RV Dealer exposes the truth about RV inspections

[@rvp.i.2047]

Andrew Steel, there is a lot more to this discussion that should be mentioned. I have inspected many coaches for clients that did not have the time to do so themselves. More importantly, they knew they did not have the tools or knowledge to do an inspection themselves. As an inspector, I am going to show up with over $5,000 in tools and specialty equipment I will use during the inspection. On a large coach I will spend all day on site and then prepare a written report, that is often over 100 pages. If you truly want to learn about and tell your viewers about inspections let's document an inspection from a professional inspector. Someone who is certified as an RV inspector and RV technician. So, I have an offer for you. Next time you are visiting your friends at Newell Let's get together and I will inspect your coach, or any other coach you choose. We can film it and tell the story or what an inspection is and what you should expect when hiring a true professional.

[@RVingwithAndrewSteele]

Thanks for the offer. I've had my coach inspected by an expert technician so won't need to take you up on that offer but I appreciate your enthusiasm and can tell you are someone I would want to inspect my coach. If you would ever like to advertise your services on my channel, I have marketing packages available. Feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram or Facebook if you would like to discuss marketing on my channel.

[@BrinksyBoy]

This is an excellent reply and felt by many who watched this video.

[@7926sw]

I agree with what you said and if it was a fair review, he would have also mentioned good hardworking people like yourself. Where also was the comments about Dealers? Is it because they are all the most honest people in the world and have their customers best interests in mind and the Inspectors have none???

[@tonytigere5684]

I hired an inspector yesterday 10/11/23 to inspect a 2019 toy hauler grand design 21g . He charged me $799 and took 3 hrs of inspection. He discovered many minor issues and a few big ones that I probably would of found. I actually saw many videos on why to look for and almost did it myself. I’m glad I didn’t. He discovered a wheel with some play rattle. He claimed it’s most likely wheel bearings need replacing. No biggie. He recommended not move it until repaired. He was an inspector Not a technician. The owner and i contacted a mobile technician to come over to change the bearings and quoted us. He too said that is the likely culprit. But When he discovered or I should say we told him it the wheel moves on the ground. He assumed it was on jack stands. He said oh no it’s much worse then wheel bearings most likely needs a spindle kit wheel bearing and a high chance when he removes the wheel and hub it could need a new axle. This work was going to take a few days due to availability. He recommended not move it unless we want to risk the wheel coming off and causing an accident. At that moment I said I’m done good luck on your sale I’m not interested anymore. Another thing the inspector while walking on the fully walkable roof a of a supposed good quality toy hauler the interior ceiling was sinking in where he took steps . Not on all the roof but on some sections. I told him about it and inspector said that’s normal. I felt I shouldn’t be able to see his steps sink in when their is such a decent gallo from outside roof to inside ceiling wall. He said he’d check it with his thermal thing. In the end he said roof was good but I never felt comfortable after that since he also found many crack on the roof around almost all sealants around the fans, swear exhaust exetra. My point is if I would’ve did the inspection even after doing research I have never seen the wheel check on any videos I’ve watch and I would’ve considered buying it. Since all the other issues were considered minor from the inspectors view. The axle issue broke the camels back for me. I already don’t feel comfortable buying it but was really close in doing so until the axle issue. If not for the inspection I could’ve sorely regretted my possible purchase. As soon as I said no and left the presence of the sellers home a huge relief , weight of bricks were lifted. My recommendation is get a certified inspector that is also a certified technician. That was my mistake. Luckily the tech we called answered and was helpful with a free diagnostic. I called all techs in the area and no one answered but him while he was at work. It was a huge blessing.

[@xplmr1]

Don't think it's just private party sales that should have inspections. I bought a problematic class A brand new from a dealer and it was riddled with issues, so much so that it spent it's first 5 months in Elkhart, IN at the factory to get a major frame flaw fixed. I almost think dealers are worse than most private parties for hiding issues.

[@ChatGPT1111]

I regret not having an inspector for my first RV. After buying a brand new Thor Outlaw Class A in 2014, we had a leaky roof that, even after half a dozen attempts, was never fixed in the 3 years we had it! There turned out to be significant loose saw dust inside the house electrical areas. Half the cabinet latches were not properly attached and popped out, leaving the doors unusable (until reglued). Outdoor slam latches all rusted badly. The toy hauler door ramp cables were not properly wound and unspooled. The step pieces started becoming delaminated. Get an inspector for your first RV!

