 800 dollars. I will repair the floor and live in it for the next few years. At the price I got it for I could make my money back by parting it out.
I’m more on the pop-up side for tips on what to look for: 1. Roof, that’s the number one thing even before the title question. Most pop ups have a filon, or fiberglass roof, much different than a rubber travel trailer or edpm. 2. Would be the invertor. Those are typically the first thing to go in a few years, and there are several different ones to look into, the key distinction for anyone buying an RV or pop up is the reality that you have multiple options on battery type. If you want to do boondocking style camping or solar, you have to think about what kind of invertor your rig has, and needs to do that thing you want to do, or if it even works at all. Most RV heaters use DC as a primary power source. If the invertor doesn’t work correctly, the heater won’t work correctly. 3. Towing, this should probably be number 1, but I am assuming most people know what they need, which is likely not correct considering the accidents some have been subject to due to poor towing practices. You have to understand and do the research on towing before you even consider buying and RV or even a smaller pop up. Brakes and stabilizers and weight distribution are all important considerations when you’re thinking about going 70mph down the road.
Great tips. Not sure as a seller I’d let anyone climb around on roof or pull drawers off the slides, but as a buyer I can understand why you may want to. A lot of buyers don’t realize there are different levels of quality even in same floor plans and manufacture from cupboards to flooring and countertops.
Thanks for the most valuable information on buying a used travel trailer so thank you for the 10 most important rules on buying a used travel trailer. My first time looking I am looking for a good name brand so can you give some tips.. 🙏
I bought a used RV, did it for two years and sold it to get out of RV-ing. It was a lot of work, maintenance, repairs, preparations, expensive. Had to find a place to store it. Always something to fix even during a trip. Travel times were longer. It was driving a home on wheels. RV-ing wasn’t for me. Glad I did it when I was young and learn my lesson early in life and not after I retired. I went back to driving my car or truck and staying in motels, much simpler and easier to travel. My suggestion for anyone thinking of buying one would be to rent one before deciding to commit to buying one. It’s not for everyone.
8:44 "yeahbsalutely!" I love it, I have a new term to drop on people - kewl moose! This was a very good and thorough job which, by the way, also does apply to Class A, B & C units. The difference is that those have, as you mentioned, more/additional things to check out which are related to their motorization. Subscribed, bookmarked and ready to go through prior videos (especially that roof one). Ahhhh, COVID furlough has one positive side...time for research like this!
Don't get a class c they literally are the worst RV you can get they are extremely leak prone and in my personal opinion are hideous it's like driving around in a van. If you are wanting something that's not a towable I would recommend an A class even if it's older the quality is usually much better as well
Great video! We recently bought a used TT and our biggest head-scratcher is that our electric water heater cannot run at the same time as AC. Perhaps this is normal… It trips the breaker. We circumvent that by using the gas water heater as needed; I’m thinking our AC unit needs replaced soon. It’s quite loud and the housing is cracked a bit.
Also look at the frame, frame hangers and suspension pieces. Is there any rust and corrosion, also check if there are any signs of bug and mice damage.
YES! Crawl under and check it out! Framing is often overlooked! I just looked at a unit where the frame would not have passed inspection in our state due to rusting through and the seller wouldn't budge on price enough to cover the repair. Alomst needless to say(?), I left it still sitting there.
Bought a 2001 37ft sandpiper for 9500$. 3000 more than what I wanted to pay but with wildfires and the unnecessary pandemic , it was a bargain. Rv prices are crazy.
I hearing dealers are being flooded with them now from so many who did "knee jerk" purchases bc of covid .. Hope you been well and thanks for knowing it was a scamdemic
i have a 2700lb pop up camper. no title was issued when i registered it. here in Massachusetts, trailers under 3000lb don't need titles . i had one, i'm the second owner. the registrar kept it. hopping to trade it in soon.
Sorry to comment twice on the same video but after thinking a while on this video I thought of a couple things to mention to people: 1) Decide ahead of time what defects, if any, you are willing to realistically accept. Maybe you want perfection but maybe not. For example, if someone had a big discount on a unit because they couldn’t sell it due to a bad air conditioner I would still buy it. But, I wouldn’t accept a soft wall. I would accept worn out tires but I wouldn’t accept a sketchy title issue. 2) If you are NEW to camping, go used if possible. Even if you are willing and able to buy new. You’ll be better off financially if you find out you aren’t as much of a camping person as you thought and decide to sell. Also, I went through a couple of used campers of different styles in a couple of years finding out what was important to us then when we bought new we knew exactly what we wanted. I think that’s one of the reasons there are so many 1 year old campers for sale. Great channel BTW. I subscribed because of your F250 videos and these camping videos are a great bonus.
I've seen in other videos where they suggest pulling back seems on the outside, checking bolt and screw heads for signs of rust (most will be covered by some sort of molding or caulk in most cases) as those can be signs of water damage (or allowing water to go where it shouldn't). Is it possible to see how many previous owners an RV / trailer has had? (I'm not sure, but if so, if there have been a lot of owners, or ownership has been very short, like less than a year or two, and let's say the RV/trailer has had 5 owners but is only maybe 6-7 years old, that can be a red flag too. Same as with a car. If I car has been "passed around" and has had several owners, that's a red flag there might be a problem that the buyers found out about after the sale. I also think it doesn't hurt to task them why they're selling the RV. If they give you some strange story, then that might be a red flag, such as selling a 5 year old RV because they say it's "getting old."
I checked out the NADA guide. I entered hypothetical data for a 2018 RV, the questions I thought was extremely detailed. It came up "Page not found". I know a little bit about RV brands and models. If I risk a used RV purchase I think the best bet would be a recent model, say two or three years old. It would be nice if some guide would list ballpark figures of cost new and depreciation percent per year. Also I expect some brands like Airstream would have lower depreciation. Maybe it's better to buy from a dealer to avoid fly-by-night crooks even if you have to pay more.
