This post was inspired by my first RV purchase, a 2010 20 foot long tow-behind. Everything looked great. It had the new car smell (no, not mold or rot). Appliances spotless. But the seller did state that the electrical was not working and other than that he knew little about it as he was selling if for the owner.
After purchasing the unit, in the first two weeks I did the simple fixes: installed new propane tanks, replaced the blown converter board, installed a new faucet on the kitchen sink, installed a new anode in the heater (the rust on the thread took hours to break-free and clean-up) and replacing a lot of minor broken hardware.
The microwave does not work. It looks pristine but just does not power-up. I took it apart and checked the fuse, door latch switch, nothing. No power at the control panel. I will have to replace it. The gas furnace does not work. It's so tightly wedged-in that without removing the unit and disconnecting the gas piping I can't even begin to guess what the problem may be.
All of the above problems in a 7 year old unit that has probably sat unused for 6.5 of those seven years!
In the process of removing panels, replacing defective components I established the following observations regarding my RV, which I believe can be generalized to the sector:
- RV's are built incredibly cheap.
- All RV's leak.
- Consider them disposable technology.
- All the underside metal frame is meant to rust as quickly as possible. Dealers call this a "patina finish". I beleive it was made with recycled Walmart lawnchair metal at an off-shore factory.
- The fabric that covers the underside is not breathable and can be considered an emergency reservoir of rainwater. Just puncture it like a baloon to see how much it holds.
- It's amazing that more people are not seriously injured by propane appliances.
- It's amazing that more people are not seriously injured by towing a most unstable box.
- If there is a light plastic widget that looks like it can do the job, that's good enough for the manufacturer. Even if it will never work for more than a day.
- The workers at the RV factory do not have access to any vacuum cleaners to remove any left-behind debris behind panels. In fact, I believe it's a matter of pride to leave behind as much wood shaving, metal filings, or cut ends of wood, wire and tubing. All hidden behind the panels of course.
- Only one of type wood screw is used throughout. One and a quarter inch long. Even if the plywood is only quarter inch thick. If the wood screw bites-in at just one eight inch from the edge of the backer board and splits it, then even better.
Anyways, having said all of the above, I still think the RV is one of the most efficient shelters ever devised. It's got everything you need...just. And if you don't mind tinkering forever with it and being on the verge of risking your life whether living inside or towing it at highway speeds, then it can be an ideal accomodation.
As to the question of having an RV inspection done... sure if you are buying from a dealer, just make sure it's done with all systems powered up on the lot. But if you are buying privately, just know it's going to be a lot of 'fun' for you, so be prepared.
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