[@nedladner6149]

Sorry, I may be off base, but I get a “used car dealer” vibe from Sewell. I understand that not all inspectors are created equal, but it appears to me that Sewell really doesn’t want to be bothered by any inspector. I assume it creates a “hassle step” in their process. Sewell may very well be a first rate, honest used motor home dealer; I cannot attest to that. My comments are based upon my impression from the content of this video. Also, Mr. Steele: I am a subscriber and greatly enjoy most of your videos. But, I’m very disappointed in the video title. To me, the title, and some of your comments in the video, imply that RV inspectors are shady opportunists and provide no value. If that’s the way you feel, you absolutely have that right. But it would imply to me that you are not a neutral party in discussing motorhome dealers and the customer base (which I assume is most of your audience).

[@pierrefortin8687]

My impression also ! And I actually know of Andrew and disappointed in the lack of impartiality I thought he conveyed through this interview 😕

[@LarsMacD]

I like the way they kind of sidestep in the inspection question. "If you know what you're doing, you may not need to have an inspector, and you can trust us, because we are careful and knowledgeable. and we have seen inspectors who were not worth their money, so come buy from us. because we inspect the rigs better than the inspectors do." And, I have to agree with them on the one point: Not all inspectors are worth the money they want. So, make sure that you know what you're getting in to.

[@EndlessRVing]

Excellent video. Certainly getting a qualified and certified 3rd party inspection is very important, but with that said they are not all created equal. Like with everything, experience comes with real world practice. At some point the customer must educate themselves if they want to own an RV because there will be issues long after the inspection has been completed. Excellent video Andrew and thanks for the shout out.

[@christianlucas6553]

Man, there is soooooo much more I could talk about on this topic! You barely scratched the surface, and I'm not telling you anything you both don't already know! I've been wanting to do my own video of my personal experience with an industry leader "inspector" who is fortunately no longer doing inspections. The one thing that I will add is, "MAKE SURE YOU PICK AN INSPECTOR WHO ISNT FRIENDS WITH THE SELLER"! UGH, so much more I'd like to share, but it would take a long time to type all that out! Great video, and you should definitely add more of the bloopers! 🤣🤣🤣

[@christianlucas6553]

That day will come for sure 👍

[@ricsmom97]

@@christianlucas6553 please share your experience! For newbies like me, learning from others is so important.

[@Tom.and.Missy.Northam]

Great video Andrew. My wife and I did have an inspection done before our purchase from NIRVC down in Atlanta. 2 reasons really, good peace of mind having an extra set of eyes check it out, also I was able to give the report to the dealer to start fixing the items prior to our arrival. One major issue was the hydraulic levelers. The motor was bad and they actually had to order it. It was all taken care of before we arrived which made our walk through so much easier. Of course they still turned everything on and tested stuff. We also stay 2 nights camping in their lot. Pretty awesome.

[@tomjones6190]

Great video! Great advice! You didn’t mention the one thing that I believe is the most important part of the machine to be inspected… the roof! Followed by slide boxes for leaks, then plumbing… if a simple component isn’t working, that’s an easy fix, but if there are structural issues or water intrusion, you’re screwed. But again, thank you! Great video on a very important topic!

[@scottmoyer4461]

No One should trust any RV dealer or any salesman, they’re only interested in your money

[@Slimsomerville]

Lol he says, you can get 5 different inspectors with 5 different reports… really! I’m sure… the question would be, are they finding the same issues? Dealers are the one that don’t like to be exposed. This is the reason for this video. Oh, Btw… I’ve owned MHs and buses for over 35 hrs. I don’t need an inspector.

[@mtcdnp]

the dealer lost me when he said you don't need an inspection - big red flag. I made the mistake of not having an inspection on my brand new Class A motorhome and I do recommend everybody gets an inspector! We found many issues with the "pre-inspected" motorhome by dealer and now I have to take a trip to the manufacturer with a long list of issues that were not done right from the construction. One spending over 1/4 million one expects to be working.

[@jasonclift7253]

Thank you for the content - love your videos - When is the time where dealers hold the manufacturers feet to the fire on quality control? There is an endless amount of complaints about quality control before ever driving it off the lot. It should not be up to the dealership to do this, it should be right before it ever leads these manufacturers. Where I work, there is nothing we send out before our stuff has been went over with a fine tooth comb. All of our leadership demands it! Maybe that is why they have a 5 star rating and have been in business of almost a century! Somebody needs to hold these guys accountable.

