Repossessed Motorhomes for Sale: How to Spot Problems before You Buy
There are a lot of newer, nicer repossessed motorhomes for sale because most repossessions
happen in the first few years of a loan and often on ones that were bought new. This is because
new motorhomes depreciate so quickly the first few years that most people owe more on the loan
than they can sell the RV for. Typically they have only seen seasonal use.
However, you should carefully inspect each one to make sure you do not buy one with a lot
of problems or turns out to be a lemon. Look for these signs of the most common issues with
repossessed motorhomes for sale.
Extended Living: Motorhomes that have been lived in for awhile have seen heavier use than
is normal for their age and generally need more repairs to get them looking like new again.
Check for worn upholstery with thin spots or holes in a newer RV that indicates daily use over
long periods of time. Look at the appliances and see if they are working and seem in the right
condition for the age of the motorhome. They will often show signs of frequent use if that has
been the case. Higher-than-normal generator hours or mileage also point to extended living.
Water Damage. When a motorhome has been flooded, sometimes unscrupulous sellers will fix
it up a little and take it to another part of the country to sell without revealing the water damage.
It takes a lot of money and time to completely fix a motorhome that has been flooded or has
significant water damage. Sometimes it is impossible to repair everything, so these ones are best
avoided. Check the ceiling for sagging spots and water stains as well as dampness or mold and
mildew. Wall paneling that is soft has been water damaged. Check for mold or mildew along the
bottom of the walls and under seats where it can develop unseen.
Lack of Maintenance: It is usually fairly easy to spot an RV that has not been taken care of and
had its routine servicing. Look over the exterior for rust and peeling paint. Check the tires to see
that they are properly inflated and have a good amount of tread left on them. Notice whether any
of the windows are damaged or cracked (usually not easy or cheap to fix). Even if you are not
mechanically inclined, look under the hood to make sure that it is fairly clean and everything
looks to be in good shape.
Poor Construction or Manufacturing: This one can be harder to spot, but there are a few
things that tend to be good clues that the RV was not well-made in general and may have more
problems because of that. Gaps in between pieces, warped sections or parts pulling away from
each other inside and out are warning signs of construction issues. If it looks like there have
already been a lot of replacement of parts or appliances in a newer RV, that often means poor
manufacturing. If several things are not working properly but do not seem overly worn, they
probably were not well made to begin with.