Dealers can be the crooks. At least you can usually look a private seller in the eyes and determine if he’s bull shitting you, more difficult to do with an expert salesman.
here one problem with going on the roof, i'm a big guy. (270) the ladder is only rated for 250lb. guess i could bring a 8ft ladder and get a good look at the roof , if i move the ladder around the RV.
title in hand/no lean? Is the title someone else's name or repo title or a salvage? tow ability / am I going to be able to move this thing good tread on the tires dry rotted/they don't have a severe flat spot? When was the last brakes and bearings serviced? the last time you towed the trailer Has there been any issues any major issues or if there's been any major repairs
I purchased a used 2017 sonic lite 169 VBH from a dealer and they had it running when I picked it up, I have never used the outside shower but after one year of ownership I was testing everything so I could sell it and to my surprise the outside shower is leaking bad out of the handles in the box, since none of the water system got tested.
I bought a used TT from a dealer in Arkansas. Knowing it was used, I did an inspection before purchase. One thing I didn't do is a VIN history search. Two years later after dealing with some water leaks at the front cap, I discovered that the unit was sold FOR SALVAGE by a bank through an auction. The state of Arkansas looks dealers to obtain a new title WITHOUT any mention of salvage. I got duped. Do yourself a favor an do a VIN search on any used vehicle.
After watching the video, and reading the comments, I'm having reservations about buying a true TT. We currently own a 2006 Coleman Niagara Pop Up Camper and we were thinking about upgrading to a TT to extend our travel season (live in the PNW). We only camp about 15 days a year (maybe 20 if we had a TT), is it even worth the extra cost and maintenance to upgrade? Sounds like going from a $7,000 investment to a $20,000 one is a bad idea in our situation?
Why are Rv Sellers reluctant to accept teller’s check or transfer funds directly from bank account into theirs? I don’t feel comfortable going to stranger’s residence with significant sum of cash even if they are the seller to purchase a TT or rv from them.
One of the issues I am finding is that alot of the used ones cost more than some of the new ones Which leaves the debate new has warranty so you have to work out and deal with any issues Used ones someone else worked out new issues but now you have to fix any they missed or added to it. Loving the hunt.
Check the holding tanks. Fresh tanks - is it clean and sanitary? If the gravity fill throat is dirty, walk away. Grey tank - does it leak? Black tank - is it clean and empty - use a flashlight through the toilet. You should be able to see the plastic on the bottom of the tank. Some black tanks will be full of dried poo which is VERY difficult to remove. This is a sign of very poor maintenance. Walk away.
As an insurance adjuster, lemme tell you how many poor souls buy used RVs and Travel Trailers both private party and from dealers and on consignment each season. I know this because a ton of them wind up calling in claims for things like rotting roofs/decking, rotting subfloors, delamination (in filon sided trailers and RVs), mesa siding blowing off during road towing (due to dry rot of the substructure in the walls), dry rotted interior ceilings and walls. These are the heavy-hitters by far and your insurance WILL NOT cover this. It is all pre-existing and even if not, is all due to poor caulking (and please never use any silicon sealants), uncared for roofs, bad slide seals/seams, etc. The ETC. is the most important part.
Jay Dee depends on what type/size of rig. Range could be $400 to $1200 but a great bargain to keep from getting a pile of trouble. Search NRVIA.org to locate an inspector in your area.
Number 10, should be a Golden number 1 rule. Friends, or family don’t let friends or family member, go on a stranger property ALONE. Cause you never know….or if you really can’t find anyone. Tell someone you can trust, like friend or family, tell them your looking at RV. Say you’ll be back, at a curtain time if your not for some reason… they should call you, make sure your okay. Bring your dog if you can… That goes with buying a used car, or any used vehicle.
That’s a smart tip. I know someone who got permission to look at property while the owners were gone. Later they were charged with thief of an old antique. For a year they spent time & money to prove their innocence. Take a friend with you or wait until the owner is home.
@@WanderingWeekends If you do, just be sure to list and describe the exact issues, details only not opinions, so he doesn't come back at you with a lawsuit.
I recently was in the same situation pertaining to the title. The seller would not disclosed what he owned on the lien. I tried to find out by asking his lender they wouldn't tell me beacuse it was confidential info.
I pass by a place every day on my to and from work that has an old 70s or 80s ish trailer that I like just because it would look period correct behind both of my Square Body GM trucks. Can't really get a chance to look it over or even talk to the person who's lot it's sitting on because there's no phone number on the building and no one seems to be there anyway.
SOU6900 re the trailer you want to look at to match your truck, can you leave a mssg on the door of the trailer that maybe the owner would see. Is there a license plate or vin# on it that you could look up ownership?
@@j33pster14 it's backed in so I have no idea if it has a plate on it and I've only ever looked at it while driving by. Honestly with my C30 needing a trans, full brake work and steering column repair just to name a few, plus my 86 K2500 needing work as well to get it and the chevy on the road I just cant bring myself to throw money at a camper of any kind and I really dont make enough money to afford the upkeep anyway.
