If one has already seen a few RVs and is interested in a particular one, do an initial layman's walkaround and walkthrough to see if everything seems to be as it should. If it seems fine then call in your RV Technician for a total stem to stern inspection to include road testing. That is the only way that you are going to find problems if there are any. My understanding is that a thorough RV inspection should take between 2 to 4 hours and cost $300 or more depending on the size of the unit and how complicated it is. In my opinion a technical inspection is worth its weight in gold. If the owner refuses an inspection I would walk away. If the owner allows an inspection but is not willing to negotiate price depending on what the inspection reveals, I would walk away. Unfortunately there are just too many people out there that don't take decent care of their RV to accept any unit on their word alone and a cursory walkthrough of the unit.

Good advice. Couple of extra hints : 1. Take a high powered flashlight to look into corners of upper storage compartments for leakage. 2. Start up water pump and open faucet for a brief moment and shut off when water appears, if water pump continues with little burps it may indicate a leak. 3. Before going to look ask seller to light off the refrigerator, when you get there check the back of the refrig. to see if the boiler and the tubes are warm, usually a hot boiler and cold tubes indicate a blocked coolant and requires closer inspection. Been a full timer for almost all of 33 years and loving it :)

Don't forget as you're walking around the inside, check for soft spots in the floor where the wood floor has started to rot. A lot of units today have sealed underbellies so you can't see anything looking up from the bottom but a soft spot on the floor will tell you a lot. Also when you check it out look for tiny little ants. They are an indication of wood rot in the roof.

Thank you! I've tried watching a couple other videos on tips for buying a camper and yours is the most helpful!

Thank you for all your great tips. We are going to look at a used RV tomorrow and the RV show in StL in Feb.

Good video, added a quite few points to my prepurchase inspection list. Looking forward to viewing more of your videos.

Great advice. Those are things I didn't think of when we bought ur 5th wheel. I'm sure my husband did, but not me. I just looked at the layout.

Great points! And just in time in case we buy used. Thanks!

Perfect Timing! Thanks for this. I'm looking to picup an RV in off-season while people don't want to pay to store it.

Thank you so much. Getting ready to buy a motorhome and I could use all the help I can get!

we've been in the market for a used fifth wheel the last few months to replace the one we had for 10 years. It got hit by one of our trees that fell this spring. We've seen some bad ones out there! This video brought up what we have been checking out as we go. Thank you for your help! The dealers will not hook anything up to check water systems and we have been lucky if the batteries are working to check out the 12v electrical side.

Great video and great timing. I am fifth wheel hunting right now. My first rig. Exciting but scary as heck too. Thank you so much for your videos.

My best suggestion is get a real good RV inspector Pay the money you won't get bit in the long run , by getting an expensive bill for repairs

This is a 3 year old video but I just found it. I’m window shopping for an RV. This is all great advice for me. I would not have thought of making that extended cell tripod, excellent tip. I know I could probably climb the ladder but walking around on the roof at 67 is not a good idea. You looked at places I would have just passed up. Thank you. I saved this video for future reference

Great topic and advice. THANKS!

Great video. I'm going shopping for an RV. This is absolutely useful information. Thanks!

Great information thank you for sharing these great tips!

Great tips. Getting on the roof is a must for me. If not possible, then have a ladder to see and check as much as possible. If the seller doesn’t allow it then pass for another RV. It’s also very important that one check the floor below each window. If their is a chair, bench or table in the area try try to move or get under them and apply heavy pressure to the floor/wall seam/joint and look and feel for water damaged floors. Wish I did 😢

Hey I just recently came across your videos about a week ago and really enjoyed the content. Our family is looking into an RV very soon and I had to look up tips and what to expect when owning a travel trailer. I can't wait to spend more time with my kids before they get to big for mom and dad lol.

