Buying a used RV can be a little intimidating. For this reason, we have decided to put together the DO's & Don't when buying a Used RV.

First and foremost, there are some questions to ask before buying a used RV. Think about why you are getting a camper in the first place. What will you be using the camper for? How many people need to sleep in the camper? Do you like to cook outdoors? These are all questions that will help you narrow down the various models out there to ensure you find something that fits your needs.

Choose a Trusted Dealer

Next, you should buy from someone or somewhere that you trust. If you are buying from a dealership, you should check out their reviews. You can find these from many different sources such as google, facebook, yelp, and even right on their website. The RV industry has grown very conscious as of late of online reviews and how they impact their business.

What are the most common problems with RVs?

There are a few things you should look for when you go through a used camper:

  • Are there any "soft spots" in the floor or ceiling? A "soft spot" means there is likely water damage or there was at one point.
  • Do all of the appliances turn on and work properly? Be sure to check every appliance you can find that is able to be powered on.
  • Check the outside for delamination. This is another sign of water damage in the camper. Delamination looks like there is an air bubble on the exterior wall of the camper.
  • The roof! The roof of a camper has special coatings to waterproof it. These coatings can be damaged by many different things like tree branches, harsh cleaning chemicals, and even tree sap.
  • Tire wear is another small but important item to check on a used RV. Although tires dont cost an outrageous amount of money, the cost can significantly increase if one blows while driving down the road.

Wisconsin State Inspection

The great perk to purchasing a camper within the state of Wisconsin are that all dealers are required to do a state mandated inspection on the camper. Most of the issues above can be found on this used rv checklist or "Wisconsin Buyers Guide" displayed in or on the camper.

Warranties and Coverage

It is important to ask the dealer you purchase from if they have any sort of warranty or dealer paid service agreement with their used campers. At Greeneway RV, we have the ability to "Certify" used campers that are 7 year old and newer through Route 66. This provides every customer who purchases an eligible camper or RV with a 66 day warranty on parts and labor.

Whether you have a dealer provided warranty or not, you should ask about your options to extend coverage on the unit if anything were to malfunction.