AMERICAN MOTORHOME BUYERS GUIDE

The whole process of checking out a American Motorhome RV will take time. Don't allow yourself to be rushed, make several visits if necessary and take notes as there will be many points you will need to remember. There will be items that need attention and these should be noted and used when negotiating the final price.

Mechanic:

When considering purchasing a used American Motorhome RV you will truly benefit from taking along a trusted and experienced mechanic to check over the motor and the general state of the mechanics of the vehicle.

Oil:

Check the oil's color and smell. If it is burned then there might be problems with the engine. If it is creamy and has signals of white foam then it might have had additives used covering up serious engine problems.

Batteries:

The batteries should be able to start the vehicle with ease.

Brakes:

Pay special attention to the brakes and remember that when fully loaded the American Motorhome RV will take just that bit longer to stop. be sure to check the handbrake too.

Rust:

Check the bodywork and the frame for rust. If the frame is rusted then you might as well forget it as the life of the American Motorhome RV is nearing its end. If there are rust patches on the bodywork you have to decide if they are worth repairing or not. Bodywork can be repaired but will need to be coated, protected and re sprayed. It might be viable to do this but if the rust is extended or if there are a lot of patches then it probably won't be worth while. To avoid rust problems you should think about purchasing a vehicle in the south where there is much less humidity and the vehicles are less prone to rusting..

House Batteries:

Take a look at the house batteries themselves, there could be up to six of these linked up together. Check that the terminals are not corroded, that the have sufficient battery fluid and that they are holding their charge. These batteries will supply power to all of the lights and in house electrical appliances when you are not hooked up to the mains supply and can be quite costly to replace. If the vehicle is fitted with solar panels make check how much charge they are putting back into the batteries.

Heating:

Make sure that the heating system blows hot air to all parts of the living area, bedrooms and bathroom. At the same time the boiler should be able to supply hot water.

Air conditioning:

Should be blowing cold (refrigerated) air constantly and immediately. Gas refills for air conditioning units are available but are not cheap.

Propane System:

Inspect with great care the propane hoses, regulator and tanks. Make certain that all appliances connected to this system work. If the refrigerator is powered by electricity and propane then make sure that it switches over from one to the other without problems as this can be costly to repair.

Toilet:

This should be able to hold water as it will stop any fumes from returning from the black-water waste tank into the bathroom.

Flooring:

Check for soft spots, especially in the bathroom and around the sink area. Soft spots will appear if there are leaks in the water system and the damage done will depend on how long it has gone unchecked. Soft spots indicate rotten wood or rusted and corroded metal under the carpets.

Ceilings:

As with the flooring the ceilings should be checked for damp patches, especially in corners and hidden spots such as on top of cupboard units. Damp ceilings will indicate that there are leaks in the roof which can be very costly and time consuming to repair.

General Check:

Have a good and thorough check over everything. Open every cupboard door, vent, window and locker both inside and out. Check all the lights inside and out and turn on and off everything that is electrically powered.

Paperwork:

Ask to see all service records and any receipts or paperwork pertaining to repairs or modifications that have been undertaken. Looking at the service records you should be able to tell how many previous owners the American motorhome has had. You should check that the VIN number on the paperwork matches the VIN number on the vehicle itself

Insurance:

As a final note, there are some models for certain reasons are classed as uninsurable. These are rare but do exist due to certain models not meeting standard weight/size restrictions or being recalled models etc. Do check with your insurance company with the exact make and model and year to get a quote on the insurance