When buying an RV, whether used or brand-new, it’s important to have it inspected by an independent third party. Such a service can be provided by an RVIA certified technician (those who have undergone extensive training approved by the RV Industry Association), mobile RV technicians or RV inspectors.
So-called RV inspectors — people trained specifically to inspect RVs for buyers — are a relatively new thing, created out of the need for such a service. Their skills may be based on less than a week of hands-on training, or even online training only.
Alan Warren, of the syndicated radio program The RV Show USA, suggests in a recent monologue that people who call themselves RV Inspectors do not have equal skills. Many are highly talented, but others, well, they may not have the knowledge or experience to do a proper job.
Warren explains in this five-minute video.
I’m getting ready to buy a new 5th trailer in the next couple months. I’m looking to use a certified RV 5th wheel inspector to inspect my new 5th wheel during the buying process if that’s allowed by the dealership. Too many new RV purchasers are finding things wrong with their new rv on the 1st trip out, furnace doesn’t work, water pump not pumping, fridge is not getting cold, slide doesn’t align properly and the list goes on. I don’t expect to have everything perfect with the rv just want to eliminate most of them from the get go. Dealer don’t really inspect the trailers, they just sell them and let the customer figure out what doesn’t work. Where in the Phoenix area can I find an experienced certified RV inspector?
Hi, Earl. You might want to check on the National RV Inspectors Association website: https://nrvia.org/ Good luck! And have a wonderful 2023 in your new RV! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Well I assume you ask you Doctor and Attorney where in their class they graduated. Have you actually attended any of these RV inspector schools? And by the way, you can claim you are not bashing the inspection industry, but in reality you are.
So what’s the solution? I agree with your general thought. Hire an inspector but not all inspectors are qualified. We can’t trust a certification. How are we to know ? The questions are good but we’re left hanging.
We know the RV industry has a lot of issues, including shortage of technicians.
So has your opinion changed in the last 1.5-2.0 yrs. Whether you intended to bash RV Inspectors and the RV Inspections schools, you did really hard.
Pilots with 300 hours and 1800 hours are some of the most dangerous. There are ASE certified mechanics who know the theory but can’t fix cars and then there are ASE certified who know and can do the job. Do you want a RVIA Technician inspecting the transmission and engine. Motor homes are much more complicated than a travel trailer.
A RV inspector should be someone who is not only RVIA qualified but also qualified to inspect other components that are auto/truck related.
Being a retired Air Traffic Controller, Pilot, ASE Certified Mechanic, RV owner for over 50 years, Worked on trucks buses, and taught mechanics for over 20 years, fixed everything that has broke in my RV’s, rebuilt one motor home and do wood working as a hobby, I would not feel comfortable inspecting a RV and telling them it is A OK. I would go with a friend and test the RV part, listen to the engine and do a compression test but that engine needs an oil analysis done both engine and transmission.
“Pilots with 300 hours and 1800 hours are some of the most dangerous.”
300 because they’re still wet behind the ears, and 1800 because they get complacent at that point?
Pretty much. I’ve read that at about 500 hours most pilots’ skills hit a plateau. It’s what you do to improve those skills after that that make the real difference.
First of all Alan, don’t be so quick to disparage a new inspector or someone just out of school. ALL rv inspectors started from the same place. Nobody is born an inspector. I’m surprised you would even make that assessment! I thought you had more on the cap!!!!!