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Just a big shout out to all of the dadgum stinkbugs in this vid!! Stinkbug season driving us nuts! Haha!
try giving the stink bugs names we name ours but we name them all Harvey
HELP!!! OKAY, SAY THAT ONE HAS A BUDGET OF AROUND 15-20K, LIVES IN FLA, AND IS WANTING TO SPEND THE MONEY TO GET OUT OF FLA B4 SHTF. WHAT DOES ANY1 SUGGEST, AS FAR AS, IS IT BETTER TO BUY AN ACRE OR SO OF LAND SOMEWHERE, AND THEN BUY AN RV...OR, SHOULD 1 BUY THE RV FIRST AND THEN GO FIND THE LAND??? OR....SHOULD THE RV BE BOUGHT, AND NOT INVEST IN BUYING LAND AT ALL OR VICE VERSA. THIS IS A TIME SENSITIVE SITUATION, SO PLEASE, IF POSSIBLE, ANY ANSWER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.
I do not believe Sh*t will hit the fan in FLA, but I guess I don’t know what you mean by that? Overpopulation ? COVID restrictions?
RV owner for over 25 years . I agree with most of what you said but no used RV is going to be perfect, or new one for that matter. You will eventually or immediately (or both) have to do repairs on pretty much anything you buy. All RVs at one time or another will leak, not can leak, or might leak but will leak. Don't panic if you see say a 10 year old RV with a water stain. As long as it is currently not leaking and minimal damage was done then its no big deal. Check the bottom of the slide outs from the outside for signs of soft spots or rot. Don't sweat small repairs. Make sure all the major systems work. You can fix the little things yourself. Being able to repair small things and do a lot of your own maintenance is essential to being a RV owner. You can't always leave something at a dealers service lot for weeks and then pay 150 bucks an hour labor for something you can fix yourself in a hour or two. Rving is a expensive hobby. You will always have little projects to do or fix on one just like a house. This next point shocks people too. It cost more money to full time or live in a RV then it does to rent a small apartment in most parts of the country. You full time for the experience not to save money. You will never start out a expert no matter how much research you do and you will make mistakes. Always buy your first RV under the assumption you will sell or trade it in the first year or two (so start out with one several years old that has already depreciated out). Reason being what you think you need before buying your first one will be totally different then what you realize you need after using one several times. Remember lightweight means a flimsy build quality and less insulation. Heavier is built better. Good luck.
I love your common sense tips. Thank you so much!
Fabulous insight... thank you.
I'm actually looking to RV full time myself. One of my concerns is finding a place to stay during the winter. I've been told that places where it snows will just close up entirely, and where it doesn't, every place will be crowded from everyone migrating South. Is that true?
Having just bought a used RV this summer for the first time, I found a couple surprises afterwards despite having watched a bunch of videos on the subject. Here's a few things to check for:
- check the spare tire (mine was blown out inside the cover)
- if the floor was repaired, check that it was done PROPERLY. (mine just had a new plywood added on top of the rotted wood. It was solid at first but as we used the RV, it became softer and had a teeter-totter effect. The plywood was also visible at the door). One quick way to check is to see if the dinette table will fold down properly onto the benches or the wall brackets have been moved up (mine didn't because it wasn't adjusted for the added height of the plywood). Check for different flooring inside cabinets compared to the rest.
-check that the axles are straight (my rear axles are slightly bent outwards compared to the fronts, was likely overloaded)
- fully open the awning and inspect the top of it (couldn't open it before purchase as the trailer was parked next to a fence. Once home, opened it and found a delaminating and mouldy mess)
- if it has a slide-out(s), inspect it (them), both open and closed, to be sure they seal well and the mechanicals are good (mine had the bolts holding the screws falling out and a seal was off for when it's open)
- bring an electrical plug tester and test all the plugs (mine had the plug at the kitchen counter that didn't work, wiring problem)
- check that the gas detector works (mine was dead/expired)
- check that the propane tanks are not expired (mine were OK)
Thanks for the input - I didn't know propane tanks expired!
So sorry you encountered so many surprises!
Thanks for All the great info I am looking for my 1st 5th wheel and so far I have a long page of things to check and ask about.
Damn looks like you bought a money pit
Oh wow u gave some serious things to look for that many wouldn't think about!! Thank u so much. I'm happy I found ur comment before I purchased
We bought a used trailer that had some banged up, somewhat rusty tanks. I sanded them down and repainted them, then got them checked out (and recertified) at a local propane company. Spent much less than I would have for two new tanks, and my 1984-vintage tanks are good for another 7 years.
I'm keeping this ist with me!
1. Did The price made sense (NAA)
2. Get a Clean title
3.Towing capabilities
4. Major repairs?
5. Have it operating upon arrival
6. Look for water damage
7. Look for clues of repairs
8. Get up on the roof (check weeks &old caulking
9. Research local laws (title, bill of sale template, etc.)
10. Bring someone who knows more than you.
All great suggestions. Just a few more. You can do everything that you mentioned but before I'd actually pay for it I'd REQUIRE that water and electricity would be connected in order to:
1. Make sure you exercise (work) EVERYTHING! Front jack, all water faucets, water pump, slides, awning, AC, heater, TV, radio, DVD player, speakers inside and out, water heater on AC and gas, microwave, fridge on AC and gas, all lights and receptacles.
2. Put some water in the fresh water tank and run the pump to test it. See if you see any leaks.
3. After testing the water faucets see if you can dump the grey tank since it was only water that you put in there. Look to make sure that the gray water tank dump valve does not leak. You really can't test the black tank but it would be good if you could.
4. Get under the trailer and look for at the wheel wells to see if there are any rub marks, a sign of weak springs. Make sure the springs are not flat. Look for rust on the shackles and any other places.
5. Check the trailer coupler mechanism to make sure it's functional.
6. Check the seals on every slide and also doors.
I'm sure others will add to the list but this is what I came with tonight. Keep up the great videos....great channel.
All GREAT additions to look for!
Get a moisture meter and check the walls.
and the floor for that matter! Great suggestion.
Some good old knocking on the wall does the trick if it's solid obviously it's good
Where do you get one and how does it work?
