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We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment. ~ Hilaire Belloc
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~ New Trailer Pre-Delivery Inspection Checklist ~ This is very long, but if I was to every buy another RV, this would be the only way I’d go over the first Inspection. Luckily for Cindy and I, the guys at General RV were very cordial and went over and above everything on this list with a great attitude and professional manner. We actually brought our video camera and videoed the entire walk through along with the instructions on how many of the, new to us, components worked. I’m not lying when I say we watched a few sections of the tape multiple times before we got the hang of everything. If you have a good relationship with your dealer, then they should have no problem with a list like this being faxed to them in advance, so they know what to expect from you at this time. If you don’t have a good relationship with your dealer, then I question why you’re buying from them in the first place. Making a purchase on this size, the cheapest price should be the last of your concerns. Most campers are going to go back to the dealer numerous times for little things that need to be adjusted or fixed, especially in the first few runs. I think we were at General every other day for the first few weeks having things adjusted and moved around till we knew they were perfect. One of the best things we can recommend after you do take delivery of your new RV is to spend the first few nights camped in your driveway. Try and use everything in the camper multiple times so it becomes second nature. You don’t want to be too nervous on the maiden voyage. So from here, lets move to the list. STARTING POINT - A flashlight with a strong beam is a very useful tool to have. A screwdriver with a straight, Philips and square bits will come in handy as well. You should also have available the delivery invoice for your RV. It will show all the standard equipment and options you ordered. This list should be compared to what you thought you ordered and should be referred to during your inspection. Pictures from the glossy brochure will also help in your inspection. Make a list of anything you find wrong, needing adjustment or unacceptable. This will serve an important role when you go to discuss the next step with the dealer's salesperson. Make sure to have a note pad and a pen to write this info down. You will need the understanding & cooperation of your dealer for this process, as it probably involves far more depth & detail than they normally anticipate and schedule for. Make sure they know about it in advance & try to schedule your visit to allow enough time to perform your inspection & actually get some things fixed (if necessary) and remember this inspection should take a few hours. Don’t think you’ll be in and out in a few minutes. You may get a better prepared trailer if the dealer understands your intentions. At the very least, tell the person doing the “owner inspection” or “walk through” what you intend to do, give him or her a copy of this checklist and work with them to plan the time accordingly. A sense of humor will also come in handy! Finally, my assumption for this PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) is that both (if fitted) propane tanks are full, shore power is available, city water and a hose are located close by and sewer connections, a drain or a dump station is available and a fully charged battery must be connected as well. OUTSIDE WALK AROUND
- The outside walk around should take around one hour. At this point,
you're generally searching for anything that does not look right. If
you are a first timer to RVing, then it might be better to have a video
camera with you and video the walk through the salesman gives you.
Cindy and I have reviewed the tape a few times when we needed to be
refreshed on a certain topic that wasn’t an everyday item until we
remembered it for ourselves. 1. Roof Sealing & Fixtures - You will need to get up on the roof here, so round up a ladder or carefully inspect the one on the back of the unit if you are going to use it. Check that all the mounting points are solidly attached to the body and the rungs are firmly fixed to the frame. Climb on the roof and inspect all seams, gaskets and any other place that the roof material has been cut or holes drilled. Check that all shrouds & covers are intact, unbroken and properly seated on the roof. Proper polyurethane caulking should have been used to seal all places where the roof has been penetrated. Check closely around air conditioners, vents, antennas, sewer vents, and side seams. Look for any signs of bubbles
(large and small), delamination, foreign objects or protruding screw or
nail heads under the membrane (if a rubber roof). 2. Windows -
Check closely around each window to make sure it has been properly
aligned and sealed. A gap between the trim ring & the window frame is
acceptable, but it should be nearly even all the way around the window.
3. Entry Doors -
Check the gasket used on all doors for proper adhesive and coverage.