[@californiahikingadventures2249]

“Pre delivery inspection.. “ right 🙄🤣🤣🤣

[@AmpedtoGlamp]

We always highly recommend an RV inspection. But just like anything else you buy you must thoroughly vet the technician. We also recommend you are onsite with the inspector. Check their certifications, ask questions, talk to multiple inspectors before hiring. This is especially important if you are new to RVing. We purchased a 2021 and would not have caught all the issues with our RV on our own and the dealership had no incentive to tell us. And, I seriously doubt the integrity of a dealership that will not allow an inspection.

[@BrinksyBoy]

Exactly!

[@DLTJR1959]

We've never used an inspector. We've never been burned. Yes things break, things need repair, things need maintenance. Buy from an honest individual that knows the history and maintenance of your unit and you are good to go. If you buy from a dealer get the history of ownership and maintenance records. If you can't get that run. Getting a good honest inspector is just as difficult as getting a good honest dealer. Doug is honest. There are dealers out there like him. Unfortunately many are not. Thanks for the videos Andrew. I appreciate them.

[@curtiscrump7153]

If I ever get the point I can afford a rig, an inspection is required. You are buying a home that travels down the road in a hurricane during an earthquake after all. It protects all parties. If a seller resists, REDFLAG and run away.

[@hook880hanh]

I just drove 6hrs too look at a 2019 dutchstar for my brother that lives in the Midwest I'm on west coast. The dealer told him it was in the best shape he had seen in a long time. I'm not a inspector but have owned class a pushers 20 plus years. When looking at it you could see that the drivers side had had a lot of paint work done not disclose by the owner or the dealer. Always get a inspection. Had an alignment issue broken windshield a drive tire with a big gash in it. I saw a lot of other issues. My brother would have come 1800 miles and been screwed.

[@jdmutchler]

They're all junk no matter what one you buy. Built by design like that. Money pits alllll day long👌

[@philw7174]

Great advice and video Doug and Andrew. Thank you for your terrific interviews. Beautiful Tiffin. Happy trails!

[@PrevostJoe]

Whether it be an RV inspector, mechanic, a plumber, electrician or whatever it is up to the individual hiring that person to make sure the person is qualified for the position. RV's more than any other vehicle need to be inspected before purchase. Sorry but if it's not a Prevost, Newell or Wanderlodge and it's a fiberglass production RV, it's junk. Yes I know that's a blanket statement but after 25 years in the RV industry that's been my experience. I have seen structural defects, rotted slides and more mechanical issues that I can count on production fiberglass RVs. Of course dealers don't like RV inspectors, the inspectors discover problems the dealer doesn't want to admit or to spend the money to fix. Just like Carfax was a thorn in the side of the automobile business, so are RV inspectors to the RV industry.

[@PrevostJoe]

Most RV buyers do not have the experience or the knowledge to inspect an RV on their own. They have no idea what to look for.

[@michaelbayliss1794]

Hi Andrew, does a bank require an inspection on a used coach ? My home mortgage required one , and it was way less then some of the coaches on your channel. Keep up with the great videos.

[@RVingwithAndrewSteele]

They usually don't which is somewhat shocking

[@Klmeeks1999]

We are looking for an RV and one of the dealerships near us says in their writeup they complete a "200 point inspection" on all vehicles. My question does the 200 point cover everything a RV Inspector would test?

[@lauravictorious4670]

I'm a certified inspector and I can tell you that the answer is no. It's more like 500 things, depending on the type of RV. It also includes a report of about 75 pages and 100 photos.

[@curtisnikel6427]

Inspection is an interesting topic and I believe a matter of significant importance to a first time /upgrading RV buyer. Interviewing a salesman for their perspective is a good start, you should also interview a potential buyer for their thoughts, a 2+ year owner, a 5+ year RV technician (certified one), a RV Inspector with more than 5 years of experience and a RV Technician training school to provide a well rounded story on buying a RV. BTW, are you heading to the Prevost show in February?

[@scottshackelford4498]

Couldn't agree more. Try talking to an inspector as well.

[@jet357]

I bought a used coach from a reputable dealership. They reassured me that they do a "thorough" inspection. The inspection revealed a burnt out light bulb, a couple of dead batteries in remotes, ..etc. I purchased the top of the line warranty luckily. Turns out the Aquahot had a leak, the macerator was completely broken, and the dash A/C didnt work. They were all fixed by the warranty. If any of these faults had been revealed before I purchased, I might of had second thoughts. If I expected the consigning seller to fix them before I bought it, it would have likely caused the deal to be scrubbed. Dealerships who claim the inspection is thorough is lying. They are just trying to complete the sale......

[@bindingcurve]

The dash air should definitely have been identified, but I would be far more worried about the powerplant, roof and structure.