Your message reaches Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Excellent information! God bless!
Cool! Blessings to you!
Thanks for the info. I'd also suggest walking around the exterior of the unit and pressing firmly against the sidewalls to check for de-lamination. Check the roof membrane for de-lamination as well. Check if the AC is loose. Check for any sign of cracks in the self-levelling compound. Are there any cracks in skylights or roof vents. I've learned a lot from watching AZ expert and RV roof install.
I bought a used RV and had to go to a local bank with the seller and pay it off with part of the purchase price. Received the title direct from the bank on the spot and the seller signed it over. It’s an extra step to take, but for the right deal it can be done.
After having purchased a few 'new off the lot' in my younger years I will firmly state I will never do it again. With age & experience (& lumps n bumps) comes knowledge. Private party person-to-person sale is the only way I'll ever acquire more RVs. Find a good used private party one = save A LOT of hassle fixing bad/broken items from the factory / dealing with the dealer for warranty crap; save A LOT of $$$$ on not having to pay sales tax; save A LOT of money off of purchase price compared to a dealer & his retail pricing.
We've done it both ways... Our "new off the lot" experience has been great. In contrast we are currently helping my MIL find a good used unit. It's been a complete hassle. Not to say we won't find one but the number of con artist type who take a salvage RV, dress it up, and try to sell it as a good RV has been surprising. I've always known people did that but not at the rate I am seeing it. Pro's and con's either way. I know we've been extremely happy with our new unit!
@@WanderingWeekends A lot of environmental factors at play for sure. The area one is shopping in can be all the difference but nonetheless, patience is key. No matter if it's cars, trucks, boats, ATV/UTVs, etc, there's great pre-owned stuff out there i.e. needle in the haystack, you just have to be patient until you come across those items.
Great points, all of them. I’d add: be realistic in your expectations about reliability. RVs are unreliable, period. New ones might offer warranties, but the warranties can be such a hassle they might not be worth much. Slightly used RVs might actually have had some of the issues repaired, but there will always be something to fix or maintain. Your RV buddies you take along with you should be able to help you sort out what is a red flag vs what is something that every RVer can easily deal with.
Dang, thinking of buying our first used rv and man, is it a lot to think about.😮
Invaluable! A must watch for ALL NEWBIES
What’s cheaper a class C I can park at Walmart or a tow behind and begging someone to let me live on their land? I am a GIS major if any farmers want free analysis all I need is a place to park!!!!
I watched a lot of TH-cam videos and learned nothing. I learned something from your video so I’ve subscribed.
That is the best compliment I could ask for. Thank you. That said some of my videos may not work out as well. 😳 Welcome. Glad you are here.
Excellent video with great viewer comments! Will be watching this one over and over as we shop for a used 5th wheel. Thanks!
Thank you so much for that information and for helping out the people who are not informed in the market. Excellent video!
Very, very well done, but you should mention an NBRIA certified inspector - taking a friend or family member who may or may not know more than you do could cost you big bucks! Many people even recommend having brand new rigs inspected
Thanks for the great points. If I buy another RV, used or new, I will hired a certified RV inspector. We didn’t when we bought our last RV and there were several major problems. One being they had inadequate coach batteries, and the battery disconnect didn’t work. It was a consignment, as is sale on a dealers lot.
How do you hire a certified inspector if you're going to someone's home to look at it 100 miles away? Can a continent of the sale be a sale if pass inspection?
Purchased a 2017 grand design imagine just like one in your video, I guess I had God looking out over me, the people we bought it brand were very very honest people told us everything about it we’re very lucky and fortunate they only use that five times and it was basically new condition we camped four times last year with it and been very happy, everything worked perfectly no leaks, and tried everything from the furnace to the air-conditioning in all the climate we get in N W Indiana last year, thank you for your video I wish I seen it sooner, but as I said I had God looking over me because I had no idea what to look for ,
Dan Myers congrats on the Grand Design! We love ours too!!
This is a very useful TH-cam! In 2017, I bought a 2009 Prowler travel trailer which had been at an RV Park for 8 years. I planned to keep it right there and live in it full-time. There were relatively few problems with it, considering what all is possible to cause trouble. But the problems I did discover were with places I had not looked for water damage and leaks, and with questions I didn't know enough to ask, specifically: the furnace shut off in weather that dropped to 35', and the roof and slide-out leaked. Great video !
Glad you enjoyed!! Thanks for watching.
We found the seemingly perfect older TT. I was an 1988 & 26 ft long. Biggest problem is it's over 7,000 lbs. I showed up with my half ton. Ended up having to run all the way back home to get my F-250.
I live in Podunk, Nebraska and I'm just now getting this video info.
Maybe it just took that long for the info to leave Middleofnowhere, Georgia... :-)
Good info., except fast forward to Jan. 2022, and NADA is worthless, cuz supply and demand is crazy !
After buying my first house years ago we ended up having to spend a ton of money on repairs. I hired an inspector that was cheaper than the rest. I would definitely recommend hiring a well qualified inspector. It’s worth the peace of mind if nothing else.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. We’ve watched 3-4 other videos and none of them mentioned title, if a lien holder is involved, etc…Great content, totally on point 👍
We purchased used from a major dealer assuming major problems would be nonexistent. Boy were we wrong! Can’t begin to list here, but the first major problem was the freshwater tank was cracked at the top. During the walkthrough it was filled only a little so the water was below the crack.
