By Cheri Sicard
Not all RV dealers are created equal, but when it comes to new RV delivery experiences there are certain things that you, as a customer, should demand.
It does not matter if you are buying a new camper van, Class A, B, or C, travel trailer, popup camper, or any variation thereof. If you are taking delivery of a brand-new RV, you should expect the things outlined in the video below by That RV Tech.
If you don’t get them, ask for them! And if your dealer won’t comply, you should probably save yourself some future headaches and look for a different dealer.
Take heed of this important advice, because it is easy to get caught up in the moment of the excitement of buying a new RV. But you will want, no, NEED, to understand how everything in your RV works. And the time to discover you don’t know how something works is NOT when you are in the middle of your first camping trip.
Everything in your RV should go through an extensive PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection) process. Humans build RVs and humans make errors. Again, the time to discover one of those errors is NOT on your first camping trip.
The first thing you should expect is your RV set up just as if you are ready to camp. That means slides and awning out (if you have them) and systems engaged (water in the tank, propane filled, etc.). You should expect to spend two to three hours learning about EVERYTHING in your new RV.
Watch the video as they will give you a full laundry list of EVERYTHING you need to look out for. It truly is invaluable advice, especially if you are an RV beginner.
##RVDT2070
The RV dealer I purchased our RV from stated that if the new RV was in a “usable” condition the buyer had to accept it and then get in line and make an appoinment with their service department. Repairs were needed on our new RV and I refused to drive it off the lot. They said if I didn’t take it they would charge me a storage fee. After the sale the dealer is no longer your friend and on your side.
Missed some things when I picked up our 2022 camper last spring. Just like the video, the PDI was inside a dealer garage. We turned on the overhead lights in the camper to check things out. The sensor panel seemed to be working fine. The dealer is 6 hours from our home, so stopped for the night along the way. In full daylight the sensor panel was dead. Turned out wiring was reversed such that overheads had to be on to power the panel.
In all, I found three instances of carefully reversed wiring likely to pass a PDI and all fairly easy to fix (if you knew what you were doing and had the tools) – pretty sure this was sabotage by a disgruntled factory employee.
At the 5:10 mark “as is” is mentioned. He says “…anything that isn’t working properly or is damaged should be replaced.” My understanding of “as is” is exactly that. You check the unit and if the fridge and/or stove and/or couch etc is missing, damaged or not working, that means “as is” at least to me. Caveat emptor. Other thoughts?
New RV should not be sold “as is.” The RV and all it’s parts are under warranty, but you would be foolish to accept it without a good inspection to make sure everything works. A used RV from a private buyer is another story, that truly is “as is.”
A great video but NO dealer does this. Your “walk-through specialist”? Who is he kidding?