Bought a preowned. What to ask dealer?

NDCanoe · 08-18-2016, 12:52 AM

I just bought a 2012 Wolf Pup 17rr. I'm driving 1,000 to pick it up. my question: what sort of things do I ask the dealer? What did you wish you asked? Assume I know nothing. Towing with a 1/2 ton Silverado, so no issues there.

Thanks in advance!

**Bama Rambler** · 08-18-2016, 07:19 AM

If you've already bought it, there's not much to ask except making sure everything works as it's supposed to.

Go out of your way to make sure they operate each and every device on the unit.
Weight distributing hitch,
Brakes,
Brake lights,
Tail/running lights,
Turn signals,
Interior lights,
Converter,
Interior and exterior 120 volt receptacles,
Air conditioner,
Furnace,
Stove,
Oven,
Refrigerator,
Water pump,
Water Heater,
Vent hood fan,
Bathroom vent fan,
Garage door,
Tongue jack,
And anything else that runs or moves.

Also either you or them need to ensure that all the tires are in good condition and are properly inflated.

Don't just take their word for it either, make them show you that it works and how it works. They probably won't want to run the furnace, but make them. It's important.

SeaDog · 08-18-2016, 07:52 AM

I would approach it just like buying a new trailer with the understanding some things may show ware. Absolutely require them to show you how everything works. good luck with your purchase

**Flybob** · 08-18-2016, 08:05 AM

If it was sold as in good condition ( everything working). Make sure everything is working before you leave the dealer. Do not accept " take it and use it and you can bring it back for us to fix what you find does not work" Even if they hold to their word, you will always be on the bottom of the list as there is any labor is out of their pocket.
If you are really new as you state, record any equipment demos you are concerned about.
Ask why was it traded in?
Are there any defects ?
Check roof for damage and sealant . If you see new sealant question why it is there.
Don't expect perfect, but make sure it meets your needs then use it and have fun.

bobcrowder · 08-18-2016, 08:09 AM

Ask if the wheel bearings have recently been re-packed. Then when you get home do it again yourself to be sure they are ready to go.

NDCanoe · 08-18-2016, 09:31 AM

Thanks to all. I have a popup, but have never used anything other than the stove. So water, toilet, power, etc is all new to me.

Bama: That list is EXACTLY what I was looking for.

Wattsworld · 08-18-2016, 10:16 AM

Take notes, this is very important. You might only have one time to have someone show you how to do something and there will be so much information that you might not remember it all. If you have never hooked up a camper at a campground before, make sure you find out what hose goes where. I have two different dump places on my rv, a forward one and one in the rear. It took me a while to figure which one to keep hooked up.
Also make a check list to use before moving your camper. Also a check list when you get to the campground for set up. If there are two of you traveling it isn't a bad idea for both to check so each thing will be double checked.
Don't take anything for granted. I pulled my TT for 13 years and never had any problems with it. I did have bolts come loose to my hitch on my TV.
Drive carefully, don't let your TT start swaying, make sure your brakes are up to the job of stopping you.
Have fun and enjoy your camper.

Dave Lyon · 08-18-2016, 12:26 PM

In addition to the already good suggestions, I would ensure:

- operating manuals for each appliance is included
- check dates on propane tanks to ensure they've not been swapped out with older or expired tanks.
- all cranking device tools are included
- if the dealer was the original new selling dealer, ask to review any service or warranty records.
- check the state of the battery.
- not only that the gas appliances light, but, they burn a nice blue flame that they should.

Can't think anything else.

**Herk7769** · 08-18-2016, 12:35 PM

I would add "How to winterize and de-winterize" since you will be 1,000 miles from anyone (besides us) who will show you "for free".

gfarmcafe · 08-18-2016, 08:28 PM

One other item - have them remove and replace the anode rod in the water heater if it has one. Make sure the new one can be screwed in properly - threads tend to wear out over time.

**Herk7769** · 08-18-2016, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfarmcafe

One other item - have them remove and replace the anode rod in the water heater if it has one. Make sure the new one can be screwed in properly - threads tend to wear out over time.

Great point in a used camper with unknown maintenance. If that anode is frozen in place you will be looking at a new water heater soon even if it currently "works".

kittlecat · 08-18-2016, 09:48 PM

Great suggestions from others. I would add 2 things: 1) get on the roof and inspect carefully all seams, around all vents, the a/c, pipes, etc. As someone else said, look for new sealants on the roof as well as the body. New sealant in spots on the roof can indicate a previous leak may have occurred if the roof issue was left unaddressed; and 2) look for discoloration on the linoleum inside. If there is water damage on the underside of the camper it will often present itself as darkening from the bottom up on the linoleum. I learned the hard way when I did not question the discolored linoleum in the TT I bought and it was black mold from a previous leak so my insurance company totaled the camper out. Best of luck and happy trails to you!

