The big day is here! It’s time to pick up your new RV. Here are ten tips to help you get through delivery day!
#1 Get a good night’s rest the day before picking up your RV.
There’s a lot to do when picking up an RV from the dealership and the entire RV delivery process can take up to 6 hours or more. So, make sure you are well rested. You will need to be sharp as you walk through your RV, complete paperwork, and review inspection items. It’s easy to get mental fatigue, so remember to take breaks as you need them.
#2 Schedule an early appointment
Scheduling an early appointment ensures you have enough time to complete the delivery process without feeling rushed. Most RVs have issues when they arrive at the dealership and an early appointment will give the Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) team sufficient time to fix issues before you leave the dealership.
#3 Ask for information on warranty programs and other business office offerings to review before you arrive
Usually the last step in the process is one of the most important….the paperwork. You will review loan papers, go over delivery checklists, get offered a warranty and lots of extras the dealership will try to sell you. Not all the extras are bad. RVs are expensive and so is the work to fix them. For example, your refrigerator is covered by the refrigerator’s manufacuter’s warranty to replace it if it breaks within a certain timeframe. But that refrigerator warranty doesn’t include removing it from the RV which can mean taking out the slide if it’s too big to fit through the door. That’s not cheap! So ask the business manager to send you a list of offerings before you arrive so that you have time to review the coverage and other add-ons before you arrive
#4 Bring your inspection report
Make sure the issues in your inspection report have been addressed before you take delivery of your RV. Get advice from your inspector on how to best check the fixes.
Read more about getting an inspection in our blog post “Don’t Forget to Get an Inspection”
#5 Video the entire walk-through
Once you leave the dealership you will forget most of what you learned during the walkthrough. It’s called information overload. Take a video and break it up into segments. Have one for the outside, one for the cab area, one for the kitchen, one for the bathroom, one for the living room, etc. That way when you need to reference the video you are not searching through two hours of recordings.
#6 Ask lots of questions
The technician is there to show you how to safely operate your new or new to you RV. Ask lots of questions. Take as much time as you need to go through each system. Don’t let anyone rush you. And don’t accept “I’m not sure” as an answer. Have the tech find someone who knows. Offer to come back the next day if there isn’t enough time. You are the one in charge
#7 Use everything
Go systematically through each system. Turn on the generator, water pump, inverter. Test while plugged in to shore power and not plugged in. Check your headlights, blinkers, hazards. Open all the windows and doors. Use every blind in the RV. Test your mirrors, leveling system, slide-outs. Open all the drawers, run the water from each facet, flush all the toilets. Rotate the chairs, convert sofas to beds, turn on all the lights and TVs. Run the air, and the furnace. Getting the idea? By the time you are done, you should have touched everything in the RV.
#8 Test drive
With the pandemic, orders for RVs have skyrocketed. Many are purchasing their new motorhome, Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer sight unseen. And while you may have test driven a similar RV, not all feel the same. Take it out on the local road and highway and see if it meets your expectations. Also, listen out for strange noises and look for leaks.
#9 Take a mid-day break
Buying an RV is a major purchase. And you want to be sharp during the process. It’s ok to tell your salesman you need a break. Take a few minutes or a half an hour to grab a snack or some lunch. You will feel much better and enjoy the process more.
#10 Stay at the dealership or nearby campground overnight before heading home.
Your first time hooking up at a campground can be fun and stressful. Questions you may not have thought about during the walk-though will come up that first night. And if there are any issues (like we had the first night) you are a quick drive to the dealership for a quick fix.
Bonus tip:
If you live more than three hours from the dealership stay at a hotel close by. You will feel more relaxed and rested for the big day.
Hope that helps!