Used Motorhomes

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How To Buy Them and What To Look Out For

There are several places you can look to buy your used motorhomes.

A Used Motorhome Dealer - A fairly safe bet, can be a little costly. You should still be careful when purchasing and check out all models thoroughly.

Private Sales - You must know your stuff... if you know how to check out a used motorhome from top to bottom then you might get a good deal buying in this way. Private sales are found over the Internet (ebay, motorhome forums) or in the RV press etc.

You should read the RV Buyers Guide to help you learn about the things to look for and the things to avoid when buying your motorhome.

Seized Auctions - Here you can find seized and repossessed vehicles including motorhomes at ridiculously low prices and the condition of them is nearly always excellent as most have been hardly used. For more information on this check out Seized Vehicle Auctions and Auction Pass.

Used Motorhome Buyer's Checklist

What to be aware of when checking over a used motorhome

To really find out if the motorhome you are considering is in condition or not you will have to spend a fair amount of time checking it out. Try not to be rushed and take notes as even with the best of models there will be several things that need attention. These things should be budgeted for and also used when negotiating the final price.

Mechanical Help:

Take a trusted mechanic with you to take a look at the engine and the mechanics, let the mechanic drive the vehicle too if there is a possibility of this.

Oil:

Look at the color and texture of the oil. Burned oil is a sign that something is wrong with the engine. gooey with white foam could indicate that additives have been used to block leaky engine seals.

Batteries:

There should be enough power in the batteries to start the engine with little effort.

Brakes:

Make sure that these are responsive and that the hand brake is effective.

Rust:

If the frame is rusted then it is a sign that the RV is nearing the end of its life. If there are occasional small spots of rust on the bodywork then it is possible that these be patched up and that they may not present further problems. Beware of bubbling under the paint work usually means that there is rust that has been painted over and is showing its face again. At signs of rust you need to find out the extent of the rust and ask yourself how much work is involved in repairing it and if paint work needs to be done.

You can virtually avoid all rust problems by buying vehicles that have been used and kept in the south.

Service Records:

Make sure you see all relevant paperwork including service history and receipts for any repairs that may have been undertaken. Make a note of how many previous owners there have been. Also check that the VIN number on the vehicle matches that on the paperwork.

House batteries:

Try to find out if these are holding their charge. these give power to all of the internal electric system whilst there is no external hook up connected. Check for corrosion on the battery terminals. If there are solar panels fitted find out how much charge they are putting back into the batteries.

Propane system:

Have a good look at the propane hoses, the tanks and the regulators. Ask to see any certificates of safety for these if they exist. Check that the refrigerator is switching over from gas to electric with no problems.

Toilet:

This should be able to hold water so as to stop the smell from the tanks coming back up into the bathroom.

Flooring:

Make sure the flooring has no soft spots. Check especially around the sink unit and in the bathroom. Damp or mould could lead to rotting of the wood or rusting of metal. If there are soft spots it might indicate that there are leaks in the plumbing system.

Ceilings:

Check the ceilings for signs of damp or mould, especially in the corners and in other hidden, hard to get to places. Damp patches on the ceiling could well be signs of a leaky roof which is not an easy problem to solve.

Heating:

Make sure the heating system gives both hot air to the entire living area and also hot water.

Air conditioning:

Check to see that this still blows cold air.

Overall check:

Do a thorough general check of everything. Turn on and off everything you can, check all the lights both inside and out, check all electric items, open every door, locker and cupboard, vent, window and panel, both inside and out.

Insurance:

As a final note you should check with your insurance company with the exact make and model you intend to buy as there are certain models that due to various reasons are uninsurable. These include recalls of certain models, weight and size restrictions amongst others.

RV Buyer's Guide

This list is only a rough guide to some of the main points you need to be aware of. The RV Buyer's Guide is packed with information and tips on how to purchase your motorhome without the fear of getting ripped off. It shows you exactly what to look out for and gives examples of some of the hidden tricks you might come across.

You might also want to check out my Used Motorhomes Website.

American Motorhome Buyers Tips

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2008 Fleetwood Revolution LE motorhome

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JazLive profile image

JazLive  says:
2 years ago

I am glad you are present in this community Motorhome. My spouse is retired; I work from home and am also an on-line student. We have one minor child at home.

I promote a link to gov't auctions at Jaz Cyfe' http://jazlive.com/cyfe.aspx

Thousands of clean titles vehicles, many with low mileage, are seized by the gov't in various countries. Bidding starts at $100 and realize savings up to 90%. The vehicles must be liquidated to make room for more seizures. The public is welcome. 90% savings can purchase a lot of petro as well as a lot of vehicle. No sign-up is required to browse the auction site!

My spouse and I will be considering an RV as soon after our minor makes his choice in two years. We have three vehicles and no-car notes. I am interested in a Swedish Hybrid. Their citizens has been using hybrid vehicles since the early 90s.

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Used Motorhomes
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