{"id":12844,"date":"2024-03-06T17:52:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T00:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?p=12844"},"modified":"2024-03-05T12:53:10","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T19:53:10","slug":"rv-inspection-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/rv-inspection-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"RV Inspection Checklist for Buying a Used RV"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You want to make a smart RV purchase. But you&rsquo;re also new to the world of RV ownership. <em>Is that used RV <\/em><strong><em>really <\/em><\/strong><em>road-ready? Can you trust a pre-owned RV dealership? And how can you know what&rsquo;s a good price for a pre-owned RV?<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>These are all valid concerns, so to ensure the RV you&rsquo;re looking at is truly road-ready, go through this RV inspection checklist. <\/strong>Use it as a guide to examine your RV&rsquo;s structure, systems, and features&mdash;inside and out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"phase-1-exterior-examination\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Phase #1: Exterior Examination<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start your RV inspection with a good walk around the exterior. <strong>Your goal is to confirm everything is functional with no exterior damage.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"rv-body-integrity\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>RV Body Integrity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No one wants to buy a used RV, only to find that small water leaks in the siding (or the roof) have rotted the entire bump out. <strong>Water damage can significantly undermine the RV&rsquo;s body integrity<\/strong>, leading to potentially hefty repair costs. <em>So, what do you check for?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the exterior, you&rsquo;re checking for&hellip;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rust, <em>particularly on the corners or around bolts<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peeling paint&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dried sealant around windows and door<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cracks or holes on the RV&rsquo;s exterior, <em>particularly around seams and attachment points<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check all external switches and valves <em>just to make sure they operate smoothly.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inspect the rubber seals around the slide-outs. <em>(Note: Dried rubber shrinks and cracks, allowing water to get in).<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"slide-outs-and-awnings\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Slide-Outs and Awnings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like all mechanical parts, <strong>slide-outs <\/strong>and <strong>awnings <\/strong>have lots of parts that can deteriorate over time. With proper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/rv-maintenance-guide\/\">maintenance<\/a>, they should last, but you need to check for&hellip;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gaps in the seal and flange of the RV slide-outs (This should fit flush against the body&ndash;which will prevent leaks and muffle road noise).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loose screws<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Malfunctioning mechanisms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Warps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cracking in the plastic\/metal parts of the slide-outs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Operate the slide-out system several times to check the rollers, hydraulics, and gears for smooth operation.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"towing-and-hitch-inspection\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Towing and Hitch Inspection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you intend to tow a vehicle with your motorhome or buy a travel trailer, then you want to connect your tow vehicle or toad to the RV and check for proper operation. Complete the following tasks:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check for rust and missing parts<em> (hitch pins are notorious for getting lost)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test the electrical connections<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check the ball size<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure your brake lights function<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<html><body><div id=\"in_post\">\n    <div class=\"variant\">\r\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/rv-storage-near-me\" onclick=\"rudderanalytics.track('press editorial cta button', {location: 'first in post', version: '2.2'}, () =&gt; { console.log('track call'); });\">\r\n\t\t  <div class=\"first-in-post-cta\">\r\n\t\t    <header>\r\n\t\t      <h2 id=\"how-neighbor-is-changing-rv-storage\">How Neighbor is changing RV storage<\/h2>\r\n\t\t    <\/header>\r\n\t\t    <section>\r\n\t\t      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n\t\t        <div class=\"service-option-icon\">\r\n\t\t          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" fill=\"none\">\r\n\t\t            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M13.125 9.375C11.0539 9.375 9.375 11.0539 9.375 13.125V46.875C9.375 48.9461 11.0539 50.625 13.125 50.625H46.875C48.9461 50.625 50.625 48.9461 50.625 46.875V13.125C50.625 11.0539 48.9461 9.375 46.875 9.375H13.125ZM28.125 16.875C28.125 15.8395 28.9645 15 30 15C31.0355 15 31.875 15.8395 31.875 16.875V20.625H35.625C36.6605 20.625 37.5 21.4645 37.5 22.5C37.5 23.5355 36.6605 24.375 35.625 24.375H26.25C25.2145 24.375 24.375 25.2145 24.375 26.25C24.375 27.2855 25.2145 28.125 26.25 28.125H33.75C36.8566 28.125 39.375 30.6434 39.375 33.75C39.375 36.8566 36.8566 39.375 33.75 39.375H31.875V43.125C31.875 44.1605 31.0355 45 30 45C28.9645 45 28.125 44.1605 28.125 43.125V39.375H22.5C21.4645 39.375 20.625 38.5355 20.625 37.5C20.625 36.4645 21.4645 35.625 22.5 35.625H33.75C34.7855 35.625 35.625 34.7855 35.625 33.75C35.625 32.7145 34.7855 31.875 33.75 31.875H26.25C23.1434 31.875 20.625 29.3566 20.625 26.25C20.625 23.1434 23.1434 20.625 26.25 20.625H28.125V16.875Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n\t\t          <\/svg>\r\n\t\t        <\/div>\r\n\t\t        <h3 id=\"transparent-monthly-savings\">Transparent monthly savings<\/h3>\r\n\t\t        <p>Renters save 30-50% on RV storage, on average. No rate hikes.<\/p>\r\n\t\t      <\/div>\r\n\t\t      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n\t\t        <div class=\"service-option-icon\">\r\n\t\t          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"70\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 70 50\" fill=\"none\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M36.5625 4.6875C34.8366 4.6875 33.4375 6.08661 33.4375 7.8125V10.9375H8.4375C6.71161 10.9375 5.3125 12.3366 5.3125 14.0625V37.5C5.3125 39.2259 6.71161 40.625 8.4375 40.625H13.6513C14.529 42.4726 16.4122 43.75 18.5938 43.75C20.7753 43.75 22.6585 42.4726 23.5362 40.625H51.1513C52.029 42.4726 53.9122 43.75 56.0938 43.75C58.306 43.75 60.2114 42.4364 61.0727 40.5467C61.2267 40.5975 61.3914 40.625 61.5625 40.625H63.125C64.8509 40.625 66.25 39.2259 66.25 37.5V29.6875C66.25 29.4242 66.1835 29.1652 66.0566 28.9345L60.5078 18.8458L57.9358 12.8334C57.4439 11.6834 56.3135 10.9375 55.0627 10.9375H49.0625V7.8125C49.0625 6.08661 47.6634 4.6875 45.9375 4.6875H36.5625ZM45.9375 10.9375V7.8125H36.5625V10.9375H45.9375ZM8.4375 14.0625V18.75H20.9375C22.6634 18.75 24.0625 20.1491 24.0625 21.875V28.125C24.0625 29.8509 22.6634 31.25 20.9375 31.25H8.4375V37.5H13.1804C13.5595 34.8498 15.8387 32.8125 18.5938 32.8125C21.3488 32.8125 23.628 34.8498 24.0071 37.5H30.3125V20.3125C30.3125 19.4496 31.0121 18.75 31.875 18.75H38.125C38.9879 18.75 39.6875 19.4496 39.6875 20.3125V37.5H50.6804C51.0595 34.8498 53.3387 32.8125 56.0938 32.8125C58.8491 32.8125 61.1286 34.8503 61.5073 37.501C61.512 37.5008 61.5168 37.5006 61.5216 37.5005C61.5352 37.5002 61.5488 37.5 61.5625 37.5H63.125V31.25H49.0625C47.3366 31.25 45.9375 29.8509 45.9375 28.125V21.875C45.9375 20.1491 47.3366 18.75 49.0625 18.75H57.0679L55.0627 14.0625H8.4375ZM13.125 28.125H8.4375V21.875H13.125V28.125ZM58.6074 21.875L62.0449 28.125H55.3125V21.875H58.6074ZM52.1875 21.875H49.0625V28.125H52.1875V21.875ZM16.25 28.125V21.875H20.9375V28.125H16.25ZM33.4375 37.5H36.5625V21.875H33.4375V37.5ZM16.25 38.2812C16.25 36.9868 17.2993 35.9375 18.5938 35.9375C19.8882 35.9375 20.9375 36.9868 20.9375 38.2812C20.9375 39.5757 19.8882 40.625 18.5938 40.625C17.2993 40.625 16.25 39.5757 16.25 38.2812ZM53.75 38.2812C53.75 36.9868 54.7993 35.9375 56.0938 35.9375C57.3882 35.9375 58.4375 36.9868 58.4375 38.2812C58.4375 39.5757 57.3882 40.625 56.0938 40.625C54.7993 40.625 53.75 39.5757 53.75 38.2812Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\r\n\t\t        <\/div>\r\n\t\t        <h3 id=\"keep-your-rv-nearby\">Keep your RV nearby<\/h3>\r\n\t\t        <p>Find secure RV storage close to home for easy pickup and return.<\/p>\r\n\t\t      <\/div>\r\n\t\t      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n\t\t        <div class=\"service-option-icon\">\r\n\t\t          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" fill=\"none\">\r\n\t\t            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M30 7.5C25.5499 7.5 21.1998 8.8196 17.4997 11.2919C13.7996 13.7643 10.9157 17.2783 9.21272 21.3896C7.50975 25.501 7.06417 30.025 7.93234 34.3895C8.80051 38.7541 10.9434 42.7632 14.0901 45.9099C17.2368 49.0566 21.2459 51.1995 25.6105 52.0677C29.975 52.9358 34.4991 52.4903 38.6104 50.7873C42.7217 49.0843 46.2357 46.2004 48.7081 42.5003C51.1804 38.8002 52.5 34.4501 52.5 30C52.5 24.0326 50.1295 18.3097 45.9099 14.0901C41.6903 9.87053 35.9674 7.5 30 7.5ZM41.5295 26.7545C42.7193 25.5646 42.7193 23.6354 41.5295 22.4455C40.3396 21.2556 38.4104 21.2556 37.2205 22.4455L26.7061 32.96L22.7795 29.0334C21.5896 27.8435 19.6604 27.8435 18.4705 29.0334C17.2807 30.2232 17.2807 32.1524 18.4705 33.3423L24.5516 39.4234C25.123 39.9948 25.898 40.3158 26.7061 40.3158C27.5142 40.3158 28.2891 39.9948 28.8605 39.4234L41.5295 26.7545Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n\t\t          <\/svg>\r\n\t\t        <\/div>\r\n\t\t        <h3 id=\"storage-made-simple\">Storage made simple<\/h3>\r\n\t\t        <p>Don't settle for stone age tech and long contracts. Neighbor makes it easy.