Are you looking at purchasing a used RV?
There are a few things you should look for BEFORE you purchase a used RV. As with most vehicles, maintenance issues are always a concern and with RV’s you have a vast amount of items that require annual maintenance.
Some of the overlooked areas when purchasing a used RV are the sidewalls and the roof.
If you are looking at an RV with a Rubber Roof, be sure to inspect the seams and edges good prior to purchasing.
The cost factor for replacing or repairing and re sealing a rubber roof deters some people from keeping up with this kind of maintenance.
Once water gets in, it can do serious damage to the roof boards and sidewalls if not caught right away. And you will have to check your insurance policy, but they usually don’t cover maintenance items such as water damage from lack of maintenance.
The other area is the sidewalls. Run your hands along with sidewalls and feel for any bulges in the lamination. 
Sight down the wall and see if you can see any bulge. These are signs of the sidewall lamination letting loose and the wall separating.
This, also, is usually caused by water damage. Either leaking from the roof or from some pipes at the bottom can cause this. Also, if you see a bulge around a window, the window will need to be removed and resealed.
Leaks can occur near any RV accessory that is screwed into or mounted to the exterior of the RV walls or roof.
Delamination will occur until the source of the problem is addressed. Depending on how long the issue has been present, this is a very costly fix that cannot be performed by any regular body shop. All Pro Truck Body Shop has the ability and the special technicians to handle both sidewall delamination issues and roof repair or replacement.
Traveling RV style is a lot of fun. Let’s keep it that way by making sure buying a poorly maintained RV doesn’t spoil your fun.
Before you purchase that used RV, be sure to inspect the roof and the sidewalls for any issues that may have been overlooked by the previous owner.
About the author:
Dan Deary is president of All Pro Truck Body Shop, a truck body repair shop located in Phoenix Arizona, specializing in commercial body shop and fleet painting services.