NRVOA Insider s Guide Buyer s Blueprints Page 1
Information Card: RV Brand: YEAR: NEW OR PRE-OWNED? PRIVATE PARTY OR DEALERSHIP NAME: MANUFACTURER: SALES PERSON S NAME: DATE: LIVING ROOM: Sofa Gaucho Sofa/Bed Cabinet Bunk Sidewall Overhead Cabinets Seating Comfort: Excellent Good Poor Living Room Carpet? Yes No Type of Window: Radio Lightning: Excellent Good Poor Type of Window Treatment: TV Antenna TV Space Dimension x KITCHEN: Sink Type Water Purifier Range Hood Exhaust Fan Fire Extinguisher Oven Water Heater Switch Coffee Maker Pantry Microwave Microwave/Conventional Over Booth: Dinette/Bunk Freestanding Dinette Power Roof Vent Water Pump Switch Systems Monitor Panel KITCHEN CONTINUED: Size & Make of Refrigerator Rate Storage: Excellent Good Poor Notes: Rate Drawers: Excellent Good Poor Rate Lighting: Excellent Good Poor Countertop Space: Excellent Good Poor Dining Space: Excellent Good Poor NRVOA Insider s Guide Buyer s Blueprints Page 2
BATHROOM: (Ladies will want to pay close attention to this!) Shower Tub Toilet Sink Shower Curtain Rate Shower/Tub: Excellent Good Poor Laundry Space: Dimensions x Mirror on inside bathroom door Towel bar/hooks Rate Countertop: Rate Medicine Cabinet: Excellent Good Poor Rate Storage: Sliding Shower Door Linen Storage Wall Mirror Medicine Cabinet Heating Duct Rate Lightning: Location of Toilet: Excellent Good Poor Type & Brand Of Toilet Water Pump Switch Extra Hallway Sink Notes: BED ROOM: Type of Bed: Window Type: Window Treatment: Overhead Cabinets Shirt Closet (s) Nightstands Overhead Cabinets TV Shelf/Compartment Under Bed Storage Privacy Door Reading Lights Vanity Area Rate Bed Comfort: Rate Storage: Rate Lighting: Rate Ventilation: Excellent Good Poor Sleep Capacity: Mealtime Capacity: Notes: INTERIOR/EXTERIOR CONSIDERATIONS: Sleeping Capacity: Mealtime Capacity: In Floor Ducted Heat Match Lighted Furnace Roof Rack & Ladder LP Gas Regulator Water Heater Capacity: (gallons) Type: LP Electric Combo AC Type: *BTUs: *BTUs are an important consideration depending on where and what months you intend to use your RV. The more BTUs the better! NRVOA Insider s Guide Buyer s Blueprints Page 3
INTERIOR/EXTERIOR CONSIDERATIONS: (Cont.) Power Converter Amperage Generator Brand: KW Awning (s): Roof pod Vacuum Cable TV jack Water Bypass kit Ice maker Washer/Dryer Trailer Hitch Safety Chains Stabilizer jacks (manual/automatic Deadbolt Lock Screen Door Rate Water Tank Size: Rate Holding Tanks: Rate Exterior Storage: Rate Exterior Lighting: Exterior Appearance: Interior Livability: Rate Fabrics: Rate Interior Décor: Rate Electric Outlets: Frame Construction: Type Insulation Type Exterior Skin: List Needed/Negative Features Here: NRVOA Insider s Guide Buyer s Blueprints Page 4
Pre-Purchase Checklist As part of the final inspection of the RV you are interested in purchasing, use the list below to verify whether or not features of the RV are operating properly and if any of them need to be repaired or replaced. As outlined in Chapter 9 of the Insider s Guide, this final inspection should include the four areas below: 1. Look for damage, craftsmanship errors and leaks 2. Have all of the appliances and accessories demonstrated 3. Physically operate all appliances 4. Determine that all electrical outlets are operating, and that polarity is correct. IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure you allow the RV to sit for several days without being plugged into power so you can see if there are any unusual drains on the battery that need diagnosing prior to you purchasing the unit. Diagnosing electrical issues, battery connections, and solenoids can be very costly! INTERIOR/EXTERIOR CONSIDERATIONS: (Cont.) APPLIANCES: Light Furnace Light Water Heater Operate Refrigerator Operate AC Flush Toilet Operate Microwave Over Operate Ice Maker Operate Leveling Jacks (motorhome) Have Seller Demonstrate The Following: How to Light Water Heater How to Operate Furnace How to Operate Refrigerator How to Operate Refrigerator How to Operate AC Location of Water Pump Switch How to Operate TV Antenna How to Operate Holding Tank Drains How to Operate Convertible Bunk How to Light Pilot Light For Range How to Light Over How to Operate Microwave How the Systems Monitor Panel Operates How to Replace Water Purifier How to Operate All Windows How to Start & Service the Generator How the LP Gas Tank & Regulator Operate Seller Should Provide: Operating Manuals For Appliances & Accessories Manufacturer s Literature About the RV NRVOA Insider s Guide Buyer s Blueprints Page 5