<\/p>\r\n\t\t      <\/div>\r\n\t\t    <\/section>\r\n\t\t    <footer>\r\n\t\t      <button>Search nearby RV Storage <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"25\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 25 24\" fill=\"none\">\r\n\t\t          <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M11 2.90625C9.4981 2.90625 8.02993 3.35162 6.78114 4.18603C5.53236 5.02044 4.55905 6.20642 3.98429 7.594C3.40954 8.98157 3.25916 10.5084 3.55217 11.9815C3.84517 13.4545 4.56841 14.8076 5.63041 15.8696C6.69242 16.9316 8.04549 17.6548 9.51854 17.9478C10.9916 18.2408 12.5184 18.0905 13.906 17.5157C14.4508 17.29 14.9646 17.0029 15.4382 16.6618L19.5132 20.7368C19.9892 21.2127 20.7608 21.2127 21.2368 20.7368C21.7127 20.2608 21.7127 19.4892 21.2368 19.0132L17.1618 14.9382C17.2137 14.8661 17.2645 14.793 17.314 14.7189C18.1484 13.4701 18.5938 12.0019 18.5938 10.5C18.5938 8.48601 17.7937 6.55451 16.3696 5.13041C14.9455 3.7063 13.014 2.90625 11 2.90625ZM14.7493 14.0398C14.9463 13.8311 15.1264 13.6054 15.2873 13.3647C15.8538 12.5167 16.1562 11.5198 16.1562 10.5C16.1562 9.13248 15.613 7.82096 14.646 6.85398C13.679 5.887 12.3675 5.34375 11 5.34375C9.98019 5.34375 8.98328 5.64616 8.13534 6.21273C7.2874 6.77931 6.62651 7.58461 6.23625 8.52679C5.84599 9.46897 5.74387 10.5057 5.94283 11.5059C6.14178 12.5061 6.63287 13.4249 7.35398 14.146C8.0751 14.8671 8.99385 15.3582 9.99407 15.5572C10.9943 15.7561 12.031 15.654 12.9732 15.2638C13.5557 15.0225 14.086 14.6777 14.5398 14.2493C14.5699 14.2108 14.6028 14.1737 14.6382 14.1382C14.6737 14.1028 14.7108 14.0699 14.7493 14.0398Z\" fill=\"#EFF5F8\"><\/path>\r\n\t\t        <\/svg>\r\n\t\t      <\/button>\r\n\t\t    <\/footer>\r\n\t\t  <\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/div>\n  <\/div><\/body><\/html><h2 id=\"phase-2-interior-inspection\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Phase #2: Interior Inspection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inside your RV, you&rsquo;re looking for indications that all may not be well on the outside.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"living-space-essentials\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Living Space Essentials<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You want your RV&rsquo;s living space to be tight against storms, cold, and rodents.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inspect RV windows, ceilings, and doors for cracks and discoloration&ndash;<em>which may indicate exterior damage or leaks<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check all the seals&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Press all the buttons to make sure they work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/prevent-mold-in-rv-during-storage\/\">condition<\/a> and operation of the furniture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open and close all doors and windows to make sure they function as desired.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure the floors don&rsquo;t bounce or creak.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"appliance-audit\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Appliance Audit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Part of the joy of using recreational vehicles is being able to cook your meals on the go. But to do this, you need all appliances to function correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>When conducting your appliance audit, turn on all of the kitchen appliances to see how they operate. <\/strong>In your quality testing, check the following appliances:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stove<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oven<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Refrigerator<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Microwave<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Air conditioner \/ Heater<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hot water heater (check for signs of corrosion here)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Filters can be tricky to find, so ask the previous owner what the right size and type of filter is and where to buy them.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Safety Checks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Safety checks are critical to ensuring a safe and enjoyable RV experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Locate the fire extinguisher<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Operate the windows that are emergency exits. (Things like this don&rsquo;t get used often, but when you need them, you need them to work perfectly.