Look closely at the door from the inside and confirm that it sits flush
against the inside of the doorjamb. Confirm that each key works in the
appropriate lock. The main door should open & close smoothly and lock
with out undue effort. Check that the screen door opens smoothly alone
and locks to the main door without any extra effort. 4. Baggage/Storage Compartments - Open and close each door checking for alignment and gasketing. Confirm that each key works in the appropriate lock. All hinges should be tight and secure and the latches should hold the door tightly closed and still be easy to open. Feel the floor or carpeting and look for any signs of moisture that might indicate rain leakage. Verify that compartment lighting (if fitted) works properly. Any gas cylinders used for keeping the door open should be properly installed so as not to interfere with items stored in the compartment. If clamp type door hold-opens are used, make sure they are present and hold the door correctly. One way to see if the seals are tight is to take your
flashlight and place it inside the compartment. If you can see light
around any of the seals, the door needs to be adjusted. 5. Sewer & Fresh Water Connections - Inspect this area on the trailer to make sure that nothing is broken or deformed. If appropriate at this time, make certain you understand how each valve or fitting works. Understand the proper function of the black and gray water valves. If tank flushing is installed, understand how it operates. Understand where the low point
drains are for the fresh water system. If tanks are fitted with tank
heaters, make sure you know their on/off location and where the fuse is
located in the fuse panel and that switches and fuses are marked
properly. 6. Satellite & Cable
TV Connections - Find and understand the satellite and cable
connections. Make sure a weather cap is present for each connector and
that connectors are properly identified & mounting plates are properly
sealed. 7. Propane - If
the tank(s) are contained in a compartment, there should be no possible
way for propane to enter into the RV or any other compartment.
Understand how the regulator works and how it switches between
cylinders. Confirm that a leak test has been performed on both pigtails
between the tanks and regulator and the rest of the system. Locate and
understand the operation of the main shut off valve (if any). 8. Battery - Check the battery box to verify that it is ventilated and that any compartment slide mechanisms work properly. Verify that no battery cables are rubbing on any part of the frame because that will eventually end up with a short circuit and possible fire. Understand the battery
type provided and how to maintain them. Check to make sure your battery
box has a drain hole in the bottom if your battery is located outside.
Our battery boxes had vents in the top, but no drain hole in the bottom
and the first time it rained hard, the case filled up with water. Just
drill a small hole on each side of the bottom of the case so water wonk
collect inside. Make sure the battery is out of the case when you do
this! 9. Paint & Siding - Carefully check the paint finish on the RV. Any problems can be verified and corrected at this point with a lot less hassle. Sight down the side of the unit to check for bumps or depressions in the siding. Divide each side of the unit into 2, 3 or 4 sections and inspect for siding issues: color variations, dents or irregularities. Do the same for the ends of the unit. Look at places where vinyl film is used for graphics to make sure it is free of any air bubbles. Check ends of any
decals for uniformity or “mistakes” that may have gouged the siding.
Look closely where masking tape was used for paint graphics to make sure
there is no over spray. Carefully check for surface smoothness and any
place when paint coverage is marginal or where there are bubbles. 10. Tires and Wheels - Closely inspect the tires and wheels and understand the proper inflation pressure. Verify the torque of the lug nuts or have the PDI person do it while you watch. Find out the proper jacking point for the trailer and what kind of jack to use. Determine if your tow vehicle lug
nut wrench will fit the lug nuts on the trailer or if another size is
necessary. If another size is necessary, buy that size and keep it in
the trailer or in a storage compartment. If wheel locks are installed
on the hubs, make sure you know where the key is stored and record the
key code incase it is ever lost. 11. Spare Tire -
