What exactly gets inspected in a full A1 pre-purchase audit?

We run a 100-point coach inspection - not a glance-over, a real systems audit. We check roof membrane (Dicor sealant condition, TPO/EPDM patches, flashing integrity), water tanks (Atwood or Dometic capacity, seals, drain valves), plumbing lines (Shurflo pump pressure, freeze damage, corrosion), electrical systems (Progressive Dynamics or WFCO converter, battery amp-hour rating, 120V and 12V circuit function), slide-out mechanisms (Lippert or Schwintek track wear, seal cracking, motor draw), HVAC units (Dometic or Coleman-Mach cooling capacity, thermostat response), propane system (regulator function, appliance ignition), awnings (Lippert Solera fabric tear, crank/motor operation), and structural (frame cracks, water intrusion stains, undercarriage rot). We take photos. We note every defect - minor to major. You get a written report before you sign the title.

Last month a customer brought us a 2015 Jayco Jay Flight SLX before closing. Looked clean inside. Our tech found the roof had three Dicor-sealed stress cracks around the AC penetration, the Shurflo pump was losing prime on the cold-water line, and the Lippert slide-out had play in the rollers - all invisible from a walk-around. The inspection cost $495. Those repairs would've run $2,200+ post-purchase. That's why you inspect first. We move the needle.

Major systems audited:

What hidden problems do we find most often in used RVs?

Roof leaks top the list - they're common and expensive. Most used RVs have at least one soft spot or failed seal around the AC, antenna, or bathroom vent. Water sits inside the insulation for months before you smell it. Structural rot under the floor follows close behind. Plumbing freeze damage is number three - a frozen Atwood tank rupture isn't visible until the system pressurizes. Slide-out seals fail routinely on units over 10 years old (Lippert tracks wear faster if the RV sat idle). Battery cells die silently. Dometic or Coleman-Mach AC compressors lose refrigerant and limp along. Propane regulators leak slow. We find these in about 80% of used rigs we inspect.

A Forest River Class A came in for pre-purchase last month. Owner thought it was solid. We caught water staining under the bedroom slide-out, tested the Lippert motor (amp draw was 40% higher than spec - bearing wear), and found two failed Dicor seams on the roof cap. Ceiling insulation was damp. Seller dropped the price $3,000 and agreed to roof remediation. No inspection - that RV would've cost the buyer $5,000 in hidden repairs within six months.

Common defects we catch:

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 does an A1 pre-purchase inspection cost and how fast can you get here?

Pricing is $395 for Class B, $495 for Class C, $595 for Class A and fifth-wheels. No surprises. We quote flat over the phone - (888) 787-3727 - and we show up. We're mobile only; we come to the lot, dealer facility, or seller's driveway. In Florida and Idaho, we hit you in 2-4 hours for emergency response; standard inspections book within 3 business days. Outside our hubs, we connect you with an RVIA-certified partner in your area - same standard, same report. Inspection takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on RV age and size. You get a written report (PDF or hardcopy) the same day or next morning.

A Winnebago Brave owner in Boise needed an inspection on a Friday afternoon. We booked him for Saturday morning - 90 minutes' drive from our Boise hub. He had the report by email by dinner. A Grand Design owner in Tampa found us online, called Thursday, we inspected Friday. Three Dicor roof patches, a Shurflo pump dying, and a Dometic fridge seal issue. Report landed in his inbox with repair estimates so he could renegotiate price. That's the speed we run.

Pricing and timeline:

Are you compatible with RVs from all the major manufacturers?

Yes. We inspect Winnebago, Jayco, Forest River, Thor, Grand Design, Tiffin, Keystone, and Coachmen rigs routinely. We know the quirks of each. Forest River Class Cs tend to have softer roof sealant - we check Dicor application tighter. Jayco slide-outs (Lippert mechanism) show wear faster on older models - we test motor draw and seal integrity specifically. Winnebago and Tiffin units run heavier electrical loads - we audit Progressive Dynamics converters carefully. Grand Design rigs have quality EPDM roofs but we still find flash damage. Keystone and Coachmen use Atwood and Dometic tanks; we pressure-test both. We don't care about brand. We care about what's broken. Older independent manufacturers (Airstream, mobile 2000s-era models) we inspect the same way - component by component.

We inspected a 2018 Tiffin Motorhome (motorized, high-end chassis) and a 2012 Keystone Cougar (fifth-wheel, generic Lippert slide). Same methodology. Both needed roof work - one Dicor seal failure, one EPDM patch delamination. One had a Shurflo pump in the grey-water loop (weird config, but we check it). The other ran a Dometic fridge. Different brands, same standards. We catch what's wrong, not what brand it is.

Brands we service:

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

What's the process from booking to getting your written report?

Call us or book online. We confirm the RV location, type, and year. We show up with tools and a checklist. Step one: exterior walk (roof condition, Dicor seals, undercarriage, windows). Step two: interior systems (plumbing, electrical, propane, appliances). Step three: water tests (Shulfro pump pressure, tank function, drain flow). Step four: roof and floor inspection (moisture meter, structural assessment). Step five: photo documentation and notes. We test the Dometic or Coleman-Mach AC, run the Onan or Cummins generator if present, test all 120V and 12V circuits, verify battery amp-hour rating and converter (WFCO or Progressive Dynamics) output, inspect Lippert or Schwintek slide-out motion and seals, and check propane regulator function. You watch or we work independently - your call. Report ships within 24 hours as a PDF with photos, itemized findings, and severity ratings (minor, major, critical).

A customer in Fort Lauderdale scheduled Tuesday morning, showed us a 2016 Coachmen Class C she was considering. We spent three hours on-site; she sat in the shade and read a book. We found four issues: soft roof spot (Dicor seal), Atwood tank corrosion, Shurflo pressure drop, and Dometic fridge thermostat drift. Report landed Wednesday. She used it to negotiate $1,200 off the asking price and a roof warranty from the dealer. That's how it works.

Inspection workflow:

What warranty and follow-up do you offer after the inspection?

The inspection itself comes with no warranty - it's a snapshot of condition at the time of visit. What we guarantee: honest findings, clear documentation, and accuracy. If you catch a factual error in our report (we missed a defect, or misidentified something), we come back and correct it free. If you buy the RV based on our report and hire us to make repairs, those repairs carry our 90-day workmanship warranty. Example: you buy a Jayco, we find the Lippert slide-out seal is failing, you hire us to replace it - the new seal work is covered for 90 days. Any parts we install are manufacturer-covered separately. We don't warranty the RV itself or pre-existing defects - that's on the seller or you. Our job is to tell you what's broken so you can negotiate or walk.

A customer in Ocala got an inspection report from us, bought the RV, discovered the Dometic AC compressor had cavitation noise (we flagged it as 'needs attention'), and hired us two weeks later to diagnose and repair. Turned out the Shurfro pump in the cooling loop was undersized. We re-piped it and swapped the pump. That labor and parts warranty ran 90 days. The compressor itself - still covered by Dometic if it fails. Clear lines. No surprises.

What's covered and what's not:

Same-day response in our core service areas across Florida and Idaho.
Same-day response in our core service areas across Florida and Idaho.