Used RV checklist
Intro
So you’re looking to buy a used travel trailer? Here is a used RV checklist that we wish we had before we purchased our own.
We would like to share a few things that we think would be helpful for any first time buyers looking to get into the RV game.
The popularity of this activity is growing every year.
The ability to go anywhere you like is becoming a lot easier nowadays with the amount of online work that’s available.
But the price of Travel trailers are unreal nowadays so most people will buy used.
This is what we did (Sean & Claire) this is a great option if you want to start traveling weather that’s full -time or just for the weekend warriors who enjoy a little more comfort than a tent and sleeping bag.
However buying used has its dangers and we wish we would have read something like this so we knew what to look for when buying our trailer.
We both were very excited when buying ours and you tend to overlook things because of the excitement, so to not bore you too much let’s get to it.
Water Damage
In our opinion and probably everyone else the number one killer of an RV or travel trailer whatever you’d like to call it is water damage.
If you’re buying used, bring a ladder with you and get on the roof! I made the mistake of not bringing one when I bought ours, and I regret it now.
So the first step is to get on the roof and feel for soft spots. If you find a significant soft spot then get out of there.
or be prepared to do some major renovations that could become costly and scary for a lot of people if you don’t have experience with this kind of work.
We bought ours with the idea of just painting a bit and I thought for sure I had found a hidden gem..
But i didn’t check close enough and now i have gutted 80% of the unit.
Not ideal but Claire will now get the kitchen she wants and i will be 100% sure that we don’t have rotting wood, soaking wet insulation or mold from our multiple leaks that went unnoticed in my what i thought to be thorough inspection
Inside the trailer check around every window.
Push with your hands around the whole window and the floor underneath each window. The wall itself may be sturdy but if there was a significant leak in the window the floor under that window may be compromised.
So being sure to check in these areas is a must.
Next i would check the ceiling, around all the vents and anything else that goes through the roof (i.e antennas skylight that sort of thing)
If i ever buy a used trailer again i’ll be sure to take the time to unscrew the interior skylight trim and look at the framing for any signs of water. Should only be about 4 screws to remove and is worth it. Another thing i wish i had done.
Be sure to push on the ceiling a good few feet around these vents, antennas and skylights once water gets in it’s sneaky, and able to make its way a good distance from the point of entry.
Now I would make my way to the front wall of the trailer, this is where we found our first issue once we got our used RV home.
Tip: when you’re checking out your trailer for the first time the owner will likely be right there with you. Don’t let this stop you from moving stuff that may be screwed into place (i.e a plastic organizer in the corner) they may be trying to hide a soft spot! This is what happened to us. Once we got home and I removed the crappy looking plastic storage bins we found da da da the soft spot.
Moving on from that sensitive subject we can continue checking the front end of the trailer. Most older model trailers will have rubber seals on the leading edge of the trailer. Connecting the walls and the roof. These seals can shrink over time and begin to let water in, and if the trailer has ever been driven in the rain and the seal has shrunk water is likely going to get in, so take your time looking here.
Appliances
We feel like this is a no brainer now. But here is yet another thing i did not check the day we bought our RV.
As i’m righting this i realize how bad of a job i did with my inspection. It’s an easy thing to do when you’r excited and want something to work really really bad. Don’t let this happen to you! Learn from my mistakes.
Your appliances are very important, even though most things in travel trailers are smaller than regular household appliances they are sooo expensive. And I’d bet a lot of people wouldn’t think that…i know we didn’t.
If you’re buying used, make sure when you get there you make it clear that you would like it hooked up so you can see all the appliances working.
This shouldn’t be a big deal, all they have to do is connect with an extension cord and likely a propane bottle for stove top burners, water heater and possibly a furnace. Depending on the trailer they will need an adapter for the power.
Structure
It’s 100% important to lay down and get your head under the RV. Even if the inside of the trailer is good and free from water damage it’s no good if the metal frame is shot.
A little bit of rust isn’t going to hurt but you’ll want to take your time here. Take a screw driver or something like that to kind of poke around, you’ll know if it’s no good.
Jack stands are a good place to look as well. Most jacks are welded to the frame so making sure these are in working condition is good practice. You use them a lot!
The hitch could be a bit of a pain too, there are many different types so knowing what your trailer has is very important. You’ll want to make sure you’re getting the hitch with the trailer, if it’s anything than just a ball they can get very expensive.
Brakes and Tires
Most Trailers will have trailer brakes. Making sure they are in working condition is important. You’ll want these. Of course you’ll never know for sure until you get on the road but i’d say most people will be honest about this point because it will be very obvious if they aren’t working once you get moving and would kill the deal.
Take a look at the tires, if you see any cracks in the side wall they are shot. Ask when they were replaced it should be easy to tell if they haven’t been.
Bearings are something I could see people overlooking. If you’re taking the rig on any sort of long adventure you’ll want to have some new bearings. Asking when this was done should be part of your RV checklist.
Document Verification
Make sure you get your paperwork!! Having proper documentation of the trailer is necessary for you to register easily.
If they don’t have paperwork then it’s probably not Bob’s who’s selling it. It’s actually Jims from down the road.
Conclusion
We both (Sean&Claire) hope that this is a helpful RV checklist for your used travel trailer. Follow us on our journey across Canada with our own used RV and we will share all the stuff we think would be helpful. Or just to watch the adventure, it should be interesting.
Adventure on!
Let us know in the comments what questions you have!
