Buyer’s diligence
I probably haven’t looked hard enough. I tend to shop for things where I already know what I want and what the risks might be. However, after watching some videos on inspecting an RV, it is clear that I need an awful lot more experience before I go off to buy something unknown to me. So many places where things can go wrong. It all starts with the wheels. You hope that they meet the ground in the way they are intended. If the rig is upside down that is a red flag. That probably goes for airplanes as well. If the RV has things that are obviously damaged, you can make the assumption that this happened after manufacture. That is the moment to ask the current owner what might have happened. If the owner says that it happened when he turned the rig upside down save your money and walk away. I’m taking this without any degree of seriousness because I am not shopping. For others with hope in their heart and dollars in their wallet they have to take the whole inspection process seriously. The old axiom about buyer beware applies here as well. Remember, the owner is not going to tell you something to make you want to shop elsewhere. Part of their job description. If what you hear sounds too good to be true it probably is. Keep in mind that an RV usually does not go upside down all by itself. And if there are only three wheels you should be asking what happened to the other wheel. Think of it as due diligence on the part of the buyer. Remember the seller has no such rule in his job description. We have been fortunate. We are now on our second RV and in both cases we got what we wanted at the price we accepted. Something about buying objects that are pretty much pristine. Do I want to shop for another rig right now? No. That counts as a succinct response. I continue trying to learn just in case but it is reassuring to look out the door and see that our other set of beds is there ready to travel. Eventually. We’re waiting for winter to end and according to the Almanac that will be soon.