[@gandul1234]

Not really. They will recharge the system and the dash A/C will work for a few weeks perfectly. It happened to me once

[@bindingcurve]

@@gandul1234 so it was working. Inspections can only do so much. They can't live in it for weeks,

[@AmericanMX]

How difficult is it to get fluid samples as a buyer?

[@mitchell1108A]

You can’t inspect something that you’re not able to inspect. Hire someone who knows more about the things that you don’t know about, for example, engine, chassis, transmission, roof. I guarantee that Andrew could not inspect these items. He’s full of sh-t! There are very reputable inspectors out there. If any seller, dealer or private person, tries to dissuade you from getting an inspection - WALK AWAY!!

[@bobmariano3731]

Exactly, well said .👍🤛⚾️

[@chriscatron3864]

This Rv dealer didn’t expose anything. And I can guarantee that there are WAY more inspectors showing the shady crap dealers pull. If ANY dealer tellsyou you dont need an inspection, you need an inspection.

[@ArcticEngineerNP]

Good information. The inspection I paid for when buying my coach was totally worthless and I won't hold it against the one that recommended him but you are right, high liability. If buying a Prevost, the mechanical inspection should be done at Prevost.

[@ecobbqmendes_portugal4721]

Very nice RV 👌 congrats 👏 🙌 👍 😀

[@williamsneedjr4129]

This was great information and thank you

[@poppyfcagiftgift6246]

how do you do that?

[@californiahikingadventures2249]

You’re spending multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars … get a CERTIFIED rv inspector .

[@whereyougoiwillgorving4492]

If dealerships were doing what they were supposed to, buyers wouldn't need to pay for a 3rd party inspection..... Alot of talk and little follow through in general from dealerships across the country. There are exceptions but few and far between imo !

[@themadgreek]

Hi Guys... good info for us novices... BTW, we like this floor plan.... is this rig listed on your website? which one?

[@ChristianTravelers]

This is one of the most disingenuous KZbin video we've ever seen. Andrew you should be ashamed, or well paid. Inspector should only be NRVIA-trained and don't be afraid to ask questions about the inspector's experience. We've had great experience with RV Inspectors. When you're talking about 10's of thousands-to-hundreds of thousands-to-millions of dollars, you're crazy not to get a legitimate 3rd-party inspection, and make sure it is NRVIA. We're not mechanics, so we use ASE-certified mechanics when we buy a car! A dealer has an inherent self-interest not to tell you the whole truth or even want you to get an inspection. ("Oh, everything will be okay. What can go wrong?") Even Camping World let us put a contingency into our contract for an NRVIA inpection.

[@eskimomosul7132]

If I'm purchasing in Arizona , James or Brian are my Guys !

[@nomadbiker4040]

James inspected/repaired a Tiffin Zephyr I purchased in Mesa, he's very thorough

[@nomadbiker4040]

@Dave Rogers dealer hired him pre-sale. He has a youtube channel AZ expert and responds to people on his channel

[@normkermmoade1151]

There is a difference between an inspection and a walk through. Hire a certified inspector and don’t trust a dealer to tell you that you don’t need one.

[@MikeHixson-o8f]

Honest RV dealerships are not the norm. Unfortunately, an RV inspection, I believe, should be on all RV's. Independent, researched inspector. If there's nothing to hide, then it shouldn't be an issue. Big investment...inspection gives peace of mind. My 2 cents.

[@robertbarnes6639]

Love bloopers please give us more

[@scott9751]

"Customers should always have an inspection done." "Customers don't need to have an inspection because some inspectors suck." "Customers should trust us and not have an inspection." "An inspection is nothing more than checking that all the switches work." My takeaway from this train wreck of a video is don't buy from Sewell Motorcoach. It's like they were trying to make themselves look shady.

[@dodgeguyz]

I inspect all my own RVs. I’m an auto tech as well as diesel certified. The fact someone hired an inspector and they don’t know if it’s gas or diesel I would definitely want to know that.

[@TONYANDBRENDA1969]

Really good info. I know tons of rv buyers who are always asking if they should get an inspection and of course it’s yes. But never really thought about the quality of the inspector. Thanks for sharing

[@timj4742]

Your dealership is rare. Most dealerships do a PDI which means they Probably didn't Inspect. I've seen it too many times.

[@js-amg]

This is a typical tit for tap scenario. Blame each other and go on about how bad or dumb each other is. Give me a break. That’s right dealers reckon you don’t need an inspector. Heard that before. Dealers don’t want inspectors period cause it cost them money to correct the issue before the customer decides to take the coach or not. That’s BS and a Lame excuse on mentioning what gas the coach runs on. Who cares and that’s picking on the inspector cause you both can’t find anything better to pick on with the inspector. At the end of the day. I don’t care about the inspector or some of the lying ass dealers. What I care about is the customer and they don’t get burnt on their big purchase.