Check the condition & pressure of the spare tire. Understand how the
carrier works if it is the fold down type. 12. Awnings -
Extend and retract each awning paying particular attention to how the
awning is locked in the retracted position. Make sure all springs,
locks and supports work well and are properly aligned. Wiggle the
mounting points for the support arms to get a feeling for how solidly
they are mounted to the body. 13. Chassis Inspection - Put on some old clothes or coveralls and get a good sized piece of cardboard or carpet to make it easier to lie on you back while checking around under the trailer. If it's possible to do so without jacking up the rig, it's a lot easier, but do what makes sense to you. You want to be able to Inspect all air and / or hydraulic
lines, electrical wiring, shock absorber attachments, and in general
every place that a wire or pipe could rub against something that could
cause a problem later. All wiring and piping should be properly
fastened. This is where you want to find a mistake, not 100 miles down
the road. 14. Slide Out Operation - If your RV includes a slide-out or slide-outs, then spend the time it takes to understand their operation. Start by checking the seals while the slide is retracted. You should not be able to find any places where you can see light or detect airflow. Use a flashlight to look into dark corners. Understand the mechanism that extends and retracts the slide. Operate it several times and understand any restrictions on operation. Understand the manual retraction process and actually perform the retraction as if the automatic mechanism had failed. Look for proper alignment of any wheels that may ride on carpet or other flooring, to insure proper clearance. Confirm that no screws or bolts are cutting into the carpeting during operation. Understand any locking mechanisms that are used to hold the top of the slide out tight against the top of the RV. Do your best to make sure the seals are properly installed and operational when the slide is retracted and also when it is extended. Check the area under the slide for proper routing of wires or cables. Confirm that nothing rubs on the tires (parts of the slide, wiring, insulation, Etc.) when the slide is retracted. INSIDE FIT AND FINISH
- Now its time to go inside. In general you are looking for things that
are not finished correctly since it is really too late to inspect the
design of anything. 15. Cabinets - Inspect & open all of the cabinets to insure that all the hinges and latches work well. Pull each drawer out to its stop, return it closed and then try to open it like road vibration might do. Makes sure that there have been no water leaks and that all the wiring and pipes are well fastened. Inspect the linings (if any), to insure they are
fastened securely. Run your hand along all edges, front & back to check
for and delamination or loose edges on molding or vinyl wraps (you may
want to wear gloves for this part) 16. Molding & Trim
- Go over all the trim on walls, doors & furniture. Make sure that
everything is fastened on well and not loose or ready to come off.
Check that no nail heads or staples are protruding. 17. Lighting -
Operate every light switch and observe its function. Use the monitor
panel to check battery levels. Understand and verify any battery
disconnect switches. (at this point, only 12V lighting can be tested,
as the unit is NOT connected to shore power yet) Make sure the fuse
panel is labeled correctly, if it isn’t labeled, have an electrician at
the dealer label all fuses in the box. This is a must!! 18. Closets -
Open and close all closet doors checking for free operation and proper
alignment. Hanger rods should be properly fastened and secure. Check
out any lighting that is provided and any switches that are used. 19. Furniture -
Examine every piece of furniture to check for construction, upholstery,
pattern and cloth matching. Check out the dinette by making it a bed
with the appropriate cushions. Do the same with the couch or sofa. 20. Blinds -
Operate each blind and check for alignment. Look at all valances and
trim to be sure they are secured. 21. Counter Tops
- Inspect all counter tops for alignment and fastening. Make sure that
any trim pieces that should be there are in fact tight. Check for
caulking quality everywhere there may be water, especially edges near a
sink. Check the installation of sinks and faucets. 22. Windows -
Open and close every window and operate the latches. Pay particular
attention to the two safety egress windows or emergency windows and make