00:02 the bug on the ceiling at first thought it was a spider. Great video tho
I just dealt with a couple liars in WI with the title shenanigans. They told me the one who owned it didn't register it. It was signed by the previous owners. They sputtered about the reasoning. It was dated 2021. The one said the other bought it last year. The timing wasnt congruent with the date signed. On the title itself, the make was an rv company name. Not the make of the rv trailer. 🤔 Seemed strange. No true identifying info like model number or product number... let me put it this way, the banker couldnt find the exact model when trying to input the info from the title. Apparently, VIN #s arent used to find trailers. (Thats dumb. Why have VIN #s then?!) 😠
I get the money approved from the bank and let these dudes know that. When I went to look at it, it seemed like it wouldve worked. I liked it! Excited to pay for it, right?! The older guy claimed the title was CLEAN with no liens on it.
Well... the one dude didnt return my call til later that evening to tell me that there WAS a lien on it. 😧 He lied about that knowing that there was. His explanation was that since the younger dipstick hadnt registered it, the title he had from the previous owners says NO LIEN. Being there is no title under the current owner's name, he didnt lie about there being no lien on it because there was no paperwork/title saying there was one.
🤯
I had been open to the offer even with the camper not being registered. I was gonna work with them to have that done. I was even going to put a down payment on it to hold it until everything was ready to transfer ownership the day I dropped off the check.
Another thing the older dipstick said was that I coukd wire the money and the paperwork could be emailed after. Um, 🤔
I will not wire several thousands of dollars in hopes they sign over the title to me and then wait for an email with the picture of the title in it and other papers.
No way! Im doing all that in person, ffs!
I noticed they dont text or email. So the transaction would have zero record of it due to only phone calls. Can ya say, goodbye to your money any faster?! 😆 Good thing I hold such value in truthfulness. That deal was dropped.
He lied to me, the bank in an attempt to rip off some mofos!
Having issues in some podunk town west of Tomah? Run!
I bought a nightmare... on purpose. The frame and floors were dust, the cabinets were jacked, but the trailer and wrap were perfect. I figured for $300 I was ahead of the game for just those two things. It gives me a chance to build it to my own specs, which is what I've really always wanted to do, so I'm pretty happy.
You'll regret
@@nicholasgrudier6710 I've got it sealed up, building out the inside now. It's been great! But then again I'm a tinkerer.
Fantastic video....if the tire year is over 10 years but still has good tread...replace it anyway. Both of the batteries were pretty dead and had to be replaced even though the owner said they were "fine." Did you say bearings? Ask about those too. Look at paperwork. Propane smells indicating leaks.
I'd like to know or see a video: how old is the best purchase? Some classic vintage are in the market with really good reselling value, that you might not know "how old would you go". But also talking about low budgets, it's a pop up better?
I thought I made a bargain, it didn't smell like mold, or like someone was trying to cover up any smell.
Pushing around windows and other structures, didn't show any softness.
Until I started renovations, and moved a bench, which I luckily did, because it was hiding the wet spot, and now I have to replace the batons on the back wall, as they are soft wood and all soggy/rotten. 😅
Luckily I have TH-cam, and had seen a video regarding fixing that problem, so waiting for the opportunity to get it to its parking spot, where I get access to power, and can start working on it.
We have purchased 3 RV's at this point. All used. Had excellent results and no surprises from any. The 1st was a 1976 Starcraft. Cost $3200.00 Great trailer and in immaculate condition. Purchased from private party. Short on storage and heavy. We used that trailer for 6 years. Next we purchased a used 5th wheel from a local dealer. 1991 Wilderness $9200.00 Absolutely no issues. Had that trailer for 12 years. The fridge did quit the last year, but it was a 1991 model and I expect usual repairs. Our third and current unit is a 5th wheel with slide. Sierra. $15,500.00 Going on its 16th year with us. Also, only minor repairs, water pump, battery. The fridge also quit on this one 4 years ago. Replaced and we plan on keeping this one for the unforeseen future. Maintenance is important to extend the life of your RV. Also, we always keep ours in an enclosed shed during the off season. Never buy a unit that has spent its entire life outside. Sun and UV rays raise havoc on the roofs and all the sealants on the RV. Check your roof! Every year I inspect and address any issues that show up. Roofs need a lot of maintenance to avoid future issues with rot etc. We also had everything hooked up and working prior to purchasing. We sold our used trailers privately and also had all hooked up and functioning so the new owners could ask questions etc. Common sense goes a long way when purchasing. Have a friend that owns an RV go with you, it will pay in the long run. I have seen campers sell very reasonable on auctions or estate sales, however you want to check them out prior so any issues can be addressed. Happy Camping!!
Knew a guy who was checking out a trailer where the salesman immediately walked to a spot in the trailer and awkwardly stood there for the whole inspection. Yep - he was standing in a soggy spot on the floor that costed $4k to fix.
Not surprising. Definitely some shady folks out there.
One very important thing to look at no matter where you buy it is to do a complete frame inspection. 5th wheels develop cracks in the area of the transition from the main part of the trailer to the Gooseneck . It can literally break off or collapse when the weight of the trailer is rested on the truck. This is when you will notice deformation in the outer surface s of the Gooseneck area .. You can access TH-cam videos showing you these failures . Lippert frames are breaking even on the most expensive trailers. Also the spring clips break or seperate from the frame . On travel trailers the frame splits in the web at the crossmember because of the extreme twisting of the frame that making sharp turns causes . You will see the tires really trying to tear off the rims while youre backing into a close site .