[@RVingwithAndrewSteele]

🤣🤣🤣

[@rvprosolutions]

As with almost any skill trade, I agree that you will find "newbies" as well as very knowledgeable individuals (like AZ Expert). Most people know RVs are prone to issues. Warranty work backups, shortages of RV Techs, and delays in getting parts are why many of my clients want an inspection. I also think it's fair to say dealers aren't "upfront" about fixing some issues unless they're discovered during the deal. So there will always be a benefit of having an inspection IMO. For some reason, people hire the "cheap option," and that's who may have shown up that day. The exact same thing happens with the home inspection industry. These are some of the largest financial purchases people will make in their lifetime, so buyers owe it to themselves to get a competent professional to inspect them. As an RV Inspector, I advise buyers to be sure to interview your inspector. Ask questions about the equipment on the RV and how they're going to test and document it. Ask what their training and qualifications are and if they're insured. Look further if they can't articulate that to you confidently and professionally.

[@Lori245]

Always have inspection

[@dianedrenk6558]

I exclusively use James only for all my inspections/repairs on our coaches…none better in my opinion!!!

[@timothytrainful]

Yep this is a Diesel coach by looking at the back bathroom.

[@tomconte1765]

So...... I don't need an Inspector... okay cool, where do I sign? What's the "exposed truth" again?

[@rickbakker6603]

Thanks for the info

[@jamesmerkel9442]

68: if u r getting accounting or an inspection done it should be 2 person job double time on my world or 1-4 of my world. pentagone loss hope planet for sure by NOW.

[@garyag45]

Great info 👍🇺🇸🦅😎

[@joeb954]

Always employ an NRVIA Certified Inspector. If any Dealership tells me they do not allow a Certified Inspector to Inspect a Coach they want me to spend $500,000.00 for, I won't walk out if that dealer, I will RUN out of that dealership. If they do not allow an inspector, the are not honest and are hiding something.

[@fhoofe3245]

so the dealer guy doesn't recommend inspections before buying a huge investment, because one inspector was inexperienced? wtf is this video?

[@BayChurch]

Yeah, that's one mistake I made, relying on the dealer's inspection report. Long story short, rv mechanic told me there was a front end collision (which was repaired/painted poorly). So, General Rv in Utah sold me a messed up class A rv. I will never refer or do business with them ever again.

[@dennisdeal9394]

Might cost you little more but have all the important fluids tested by a reputable company.

[@jasonups5386]

Very smart and thank you

[@reality915]

Bloopers!!! Lol

[@TaliaIGhul]

I don't see why anyone would get an inspector for a coach at a dealer. I would trust the dealer to keep up the conditions of their vehicles so their rep would not ruin their bottomlines. Now for someone who is pawning them off is different.

[@scottshackelford4498]

I inspected one for a client just last week that the dealer stated was "Ready for the client to take delivery." Client was flying in to sign contract and drive home the next day. The furnace was full of mud daubers, the AC didn't work, there was a propane leak, and the wires to the propane detector were cut. Had the client not hired me for the inspection, none of this would have been found prior to starting the trip home as the dealers walk through with the client only lasted about 45 minutes. For this client repairs would require a drive of almost 1000 miles each way to the dealership. The cost of my professional inspection saved him thousands of dollars and frustration. On the other hand there is a local dealership that I refuse to do an inspection at because I don't want to waste the clients money. This dealership takes pride and responsibility in EVERY unit they sell, used or new.

[@bobmariano3731]

Are u serious ? Don’t ever trust the dealer . Get an inspection.

[@LamborghiniV12M]

Andrew, Doug is cheapening your Chanel with all this lick’n stick tiffin garbage and sleazy sales pitches. Stick to the high end coaches, there’s already 300 people doing the motorized travel trailers.

[@themadgreek]

Disregard my previous post... I got it...

[@matthewweiss241]

Inspectors!??=$$ they dont know what they are doing. Just trying to justify there fee. If you can afford these coaches go check it out yourself!!!

[@lauravictorious4670]

That's assuming everyone knows what to look for and inspect and that's certainly not the case, especially for new RV buyers.

[@joshtibbetts6321]

There are honest dealers, and there are crook dealers. Buyer beware!

[@perryjoejimbob]

What a waste of a video. I am going to trust a salesman over an inspector? Why not have an inspector present to do a debate?

[@ДинаНосова-х7д]

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