Just looking - RV-Dreams Community Forum

baysailor · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just looking

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Robert,

I noticed that this was your first post. Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. There are a lot of knowledgable folks here with a lot of answers for questions on about every type of RV. Feel free to ask away.

Terry

JayKim-no regrets · RV-Dreams Family Member

Winnebago is on my list of good DP's, noone can really tell you if you have found a good deal or not, if you are not an 'expert' on what to look out for in a used RV, my advice would be to get one (an expert) to check it over for you before you make any decision to buy it.

That is our plan, once we have narrowed down our search:)

Welcome to the forum, i'm sure there will be members that have a winnebago DP, that can be more helpful than I can. Good luck:)

baysailor · RV-Dreams Family Member

Where do you find an "RV expert" to make an independent survey, I have googled RV Surveyors with no luck?

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

One of the perks of getting an RV Consumer Group, http://rv.org/ , membership is they send you a book called "How to Select, Inspect and Buy an RV". Then you can be your own inspector.

RVPAINTER · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would suggest a PRO to inspect unless you have knowledge in RV construction. Check with large RV dealerships (not the one you might buy from) and ask if they provided RV inspection services. Also companies that refurbish RV interiors would be a good starting point.

If you buy from a place like PPL they have contacts for RV inspections services as well as chassis inspection services.

Do it yourself is wonderful but some things you should pay to have done IMHO Book learning just does not replace years of experience.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Unfortunately I have had some bad advice from dealers, they can be clueless and one sent us to someone massively incompetent for a safety related issue. The reason for getting the book and reading it is so you can do some inspection yourself and have a clue that the person you are hiring to do the inspection knows what they are doing. Some techs can be very prejudice, they might hate some brand of appliance and will tell you all units using it are junk since once they see that brand they go negative on everything else. You have to make yourself as informed as possible to find a pro or expert that really is one and to give you confidence to realize that someone might know what they are talking about but is a bad hire for you, personally.

RVPAINTER · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well said Bill and self - education is important. There are sooooo many possible factors with a used RV - especially Class C. Delamination for expample - big problem and with "book learning" you may discover it - maybe. Water leaks etc etc. it's kind of like being your own Dr. perhaps you can 2nd guess what is wrong with you but perhaps better off finding a trained MD :>)

Finding a qualified RV inspection facility I agree can be interesting.

When looking for a used RV from PPL, we got the names of 3 vendors to choose from - however we decided to buy new. Knowledge of self inspection is valuable but a highly trained eye is priceless.

:>)

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Some brands have volunteer inspectors who will inspect the prospective coach for you. They are generally people who are very familiar with that particular brand and know what to look for. If there is a Winnebago owner's forum, you might consider joining it and asking.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

JayKim-no regrets wrote:
Jay says I have a tendency for transparency when we are looking for cars, big money items etc, he says I am a salesmans dream buyer I'm practising my poker face for when we are seriously looking to buy

Kim,

Thanks for the laugh. I used to be a salesman, although only for a short time on cars and trucks. I can appreciate how it is the little things that a salesman picks up on with their customers.

But, I can be a sucker as well. What sold me on my DroidX Android phone was a compass app. (I tend to get my directions for North, South, East and West mixed up when Jo and I go to Tulsa.)

Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Monday 20th of February 2012 11:22:25 AM

JayKim-no regrets · RV-Dreams Family Member

We joined RV.ORG last week, yes it's a good idea to educate yourself as far as possible, but even after reading all the great info/books etc available with that membership, we would still prefer an 'expert' to look over any used RV we are thinking of investing our hard earned cash into:)

Jay says I have a tendency for transparency when we are looking for cars, big money items etc, he says I am a salesmans dream buyer

I'm practising my poker face for when we are seriously looking to buy

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

kb0zke wrote:
Some brands have volunteer inspectors who will inspect the prospective coach for you. They are generally people who are very familiar with that particular brand and know what to look for. If there is a Winnebago owner's forum, you might consider joining it and asking.

This is the best idea to get an opinion. However, it will be a bit biased since it will be a Winnie owner. At least, it will be a reasonably accurate picture of the rig. Finding an inspector is a shot in the dark at best, unless you have a relationship with someone with knowledge. Failing all else, get a diesel mechanic to look at the engine. The rest of the rig, if the fit and finish is pleasing to the eye, that is doable by you. The water heater and frig is one of those things that if they operate on both gas and electric, no one can tell you how long they will operate.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:

But, I can be a sucker as well. What sold me on my DroidX Android phone was a compass app. (I tend to get my directions for North, South, East and West mixed up when Jo and I go to Tulsa.)
Terry
At least it was not the bubble level app.
(Seriously I now use "GPS Essentials" for a compass since the app has more useful stuff in it than a compass.) I think a few smartphones have been sold to RVs to get Dish Pointer, which helps you point a satellite dish.

baysailor · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think a diesel mechanic is the way to go, engine/mechanicle checks, and a test drive.

Thanks for all the feed back.