If you're not a "handyman jack of all trades" ... don't buy an RV. Beyond the yearly maintenance routines there are equipment failures that must be addressed. Here are a few of the issues that I dealt with a 2 year old Keystone Sprinter I've owned for 8 years: 3 out of 4 made in China tires failed for no reason - the forth is still going strong with almost no wear on it. One of my 2 axles had to be replaced by the dealer under warrantee ( thank God ). The propane regulator had to be replaced as it would intermittently stop working. The kitchen sink faucet had to be replaced as it literally fell apart. The battery for the RV died the first year I had my RV and I replaced it with a Walmart Everstart - working fine now after 3 years. The air-conditioner's electric motor started to make an annoying high pitch squeal as the bearings failed so I had to replace the motor ( note: it is possible with some difficulty to find the right bearings and replace the bearings only ). The large rear window blind needed a repair for the frayed raise/lower cords. The love seat imitation leather ( plastic ) cushions completely disintegrated and after an exhausting search I found covers on Amazon that do the job. Apparently this problem is widespread and nobody cares to hold the Chinese manufacturers responsible so we keep buying their crap because it's cheap. I had a leak on one of the slide outs that required major surgery where I carefully peeled back the rubber membrane - removed the rotten wood structure - installed new wood with construction glue and screws - put back the membrane and meticulously resealed all joints with the proper sealer. I also had some delamination on my large slide out ( the outside skin starts to bow away from the structure. Fortunately my neighbor Steve who worked at an RV repair center advised me - I removed the silicone sealer around the window closest to the problem and meticulously resealed it. The problem has disappeared 95 %. Thanks Steve. A plumbing T joint under the bathroom sink cracked and started leaking so I had a pro come in and replace it. I now have the tools and parts and know how to tackle this in the future. In spite of the repairs , I absolutely love my RV because of the floor plan and the many windows. It's made for 2 adults and essentially functions like a 3 1/2 apartment during my stay in Florida during the Winter. The quality of life it offers such as summer weather, many new friends, wonderful beaches and restaurants, bicycle paths I'm sure had added years to our lives .
The roof inspection is so Important I'd bring my own folding ladder in case the seller doesn't have one . If the roof is bad or shows signs of leakage, chances are high the rest of the RV is rotten- walk away. Often, dealers will not accept such units for a trade because they know it's not worth anything.
I would say favor RVs that haven't been in rain conditions like RVs from the south west. If they haven't been rained on there's probably less chance of water damage. Also inspect the sides and look down the length from the edge with one eye to look for wavy surfaces.
sun damage can be pretty rough in the desert...
@@WanderingWeekends True. its a trade off.
That fly behind you wanted some camera exposure too. Great video! Keep them coming! Any info is a great one.
Best and honest video for newbie like me so far I have watched... Thank a lot.. and keep doing good work👍😊
another good point would be to ask the seller to see the title or registration it will also have a issue date on it and if they say i have owened it for a few years and the ownership was only recorded 6 months earlier RED FLAG
* Your info is so straight forward........thanks for the video.....very useful*
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
I buy RVs with issues, fix those issues and if I sell the trailer I list what was done.
My latest is a 2012 Skyline that had a rotten floor that has everything else in good shape for 800 dollars.
I will repair the floor and live in it for the next few years.
At the price I got it for I could make my money back by parting it out.
I would hire a professional to inspect it. Well worth the money.
How much do those types of inspections usually cost?
@@Foco3018 Inspection cost is typically $80-100 for medium length RV (22-35 feet).
How o find an inspector and find our their credibility?
@@sunnysmile117 There are mobile RV mechanics AND RV places will check them out too.
Not necessary it doesn't take an expert to see if everything works and open the cabinets and examine for water damage
Go underneath the trailer and check the suspension and frame for cracks, rust, or any kind of repairs.
I’m more on the pop-up side for tips on what to look for: 1. Roof, that’s the number one thing even before the title question. Most pop ups have a filon, or fiberglass roof, much different than a rubber travel trailer or edpm.
2. Would be the invertor. Those are typically the first thing to go in a few years, and there are several different ones to look into, the key distinction for anyone buying an RV or pop up is the reality that you have multiple options on battery type. If you want to do boondocking style camping or solar, you have to think about what kind of invertor your rig has, and needs to do that thing you want to do, or if it even works at all. Most RV heaters use DC as a primary power source. If the invertor doesn’t work correctly, the heater won’t work correctly.
3. Towing, this should probably be number 1, but I am assuming most people know what they need, which is likely not correct considering the accidents some have been subject to due to poor towing practices. You have to understand and do the research on towing before you even consider buying and RV or even a smaller pop up. Brakes and stabilizers and weight distribution are all important considerations when you’re thinking about going 70mph down the road.
Great tips for the pop-up shoppers! Thank you so much!
Great tips. Not sure as a seller I’d let anyone climb around on roof or pull drawers off the slides, but as a buyer I can understand why you may want to. A lot of buyers don’t realize there are different levels of quality even in same floor plans and manufacture from cupboards to flooring and countertops.
Thanks for the most valuable information on buying a used travel trailer so thank you for the 10 most important rules on buying a used travel trailer. My first time looking I am looking for a good name brand so can you give some tips.. 🙏
I bought a used RV, did it for two years and sold it to get out of RV-ing. It was a lot of work, maintenance, repairs, preparations, expensive. Had to find a place to store it. Always something to fix even during a trip. Travel times were longer. It was driving a home on wheels. RV-ing wasn’t for me. Glad I did it when I was young and learn my lesson early in life and not after I retired. I went back to driving my car or truck and staying in motels, much simpler and easier to travel. My suggestion for anyone thinking of buying one would be to rent one before deciding to commit to buying one. It’s not for everyone.
I agree with you 100%
I'm looking for one right now this helps so much 🙏🏼
Great to hear!!
8:44 "yeahbsalutely!"
I love it, I have a new term to drop on people - kewl moose!
This was a very good and thorough job which, by the way, also does apply to Class A, B & C units.
The difference is that those have, as you mentioned, more/additional things to check out which are related to their motorization.
Subscribed, bookmarked and ready to go through prior videos (especially that roof one).
