Having a Travel Trailer Inspection, is it necessary? The Short answer is yes…the Long answer is yes!
I’m going to start by saying that Tammy and I have been buying travel trailers for just about 30 years. The quality and or quality control has steadily been going downhill since then.
A case in point, our 1971 JayWren Travel Trailer, purchase in 1989 for I believe around 900 dollars. This trailer had already seen better days as it was already 18 years old. Despite the weathered exterior and the worn cushions on the interior, this trailer was solid. It was built strong to stand up to whatever mother nature could dish out. For a sixteen foot trailer though, it was heavy, and that was due to the heavy-duty construction. In addition, everything worked on this trailer, furnace, refrigerator, wiring, and plumbing, absolutely everything worked. It was a testament to the folks at Jayco that built it.
1971 Jayco JayWren and Jennifer and Jeff – A very solid Travel Trailer
Does anyone buying a travel trailer today feel that their new travel trailer will be solid in 18 years? Probably not… all as a result of the manufacturers emphasis on pushing even more new trailers out the door, employee incentives to drive the production higher, and the manufacturers poor quality control. It’s obvious that the golden age of quality built travel trailers is pretty much over. Add to this fact that the Pre-delivery Inspections (PDI’s) really are a joke, regardless of whether they are happening at the manufacturer or the dealer.
We currently have a 2017 Grand Design travel trailer, and we love it, but it hasn’t been without some major issues. Issues that should have easily been caught in their three separate PDI stages. A manufacturer telling you that they have three separate PDIs on each trailer sounds great on paper…but really that’s all it is in my estimation, a sellers talking point.
That being said, Grand Design has the best customer service on the planet while you are under warranty but lets face it, no one wants to buy a rig and then spend months fixing what should have come out of the factory correct. I understand that these trailers bounce down the road, and that they are handmade…so was the 1971 Jayco.
The long and the short of it, is that these trailers could be made better if the manufacturer wanted it that way. Sadly there is no incentive for the manufacturer to make that happen as consumers are buying more travel trailers now than ever before.
Technology has changed over the years with the addition of complicated electronics, slide rooms, more intricate plumbing and lighting. Obviously there is a lot more that can go wrong today than could ever fail on a 1971 Jayco. That means there is more that should be inspected at the manufacturer and dealer and more things to miss during that inspection.
Given the above issues, we believe that every new buyer (and even those that are buying a used travel trailer) should invest the money to have an independent travel trailer inspection done. Before you sign any papers at the dealership tell them you are going to have an independent inspection done. If the dealer states that they won’t allow that without a purchase agreement first, then run away.
Trust me, the gold standard today at most dealerships when it comes to their own inspections, are superficial at best…if they happen at all. They just go through and look for the obvious and glaring issues. They are not going to conduct a thorough inspection like a certified RV inspector is going to do.
So how do you find an inspector and what is the cost? The NRVIA is the best place to find an inspector to look at your impending purchase.
The National Recreational Vehicle Inspectors Association (NRVIA) is an organization providing certifications for professional recreational vehicle inspectors across North America. NRVIA Inspectors are required to follow specific standards. These standards will ensure that you will receive a professional, standardized, and thorough travel trailer inspection.
You will want to find a “Level 2” inspector, and you should expect to pay about $400.00 for the service. This is a very in-depth inspection covering 44 major inspection points. Under each major inspection point there are multiple check points. Here is an example of one travel trailer inspection check point:
Checkpoint #4 – Exterior Components
4.0 – Roof
4.1 – Roof Type
4.2 – General condition of the roof
4.3 – Joints and Seals
4.4 – Vents
4.5 – Vent covers
4.6 – Plumbing vents
4.7 – Air Conditioning Covers and Exterior Coils
4.8 – Ladder
4.9 – Satellite Antenna
4.10 – Radio Antenna
4.11 – Refrigerator Vent
4.12 – Skylight(s)
4.13 – Storage Containers
4.14 – Spot lights
4.15 – Air Horns
4.16 – Solar Panels
4.17 – Signs of Equipment removed
Now do you think that anyone at the RV dealership is going to take the time to do this type of inspection (and this is only 1 of the 44 check points)? I can tell you with a great deal of certainty (based on our last four purchases) that it is not happening. The emphasis is on selling – not inspecting (or service).
Most RVIA inspectors will tell you while they are inspecting the unit if there is a major problem so that you can decide at that point if you even want them to proceed with the rest of the inspection.
I realize $400.00 is a lot of money, but problems that may surface after your travel trailer warranty is up are costly as well. Problems that occur during the warranty period may be covered from a cost perspective, but may ruin your camping season. There are many stories of folks with brand new travel trailers missing the camping season; as their trailer spends months in a dealers service department.
It would seem that given the environment today it would be wise for everyone to get a pre-purchase inspection from someone who has no ties to the manufacturer or Dealership.
For those of you just starting to consider buying a travel trailer, we highly recommend you read this (Buying a New Travel Trailer) before starting your journey.
Travel Trailer Inspection – Do I Need One?
Having a Travel Trailer Inspection, is it necessary? The Short answer is yes…the Long answer is yes!
