RV FEATURE
SECONDHAND VAN CHECKLIST
Here are 10 components we think need to be inspected / considered when buying a secondhand RV:
1. Identification: Check the caravan’ s compliance plate for make, model, age, its Tare weight and the various ratings, such as the ATM and GTM, to confirm that it can be towed by your vehicle.
2. Ownership: Obtain a REVS Check and obtain a certificate to ensure correct ownership.
3. Documents: Ask to see its service history, all handbooks, registration papers, specifications, and warranties where applicable.
4. Electrical: Check all systems under the power of the house batteries, then check all systems hooked into external mains 240V power source( with batteries isolated).
5. Water tanks: Fill tanks and make sure everything runs when turned on. Inspect for leaks when left under pressure using both mains pressure and 12V pumps.
A moisture meter might have picked up this issue.
6. Water sealing: Check all potential water entry points, looking for staining or dampness. Peeling surfaces and swollen timber are dead giveaways. Water ingress points could be large cutouts for windows, or even something as innocuous as holes drilled for screws. Are all seals still in good condition? A moisture sensor would be a good investment – they aren’ t expensive. Outside of days of high humidity, you’ re looking for a reading of zero per cent. A word of caution: any internal moisture could have simply dried out, so this is not a guarantee that there aren’ t any leaks.
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