Ahhhh, COVID furlough has one positive side...time for research like this!
Glad to have you on board!! Appreciate you watching and commenting.
I am looking for a class C, and think some your tips are good for that too. Awesome, thank you.
Don't get a class c they literally are the worst RV you can get they are extremely leak prone and in my personal opinion are hideous it's like driving around in a van. If you are wanting something that's not a towable I would recommend an A class even if it's older the quality is usually much better as well
Great video! We recently bought a used TT and our biggest head-scratcher is that our electric water heater cannot run at the same time as AC. Perhaps this is normal… It trips the breaker. We circumvent that by using the gas water heater as needed; I’m thinking our AC unit needs replaced soon. It’s quite loud and the housing is cracked a bit.
This was very valuable information. Thank you so much.
Very good video has great pointers.
Also look at the frame, frame hangers and suspension pieces. Is there any rust and corrosion, also check if there are any signs of bug and mice damage.
YES! Crawl under and check it out! Framing is often overlooked!
I just looked at a unit where the frame would not have passed inspection in our state due to rusting through and the seller wouldn't budge on price enough to cover the repair.
Alomst needless to say(?), I left it still sitting there.
Isn't it amazing that talking to people face to face is old school now lol!
Bought a 2001 37ft sandpiper for 9500$.
3000 more than what I wanted to pay but with wildfires and the unnecessary pandemic , it was a bargain. Rv prices are crazy.
I hearing dealers are being flooded with them now from so many who did "knee jerk" purchases bc of covid ..
Hope you been well and thanks for knowing it was a scamdemic
Great advise for us looking to buy a used RV. Thanks for sharing these ideas !
gus Paca you’re welcome!! Happy shopping!
Really no reason to buy used when you can get a brand new one for 30 to 40 k payments of 200 a month why inherit someone's problem?
Check for bumps or wavy wall paper around windows. If you see a bunch of bumps or bubbles in the wall paper that could be mold from leaking windows.
Bring an air quality monitor to check for toxic VOCs inside the RV. You can get one for under $100.
i have a 2700lb pop up camper. no title was issued when i registered it. here in Massachusetts, trailers under 3000lb don't need titles . i had one, i'm the second owner. the registrar kept it. hopping to trade it in soon.
Subscribed just from this amazingly informative video
Welcome!!!
Enjoy this video thank you so much looking to buy RV next next spring.
Anita Cantrell fun!!
Sorry to comment twice on the same video but after thinking a while on this video I thought of a couple things to mention to people:
1) Decide ahead of time what defects, if any, you are willing to realistically accept. Maybe you want perfection but maybe not. For example, if someone had a big discount on a unit because they couldn’t sell it due to a bad air conditioner I would still buy it. But, I wouldn’t accept a soft wall. I would accept worn out tires but I wouldn’t accept a sketchy title issue.
2) If you are NEW to camping, go used if possible. Even if you are willing and able to buy new. You’ll be better off financially if you find out you aren’t as much of a camping person as you thought and decide to sell. Also, I went through a couple of used campers of different styles in a couple of years finding out what was important to us then when we bought new we knew exactly what we wanted. I think that’s one of the reasons there are so many 1 year old campers for sale.
Great channel BTW. I subscribed because of your F250 videos and these camping videos are a great bonus.
Great insight!! Appreciate your comment and thanks for the sub!!
I've seen in other videos where they suggest pulling back seems on the outside, checking bolt and screw heads for signs of rust (most will be covered by some sort of molding or caulk in most cases) as those can be signs of water damage (or allowing water to go where it shouldn't). Is it possible to see how many previous owners an RV / trailer has had? (I'm not sure, but if so, if there have been a lot of owners, or ownership has been very short, like less than a year or two, and let's say the RV/trailer has had 5 owners but is only maybe 6-7 years old, that can be a red flag too. Same as with a car. If I car has been "passed around" and has had several owners, that's a red flag there might be a problem that the buyers found out about after the sale. I also think it doesn't hurt to task them why they're selling the RV. If they give you some strange story, then that might be a red flag, such as selling a 5 year old RV because they say it's "getting old."
Thanks for the video. Going to look at a 2011 model travel trailer on Saturday that is out of state.
Stephen Pinion let us know how it goes!!
Check the edges for water damage and walk the roof. If there’s any soft spots the trust have water damage
Excellent video with so much valuable information! thanks much!
Appreciate you watching!
I checked out the NADA guide. I entered hypothetical data for a 2018 RV, the questions I thought was extremely detailed. It came up "Page not found". I know a little bit about RV brands and models. If I risk a used RV purchase I think the best bet would be a recent model, say two or three years old. It would be nice if some guide would list ballpark figures of cost new and depreciation percent per year. Also I expect some brands like Airstream would have lower depreciation. Maybe it's better to buy from a dealer to avoid fly-by-night crooks even if you have to pay more.
Stephen Powdexter weird on the NADA page not found deal... I’ll look into it.
Dealers can be the crooks. At least you can usually look a private seller in the eyes and determine if he’s bull shitting you, more difficult to do with an expert salesman.
It's the week and year on tires. 41-18 means the 41st week of 2018.
Correct. Did I misspeak in the video?
here one problem with going on the roof, i'm a big guy. (270) the ladder is only rated for 250lb. guess i could bring a 8ft ladder and get a good look at the roof , if i move the ladder around the RV.
Awesome points Cory! Very well done buddy.
scott Michel thanks man... I hope it saves someone some headaches!
Nice advise ,it will help me out
Great advice!
title in hand/no lean?
Is the title someone else's name or repo title or a salvage?
tow ability / am I going to be able to move this thing
good tread on the tires dry rotted/they don't have a severe flat spot?
