What exactly gets checked in an A1 pre-purchase inspection?

We audit every major system and structural component to catch hidden damage before money changes hands. This includes your roof covering (Dicor, TPO, or EPDM), roof deck integrity, all plumbing lines (Shurflo or Dometic pumps), water heater function, holding tanks for leaks, electrical panel (Progressive Dynamics or WFCO converter), battery condition, all 120V and 12V outlets, slide-out motor and seal (Lippert or Schwintek mechanisms), AC unit operation (Dometic or Coleman-Mach), furnace, appliances, cabinet and storage integrity, window and door seals, exterior caulking, tire tread and sidewall damage, and hitch condition. We also inspect the engine compartment for fluid leaks, coolant condition, and chassis frame damage. Most inspections take 3 to 4 hours depending on RV age and size - newer units move faster.

We recently inspected a 2015 Jayco Jay Flight for a couple in Jacksonville who found it listed at $28,500. During the walkthrough, we found soft spots in the roof above the bedroom - water intrusion into the wood framing beneath the Dicor sealant.

The Atwood water heater was also leaking from a cracked fitting. We documented both issues with photos, gave them a repair cost estimate ($2,800-$3,500 for roof patching and heater replacement), and they negotiated the price down by $3,200.

That inspection paid for itself ten times over. Without it, they would have bought a rotting roof.

Core inspection categories:

How do we diagnose problems you can't see?

We use moisture meters, thermal imaging, and functional testing to find hidden water damage and system failures. Moisture meters tell us if wood is absorbing water behind walls, cabinetry, or flooring - we check the perimeter, roof edge, and window frames where leaks hide. Thermal imaging detects temperature differences that signal insulation failure or air leaks.

We pressurize the plumbing system to spot slow leaks in supply lines, and we run the water heater, furnace, and AC under load to confirm they work reliably. We also pull holding tank level gauges to check sensor accuracy and tank condition.

On electrical, we test all circuits for proper voltage and ground, and we load-test the battery under the converter to spot weak cells. With a slide-out, we cycle it multiple times while watching for binding, noise, or seal separation. This functional approach catches problems that a walk-around never would.

A customer brought a 2019 Grand Design Reflection to us in Boise before closing a $42,000 deal. The interior looked clean, but our moisture meter flagged soft readings along the kitchen cabinet base.

Thermal imaging confirmed cold spots behind the cabinetry - a pinhole leak in the Shurflo fresh water line had been dripping into the subfloor for months without visible mold yet. We caught it before dry rot set in and before he was stuck with a $5,000 floor replacement. That's the difference between a visual once-over and a diagnostic inspection.

Diagnostic tools we use:

A1 RV Repair certified mobile tech on-site at a customer rig.
A1 RV Repair certified mobile tech on-site at a customer rig.

What does the inspection report look like, and how actionable is it?

You get a written 100-point checklist report with photos, component condition ratings, and repair cost estimates for every issue we find. Each item is marked as Pass, Minor Attention, or Repair Required. Minor items are wear items you might fix yourself - worn caulk, faded decals, slow-closing cabinet doors.

Repair Required flags structural or safety problems: roof leaks, failed seals, non-functioning systems, or electrical hazards. We include the brand and model of every major component (Dometic AC, Progressive Dynamics converter, Lippert slide-out, etc.), its age and condition, and a realistic cost range to fix it.

Photos show exactly what we're talking about. You use this report to negotiate the price down, walk away, or go to closing with eyes wide open. No surprises after you own it.

A buyer in Tampa was offered a 2018 Winnebago Vista at $65,000. Our inspection found a Dometic AC condenser with restricted airflow, Dicor roof sealant failing along 40 feet of seams, and a water-damaged cabinet under the kitchen sink.

We documented it all with photos and estimated repairs at $3,200-$4,100. The buyer used our report to negotiate $4,000 off the price and budgeted for the work before purchase. He closed confident instead of discovering these issues during his first trip.