sure they operate smoothly & easily. 23. Floor Coverings
- Inspect carpet and other floor coverings in all corners to insure that
they have been properly fastened down. Check areas that slide outs may
roll over for pulled threads, cuts or other problems. Check closely for
gouges or cuts in linoleum tile. 24. Wall Coverings - Check to make sure that all the wall coverings actually cover and join properly. Look for any discoloration or patch jobs that may cover hidden problems. Try to find any places where there are problems, as now is the time to get it fixed while matching patterns are in stock. (Some folks suggest ordering extra fabric, carpet, and wallpaper now so that matching material is available to make small modifications or repairs at a later date.) OPERATION TEST OF ALL
HOUSE SYSTEMS - You should be about two hours into to the PDI by now
and you are ready to test all of the house type systems. 25. Shore Power
System - Now is the time to connect up to shore power. Pull out all
of the AC cord, confirm the length and inspect the plug for proper
attachment. Inside the unit, check any 110V lighting and switches. (If
you have a 110V receptacle tester, check all outlets for proper
wiring/polarity.) Find the GFI protected outlet and test using the push
button. Understand which receptacles “down stream” from the GFI are
protected. Any electrical problems here should be corrected
immediately. 26. Converter -
Confirm the operation of the converter/charger that is installed. Turn
on several interior lights to create a load for the converter and
confirm no excessive converter noise or vibration. Have the PDI person
explain the operation of the converter, the AC circuit breakers and the
DC fuses. Make sure that there is a written list of the loads connected
to each fuse or breaker. 27. Water Pump -
Your PDI person should have filled the fresh water tank, so now you can
test the function of the water pump. After turning it on, you should
hear it pump for several seconds, even up to a minute to create enough
pressure in the system. If the pump does not shut off, there is a
problem. Run water in the kitchen and bathroom sink and notice that the
pump will come back on until proper water pressure is restored. Now is
the time to fix a noisy pump if it is vibrating or making any irritating
sounds. Drain the fresh water tank to about ¼ full and make sure the
pump will continue to work with the water level low. Our pump was
adjusted so even though there was a ¼ tank, the pump wouldn’t suck up
water anymore. You don’t want to find this out while you’re camping. 28. City Water System
- Turn off the pump, connect up to city water (use a regulator if overly
high pressure is suspected) and confirm that the connection works
correctly. Look for leaks under sinks and confirm the operation of all
fixtures again while on city water. 29. Holding Tanks - Re-fill the fresh water tank if necessary and run water into the gray tank to verify the gauge reading and that there are no leaks. Filling the gray tank until water comes up in the shower will make it easier to find leaks inside & out. Do the same thing to the black water tank, including filling so that water comes up inside the toilet. Check for leaks (if the toilet is installed correctly, there will be no leaks!) You can fill the black water tank by using the tank flushing system (if fitted), by using a garden hose adapter for the sewer connection (through a backflow preventer) or by bringing the water hose inside and filling the tank through the toilet. This last method can be a little
cumbersome, and I don't recommend unless you've done it before. Check
the gauges for accuracy while you are filling. Now is the time you
want to find leaks if there are any! Drain the gray and black water
tanks using the sewer hose or the garden hose adapter. 30. Water Heater - Try the water heater on propane first. A few seconds after you turn it on, you should hear the click of the igniter and the small pop when the burner lights. The red light should stay on until that process happens. If it does not ignite, then there is a problem. Turn on the AC element in the water heater (if connected) and confirm operation. Make sure you know the location of the electrical switch at the water heater and the correct operation of the interior switch. If your unit
is so equipped, understand the operation of the bypass valves for
winterizing. Confirm that hot (or warm water depending on how long the
water heater has been on) comes out of the hot tap at the various sinks.
