Your Used RV Checklist

It’s a home on wheels.

Keep that statement in mind as you begin your motor home or travel trailer buying project. Take a moment right now to inventory in your mind everything that needs fixing in your home right now. You might be imagining items as simple as a loose doorknob all the way to the intermittent problems you’re having with your heating and air conditioning system.

Now, add an engine and or wheels to the mix, and you have the idea – it’s going to be a difficult to find the perfect used RV. You might have to settle for a few little problems, or decide to pay a few extra bucks for something that’s in pristine condition. There are a myriad of things that can go wrong with a travel trailer or motor home, so a careful pre-buy inspection is a must.

Here then, I offer a starter list of what to look for when purchasing a used motorhome or used travel trailer.

Your used RV checklist:

1. Check everything that relates to your propane system. RV fires do happen and many times they’re the result of a neglected propane system. Check the tank, the hoses, and the regulator. I can’t stress how important this is. You could be risking your investment, and your life if you overlook even the simplest of problems in this area.

2. Check the condition of the house batteries. The house batteries hold the charge that powers your lights and other items when you’re not connected to shore power. They can be expensive to replace, and there might be as many as six of them. Are they properly topped off with water, and do they hold a charge? These batteries are heavy so you really don’t want to be doing this job yourself, and you’ll have to take the cores back for your deposit.

3. Check to make sure the fridge works on both propane and electricity. It should automatically switch from electric to gas when you unplug your shore power. Repairs can be costly so run this little test before you finalize the purchase.

4. Absolutely check the furnace and air conditioning equipment. These can be expensive units to repair, and you’ll want to ask for a little discount if these aren’t working correctly.

5. Does the toilet hold water? If the RV has been sitting for a period of time the seal in the toilet will have dried out. Add a little water to the toilet and see if it holds water for more than 15 minutes. Keep in mind that the water in the toilet is what holds back the fumes trying to escape from the black water holding tank.

6. Check for soft spots in the flooring especially in the bathroom and kitchen areas. These could be symptoms of a much larger problem. The unit may have leaky supply pipes or drains that are causing the wood to rot.

7. Check the skin on the outside of the unit. Look for bubbles. Although cosmetic, you’re probably dealing with a corrosion issue. These can be resolved, but will involve removal of paint, treatment of the affected area, and repainting. Sounds expensive to me.

8. If it has a gas engine, then I highly recommend you carefully inspect the engine records. A good owner will have kept receipts of all engine maintenance. It would even behoove you to have the engine looked over by a trusted mechanic. What do you suppose it would cost to replace an engine?

9. Finally, do a THOROUGH walk-through. Open and close everything. Turn everything on and off. Be suspicious and take notes as you walk through the rig, and at least you’ll go into the purchase with your head up.

I’ll leave you with one final thought. You’ll never find the perfect used travel trailer or RV, but you can minimize the hidden expenses by following the above guidelines.

By RV America Insurance, your one-stop location for recreational vehicle insurance

Related Information of Interest:

Using the Sun to Power Your RV
Jumping in your RV and leaving the rat race for the weekend is an American tradition. Did you know you can provide power to your RV with the sun while getting away from it all?

The Sun is Everywhere!

One of the biggest misconceptions regarding solar power is that it is limited to large panel systems on roofs. Au contraire! With new nanotechnology, solar power systems will soon be applied with the paint you use to improve your home. That’s still two or three years away, so what about now?

If you enjoy taking the RV out for an excursion, you can use solar power to provide your electrical needs. Whether you are going camping or to a NASCAR race, it is an exceedingly simple process.

Unlike homes, RVs run on direct current electricity. This makes them perfect for solar electricity since solar systems produce direct current electricity instead of alternating current. Put another way, there is no need for bulky converters to flip the electricity from direct to alternating. Instead, you can use the sun to power up your batteries directly.

Portable solar systems consist of pop-up solar modules with four or five panels. Essentially, they look like small ladders with solar panels instead of steps. You just pop them up on the roof of the RV or in an area where the sun hits them. The systems tie directly into your batteries and power them up during the day. Super easy and super clean.

The real advantage to solar RV systems has to do with noise. The traditional method for recharging your RV batteries is to turn on a generator and generators can be very loud. Even the quietest generator makes enough noise to make you feel like you live next to a construction site. Solar systems make no noise at all. There are no moving parts, just the sun beating down on the panels. You’ll never know they are even there.

If RVing is your thing, portable solar modules are worth taking a look at. With high fuel prices, you need to save a buck wherever you can.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies.

Job Interview Mistakes - Part 1
For many, the interview is the single most stressful part of the job search process. Any number of things can go wrong, and a big part of being successful is avoiding simple mistakes. The following is a list some of the most common mistakes during an Interview.

1. Failure to research the company: An interviewer will expect candidates to spend time researching and reading about their company. Do your homework before the interview; really know what the company does and who their competitors are. If you have not taken the time to review the employer website and understand what they are recruiting for, then you are reducing your chances of continuing successfully through the interview process.

2. Not clear on what youï¿½re interviewing for: Be familiar with the job description so you can draw on your experiences, talents, strengths and abilities to connect with company needs. Highlight how you're suited to that particular job.

3. Not marketing yourself correctly: Define yourself. What makes you different from others? Know your major strengths and accomplishments as they relate to the job you are applying for and the company.

4. Not asking meaningful questions: Have at least 3-4 intelligent questions to ask the recruiter. It's OK (it actually leaves a positive impression with the recruiter) to have them written down in advance and to reference them at the appropriate time. Interviews are an exchange of information, and not coming in with questions shows that you did not prepare for the whole interview.

5. Under-dressing for the interview: Professional attire and attention to detail still count. You can never be too professional. Remember that everything - your appearance, your tone of voice, your conduct -contributes to the impression (positive or negative) that you make. Be presentable - wear a pressed suit and shirt and polished shoes.

About the Author: Hans Hasselfors is the founder of SubmitYourNewArticle.com. Visit our article directory for varied articles about job search.

Motor Home Living
Motor Home Living

So here we are, in our forties, the kids have moved out, and we are tired of the rat race.
Then the idea came, lets look into full time Motor home living.

Since I have a virtual career, and my wife is in accounting, this just might work.

No more mortgage payment, property taxes, sewage, water, home repair, and most of all, if I hate my neighbors, I can move in a day.

But now the real problem starts. How to get ready?

Over 25 years of junk. What do we keep? What do we store? What about the cars and boat?

So now we are in the planning stages and what a scaring thing. We have started looking at Motor homes at lots and RV shows. They are beautiful and cost a lot less than my Yuppy home.

So many questions come up about living in a motor home. Will we be happy? Will we get to see the world and still be comfortable? Will we meet new friends? Can we live with only one car?

We have also been trying to talk with full time Motor home couples to ask them about the lifestyle. Everyone of them so far have quoted "We should have done this years ago". Most of the folks are retired.

Do you have to be retired to enjoy a Motor Home?

I think not. Remember how our parents use to tell us we would work for companies all our lives and retire with a great pension. Well that went to pot. But we now have virtual careers available and the cards dealt to us can allow us to look outside the box.

This will be a 8 month project for us to get ready. So we will be publishing a series of articles as we get closer and more educated about Motor home living.

Owner of Rangerrob,com Outdoor Family Online Magazine. To read more and follow this story, please visit www.rangaerrobchat.com .