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Topic: RV inspector / advice (Read 1071 times) previous topic - next topic

RV inspector / advice

Hi there. I'm looking at a 2004 U295 4020 on the Motorhomes of Texas website.
Never owned an RV but I've been planning to do this for a while! I've done a couple of month-long rentals so I have had a wee bit of practice in driving a "big rig". What do I need to look at to decide if it's worth purchasing? Any feedback on this model?
Pros, cons, things to look out for?

I tried to find a level 2 RV inspector via nrvia.org, but there was no one listed within 50 miles of the Nacogdoches area.
I'm 1500 miles away, so I want to get an inspection before committing to travel all the way out there, especially in these pandemic times.

Any info / feedback / advice for this first-timer will be greatly appreciated!

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #1 –
I highly recommend Keith Risch who is shop foreman at MOT.  I know it sounds like a conflict of interest, but Keith is an absolute straight shooter.

Be there for the inspection and wear old clothes.  You want to see the coach "through his eyes". And, there are a lot of things that can not be covered in a written report what you CAN get one on one.  Things within your skill and interest level, what has to be done now/what can wait, etc.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #2 –
I just used Keith on my 2001. That $700 I spent saved me thousands. As Brett suggests, be there in person for the inspection.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #3 –
Good to know - so, it's not a conflict of interest to use someone who works there already? And you still pay him separately?
I guess I was thinking / hoping to have someone inspect it before I committed to going out there. I *am* aware that it'll cost me for the inspection, but I wasn't thinking I'd also have to spend the money to get there and stay for a couple of days.
Elliot, you said the inspection saved you thousands - how so? As in, you decided it wasn't worth it to make the purchase?
How does one make the decision to commit based on the simple description and pictures on the MOT website?
Thanks in advance for patience with my questions - spending $100,000 is a huge big deal to me.
The motorhome i'm looking at is wheelchair accessible, so I don't have a lot of options to choose from if this one isn't worthwhile.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #4 –
Your sales guy will probably cringe when you ask for Keith to do the inspection. He's not going to sugar coat anything he finds.

Keith found about $7000 worth of damage and deferred maintenance that the rig needed right away. I was able to negotiate some of that off the asking price. Other stuff I planned on doing myself and he's guided me through how to do so.

As far as the rest of the process, the way it works is you put a $2,000 deposit down on a rig over the phone. As long as you show up to view the rig in person, within 7 days, that $2k is completely refundable. If you don't show up, then they keep $500 of that $2k. If you decide to purchase the rig, they apply that money towards the purchase.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #5 –
Quote from: betcey –
Good to know - so, it's not a conflict of interest to use someone who works there already? And you still pay him separately?
I guess I was thinking / hoping to have someone inspect it before I committed to going out there. I *am* aware that it'll cost me for the inspection, but I wasn't thinking I'd also have to spend the money to get there and stay for a couple of days.
We used Keith and we all traveled over a thousand miles to Fort Pierce Florida. Did not buy coach but having keith there was confidence in making an educated offer with the amount of repairs and replacements that was needed. He will know the price for both and then you can offer what you comfortable doing. Realized handicap accessible is not widely available but if it isn't to be, so be it.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #6 –
Quote from: master2301 –
We used Keith and we all traveled over a thousand miles to Fort Pierce Florida. Did not buy coach but having keith there was confidence in making an educated offer with the amount of repairs and replacements that was needed. He will know the price for both and then you can offer what you comfortable doing. Realized handicap accessible is not widely available but if it isn't to be, so be it.
Wow ... so you traveled out there, had the inspection, then decided not to buy the coach? Was it because it needed too much work and MOT wasn't willing or able to do the work?

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #7 –
Quote from: betcey –
Wow ... so you traveled out there, had the inspection, then decided not to buy the coach? Was it because it needed too much work and MOT wasn't willing or able to do the work?
I think you will find that the cost of flying and paying for inspections quickly offsets the repairs that a "decent" rig will need. That's what happened with us, we realized that the $7k our rig needed in repairs would be quickly burned chasing down potentially better rigs across the country. We ultimately decided a bird in the basket was worth two in the bush.

More than likely, the rig you're considering at MOT is a consignment unit (denoted by a C in the stock #, if so). If so, MOT has no say in what gets repaired and at what price the seller accepts an offer. My experience was that MOT has very little incentive to make a deal happen and doesn't need to in this market. If the seller doesn't want to bend on price, they aren't going to go to bat for you with the seller, they'll just wait for the next guy.

If you have a $100k budget I would start by looking at $80k rigs. Between repairs, inspections, and travel that will give you some room for all the known and unknown costs of buying a rig that old.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #8 –
betcey

The cost to repair and replace parts was subtracted from the highest offer we were considering and the owners would not come down on their counter offer to meet our highest offer. We have been watching advertised coaches and reductions and sales for Foretravels and Newells since 2017.  Only a few fit the floorplan we want.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #9 –
Quote from: betcey –
Wow ... so you traveled out there, had the inspection, then decided not to buy the coach? Was it because it needed too much work and MOT wasn't willing or able to do the work?
I think lots of people travel to check out a coach when someone isn't available to inspect it.. may or  may not like it... it's just kinda the cost of finding the right coach..

