For people who love to travel but hate hotel rooms, investing in a recreational vehicle (more commonly known as an RV) can be a perfect solution. After all, hitting the road in an RV allows you to explore new territory or revisit favorite escapes while taking your own living space with you. If you’re thinking of purchasing one of these handy vehicles, check out our tips for buying a used RV.
Tips for Buying a Used RV
Some people buy an RV, fall in love with it, and then decide to upgrade to a bigger or fancier vehicle. Some RV owners decide to switch models to secure specific features that they’re craving. Others choose to trade in their RV to experiment with other adventures. Regardless of their motivation, the result is a healthy supply of used RVs for you to pick from. As you begin shopping, keep these tips for buying a used RV in mind.
Consider Your Unique Needs
Much like some drivers prefer tiny cars while others demand full-size trucks, RV owners have different ideas about what the perfect vehicle entails. For those who don’t put a lot of miles on the odometer, the space offered by a larger RV may be worth its fuel-hungry nature. People who frequently want to drive long distances, on the other hand, might consider a cozier living space a fair trade for better gas mileage. Likewise, some travelers may be happy to rough it while others feel that some luxuries (like high-quality wood flooring, extensive entertainment units, and top-notch kitchen appliances) are absolute necessities. Before you begin shopping around, decide what would make a vehicle your ideal RV. Make a list of must-have features, things you would like to have, and absolute deal-breakers.
Do Your Homework
Once you know what you want in an RV, do your homework. Research various models to discover which vehicles best match your needs, desires, and budget. Learn what problems these vehicles are prone to so that you can be on the lookout for them while inspecting potential purchases. In addition, familiarize yourself with how these vehicles are valued so that you’ll know when you’re getting a fair deal.
Check the Vehicle’s History
When a used RV that fits your profile catches your eye, check its history. Ask the salesperson how many owners the vehicle has had, how often it was driven, and why it’s for sale now. Check how many miles it’s traveled and review its maintenance records and repair history. You can order an RV VIN check through the DMV to ensure you aren’t buying a damaged or stolen vehicle. This is one of our top tips for buying a used RV because delving into a vehicle’s past can help you decide if it’s a good fit for your future travels.
Try Everything
Before you buy any vehicle, you’ll want to take it for a test drive, but don’t limit your testing to how well the RV handles when you’re behind the wheel. Try everything. Look over the interior and exterior carefully, including the undercarriage. Push buttons, pull open cabinets, stretch out in the beds, and stand in the shower. A thorough evaluation will allow you to pinpoint potential problems and help you verify that you’ll be able to use the RV comfortably, giving you peace of mind.
Be Wary of Water Damage
Water damage is a major headache, and its severity is hard to judge from surface damage. It not only requires expensive repairs but also sets the stage for problems like mold growth. So before buying a used RV, examine the roof, seams, and other surfaces for any sign of water damage. If you find telltale stains or soft spots, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere for your perfect RV.
Use Your Nose
Vision isn’t the only sense that you should be relying on when inspecting a used RV. Your sense of smell is also helpful. A musty odor might signal that mold or water damage is a concern, while strong chemical smells can hint at mechanical issues. Pet odors or the scent of stale cigarettes can indicate that animals and smokers were frequent passengers. Finally, a strong fragrance might be a clue that the seller is eager to hide malodors. A clean, fresh aroma, on the other hand, suggests that the vehicle has been lovingly detailed.
So what should you do if you fall in love with a smelly RV? As long as it doesn’t indicate a deeper issue, a strong scent that makes your nose wrinkle doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. You can erase it with the SafeSpace Germ Fogger. Convenient yet powerful, this product can tackle both unpleasant odors and illness-causing germs. It’s easy to use, and there’s no need to worry about staining, spotting, or lingering residues. Approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, the SafeSpace Germ Fogger combines a powerful contact disinfectant with potent deodorizers. When fully discharged, it generates 6,000 cubic feet of disinfecting and deodorizing fog.
Before you use the fogger, remove all people and pets from your RV, put away exposed food, and close the windows. Then, shake the can well, remove the safety cover cap, and place the product in the center of the room on a full piece of newspaper, preferably on an elevated surface (like a table or countertop) to extend the coverage. Please note that sometimes a germ fogger will activate an RV’s CO2 gas sensor, so do not place the fogger directly beneath your RV’s sensor. If the sensor still goes off, open all the doors and windows of your RV to air it out, and the sensor will deactivate and reset within a few minutes.
When you’re ready to start the process, press and lock the total release valve lever, and then quickly exit the space. Close the doors behind you. Leave the fogger inside the RV for at least one hour. To eliminate powerful odors, keep the RV closed for longer than one hour so that the product has time to fully penetrate.
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When you hit the road in your RV, there’s no reason to let unpleasant stowaways like bad smells and nasty germs tag along. Ensure that your RV’s interior is a fresh, healthy environment with SafeSpace Germ Fogger. To learn more and explore our full line of disinfecting products, visit SafeSpace’s online store today.
Copyright SafeSpace Company 2018
