As I reflect on the RV's we have inspected this past year, it has become apparent that the playing field is quite level. All brands share the same components and associated issues. No single brand is immune from the manufacturing demand, quality control, and labor issues that have plagued the industry over the last few years. All model years exhibit problems that should be corrected before purchasing and occupying the RV.
Sure, the older ones will have more normal wear and tear and cosmetic issues, and if they have not been maintained, they will exhibit issues such as sealant degradation and out of date tires and other safety equipment.
What is amazing to me is that the new models, direct from the factory are not immune to their own set of life/safety issues as well as those commonly associated with an older pre-owned RV.
Common questions we receive as NRVIA Certified RV Inspectors is why should I pay to have a new RV inspected? Isn't the dealer PDI sufficient? What could possibly be wrong with a new one from the factory?
Let me begin with an excerpt from one of our clients that they posted on their RV brand's social media page:
Hello Allies, my husband and I wanted to thank all the members of this Facebook group who have been posting information and issues with their units. We are about to purchase an Avenue 30 RLS. Even though some people may think it’s crazy we decided to spend the money and have the RV inspected by a certified RV inspector. We just wanted to say today we are so glad we did that. The RV inspector found several issues with the brand new unit. These are issues that we would’ve discovered after taking ownership and being on the road. Some of the issues like defective auto leveling would have been discovered soon after ownership, however other issues would’ve caused considerable damage and would not have been discovered until after the warranty expired.
The following is a summary of just some of the issues identified by myself and other NRVIA Certified Inspectors on 2022 and 2023 model year RV's inspected this past year:
Loose Screws Roof Sealant Gaps Hot Skin Propane Detector Inoperable
Missing Screws Loose Material on Roof Smoke Detector inoperable Water Heater Recall not installed
Staples in Flooring Towable double axles out of alignment Auto Level malfunction
Pocket doors stuck Sliding Doors off track Propane Regulator Malfunction Generator not securely mounted
Access doors leak One Place control Panel Malfunction Rubber Seams and Gaskets loose
Leaf Spring Clamps missing or loose Interior Fit and Finish problems Exterior Fit and Finish Problems
Marker Light Wiring Rubs Against Sharp Metal
RV Dealers are as understaffed as the rest of the service industry in today's economy. They do the best that they can to deliver a quality product to their customers. However, their PDI's lack the deep-dive comprehensive inspection detail that NRVIA Certified Inspectors are trained to perform. Dealer's simply cannot afford to take a highly trained RV Technician out of their RV service role for an eight-hour inspection.
Summary:
I hope you have found this blog informative and useful to you. The answer to the common questions posed concerning inspections for new RV's is self-evident.
The advantage to you with an independent NRVIA Certified RV Inspection on a new model RV is that the items found can be corrected under warranty before you take delivery The dealership is motivated to complete the purchase sale to your satisfaction so there will most likely be a priority placed on correcting the issues found.
This saves you the trouble and hassle of owning and making payments on an RV that you cannot use and enjoy while it sits in the repair queue waiting to get through the backlog of RV service work at the dealership.
In Closing:
If you are selling your RV and want to facilitate a quick sale it is good to have a recent Independent NRVIA Certified Inspection report on hand to share with prospective buyers.
If you are buying a new or preowned RV, be sure to hire an independent NRVIA Certified Inspector to give you the knowledge of the true condition of the RV before you buy. You can find an NRVIA Certified Inspector near you through the NRVIA web site locator.
Our primary objective at Sherlock RV Inspection Service, LLC is to serve you by making sure your RV is safe to occupy and all major systems and appliances are functioning as intended.
We are a mobile RV Inspection Service and will travel throughout the Southeast and beyond as needed. (subject to travel and per diem costs) Check out our web site to get to know us better and to preview inspection details and sample reports.
Safe Travels!
Ron Francoeur
Sherlock RV Inspection Service, LLC
Office: 352 – 224 – 9477
Cell/Text: 678 – 360 - 6883
Great Article Ron!