Going out is one of the best things ever, but some destinations on your bucket list maybe a bit too far away from your home, meaning that going by foot is more than just a bad idea. For as long as we know about the humankind, we as a race always enjoyed exploring new areas, and it’s not even remotely different today.
When it comes to going on an adventure, there are numerous ways to do it, but one of them has always been an RV trip. A recreational vehicle is used for organizing vacation trips for entire families, and if you haven’t been on one already, you’re missing out quite a lot. Unfortunately, not everybody has the chance to go camping with an RV, but if you are planning on purchasing one and doing this in the future, we advise you to keep reading this until the end.
If you want to buy an RV, chances are that you’ll go for a used one, simply because it’s a lot cheaper, and when it comes to these things, there’s not too much of a change from a brand-new to an older one. Still, there are some things that you need to check before completing your transaction, so let’s take a look at what you need to know.
1. The Mileage
No matter what kind of a vehicle it is that you’re trying to purchase, it’s always important that you check the mileage, of course, this only applies for used vehicles. For those of you who are not sure why this is the most important thing, think of the mileage as an “expiration date” for a certain product. Not everything can last forever, and these things have their durability as well.
If a car is driven for 10 years, every single day, the chances of the engine breaking down are a lot higher compared to a car that was driven for just three years, every other day. The same thing goes for recreational vehicles as well.
So, before you move to the other things, see if the mileage is okay for your standards, and if you’re good with it, you should move on to checking some of the following things.
2. Previous Accidents
An accident in traffic is something that happens daily, and it can happen even to the best drivers out there, so there’s nothing to be ashamed of. However, it is quite common for a vehicle-seller to lie about the history of the vehicle, covering up any previous accidents, just so they can sell the car a lot faster.
Well, although the chances are quite lower, it is still more than possible that the recreational vehicle you’re being offered for a very cheap price was engaged in a traffic accident a couple of years ago. It might not be anything serious, and if the damage is fixed and everything is sorted out legally-wise, it shouldn’t be a problem, but it’s still not a good thing when the owners lie about it. You can make sure that you know everything about the RV you’re trying to purchase, without any hidden secrets, by looking up the license place at VinFreeCheck.
3. Interior Quality
Not many people are aware that purchasing a used RV is a lot more complicated than purchasing a used car. Why? Because it’s a much larger vehicle, and there are so many things that you need to pay attention to and check if they work or not.
Regardless of what’s going on under the hood, you should check the interior quality and see if the current condition matches your criteria. Of course, a used RV cannot have the same quality of interior as one that’s fresh out of the saloon, but you shouldn’t accept punctured walls and leaks unless you are planning to spend a lot of money fixing things.
Also, size plays a huge role when it comes to recreational vehicles, so try to choose one depending on how many people you’re trying to fit in there for your upcoming vacation. You shouldn’t feel claustrophobic while traveling.
4. Functionality
If you have a family, you must look for a used RV that’s fully functional and one on which you can rely on when going out on an adventure. Imagine being left in the middle of nowhere due to an engine issue, with your kids crying in the back and all sorts of unwanted panic rising as every minute goes by.
Recreational Vehicles should be reliable, and they are built to be reliable, but as most of us know already, not all owners are following the maintenance steps as they should, and this will impact the reliability of the one you’re trying to purchase at the moment.
So, on your very first meeting, after inspecting the basic things, such as the interior and exterior, ask for some proof that the vehicle has been maintained properly throughout the years of usage. All owners who did everything by the rules will have evidence, so do not be afraid to ask.
5. First Ownership
Last but not least, whenever you’re purchasing a used item, no matter what it is, you should always make sure that you are purchasing from the first owner, and here are some of the reasons why.
Let’s say that you are about to purchase a recreational vehicle, whose owner says that they did their best to keep it in the most optimal shape, performing all regular maintenance procedures and all of that.
This already sounds like a great deal, doesn’t it? Yes, but what happens with the previous owner? How can we know if they were as careful with the vehicle as to the current one? That’s right, we can’t, and one bad owner and a couple of months of usage are more than enough to cause permanent damage on some of the irreplaceable parts in an RV.
So, whenever you’re trying to purchase, check if you are buying from the first owner because this really will make a lot of difference with your experience in the future. RV’s are like moving homes, and you never want your home to be in a bad shape, especially when you are out in the wilderness.