31. Furnace - Now its time to understand the operation of the thermostat that controls heating and sometimes the air conditioning. Turn the furnace on and set a temperature that is at least 10 degrees hotter than the ambient temperature. In about 30 seconds, you should hear the furnace fans come on. Shortly thereafter you should hear the click of the igniter and the sound of the burner. If not then there is a problem. It could also be taking a while for propane to get to the heater, so don't worry yet! Let the furnace blow and you should get hot air at about 110 degrees coming out of all vents. Check each one. Now turn the furnace down and the hot air will gradually turn cooler and the fans will eventually stop after the furnace has cooled sufficiently. During this process have someone
with a good nose checking for any smell of material getting too hot, or
heater exhaust coming out. On a very new heater, there may be the smell
of oil burning off internal metal surfaces. This should only last a
short time. Have the windows & doors open. Walk around the RV and make
sure heat is blowing out each duct. Again, now is the time you want to
find any of these mistakes. 32. Air Conditioners
- Some air conditioners also have a heat strip or heat pump feature so
now is the time to verify these functions. Turn on the air
conditioner. After a couple of minutes, cool air, 20 degrees cooler
than ambient, should be coming out of the registers. If you unit has
ducting in the ceiling, make sure a good airflow comes out of each
register. Learn how to clean the filters at this time. 33. Propane and Carbon Monoxide Alarms & Smoke Detector - Now is a good time to check the function of these alarms. The PDI person should have a small canister of gas that can be sprayed at the alarm to test its operation. Have them perform this test while you watch and learn how the alarms
work. Confirm that there is a new battery in the Smoke Detector. (write
the date on a small piece of masking tape and stick it to it for
reference) Activate the test button to check operation of the smoke
detector. Understand how to turn it off. 34. Refrigerator - Most modern refrigerators work on propane or AC and have an automatic mode that gives preference to AC and then will switch to propane if AC power is not available. Understand the controls and the status lights and set the unit on propane. The RV may need to be unplugged for this to happen. Go outside to the refrigerator vent grill and make sure that the propane heating column is lit and heating. While the refrigerator grill is open, check to make sure the drain line is positioned for proper drainage. Set the temperature at the highest cooling setting,
because setting it to lowest will typically cause the coils to collect
moisture and ice up. Come back in about 10 minutes to feel that the
coil/fins are actually starting to cool. 35. TV/VCR Antenna and Switching - For the most through test, bring a small AC/DC TV with you for the initial test. Review and understand the switching system that allows the selection of viewing channel on the front and rear TV. Raise the TV UHF/VHF antenna and learn how to turn on the
amplifier and the DC outlet. Find out the power rating of the DC outlet
and compare it to the load of the equipment you will connect to it.
Activate the control on the front TV that scans for local stations.
Learn how to rotate the antenna to maximize the quality of the picture.
36. Air Vents -
Test the operation of kitchen and bathroom air vents making sure they
open and turn on properly (if powered). Verify that they retract and
close tightly. Check any other vents for proper operation. 37. Microwave -
Put a cup of cold water in the microwave and set the timer for 3
minutes. The water in the cup should boil in less than 3 minutes. Make
sure there are no unusual sounds coming from the Microwave. 38. Propane Stove - Turn on one burner of the stovetop while the air conditioners and Microwave are running and the automatic igniters should cause a strong spark to light the burner. Turn on the other burners to verify that there is enough propane flow to operate the refrigerator, water heater and all the burners. If everything is OK, turn off the burners on the stove. If your unit has an oven, then understand how the pilot is lit and verify its operation now. Note: Sometimes the burner igniters interfere with the operation of the thermostats for the roof AC. This is the time to find this problem. Summary - You have now done a simple test of the major house systems and can shut everything off. By now, you will probably have a list of things that you feel need correcting, but it may also be near the end of the day. Decide if you are going to accept the trailer as is or if it needs to stay with the dealer. If you accept the unit and it is appropriate, plan on camping near the dealer for the night. This will give you a chance to further test the various functions. Prepare yourself for waiting until these things are corrected and don't be tempted by the PDI person to sign the acceptance paperwork just yet. For a really serious checkout of your new trailer, you should "dry camp" the first night and not be tempted to hook up to shore utilities just yet. Bring enough kitchen equipment and food so that you can prepare an evening meal. There is no better way to test the living facilities than to actually use them. Don't be tempted, since you've had a tough day, to go out to eat. ACCEPTANCE - When you are satisfied that all systems are "go" then sign the acceptance papers that the PDI person will anxiously provide for you. Schedule your first return trip to the dealer for about a week to a month from now. You are now ready to take your "shake down" cruise. SHAKE DOWN CRUISE - Select an interesting destination about 100 miles away for your maiden voyage. Actually use all the systems multiple times to try to detect any infant failures (electronic equipment fails at greater rates at the beginning of its life). Carefully note any problems or discrepancies in a list and make a copy for the dealer when you take the RV in again. Happy RVing & Good Luck!
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