**Terier** · 08-18-2016, 10:36 PM

I have two friends that brought a pre-owned RV and found out later that the black tank had not been emptied before trade in. One of them had black tank issues and had to have it serviced so it would drain which wasn't cheap.

**Herk7769** · 08-19-2016, 06:23 AM

Another great tip.

**Bama Rambler** · 08-19-2016, 07:13 AM

Great tip about the anode rod and the roof and dumping the tanks are also good.

Are you keeping a list?

Don't let them intimidate you into not looking at and testing everything.

SkyWatcher · 08-19-2016, 07:27 AM

Everyone has given advice on so many things to look for, it might seem overwhelming - take your time so you can understand how everything is supposed to work and don't let the salesman rush you - they are making plenty of profit on this trailer. Allow at least 2 hours for the walk-though, several on this site encourage much more time for it. Use your phone to take videos as the employee demonstrates the operation of everything. As long as all you've paid on it so far is a deposit, don't be afraid to walk away from the deal if anything seems wrong. Have you looked at a site like rvtrader to see what the asking price is for your unit?

What dealer are you buying from? If you have an experienced camping friend, perhaps he could come along, although 1000 miles might be a lot of time to ask of him; maybe someone here would offer to help you, they likely wouldn't ask anything of you except maybe lunch!

Mrs Evans · 08-19-2016, 07:32 AM

This forum also has PDI (Pre-delivery Inspection) list or two that you can use; here's another one that I like.

pdi.pdf

We are supposed to take delivery of a used fifth this weekend and we're using this list - keeping in mind that it is a used trailer. We also chose to hire an RV mobile repair company to inspect the RV along with us during the PDI - we want to avoid major issues as much as possible.

Hope everything goes well for you!

The_Rhino · 08-19-2016, 08:08 AM

IMO 1,000 miles is a LONG way to travel to check-out a used 2012 Wolf Pup 17rr when new ones sell for less than $12K... You'll likely spend over $400 in gas (3% of new price) & you need to be willing to walk-away if there are any serious issues.

I looked closely at over 20 used TTs from both private sellers & dealers before I found one good-enough to drive home... In 2014 we bought our used 2011 PT Tracer from a dealer 10 minutes from work for 25% less than the best (new) wholesaler prices. I purposefully stopped after work to view it during heavy rains & it was bone dry. I spent about 2 hours checking every cubby with a flashlight, underneath, roof, etc. BEFORE making an offer. Key points were to check for signs of prior water penetration - stained wood, soft spots in floor, water paths through the left-over sawdust in cubbies, etc. I actually viewed a new one that was leaking water badly, which lead me to this used one... If you see ANY signs of prior water leaks RUN away. What you can see will be small compared to the hidden damage...

The dealer was asking the same/less as private sellers on Craigslist, RV Trader, etc. With some negotiating the dealer included a FREE pressurized leak test & re-caulking, Equalizer 4 1200 WDH & installation, and enough store credit to get all new essentials like leveling blocks, sewer hose, 30A extension, black tank deodorizer, etc.

While we were in financing they did the pressure test & re-caulking & installed the WDH. We then spent 2.5 hours doing a full PDI with everything connected & they allowed me to videotape the PDI for future reference & to hold them to their word... They adjusted all slide-out cables, awning tracking, replaced the CO2 detector, 12V battery, and filled the propane tanks.

We spent the next 2 seasons camping without any serious issues. In the 3rd year I replaced our RV fridge with a larger residential Whirlpool ($300) that runs off of a 2000W inverter ($100) combined with an extra 12V battery ($75). Everything else is still working great, but again, I looked at over 20 TTs before finding one I was willing to drive home...

You HAVE to be willing to walk-away from a bad one & IMO driving 1000 miles makes it harder to do so... BTW, the salesperson saw how picky I was & just walked me past the known bad ones - knowing it would be a waste of time... IMO those are the ones they sell sight unseen... I saw an out-of-state fella picking one of them up on the day I came back to get mine... IMO it had about $2000 of water damage around the slide-out seal - rotted wood under the seal...

NDCanoe · 08-20-2016, 10:56 PM

Wow, you guys are great. It's from camping world, and the price is right, which is why I put the deposit sight unseen.

taking a video is a GREAT ideal. I would not have thought of that. Thanks for the inspection sheet link.

NDCanoe · 08-27-2016, 11:31 PM

Well, it's mine. Thanks for the tips, especially to take notes. Took everything apart during the walk thru and it all tested out. Some minor wear and tear issues i found on the road trip home but all easily fixed. Again, thanks for the help. I assume this is step one on my way to a Pusher! 🙂

Suggestions for the next guy: take notes. Bring tools. DONT BE RUSHED.

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