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Topic: Used RV inspection checklist - re-post (Read 86 times) previous topic - next topic
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Used RV inspection checklist - re-post
(I've posted this link more than once in the past, but since the "Is this a good buy?" question appears frequently) those considering a used Lazy Daze might want to put this checklist into play when inspecting a potential buy.

If one's own skills, knowledge, and experience are up to spotting warts and/or deal-breakers, or if one has a friend who is experienced, knows what to look for, and is willing to thoroughly check out a rig, good.  If not, I suggest making sure that one hires a professional inspector, hand him/her the checklist (which should mimic or at least supplement his/her own list), and watch and listen carefully while s/he goes through the rig and talks with the seller. Depending on the inspector's skill set and/or familiarity with the particular chassis and engine, a separate mechanical inspection might be advisable. (If a seller objects to having the rig inspected, your next move should be obvious.)

RV Inspection Checklist

I understand that having professional inspections done can be expensive; buying a "pig in a poke" will very likely be more so.

Thoroughly inspecting a "pre-loved" rig before committing to buy is an essential pre-purchase step; going on faith - in the honesty of the seller, in the "feathers" of a rig and not the "guts", and/or in that the rig is a Lazy Daze, and therefore somehow resistant to deterioration - is not a good buying strategy. Knowing what one is getting is certainly advisable for anybody, but much more critical if one has little or no RVing experience, few or no mechanical skills, and/or a very limited budget for purchase and for the almost certainly inevitable post-purchase "re-hab, repairs, and replacements".  The caveats are even more crucial if the rig is old, has high mileage, has been poorly or "indifferently" maintained, and driven and/or stored under conditions which may have contributed to accelerated wear or deterioration.

If the intended purpose of the rig is just weekend camping or occasional short trips, one might be a little less exacting in one's standards, but if the intended use of the rig is extensive travel or fulltiming, the importance of all of the above can't be overstated. (Again, IMO; YMMV.)

This post is not meant as a put-down to anyone's dreams or to suggest that all old rigs with low selling prices are to be avoided; cream puffs do exist, but it may take quite a bit of searching and time on the learning curve to find a good rig in one's price range. And, as has been said many times, the "price" of RV ownership can be significant; although the costs cover a wide range depending on a great number of  variables, it is not an "limited outlay" lifestyle. It's really fun, it's freeing, it's challenging, and it's the best way to "goseedo" (IMO), but the expenses involved may require compromises that some are unwilling or unable to make. 

As ever, YMMV.

Joan






2003 TK has a new home