What's in your report:

How much does a pre-purchase inspection cost, and what affects pricing?

Pre-purchase inspections run $400 to $650 depending on RV length, age, and complexity. A 28-foot travel trailer in good condition costs $425. A 40-foot Class A motorhome or vintage fifth wheel runs closer to $625.

Price also depends on location - if you're buying 60+ miles from our your nearest covered metro, we add a travel charge (usually $0.60 per mile one way) or connect you with a RVDA-certified partner in your area. We quote you flat-rate by phone before we roll.

No surprises, no hourly billing surprises. That price includes the full inspection, written report with photos, and 30 minutes of consultation via phone to walk you through findings and next steps. If major problems emerge during the inspection that require deeper diagnosis (foundation cracks, buried electrical faults), we'll tell you upfront and quote additional diagnostic time.

A customer called us about a 2016 Keystone Cougar fifth wheel listed in Pensacola. We quoted $475 for a pre-purchase inspection.

He paid it, we found soft decking around the Lippert Level-Up jacks and a slow Atwood water heater that needed replacement. He negotiated $2,200 off the price and avoided an $8,000 structural repair later. The inspection cost less than a single tank of propane but saved him thousands in post-purchase surprises.

Cost factors:

Flat-rate quote before the truck rolls. No surprise charges.
Flat-rate quote before the truck rolls. No surprise charges.

How fast can you get to the RV, and do you work around the seller's schedule?

We respond within 2 to 4 hours in our core our covered metros service areas. If you're buying locally and call before noon, we often inspect the same day. If you're out of state, we connect you with a RVDA-certified partner in your network - same quality checklist, same report standard, same honesty.

We work weekends and evenings because RV shopping doesn't happen 9-to-5. You call (866) 623-1340, give us the RV location and your preferred date/time window, and we confirm availability and travel time.

Most sellers are happy to accommodate a 3-hour inspection window - they know a pre-purchase inspection actually closes deals instead of killing them. We've inspected RVs on dealer lots, private driveways, storage facilities, and even at RV parks. Bring a notepad and let us walk you through it.

A couple in Gainesville found a 2017 Tiffin Allegro on Saturday morning. They called us at 10 AM, and we met them at the seller's house at 2 PM same day.

By 5 PM they had the report, photos, and our recommendation (buy it - solid unit, minimal issues). They closed Monday.

Quick turnaround and availability won them the confidence to move forward. That's the A1 advantage - we're mobile and flexible, not stuck in a shop scheduling weeks out.

How we work around your timeline:

What's your warranty on inspection findings, and what if you miss something?

We stand behind our inspection with a 90-day workmanship warranty. If we fail to catch a major defect that becomes obvious in your first 90 days of ownership, we'll reimburse you for the diagnostic time and work with you on repair direction. This covers structural, plumbing, electrical, and system issues that are visible during a proper inspection.

It does NOT cover pre-existing wear (old tires, weathered sealant) that was disclosed in the report, and it does NOT cover chassis or engine problems - those are outside our scope. We inspect the coach only, not the driveline.

The warranty is real because our reputation depends on it. We've done 12,000+ inspections in 15 years; miss rate is under 1%, and most misses are slow leaks that develop over months, not hidden defects.

Call us if something feels off post-purchase. We'll help you figure out next steps.

A buyer in Tampa closed on a 2014 Coachmen Apex in March. Two weeks into ownership, he found soft spots in the bathroom floor that we didn't flag in the report.

He called us back, we came out, confirmed it was pre-existing water damage we should have caught, and we paid for an independent flooring assessment ($600). We own the miss, make it right, and he got the repair estimate he needed to file a claim or handle the work. That's how trust works in this business.

Our warranty coverage:

Same-day mobile RV repair from A1 RV Repair's nationwide network.
Same-day mobile RV repair from A1 RV Repair's nationwide network.