When was the last brakes and bearings serviced?
the last time you towed the trailer
Has there been any issues any major issues or if there's been any major repairs
I purchased a used 2017 sonic lite 169 VBH from a dealer and they had it running when I picked it up, I have never used the outside shower but after one year of ownership I was testing everything so I could sell it and to my surprise the outside shower is leaking bad out of the handles in the box, since none of the water system got tested.
Sorry to hear... that is a bummer!
I bought a used TT from a dealer in Arkansas. Knowing it was used, I did an inspection before purchase. One thing I didn't do is a VIN history search. Two years later after dealing with some water leaks at the front cap, I discovered that the unit was sold FOR SALVAGE by a bank through an auction. The state of Arkansas looks dealers to obtain a new title WITHOUT any mention of salvage. I got duped. Do yourself a favor an do a VIN search on any used vehicle.
After watching the video, and reading the comments, I'm having reservations about buying a true TT. We currently own a 2006 Coleman Niagara Pop Up Camper and we were thinking about upgrading to a TT to extend our travel season (live in the PNW). We only camp about 15 days a year (maybe 20 if we had a TT), is it even worth the extra cost and maintenance to upgrade? Sounds like going from a $7,000 investment to a $20,000 one is a bad idea in our situation?
They are all a labor of love.
Breaks ? Lol. My new trailer, only had one working. The others would try, but no holding power. They sent new coils and then all worked.
😄👍Good Stuff, Great Tips
Wow, great presentation...what part of GA are you in?
We are in Oconee County!
"Putting lipstick on a Pig" XD darn !
Great advice Cory, Thanks!
Why are Rv Sellers reluctant to accept teller’s check or transfer funds directly from bank account into theirs? I don’t feel comfortable going to stranger’s residence with significant sum of cash even if they are the seller to purchase a TT or rv from them.
One of the issues I am finding is that alot of the used ones cost more than some of the new ones
Which leaves the debate new has warranty so you have to work out and deal with any issues
Used ones someone else worked out new issues but now you have to fix any they missed or added to it. Loving the hunt.
Yep salutey I’m on the floor wow love this video
Thank you for the info!
Appreciate you watching!
Thanks for the vid! Subscribed for more as I start my search
Check the holding tanks. Fresh tanks - is it clean and sanitary? If the gravity fill throat is dirty, walk away. Grey tank - does it leak? Black tank - is it clean and empty - use a flashlight through the toilet. You should be able to see the plastic on the bottom of the tank. Some black tanks will be full of dried poo which is VERY difficult to remove. This is a sign of very poor maintenance. Walk away.
As an insurance adjuster, lemme tell you how many poor souls buy used RVs and Travel Trailers both private party and from dealers and on consignment each season. I know this because a ton of them wind up calling in claims for things like rotting roofs/decking, rotting subfloors, delamination (in filon sided trailers and RVs), mesa siding blowing off during road towing (due to dry rot of the substructure in the walls), dry rotted interior ceilings and walls. These are the heavy-hitters by far and your insurance WILL NOT cover this. It is all pre-existing and even if not, is all due to poor caulking (and please never use any silicon sealants), uncared for roofs, bad slide seals/seams, etc. The ETC. is the most important part.
Recommend contacting NRVIA for a professional RV Inspection.
Randy that is a great idea -- how much does one cost??? ball park?
Jay Dee depends on what type/size of rig. Range could be $400 to $1200 but a great bargain to keep from getting a pile of trouble. Search NRVIA.org to locate an inspector in your area.
That's ridiculous it doesn't take an expert to spot water damage and to just test every appliance
Such a great video. Thank you so much!!
Orren G you’re welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Number 10, should be a Golden number 1 rule. Friends, or family don’t let friends or family member, go on a stranger property ALONE. Cause you never know….or if you really can’t find anyone. Tell someone you can trust, like friend or family, tell them your looking at RV. Say you’ll be back, at a curtain time if your not for some reason… they should call you, make sure your okay. Bring your dog if you can… That goes with buying a used car, or any used vehicle.
That’s a smart tip. I know someone who got permission to look at property while the owners were gone. Later they were charged with thief of an old antique. For a year they spent time & money to prove their innocence. Take a friend with you or wait until the owner is home.
Great. Where are you located?
We’re near Athens GA
Sadly the "makeup on a pig" guy probably found someone else to unload that camper on. Good tips here. Thanks
Helen M. It’s still on marketplace. I feel like giving a link and letting our subscribers give him a hard time!! 😂😂
@@WanderingWeekends If you do, just be sure to list and describe the exact issues, details only not opinions, so he doesn't come back at you with a lawsuit.
I recently was in the same situation pertaining to the title. The seller would not disclosed what he owned on the lien. I tried to find out by asking his lender they wouldn't tell me beacuse it was confidential info.
Why does it matter what is still owed??? As long as you are happy with the price you are paying!!👌
These are great tips. Thanks
I pass by a place every day on my to and from work that has an old 70s or 80s ish trailer that I like just because it would look period correct behind both of my Square Body GM trucks. Can't really get a chance to look it over or even talk to the person who's lot it's sitting on because there's no phone number on the building and no one seems to be there anyway.
SOU6900 re the trailer you want to look at to match your truck, can you leave a mssg on the door of the trailer that maybe the owner would see. Is there a license plate or vin# on it that you could look up ownership?
@@j33pster14 it's backed in so I have no idea if it has a plate on it and I've only ever looked at it while driving by. Honestly with my C30 needing a trans, full brake work and steering column repair just to name a few, plus my 86 K2500 needing work as well to get it and the chevy on the road I just cant bring myself to throw money at a camper of any kind and I really dont make enough money to afford the upkeep anyway.