Thanks for the info! New to this and searching for my first one.. so Im taking all good avice!

this is probably the best vid u found so far . Liked the idea of the extension pole and phone ...thumbs up and thanks

Always try to visit the RV while it's raining. Run the AC for drips and noise and check the air filter.

I'm interested in buying a rv and watching a ton of videos really helpful thanks for uploading it.

Basically its a car inspection and a house inspection! Thanks for the info. God bless

Great video! Another tip if your rig is equipped with a generator it should be able to run all the appliances,microwave, air conditioner blow dryer etc, at the same time with no problems, if not you have a problem either with the electrical or the generator, my rig had a problem in the breaker box wiring and was fixed at the dealership... you'd turn everything on with the generator running and it would kill the generator.

You are so awesome! I enjoy these videos and I wish I had you with me when we bought our used RV

Thank you!

sooo helpful! been learning a few years and this is the best total/overall advise yet!

Very good info thanks

thank you so much for the tips

As usual, spot on!

If i cannot get on the roof, then i kiss it goodbye :)

Great info! Thanks

I subscribe to many RV channels. I don't know how I missed this one. Very good videos. SUBSCRIBED !!!

Excellent video..helped me alot!!

Very good and useful! Thks a lot.

Taking another long trip to Private Seller this weekend for a used rig (2018 Navion 24D - less than 7k miles). Been a Nightmare with Dealers. So, hopefully this works. Single older woman & have been treated horribly. Have a gut feeling this may work out. Older man whose Wife is ill. Good additional information from your video. At 4’11”, the selfie stick & pole was an answer for me. Taking my dolly/ladder for visual to get up to roof. But, feel this was an invaluable suggestion. TY !!

Take care of that knee. Hurt mine so bad, I can’t get on my RV any more. Thanks for the good info. You still do an outstanding job with your videos.

Wow, a LOT of good, practical advice, Jared. Thanks so much for all the hard work y'all do. Be safe!

Hey Jared, Just got through watching your KYD solar video. Very helpful on how solar and a inverter/charger works. Could you do a video on the way you connected to the control panel?

Hahahaha! Yes. Because I like to plop my forehead into your shoulder!! :-) Great content as always Jarrod. It still scares me how often people jump to purchase an RV without knowing what to look for. I listened to you before I got my coach. -well and others, And I did a lot of research- trailer / motorhome, gas or diesel, Class A, B, C, D, E, F, G (just kidding) even down to types of heaters and their pros and cons. And I got a Hydronic Heating system! I'm happy about that! I checked the coach out myself, Did my own Fluid Sample tests on the engine- and everything works in my 18 year old Beaver. and everything looks great! no scratches no rips, no delamination, no checker boarding. Beautiful Thanks in part to listening and watching you; Jarrod. And for those reading this: Don't let something like a chair or a couch deter you from a floor plan you really like. Or an RV that's in superior shape. You know, if that chair is a little ripped, or That couch needs to be a chair and a coffee table and you like everything else about the trailer or coach your looking at, BUY IT! A chair and a couch can easily be exchanged or replaced. What I'm saying is: give yourself some flexibility. Just because the carpet isn't the right color doesn't mean you can't replace it! So if you think like that, you get the trailer you like! don't let these little things stop you from getting an RV you otherwise really like.

Good job!

Great suggestion of checking nada.com, so many people check other websites that inflate prices, and then they pay too much!

If the weather is dry the day you inspect the RV, turn on the hose. At least it will give you an indicator of larger leaks.

I just discovered your channel and absolutely love it!!! Your tips are amazing! My husband and I are seriously considering retiring early and embracing full time Rving. We've both worked for more than 40 years, raised two wonderful sons, got them through college, and now we are just kind of tired. We bought a new 2018 Coachman trailer that we've used for a couple of trips so far and we just loved it. There's nothing like being out in God's creation and enjoying life! I sometimes feel like I don't know how to truly "rest." I supposed it's like anything else it just takes practice. Thank you so much for your wonderful channel and for sharing your sweet family with us. I just love boys, they are so "wash and wear," lol! You are such a blessing to the KZfaq community!!

