Thinking About Used RV?We have been looking around for quite some time now for a used RV and so far we really haven't found anything that completely fits the bill. Fortunately we have not been in a hurry so are not tempted to rush in and buy the first one that looks OK. We have found a lot to look at but most of them are either too old and worn out, or too big and expensive. There is a big demand for those taking the middle road. Seems that every man and his dog are looking in the used RV market for a good buy these days and anything half decent is being snapped up very quickly. There are plenty of used RV's for sale around Phoenix but I'm not real keen on picking one up that has spent most of its life in the heat and dust. Friends of ours bought a used RV from down there and they are still trying to clean dirt from the window seals and you can tell it has spent most of its life in the sun. Retirement isn't until another five months, so even if it takes that long I'm going to hang out until the right one comes along. Quite often on weekends now we go to the "for sale by owner" lots which usually have at least one used RV and we are keeping a very close eye on our local classifieds. Fortunately for us we are not new to RV's and it is unusual for us to be without one for so long. It was just the way it worked out, we knew we were going to upgrade before the end of the year so when we received a very good offer on ours that was really too good to refuse, we sold it. You are probably wondering why don't we just go and buy a new one instead of a used RV. Cost is one consideration of course, but we feel we can get a near new used RV and save all that money which we can put towards our living expenses for the next couple of years. We have a pretty extensive check list which we apply to every used RV that we look at. This was given to us by a veteran RV user when we purchased our first one some fifteen years ago, and we think it is still the best way to go: 1. We will get our mechanic who has always looked after our RV's to inspect it for any mechanical or structural faults - he will check gas and propane lines as well as the regulator tanks, brakes and battery. 2. Examine the paintwork for nicks and scratches, repairs or dents which will indicate signs of wear. 3. Inspect the windows and the roof for any scrapes or cracks, as well as the working order of the vents. 4. Spend however much time you need and go through the inside with the proverbial fine tooth comb. You need to check everything to see that it is working - the stove, refrigerator, plumbing, shower, toilet. 5. How does the floor feel - is it solid to walk on. What condition are the floor coverings, particularly the carpet which could show tell-tale signs of leaks. 6. Are all the lights inside and out in working order. 7. Check the trailer jack to make sure it is in good working condition. This is by no means an exhaustive list that needs to be checked when purchasing a used RV but it will take care of most of any of the big problems. There are always going to be little things that go wrong, seems to be the nature of the used RV, but most of them can be easily and inexpensively fixed.
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