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Are you ready to live life on the open road, or just spend a little time touring the countryside? Pick up a used motor home and hit the trail! With so many different models available today, it’s not easy to know which style is best for you. They all have different features and all claim to be the best, of course. So, what should you look for in a reliable, good quality motor home?
Careful shopping is needed to cut through the false claims and make a clear choice. Buying a used motor home is a major investment and you need to be careful to make the right choice. As with any used vehicle, take the time to research your options and use common sense.
Your first step in shopping for a used motor home is to look for obvious signs of trouble. Always take a test drive to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the vehicle. Make sure you’re seeing the vehicle in the daytime. When the sun is bright you’ll be able to see every inch of the motor home, and you can have the dealer inspect the vehicle with you.
Kicking the tires may be a cute cliche, but it’s not enough for a careful check up. Inspect the vehicle carefully inside and out. Look for excessive wear of the upholstery within the vehicle. Check the seats, seat belts, brake and accelerator pedal.
After examining the interior, closely inspect all of the exterior parts of the vehicle. According to some experts, waves on the surface of a vehicle suggest that body work has been done. If work has been done, the vehicle may well have been involved in an accident.
It’s a good idea to make an inspection checklist, including these pointers:
* If the brakes squeal under normal operation, it could be a sign of improper adjustment or excessive wear.
* A markedly bouncy ride can mean an underlying problem in the steering linkage or with the shock absorbers. Lack of control during cornering at normal speeds is another sign of trouble.
* Be aware of steering that tends to pull the used motor home to side or the other. This can indicate alignment problems.
* Blue smoke coming from the tail pipe is a sure sign of costly engine repairs. Consider blue smoke a definite red flag, and keep shopping.
In addition to looking for these signs of trouble, a wise shopper will also check the odometer on every used motor home he or she inspects. This device measures the distance that the vehicle has driven over time. Be cautious of any older motor home that shows low mileage. It may indicate that the vehicle simply wasn’t driven too much in its lifetime, but a low odometer reading can also indicate a history of damage. Another potential problem is an odometer that has been tampered with. This is a serious criminal offense but it does happen.
The best way to ensure a sound vehicle and safe investment is to ask the seller for a vehicle information package. Read the package carefully to be sure that there are no conflicts and no history of trouble. This information will also tell you if there are any outstanding liens registered against the used motor home.
Before you buy a used motor home, take the time to shop around. Check the vehicle carefully, inside and out, and speak with the seller about the motor home’s history. You’ll make a decision you can be happy about as you cruise the open road.
Tagged with: mobile home • motor home
Filed under: Family Vacation