Why Do I Need a RV Inspection?

RV’s whether motorized or towable go down the road and it is like a rolling earthquake for all the walls and contents. Inevitably all this shaking and bumping can cause things to stop working.  In addition, many of the New RV manufacturers have lax standards and quality controls. It is not uncommon the find 2 units of the same make and model year and find that they have different components! More often than not it has become a common practice in the RV industry that New units arrive at dealer lots un-tested.  Dealers expect as should you that RV’s arrive from the manufacturer in working condition.  Unfortunately, this is often not the case.  Dealers are in a bind if a unit has defective parts, they may have no choice but to pull parts from one unit so they can sell another today. Most dealerships are honest but with part shortages and the volume of units they sell it is possible things get lost in the shuffle. 

Once a RV leaves the dealers lot there is not much incentive for the to quickly repair any problem.  It is best to have a NRVIA Certified Inspector find the problems in advance, and then you can get the Dealer to fix it before you take possession.  Dealers perform what is called a PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) this checklist is usually performed by a low-level technician. Some people joke that PDI could also stand for Probably Didn’t Inspect. Dealers are there to sell units as fast as is possible and then they also make money on the warranty work and upgrades in their service department. 

In the case of a Used RV from a private party a NRVIA Certified Inspector can find unseen problems, past water leaks, deteriorated roof sealant, improper repairs, and features that do not function as expected.  On used RV a Fluid Sample may reveal engine damage and excessive wear.  The RV may seem in great shape but could have thousands of dollars of hidden repair costs.  In this case a RV Inspection may have saved you from a nightmare of problems and unforeseen costs.

While it is very possible to buy a New or Used RV and have very little to no problems, it is also possible to buy one that appears to the untrained eye to be in perfect condition. Only to find later that it will need to spend more time in the shop then they are able to use it.  

As a NRVIA Certified 3rd party Inspector my inspections cover hundreds of features in the RV. My inspection uses state of the art software that covers much, much more than a standard PDI. Often a RV Inspection will take 5-9 hours depending on the level and size of the RV. A Premier Inspection report will contain at minimum 80-100 photos and will be delivered to you the next business day. It will be objective and unbiased as I work for you and not the seller.