Home
>
Outdoors
>
How To Buy a Used RV - Part 2

How To Buy a Used RV - Part 2

The key to getting a good bargin, instead of a lemon, when buying your used RV is knowing what to look for. Here is a useful checklist to help with your search.

1. Does the trailer jack work?

2. Do the propane bottles need updating and inspection? This can be costly if the bottles need to be replaced. Generally, if an RV propane tank is older than twelve years, it will have to be reinspected every five years. Also, it is mandatory that the propane tank have an OPD valve. If you don't know what an OPD valve is, the official description is "Overfilling Protection Device".

3. Check the hoses leading away from the propane bottle for cracks and splits. You do not want a leaking propane connection. Check the nut that screws into the propane tank. Is it worn? If so, it may need to be replaced.

4. The LP Gas regulator is usually located just a few inches away from the propane tanks. You'll see the hoses leading from the propane tanks into a device with one pipe at the bottom of it that runs beneath the RV. Regulators begin to leak when they are approximately ten years old. For your information, leaking propane is not a good thing. Don't hesitate to replace the regulator if it is leaking.

5. Batteries are often dead, or not too far from dead, in an older RV. Check and make sure it still works. If the bulbs inside burn bright, the battery(s) may still be in decent condition.

6. Does the converter still work? What's a converter? Well, it is a device that recharges your battery and converts regular household electrical current from AC to DC allowing your 12-Volt fixtures and appliances to operate. Test this by plugging in the electrical cord and unhooking the battery (unhook the battery before you plug in the RV power cord to prevent electrocution). If the 12-Volt lights and water pump still work, the converter is still working.

7. Do the stabilizers beneath the trailer still let up and down? You'll be glad to have stabilizers when you park in an area with constant wind gusts like the south Texas coast.

8. Are the tires still in good condition? Check for cracks and splits and look at tread depth on all tires.

9. It is absolutely mandatory that you understand the condition of the braking system. Have the owner hook up the RV and allow you to tow for a short distance and test test the brakes. Brake repairs are expensive. Your life and the safety of your vehicle and RV depend on the RV brakes functioning properly every time.

10. Does the door step let up and down easily?

11. Can you open and close all outside compartments easily? Do the gaskets need to be replaced? Worn or missing gaskets permit air and moisture to penetrate the RV.

12. Make sure that all the windows open and close easily. latches can rust shut. Are the screens on the windows and vents rusted or torn?

13. Open and close roof vents and make sure that vent fans run properly.

14. Fire up the hot water heater and make sure it works.

15. Test the refrigerator on both the gas and electric settings. Repairs can be expensive and you are going to want to use both the gas and electric options. Watch for frost beginning to form in the freezer to confirm that it is cooling properly. Make sure the door will latch and lock securely. When you are on the road, you don't want the fridge contents strewn through your RV.

16. Check the furnace. Does it blow hot air? Don't wait until it's thirty degrees outside to find out.

17. Crank up the air conditioner. Does it blow cold air? If it has a heating element does that work as well?

18. Turn on the water tap without being hooked up to city water. Does the water pump work?

19. Check out the toilet. Does it flush properly.

20. Hook up the city water. Check for leaks inside and outside the RV.

21. Inquire about the condition of the waste water valves. Better yet, if the RV is hooked up to a sewer drain, open and close the valves to make sure they work.

22. Check the cooking range and oven. Do all burners function? Does the oven burner function?

23. Do all interior cabinets and drawers open and then latch securely? If not, you may have your belongings scattered throughout your RV when you are in transit.

24. Check for soft spots on the floor, particularly in the bathroom area. The plywood may be rotted through.

25. Is the flooring in good condition? How about interior walls?

26. Make sure curtains are not dry rotted. Can they be easily cleaned? Are the blinds still in good condition?

27. External lights - Test the external running lights. If you tow at night, and it is very likely that you will, you'll want to make sure that the rear tail lights are operable. Simply hook up to the tow vehicle and turn on the headlights. You'll also want to make sure that the brake lights work, that the right and left turn signal lights work, and that the backup lights work. If there is a problem, it could be a faulty bulb, or the bulb fixture simply needs cleaning. Otherwise, you may be faced with an electrical problem.

28. Test exhaust vent fans to make sure they work. Typically you will find them in the living area, over the cooking range, and in the bathroom.

29. Does the TV antenna crank up and down easily? Better yet, find a hobby and skip TV.

William Smith lived, and traveled fulltime in an RV travel trailer for over 12 years, and maintains a website dedicated to educating people about the RV lifestyle.

Visit http://www.happyvagabonds.com to learn more about RV living.

maide service in Lincolnshire ..

In The News:

New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.

Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.

Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.

New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.

The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.

San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.

FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.

Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.

Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.

Free up iPhone storage fast by clearing large photos and videos from Messages app. Simple steps for iOS users to delete attachments without losing chats.

Scammers are flooding inboxes with fake tracking alerts that mimic real carriers, exploiting the holiday rush to steal logins and personal data.

The Fox News AI Newsletter brings you the latest news on AI technology advancements and the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Texas family reunites with missing 11-year-old cat Grayson after 103 days using Petco Love Lost's AI photo matching technology and community help.

Tired of AI customer service loops? These insider tricks help you escape "frustration AI" and get real human help when you need it most for urgent issues.

Unlock richer audio from your streaming apps with simple tweaks to volume normalization, equalizer settings, and quality preferences for cleaner sound.

Scammers are sending fake Facebook settlement payout emails that mimic legitimate notices from the privacy settlement administrator to deceive users.

Holiday shopping scams surge as fake refund emails target distracted consumers during Black Friday and holiday seasons, costing Americans billions annually.

The AI-powered IRMO M1 exoskeleton features four modes, including turbo, eco, training and rest for hiking, running, cycling and sports with eight-hour battery life.

OpenAI announced upgrades for its ChatGPT Images platform on Tuesday, saying the program can now make more precise edits and produce images more quickly.

Chrome for Android now turns web articles into AI-powered podcast conversations. Get hands-free browsing with Google Gemini's natural audio summaries.

LastPass faces $1.6 million fine from U.K. regulators after 2022 data breach exposed 1.6 million users. Password manager failed proper security controls.

Petco disclosed a data breach exposing customer Social Security numbers, financial account details, and driver's license information due to a software error.

Baseball teams can now analyze complete swing mechanics in normal training environments using Theia's markerless AI system that processes standard high-speed footage.

Smart home hacking fears overblown? Expert reveals real cybersecurity risks and simple protection tips to keep your connected devices safe from hackers.

MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.

How To Buy a Used RV - Part 2

Outdoors