Beware—Flood-damaged RVs coming to the market

By Cheri Sicard
Josh the RV Nerd, one of the winners of our 2024 RV video awards, has an important warning for anyone shopping for a used RV. According to Josh, flood-damaged RVs are entering the market!

Josh’s family used to own auto dealerships, and they always noticed water-damaged used cars coming in after there had been major flooding in large areas of the country.

Well, the same thing happens with RVs. And the country has recently seen major flooding.  So, consumers need to be aware and know what to look for in order not to buy flood-damaged RVs.

In the video, Josh explains how the auction and wholesale process works. One thing to know is that these damaged RVs and vehicles are never sold in the region where they were damaged. He also goes into why, even though an RV might appear OK, water damage can present major headaches and even health hazards down the road.

The bottom line is, you will want to avoid what Josh calls a “Tina Turner RV,” i.e., one that has been “rolling down the river.”

How to avoid buying flood-damaged RVs and vehicles

—If an RV is HEAVILY discounted or offered at a deal that’s just too good to be true, look closer.

—Use a qualified independent inspector to evaluate before purchasing.

—If a dealer will not allow an independent inspector, look elsewhere.

—Inquire about the title and make sure it is “clean.” If it has a salvage title, it may or may not be a deal breaker, but you should definitely investigate further, especially if it has not been disclosed.

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