What's actually checked in a Used Rig Advisory inspection?

We audit the entire coach from roof to frame - not just kick the tires. This means roof membrane (Dicor, TPO, EPDM), water tanks and lines (Atwood, Shurflo pumps), electrical panel and converter (Progressive Dynamics, WFCO units), slide-out motors (Schwintek, Lippert), AC unit (Dometic, Coleman-Mach), generator (Onan, Cummins), appliances, plumbing traps, holding tanks, awnings (Carefree, Lippert Solera), leveling jacks (HWH, Lippert Level-Up), propane system, fresh/gray/black water systems, battery banks (Battle Born lithium, standard AGM), and interior structure for soft spots or delamination. We also document all manufacturer recall bulletins and known issues for your specific model year and floor plan.

We inspected a 2018 Jayco Pinnacle last month for a family moving from Colorado. The Dometic fridge was running but cycling hard - compressor wearing out.

The Schwintek slide-out motor had play in the extension. Roof had a Dicor patch that was curling.

Those three items alone would have cost $4,200 in repairs within 18 months. Buyer renegotiated $8,000 off the asking price before closing. That's the value of knowing what you're walking into.

Major systems we inspect:

How do we diagnose problems you can't see in a 30-minute walk-around?

Hidden damage requires pressure tests, electrical load testing, and thermal imaging - not eyeballing. We use a fresh water system pressure gauge to find slow leaks in concealed lines. We plug into 50-amp shore power and measure converter output from a Progressive Dynamics or WFCO unit under load.

We run the Dometic or Coleman-Mach AC until steady-state, then check compressor amperage draw - high amps mean the compressor is dying. We activate every slide-out three times and listen for grinding or binding in the Schwintek or Lippert motor.

We use a moisture meter on wall and floor cavities to catch hidden water damage before it becomes rot. Thermal imaging picks up refrigerant leaks and insulation voids in the roof.

A 2016 Winnebago Aspect came in for pre-purchase inspection. Cosmetically it was clean.

Seller said the AC worked fine. We ran it for 20 minutes - compressor amperage spiked to 28 amps (normal is 16-20).

Coleman-Mach was low on refrigerant and the condenser was restricted. We also found soft particle density in the forward bedroom wall with our moisture meter - prior water intrusion that wasn't visible.

Both items would have cost $2,800 to fix post-purchase. That's the difference between a cursory look and real diagnostics.

Diagnostic tools we deploy:

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's the repair process if we find issues - do you have to fix them?

You don't have to fix anything. We tell you what's broken, what it costs to fix, and when it needs attention. That information goes into your negotiation.

Most buyers use our report to ask the seller for a price reduction (very common) or to walk away before closing. Some buyers negotiate a seller credit toward repairs.

Some buy it as-is and budget for fixes in the first year. Our job is to give you real numbers and timelines so you make an informed choice. We charge $400-$650 for the inspection itself - that fee does not obligate you to use A1 for any repairs.

We inspected a 2014 Keystone Montana for a retired couple. Roof had two Dicor-patched seams that were splitting again - $1,400 to replace the membrane section.

Generator was original Onan with 6,200 hours - still running but nearing replacement age (typical lifespan is 7,000-8,000 hours). We quoted both jobs separately.

The couple asked the seller for $3,200 off and got $2,500. They chose to defer the roof work until year two and handle the generator now.

That's smart. Our inspection gives you the map; you choose the route.

Post-inspection options:

What do repairs actually cost - can you give me real pricing?

Real prices for common used-rig repairs: roof membrane re-seal $800-$1,600; roof membrane section replacement $1,400-$3,200; Atwood fresh water pump $180-$280 parts + labor; Shurflo pump $220-$350; holding tank replacement $900-$1,800; Dometic fridge compressor $1,200-$1,600; Coleman-Mach AC compressor replacement $1,100-$1,500; Schwintek slide-out motor $400-$700; Lippert leveling jack replacement per corner $300-$500; Dometic or WFCO converter $600-$1,200; Onan generator rebuild $1,800-$2,400. Labor is $85-$125/hour depending on job complexity and location (Idaho runs 10-15% lower than Florida metro). We quote flat-rate by phone once you describe the issue.

A 2019 Grand Design Imagine client had a Dometic fridge that wasn't cooling in propane mode - only on 12-volt DC, which drained the battery. The compressor had seized internally.

Full compressor replacement ran $1,350 parts plus $280 labor. That same client also needed a Dicor roof patch re-sealed because the original caulk was cracking.

That was $420 flat-rate. Total bill: $2,050. If they'd caught it on a pre-purchase inspection, they'd have negotiated $2,500-$3,000 off the asking price instead of paying out of pocket.

Typical repair pricing (parts + labor):

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

How long does the inspection take, and how fast can you schedule?

Inspection takes 3-5 hours depending on rig size and complexity; we respond in 2-4 hours in our core covered metros, or coordinate nationwide via our partner network. A 30-foot Class C takes about 3 hours. A 40-foot fifth wheel or diesel pusher runs 4-5 hours.

We schedule around your availability - early morning, evening, weekends. In Florida (Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami metro areas) and Idaho (Boise, Coeur d'Alene), we typically arrive within 2-4 hours of your call.

Outside those zones, we either mobile-dispatch to you or connect you with a RVIA-certified partner inspector in your area. No waiting weeks for a dealer service slot - we move fast because you need answers before that deal closes.

A buyer in Orlando called us Tuesday morning about a 2017 Coachmen Apex with a purchase deadline Thursday night. We scheduled same-day 2 PM inspection, found a failing Shurflo pump and two soft spots in the bathroom.

Buyer got the report by 7 PM, renegotiated Wednesday morning with printouts in hand, closed Thursday with $1,800 off and a warranty that the seller would replace the pump before handoff. Speed matters when you're chasing a closing date.

Typical inspection timeline:

What warranty or guarantee do you offer on the inspection itself?

Our inspection report is accurate at the time of inspection - we stand behind our diagnostic findings with a 90-day workmanship warranty on any repairs we perform post-inspection. If we inspect a Dometic fridge and say the compressor is functional but worn, and it fails three weeks later, we'll address it. If we clear an Atwood pump as working and it dies two weeks post-purchase, that's on us. Our inspectors are RVIA-certified with 15+ years of field experience and 12,000+ rigs audited.

We use real test equipment - not guesswork. That said, used RVs are used RVs.

A fridge that tests fine today can have a sealed-system failure next month - that's the nature of secondhand gear with unknown maintenance history. Our job is to catch what's broken or wearing now. We're not guaranteeing the rig won't need repairs in six months; we're guaranteeing our findings are honest and thorough.

After a pre-purchase inspection, a Forest River customer bought a unit and had us perform the Dicor roof re-seal and a Progressive Dynamics converter replacement within 10 days. Both repairs are covered under our 90-day workmanship warranty.

If either job fails or the converter output drops, we re-do it no charge. But the buyer's responsibility is maintenance - if they neglect the fresh water system and the Shurflo pump cavitates and fails in month four, that's wear, not our warranty. Clear boundaries protect both of us.

Warranty and limitations:

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