Welcome!  And good luck in your search... Keith risch is an upstanding guy.


Keith

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Elliott –
I think you will find that the cost of flying and paying for inspections quickly offsets the repairs that a "decent" rig will need. That's what happened with us, we realized that the $7k our rig needed in repairs would be quickly burned chasing down potentially better rigs across the country. We ultimately decided a bird in the basket was worth two in the bush.

More than likely, the rig you're considering at MOT is a consignment unit (denoted by a C in the stock #, if so). If so, MOT has no say in what gets repaired and at what price the seller accepts an offer. My experience was that MOT has very little incentive to make a deal happen and doesn't need to in this market. If the seller doesn't want to bend on price, they aren't going to go to bat for you with the seller, they'll just wait for the next guy.

If you have a $100k budget I would start by looking at $80k rigs. Between repairs, inspections, and travel that will give you some room for all the known and unknown costs of buying a rig that old.

That's great information, thanks, Elliot!

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #11 –
Quote from: betcey –
Wow ... so you traveled out there, had the inspection, then decided not to buy the coach? Was it because it needed too much work and MOT wasn't willing or able to do the work?


Be aware that most of the coaches at MOT are on CONSIGNMENT.  So, MOT is not responsible for their condition.  There will be some very well maintained coaches and some that are "not so much".  No negative reflection on MOT/the consignment lot.

Yes, caveat emptor.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #12 –
Thanks for the great feedback, y'all. Good to know that most are on consignment - I can see where that would make a big difference! Its tough, because we need a wheelchair accessible rig, and they are so hard to find.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #13 –
Quote from: betcey –
Thanks for the great feedback, y'all. Good to know that most are on consignment

If the number starts with a "C", it's a consignment.  If a "P", MOT owns it.

MOT got its start as a consignment dealer.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Elliott –
I think you will find that the cost of flying and paying for inspections quickly offsets the repairs that a "decent" rig will need. That's what happened with us, we realized that the $7k our rig needed in repairs would be quickly burned chasing down potentially better rigs across the country. We ultimately decided a bird in the basket was worth two in the bush.
We faced the same dilemma 12 years ago when we were looking for a coach. After inspecting a couple in our area, it became apparent that we would have to spend quite a bit of $$ to travel to see prospective coaches. So, we decided we would only purchase a coach if the seller could provide high resolution photos of the areas we were concerned with. We also stipulated that would make a credit check, background check and talk to their bank manager. They agreed and within a couple of days, we bought the coach long distance. They even bought new start batteries at our expense and installed them. Our flight to Charlotte (Love Valley, NC) was good with the owners picking us up, driving to WalMart to buy bedding material, towels, etc. We were on our way by the end of the day.

So, finding a coach at long distance is a possibility if you have a checklist of what you need and the seller agrees to it. Aside from the obvious bulkhead photos, there are many other spots that have tale tale indicators of where it has lived and the care it has had will show up on good photos.

Pierce

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #15 –
Actually, if you are considering a first purchase of a high-end diesel pusher/Foretravel in particular, I feel strongly that you need to be present for a hands-on inspection.  Whether you buy that coach or not, you will find it a highly useful part of your introduction to the lifestyle.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #16 –
As much as we "wanted" a Foretravel we knew from research that the price we paid would only be a part of what we'd have to put into the coach to make it truly roadworthy for years of trouble free service. As a result the cost of 2 trips to MOT and and in person inspection by Keith at MOT before purchase and then a a trip down to have an in person inspection by Brett paid huge dividends in understanding our coaches systems and what we needed to address in purchasing a 20 year old coach. Now on our 4th year and over 20,000 we've never been left stranded.

To be clear I am not a mechanical person and am happy to pay for knowledgeable expertise. I simply want to travel and camp. If you enjoy working on these rigs you can still have a great Motorhome and probably save a bunch of money on labor. 

After this years upgrades (complete interior, lithium and solar) and previous proactive system component replacements, we'll have put more coach bucks into the coach than what she cost but will still have WAY LESS in her than a new coach of far lower quality.

Could we still breakdown...you bet...that's what Coach-Net is for, but I know from reading this forum that most of the typical breakdown items have already been addressed proactively.

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #17 –
I would consider paying the $700 for the inspection then paying another $700 if the coach is good to go to have Keith come back and show you how it works when you come there.
 Your talking about 1% for this considering what the coach costs.
You can dump $10,000+ into a 15+ year coach in a heart beat.
Never having owned a coach of this complexity before and having a handicapped person on board would absolutely require a expert opinion and advice not to mention a DEEP wallet.
 

Re: RV inspector / advice

Reply #18 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Actually, if you are considering a first purchase of a high-end diesel pusher/Foretravel in particular, I feel strongly that you need to be present for a hands-on inspection.  Whether you buy that coach or not, you will find it a highly useful part of your introduction to the lifestyle.
I want to add to my previous post that Brett is right on for the inspection. I should have added that after you have the photos and everything else in hand and want to seal the deal, you really should fly to the destination and have an inspection done if possible  before handing over any money. Long time owners or veteran DIYer may optionally skip the inspection but the smart thing is always to be there in person before money and title change hands.

We took a chance with sending a deposit to hold it and got away with it but used to gambling in the vehicle business.

Pierce