12. Make sure that all windows open and close easily. latches can rust shut. Are screens on windows and vents rusted or torn?

13. Open and close roof vents and make sure that vent fans run properly.

14. Fire up hot water heater and make sure it works.

15. Test refrigerator on both gas and electric settings. Repairs can be expensive and you are going to want to use both gas and electric options. Watch for frost beginning to form in freezer to confirm that it is cooling properly. Make sure door will latch and lock securely. When you are on road, you don't want fridge contents strewn through your RV.

16. Check furnace. Does it blow hot air? Don't wait until it's thirty degrees outside to find out.

17. Crank up air conditioner. Does it blow cold air? If it has a heating element does that work as well?

18. Turn on water tap without being hooked up to city water. Does water pump work?

19. Check out toilet. Does it flush properly.

20. Hook up city water. Check for leaks inside and outside RV.

21. Inquire about condition of waste water valves. Better yet, if RV is hooked up to a sewer drain, open and close valves to make sure they work.

22. Check cooking range and oven. Do all burners function? Does oven burner function?

23. Do all interior cabinets and drawers open and then latch securely? If not, you may have your belongings scattered throughout your RV when you are in transit.

24. Check for soft spots on floor, particularly in bathroom area. The plywood may be rotted through.

25. Is flooring in good condition? How about interior walls?

26. Make sure curtains are not dry rotted. Can they be easily cleaned? Are blinds still in good condition?

27. External lights - Test external running lights. If you tow at night, and it is very likely that you will, you'll want to make sure that rear tail lights are operable. Simply hook up to tow vehicle and turn on headlights. You'll also want to make sure that brake lights work, that right and left turn signal lights work, and that backup lights work. If there is a problem, it could be a faulty bulb, or bulb fixture simply needs cleaning. Otherwise, you may be faced with an electrical problem.

28. Test exhaust vent fans to make sure they work. Typically you will find them in living area, over cooking range, and in bathroom.

29. Does TV antenna crank up and down easily? Better yet, find a hobby and skip TV.

William Smith lived, and traveled fulltime in an RV travel trailer for over 12 years, and maintains a website dedicated to educating people about the RV lifestyle.

It is a good idea to have owner with you while you inspect RV so that he or she can observe your inspection notes. When you have completed your inspection you'll likely have a lengthy list of repairs needed. This will be your leverage to make a low-ball offer on trailer. After all, you will either have to pay for repairs or live with them as is.

If RV owner doesn't accept your low offer, don't worry too much about it and go on to next RV. Give them your name and telephone number and tell them to call you if they change their mind.

Let two or three weeks pass and call them back to see if they have sold RV yet. They may be very happy to hear from you and accept offer you made. If you are really interested in RV, offer a slightly higher price this time. If they don't accept your offer, don't worry about it and call them back in another three or four weeks.

Sooner or later, you're going to pick up a genuine bargain on an RV. You'll have possibly saved quite a bit of money and in process learned some negotiating skills.

In part 2 of this article, we'll explore things you should be looking for when you inspect a used RV you're considering buying.

William Smith lived, and traveled fulltime in an RV travel trailer for over 12 years, and maintains a website dedicated to educating people about the RV lifestyle.