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<html><body><div id=\"2_in_post\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/search?can_store_vehicle=true&amp;overrideTitle=RV%20Storage&amp;storing=RV\" onclick=\"rudderanalytics.track('press editorial cta button', {location: 'second in post', version: '2.0'}, () =&gt; { console.log('track call'); });\">\r\n  <div class=\"second-in-post-cta\">\r\n    <section>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <h2 id=\"save-up-to-1200-year-on-rv-storage-parking\">Save up to $1,200\/year on RV storage &amp; parking<\/h2>\r\n        <button>Search in your area\r\n          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"25\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 25 24\" fill=\"none\">\r\n            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M11 2.90625C9.4981 2.90625 8.02993 3.35162 6.78114 4.18603C5.53236 5.02044 4.55905 6.20642 3.98429 7.594C3.40954 8.98157 3.25916 10.5084 3.55217 11.9815C3.84517 13.4545 4.56841 14.8076 5.63041 15.8696C6.69242 16.9316 8.04549 17.6548 9.51854 17.9478C10.9916 18.2408 12.5184 18.0905 13.906 17.5157C14.4508 17.29 14.9646 17.0029 15.4382 16.6618L19.5132 20.7368C19.9892 21.2127 20.7608 21.2127 21.2368 20.7368C21.7127 20.2608 21.7127 19.4892 21.2368 19.0132L17.1618 14.9382C17.2137 14.8661 17.2645 14.793 17.314 14.7189C18.1484 13.4701 18.5938 12.0019 18.5938 10.5C18.5938 8.48601 17.7937 6.55451 16.3696 5.13041C14.9455 3.7063 13.014 2.90625 11 2.90625ZM14.7493 14.0398C14.9463 13.8311 15.1264 13.6054 15.2873 13.3647C15.8538 12.5167 16.1562 11.5198 16.1562 10.5C16.1562 9.13248 15.613 7.82096 14.646 6.85398C13.679 5.887 12.3675 5.34375 11 5.34375C9.98019 5.34375 8.98328 5.64616 8.13534 6.21273C7.2874 6.77931 6.62651 7.58461 6.23625 8.52679C5.84599 9.46897 5.74387 10.5057 5.94283 11.5059C6.14178 12.5061 6.63287 13.4249 7.35398 14.146C8.0751 14.8671 8.99385 15.3582 9.99407 15.5572C10.9943 15.7561 12.031 15.654 12.9732 15.2638C13.5557 15.0225 14.086 14.6777 14.5398 14.2493C14.5699 14.2108 14.6028 14.1737 14.6382 14.1382C14.6737 14.1028 14.7108 14.0699 14.7493 14.0398Z\" fill=\"#EFF5F8\"><\/path>\r\n          <\/svg>\r\n        <\/button>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\n  <\/div><\/body><\/html><h2 id=\"phase-3-road-test\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Phase #3: Road Test<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After inspecting the RV&rsquo;s stationary aspects, it&rsquo;s time to take a test drive. A road test is where you learn if you&rsquo;re a good fit for that RV. It needs to drive smoothly and safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&rsquo;s what you want to assess during a test drive&hellip;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The motorhome&rsquo;s handling <em>(is there a lot of play in the wheel?)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Braking <em>(Does it respond quickly?)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn radius <em>(Can you make that u-turn, or should you find a parking lot to turn around in.)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Listen for any unusual noises<em> (The louder the noise, the more expensive it is to fix)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feel for copious vibrations <em>(Those are even more expensive&hellip;)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Engine and Transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you&rsquo;re buying an RV, assessing the engine and transmission performance is crucial. Listen for&hellip;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consistent purr of the engine<em> (A good sign)&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smooth gear shifting with no hesitations or slipping<em> (Another good sign)&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sputtering when starting the engine <em>(A warning sign)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The engine and transmission are two components that cost the most to replace,<\/strong> so don&rsquo;t be afraid to ask to look under the hood and check things out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"brake-system-and-lights\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Brake System and Lights<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You do all your pre-trip checks: oil, engine, brake lights, tire pressure&hellip;everything. You get out onto the road, but a couple of hours later, <em>a cop pulls you over<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Come to find out, your brake lights aren&rsquo;t working! It&rsquo;s so frustrating&hellip;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>So during your drive, assess the brake system&rsquo;s responsiveness, but also have someone follow you to watch the brake lights.<\/strong> <em>Do they flicker? Are they delayed? Do they stop working entirely?&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those are signs that there&rsquo;s a short in the wiring that needs fixing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it&rsquo;s not just the lights that are at stake. If you&rsquo;re looking at a trailer, <strong>the emergency braking system connects through the same wiring as the brake lights<\/strong>. So if there&rsquo;s a problem with your lights, then there may also be a problem with your emergency brakes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Feel the brakes for responsiveness.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does the air brake system restore air pressure quickly after being depleted?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do the brake lights function while driving<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check the RV tires for cracking and diminished tread that could inhibit fast stops.