Impressions Checklist On the chart below, use either a 1-5 or 1-10 scale to rate each of the RV types, brands and models that interest you the most. You should make copies of this checklist and use the following items for measuring your impression of each unit. Price Quality Serviceability Resale Value Performance, Total Ability & Handling Construction Equipment & Features Storage Space Floorplan (this includes sleeping areas) The Reputation & Reliability of the Dealership The Reputation of the Manufacturer Overall Weight How the RV Accommodates Your Overall Needs Considering How You Intend To Use It (weekends, short trips, long trips, seasonal, boon docking, long term or full times) Overall Score (1 to 5 or 1 to 10) INSPECTION OF CRAFTSMANSHIP & DAMAGE: Door Hinges & Latches Under Drawers Inside Cabinets (including corners) Struts on the Lift Up Beds Frames of the Beds Be Sure To Look For: Rough Corners & Edges Screws or Finishing Nails That Protrude From The Heating Ducts Sidewall Buckling or Laminating Dents/Scratches/Dings Cracks in the Shower/Tub Damage on the Screen Door Leaks Floor Level Water Lines Inside the Cabinets Check LP Gas Lines For unusual Rotten Egg Smell Check the Lines in the Outside Storage Area Check the Ceiling For Evidence of Roof Leaks NRVOA Insider s Guide Buyer s Blueprints Page 6
The Seller Should Replace: Damaged Mirrors Shower Curtain Broken/Burned Out Light Bulbs Inoperable Struts on the Lift Up Beds Any other Items You Observe ORPHANED BRANDS: Below are some of the most popular RV brands that NO LONGER EXIST! Remember, we call these brands orphans. Be very careful about buying an orphan, because parts and furnishings are generally not readily available, and in some cases parts are non-existent. Apeco Apache Avco Bonanza Brougham Conestoga Cree Dutch Craft Establishment Fireball Go-Tag-A-Long Heritage Kings Highway Legend Le Sharo Marauder Midas Mobile Traveler Monitor Nimrod Perris Valley Ramblette Rawhide Sports King Suncrest Titan Traveleze Travel Villa Vega Wideworld Apollo Arabian Banner Blazon Champion Country Squire Diamond Elkhart Traveler Fan Frolic Granville Honey Landau Leisure Time Marque Mayflower Mobile Scout Mobile Villa Motoroam Open Road Prairie Schooner Ranch Robinhood Sprinter Swiss Colony Tran Star Travco Vacationeer Venture NRVOA Insider s Guide Buyer s Blueprints Page 7
When & Where To Find RV Bargains State Time Frame RV Type Special Bargain AL November to December All types Snowbird towables AK November to February All types Folding trailers AR November to December All types Snowbird towables NC November to December All types Folding trailers SC December to January All types Class A s CO November to January All types Pickup truck campers CT November to December All types Small towables FL September & December Towables Park models GA September & December Towables Folding trailers ID November to February All types Fifth wheels IL November to December All types Snowbird towables IN November to December All types Snowbird towables IA November to January All types Fifth wheels KS November to January Towables Fifth wheels KY December to January Towables Folding trailers ME November to December All types Small towables MD December Towables Folding trailers MA November to December All types Small towables MI November to December All types Snowbird towables MN December to January All types Folding trailers MO December to January All types Snowbird towables MT November to December Towables fifth wheels NE December to January Towables Fifth wheels NV September to December All types Class A s NH December to January Towables Small towables NJ December to January Motorhomes Folding trailers NY December to January Small RVs Folding trailers NM November to December Towables Fifth wheels ND December to January All types Snowbird towables NC November to December All types Towables OH November to December All types Snowbird towables OK December to January Towables Fifth wheels OR November to January All types Class A s PA December to January All types Park models SC November to December All types Towables SD December to January All types Snowbird towables TN December All types Folding trailers TX December to January All types Fifth wheels UT December to January Towables Truck campers VT December to January Towables Small Towable VA December to January All types Folding Trailers WA November to December All types Fifth Wheels WV December to January All types Folding Trailers WI November to December All types Folding Trailers WY November to December Towables Fifth Wheels NRVOA Insider s Guide Buyer s Blueprints Page 8