Check the holding tanks, seen a RV that the black tank was under the muffler melted a large hole in the tank.

Shopping for a rig right now... super helpful!! Thanks for your advice and insight.

They are all lemons !!!

Know that you are buying a flexing, rolling house. Know that things will break. If you aren't handy they can consume your wallet. Good vid

Thank you so much for your informative videos; they have been so helpful for us as new RV owners. Could you tell me the appropriate temperatures for the refrigerator and freezer in our travel trailer?

Anything you buy new or used your taking a chance.I want one to live in should I go used

Sometimes delamination is cause simply by heat and sun exposure, and not water. So the inner panel may be factory fresh but the outer layer is rippled.

You missed checking out the floor but very informative. I would like too see a bit more detailed video such as looking over the electrical, plumbing, AC , tanks, toilet flush etc.

What are your thoughts on putting a camper on the RV sharing website to help pay for it? I would love to buy a new RV but can't see making that payment when it will be sitting the majority of the time.

Another thing...did the previous owners dry dock and drive over bad roads with the tanks full. Do your tanks leak when they are full. And light and run the oven!

What is your experience with truck camper s? Had a Lance for 10 years. Other half got me into a Mh which is nice, not fitting our (my) travel style.

The easiest thing to do to save this thing would be to remove the cabinets and appliances and anything else that doesn't rot, peel off what is left from the frame, and start over framing up a box and reinstall it all back into what amounts to a tiny home.

Where can I buy the locks for the storage?

Hey thanks for the videos im here in phoenix trying to go to houston tx area with my mother and daughter do you have any asdvice ? I was going to look at a class a today. it a 1996 pre monico navi gator i heard those were pretty good..

Im in Arizona looking to buy a Class C for use up near Payson. Do you have any recommendations on where to start looking? I've been browsing Craigslist so far. Overwhelmed for sure!

An application called "Alfred" will let you use one phone as a camera while viewing on another phone for looking at the roof, giving you a real time inspection.

Great video! Would love more on choosing an RV. If the roof is not "made for walking", would you be able to put solar panels up there? Thanks.

Does anyone know of a good site that has good reviews of quality Travel Trailer manufacturers and models???

Great video, Jarrod! You always have such great information on each of your videos, and, this one is no exception! However, I will soon be living full time in a Class B Roadtrek 190, so, I won't have quite as many problems [I'm hoping] as y'all do with the trailer type vehicles. Travel safe, be happy, love God, and, have a fantsatic day! (7/18/2018 Wednesday 11:11pmCST Houston, Texas)

Your in Az. Where did you find that green landscape

Use your nose. Does it smell musky, moldy? Walk around and check the floor for soft spots. Fire up the hot water heater, does the water pump work? Does the AC work? Furnace? There are dozens of items to check.

My knees and ankles don’t function like they used to. Getting on the ground to crawl under a rig is out of the question, getting back in a vertical position is near impossible, and climbing on the roof would be fun to watch. Would contracting with someone to do the inspection be worth while? I’ve seen some companies that do the inspection for a fee. Most seem to run about $250 to $350. Has a group are these legit or more of a scam?

How did you paint the outside of your rv?

Where is the electrical panel?

You can redo this video and call it "annual maintenance checks".

Can you tell me the address?thankyou。

Jared, I apologize, I was looking to send you a private message but could figure that one out. I know this video is on used RVs but I saw your cat in the previous video about setting up an RV, how do you accommodate your cat in your travels and RV? -E-

💖💜💛💚💙

Remember no one wakes up one day and says honey, let's sell our in perfect condition working RV. Their selling cause there are issues beyond their repair their willing to invest.

So pretty much check for leaks, hopefully this saves someone 10 minutes

Just an idea: Don't need the wiggity wiggity intro music. Just stick to the facts.

Tip #1. Don’t buy one.