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"phase-4-plumbing-and-electrical-check\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Phase #4: Plumbing and Electrical Check<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Water and fire damage are the two main causes of interior damage. So make sure the interior plumbing and electrical are in good condition.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"plumbing\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Plumbing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The luxuries of hot showers and a consistent water supply are the comforts that make your RV a home. That&rsquo;s why inspecting your freshwater tank, pump, and heater is an essential part of the RV inspection process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Examine the water tanks for cracks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test the valves for smooth operation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After filling the tank with fresh water, turn on the faucets and shower<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check that the flow is consistent (if there&rsquo;s not a consistent flow then take a closer look at the RV water pump.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get an idea of how long the hot water takes to react<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for swollen wood or rust around the bathroom sink that could denote water damage.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"power-supply-and-outlets\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Power Supply and Outlets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A dependable power supply is crucial for a hassle-free RV experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Test the RV&rsquo;s ability to switch between shore power and its generator seamlessly. To verify a reliable electrical supply by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Flip the automatic transfer switch to make sure the lights still function on the house batteries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inspect the breaker box and wiring for loose connections or frayed wiring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Examine the RV&rsquo;s power cord for corrosion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Verify the safety of GFCI outlets by testing their reset and test buttons<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check to see if the RV has a surge protector<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Pro tip: <\/em><\/strong><em>if you happen to have an infrared camera, you can look at the walls and roof to see if there are hot or cold spots. <\/em><strong><em>Hot spots indicate hot wiring, and cold spots indicate moisture.<\/em><\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"phase-5-undercarriage-and-suspension-check\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Phase #5: Undercarriage and Suspension Check<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, you have to crawl under the RV and get dirty to check the undercarriage and suspension.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inspect the underside for rust or corrosion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for loose and damaged spots that could be dangerous while driving and invite rodents to nest in.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test the leveling stabilizers for smooth deployment and functionality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visually inspect the RV axles for bending.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"final-thoughts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pre-owned RV industry is full of sellers and buyers who are looking to make good decisions with their RVs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, in your search to find the right one,<strong> you&rsquo;ll come across several RVs that haven&rsquo;t been stored properly.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their owners thought the RVs would be safe enough parked in their backyard, but now the roofs are riddled with signs of UV damage, the tires are dried and cracking, and the windows need resealing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Learn from their mistakes.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&rsquo;t store your pre-owned RV outside. Find safe, affordable storage at Neighbor.com&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/rv-storage-near-me\"><strong>Neighbor<\/strong><\/a><strong> is a peer-to-peer storage marketplace that offers affordable storage that&rsquo;s also close to home. <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You want to make a smart RV purchase. But you&rsquo;re also new to the world of RV ownership.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":12845,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_appearance_grid":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[181],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rv-buying","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>RV Inspection Checklist for Buying a Used RV - Neighbor Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Buying a used RV? 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