I’m going to start by saying that Tammy and I have been buying travel trailers for just about 30 years. The quality and or quality control has steadily been going downhill since then.
A case in point, our 1971 JayWren Travel Trailer, purchase in 1989 for I believe around 900 dollars. This trailer had already seen better days as it was already 18 years old. Despite the weathered exterior and the worn cushions on the interior, this trailer was solid. It was built strong to stand up to whatever mother nature could dish out. For a sixteen foot trailer though, it was heavy, and that was due to the heavy-duty construction. In addition, everything worked on this trailer, furnace, refrigerator, wiring, and plumbing, absolutely everything worked. It was a testament to the folks at Jayco that built it.
1971 Jayco JayWren and Jennifer and Jeff – A very solid Travel Trailer
Does anyone buying a travel trailer today feel that their new travel trailer will be solid in 18 years? Probably not… all as a result of the manufacturers emphasis on pushing even more new trailers out the door, employee incentives to drive the production higher, and the manufacturers poor quality control. It’s obvious that the golden age of quality built travel trailers is pretty much over. Add to this fact that the Pre-delivery Inspections (PDI’s) really are a joke, regardless of whether they are happening at the manufacturer or the dealer.
We currently have a 2017 Grand Design travel trailer, and we love it, but it hasn’t been without some major issues. Issues that should have easily been caught in their three separate PDI stages. A manufacturer telling you that they have three separate PDIs on each trailer sounds great on paper…but really that’s all it is in my estimation, a sellers talking point.
That being said, Grand Design has the best customer service on the planet while you are under warranty but lets face it, no one wants to buy a rig and then spend months fixing what should have come out of the factory correct. I understand that these trailers bounce down the road, and that they are handmade…so was the 1971 Jayco.
The long and the short of it, is that these trailers could be made better if the manufacturer wanted it that way. Sadly there is no incentive for the manufacturer to make that happen as consumers are buying more travel trailers now than ever before.
Technology has changed over the years with the addition of complicated electronics, slide rooms, more intricate plumbing and lighting. Obviously there is a lot more that can go wrong today than could ever fail on a 1971 Jayco. That means there is more that should be inspected at the manufacturer and dealer and more things to miss during that inspection.
Given the above issues, we believe that every new buyer (and even those that are buying a used travel trailer) should invest the money to have an independent travel trailer inspection done. Before you sign any papers at the dealership tell them you are going to have an independent inspection done. If the dealer states that they won’t allow that without a purchase agreement first, then run away.
Trust me, the gold standard today at most dealerships when it comes to their own inspections, are superficial at best…if they happen at all. They just go through and look for the obvious and glaring issues. They are not going to conduct a thorough inspection like a certified RV inspector is going to do.
So how do you find an inspector and what is the cost? The NRVIA is the best place to find an inspector to look at your impending purchase.
The National Recreational Vehicle Inspectors Association (NRVIA) is an organization providing certifications for professional recreational vehicle inspectors across North America. NRVIA Inspectors are required to follow specific standards. These standards will ensure that you will receive a professional, standardized, and thorough travel trailer inspection.
You will want to find a “Level 2” inspector, and you should expect to pay about $400.00 for the service. This is a very in-depth inspection covering 44 major inspection points. Under each major inspection point there are multiple check points. Here is an example of one travel trailer inspection check point:
Checkpoint #4 – Exterior Components
4.0 – Roof
4.1 – Roof Type
4.2 – General condition of the roof
4.3 – Joints and Seals
4.4 – Vents
4.5 – Vent covers
4.6 – Plumbing vents
4.7 – Air Conditioning Covers and Exterior Coils
4.8 – Ladder
4.9 – Satellite Antenna
4.10 – Radio Antenna
4.11 – Refrigerator Vent
4.12 – Skylight(s)
4.13 – Storage Containers
4.14 – Spot lights
4.15 – Air Horns
4.16 – Solar Panels
4.17 – Signs of Equipment removed
Now do you think that anyone at the RV dealership is going to take the time to do this type of inspection (and this is only 1 of the 44 check points)? I can tell you with a great deal of certainty (based on our last four purchases) that it is not happening. The emphasis is on selling – not inspecting (or service).
Most RVIA inspectors will tell you while they are inspecting the unit if there is a major problem so that you can decide at that point if you even want them to proceed with the rest of the inspection.
I realize $400.00 is a lot of money, but problems that may surface after your travel trailer warranty is up are costly as well. Problems that occur during the warranty period may be covered from a cost perspective, but may ruin your camping season. There are many stories of folks with brand new travel trailers missing the camping season; as their trailer spends months in a dealers service department.
It would seem that given the environment today it would be wise for everyone to get a pre-purchase inspection from someone who has no ties to the manufacturer or Dealership.
For those of you just starting to consider buying a travel trailer, we highly recommend you read this (Buying a New Travel Trailer) before starting your journey.
john.martini.patterson@gmail.com
October 11, 2018
Blog, Industry Commentary, Maintenance
inspections, RV inspectors, RVIA, Travel Trailer, travel trailer blog, Travel Trailer Blogs, travel trailer inspections, Travel Trailer Nation, travel trailer nation blog