MOBILE RV INSPECTION SERVICES FOR CAMPER, TRAVEL TRAILER, 5TH WHEELS

Pre-Purchase RV Inspection for Travel Trailers & 5th Wheels 🚐🔍

Buying a Used Travel Trailer or 5th Wheel? Don’t Take Chances!

Before you invest in a used RV, ensure it’s safe, reliable, and road-ready with a professional pre-purchase RV inspection from TDT Vehicle Inspection & Appraisal Services. We help RV buyers avoid costly surprises by uncovering hidden issues before you buy. Not sure what to look for when buying a used RV? Read our guide on Most Common Camper, Travel Trailer and 5th Wheel RV Problems

What We Check: (This is not all inclusive)

✅ Water Damage & Leaks – Roof, flooring, and sidewall integrity

I always tell people to start with their RV pre-purchase inspection on the roof of your travel trailer and at least twice a year if not every trip after you buy it. Looking at the roof of ANY RV can tell you a lot about how it has been maintained. Finding touch ups is usually a good sign when done conservatively and done well. I bring a ladder to every inspection just in case the unit does not have a ladder. That way I can physically see the roof as long as the seller allows it. Finding areas on the roof like this photo to the left can reveal other areas inside the unit to look for such as warped walls, soft floors, cabinets that do not close or open right, water stains on the ceiling or skylight moisture. All areas that you will see within my inspection report. The last thing you want to do is purchase a travel trailer or 5th wheel with a rotten floor, walls or roof. Don’t like to climb on roofs? No problem. Fill out this form and I am happy to assist you with a pre-purchase RV inspection.

✅ Electrical & Plumbing – Wiring, outlets, lighting, water systems

Plumbing in a recreational vehicle is not that complicated however the electrical systems can be but a plumbing leak can easily ruin your floors or walls if not found in time.

Did you know that campers and 5th wheels and motor homes have THREE different electrical systems wrapped into one? You have your household (110 Volt system), your off the grid power system (12 Volt system) and your inverted system from your solar panels or generator. Trying to troubleshoot these systems yourself can be a nightmare. Add this to the extensive and complicated electronic controls and remotes of today’s RV’s and you could easily have a big mess on your hands. I go through each travel trailer and test out all the systems individually to make sure everything is working as it was designed to. By systematically separating each system it can be properly tested. If you just start flipping switches and testing this and that you cannot determine exactly what is being powered, when it is being power and by what. This is where training and experience comes into play when hiring an certified professional.

✅ Structural Integrity – Frame, suspension, slide-outs, and seals

It takes a lot of stability and structural integrity for a travel trailer or 5th wheel to allow an entire WALL of kitchen or living room to expand 3 feet. If there is any issues with the slide outs you could be looking at very big repair bills to the floor, ceilings, walls, steel and roof of your RV. There are several signs of issues such as sluggish motors, roller marks on the floors, gouges on the floors and undercarriage of the slides. You also need to ensure the slide out seals are in good working condition as these keep the outside, OUTSIDE… The last thing you want is to put your RV away for the winter to find out the inside is now a soggy mess. Proper inspection of the inner and exterior slide out seals is crucial for any recreational vehicle to make sure the outsides stays outside and does not get inside your camper because if your wouldn’t have purchased a $100,000 5th wheel if you just wanted to tent camp right?

✅ Appliances & HVAC – A/C, furnace, refrigerator, and more

Believe it or not a lot of newer large refrigerators in motorhomes and 5th wheels do not get installed through the doors. They are actually installed prior to inserting the slide out walls. This means that if your large appliance fails or cannot be repaired you are looking at a HUGE replacement expense. By testing the system properly in all modes you can rest assured the system at least functioning as it should be the day you purchase it. I always recommend an insurance plan that protects your appliances. This includes the fridge, heaters, air conditioners and stoves. You can only bounce something down the road so many times before it has a failure and lets face it, your RV will get bounced around a lot over your next few trips. There are many things to go wrong inside your tri-power refrigerator. Yes that is right, it likely has three different modes. Gas, Electric and also 12 volt electric. It has a motherboard and lots of wires and cooling pipes just like your air conditioner.

✅ Tires & Brakes – Safety-critical components

While most travel trailer and 5th wheel suspensions, brakes and tires all look the same they are not and they all wear differently. Unfortunately it is easy for the average buyer to miss a broken or worn suspension component such as an equalizer bushing being worn or a broken suspension hanger bolt or even a loose U-bolt on the axle. That is why it is crucial to have a mechanic get under the unit and examine the suspension for any worn out parts, loose parts or broken parts from being towed down the road on previous trips. There have been plenty of brand new units delivered with damaged suspensions from being towed from the factory which is why I always suggest having even a brand new travel trailer or 5th wheel independently inspected. As one of the Nation’s RV Lemon Law Experts I have seen my fair share of new recreational vehicles with problems from the factory.

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🚐 Protect Your Investment – Know Before You Buy! 🚐

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All of my mobile RV pre-purchase inspection services are performed personally. I DO NOT utilize contractors or buddies to do inspections for me. I know that sometimes makes scheduling tough, but you will get the best quality, most in-depth and most thorough inspection on the market. Some of my competitors use “inspectors” that show up in shorts and flip flops and provide a 2 page hand written report. YOU GET PROFESSIONAL SERVICE HERE! CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE REPORT

Proudly providing mobile Pre-Purchase RV inspection services in St Louis, Missouri; St Charles, Missouri; O’Fallon, Missouri; St Peters, Missouri; Wentzville, Missouri; Arnold, Missouri; Springfield, Missouri; Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Columbia, Missouri; Kansas City, Missouri; Belleville, Illinois; Collinsville, Illinois; Marion, Illinois; Mt Vernon, Illinois; Carlyle, Illinois; Vandalia, Illinois; Springfield, Illinois; Effingham, Illinois; Litchfield Illinois.