RV for Sale Guide - checklist helps in choosing the right rv first
RV Prepurchase Checklist
This prepurchase checklist will take some time to work through but will serve as a very valuable resource to assist you in evaluating a bus, motor home, or RV for purchase. Use this GENERAL list along with the more SPECIFIC information on your particular platform of choice found at RV Issues, or Conversion Bus Issues, or School Bus Issues.
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Oil Analysis - Ask
seller to provide you the records showing that the engine and transmission oil
have been analyzed on a regular basis. If they have not done this then the price
should reflect this. Regardless of records you should pull your own
oil analysis
which can detect: fuel dilution of lubrication oil, dirt contamination in the
oil, antifreeze in the oil, excessive wear of internal components (by finding
excessive traces of metal), wrong type or grade of lubricants. Some wear is normal,
but abnormal levels can give an early warning of impending problems and help prevent
a major breakdown later. Early detection will reduce repair bills, reduce catastrophic
failures, increase machine life, reduce nonscheduled downtime. For example early
detection with oil analysis can allow for corrective action such as repairing
an air intake leak before major damage occurs. One of the major advantages of
an oil analysis program is being able to anticipate problems and schedule repair
work to avoid downtime during a critical time of use.
Rust - When buying a used rv remember - rust cannot be stopped. Rust does not rest. Rust MUST be taken seriously no matter how cheap your rv candidate is. If you think you can sheet metal and bondo your way to a permanent fix, think again. A little rust on the body surface may be acceptable for the price. Do not however, accept structural rust, flaking frames, rusting-out fenders or hood hinge mounts, anything that would be a major problem when (not if) it gets twice as bad as it is now.
Service Records - Ask for service records, original paperwork, and recent repair receipts. Everything in the paper trail will help you determine value and avoid potential problems. It will also reward you with some eye opening information. Oh, you mean you didn't know an engine swap could cost $3,000? Surprised that a brake job with rotors and new lines was $1,200? Receipts and paperwork are very valuable.
Carefully look through the paperwork and avoid the purchase of an rv with no paper trail at all. Look for weird situations. Finding a receipt for an AC charge might be good, if its recent. Come across receipts for an AC charge done three times in the last year and you have a problem.
NOTE: If the VIN number on the service records or receipts does not match the vehicle you are purchasing then obviously that paperwork is meaningless.
BUDGET for parts and labor on ANY mechanical part for which you don't have a good history, receipt trail, or ability to inspect. In other words if you can't verify its condition then don't buy the RV unless you can afford to replace it, part by part. That means: AC, brakes, hydraulic lines, engine compression, transmission condition, steering and front end parts, electrical system from the wiring harness to the gauges, alternator and fuse panels, tires, body, and glass, air compressor buildup and recovery times, and many other items your mechanic can advise you about. Visit RV sales for advantages and disadvantages of selling an RV yourself.
Bus and RV Parts for the major brands are available for even 30 to 40 year old buses. More obscure brands, those made in foreign countries and imported, and models with short production spans can present major problems however. Parts availability issues are one of the reasons you sometimes see beautiful $20,000 - $40,000 buses or RV's sitting idle. These are huge complicated machines depending on the proper functioning of thousands of used parts. Be sure you have at least TWO sources for parts lined up BEFORE buying any RV.
Financing your RV - Many companies offer better financing for certain preferred builders and even certain models, especially those that have the lowest depreciation. The purchase of any RV used for business should not be done without a thorough evaluation of the finance options that are attached to it. Some banks won't finance a commercial vehicle until it has passed a DOT inspection, some offer lower rates for "occasional use", and some charge a higher percentage rate if you plan to "live aboard".
RV Insurance - this can be a real "dream breaker". How will you tell your family that you you got a great deal on the rv for them and fixed it up real nice, but...well nobody will insure it cause it's too old, or the brakes are after market, or there was a recall on it. Rv converters, how would you like to finish your rv repairs with $30,000 in renovations only to learn it's uninsurable with normal companies due to "gross vehicle weight issues". Visit buying a bus or buying a truck for prepurchase instructions when buying a motorcoach or tractor trailer. I recommend High Risk Auto Insurance for those with less than perfect driving records.
Do NOT underestimate this part of the process. Get an insurance quote in writing from at least TWO major carriers before signing to purchase a vehicle of any type. Insurance cost is important when comparing two different vehicles also. If the older vehicle costs twice as much annually in insurance costs would it be worth it to buy the newer one?
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