What is the number one problem you find on RVs?

Slide seals. They top our list more than anything else we write up.

Are these problems preventable?

Most of them are. Regular maintenance — keeping seals and sealants in good shape, and servicing appliances on schedule — prevents the majority of what we find.

Can I check my own seals and sealant?

Yes. Checking that your sealants are still in place and doing a visual walkaround before every move are two of the best habits an owner can have.

Why does water intrusion matter so much?

Because by the time you can see it, the damage is well along. Delamination, for example, starts about three years before it shows.

What are the most common RV problems an inspector finds?

The five we write up most, in order: slide seals, roof sealant, window seals, strained air conditioners and water heaters. Most are preventable with routine maintenance, and the first three all come down to one thing — water getting in.

The five, in the order we find them

After enough inspections, the same list keeps coming up. Here it is, most common first:

Slide seals
Roof sealant
Window seals
Air conditioner strain
Water heaters

Three of the five are seals. That's not a coincidence. Water is the thing that ruins RVs, and seals are the only thing standing between it and the inside of your walls.

1. Slide seals

Slides are the most common thing we write up. A slide is a big opening in the side of the rig that moves every time you set up and break camp, and the seals and caulk around it take that wear every time. When they go, water finds its way in around the slide and into the structure below and beside it.

2. Roof sealant

Every seam, vent, fan and fixture on the roof is held watertight by sealant. Sealant doesn't last forever, and the roof is the part of the rig owners look at least. Most buyers never go up there at all, which is exactly why problems there go unnoticed until there's a stain on the ceiling.

3. Window seals

Window seals are small, and that's the trouble. A gap you'd never notice from inside lets water run down inside the wall, where it can sit for a long time before anything shows.

4. Air conditioner strain

Rooftop air conditioners work hard, and a unit that's struggling shows it. These are sealed systems — they can't be "recharged" the way people sometimes expect — so the honest answer when one is strained is to find out why, fix what can be fixed, and tell you plainly if it's near the end. Regular maintenance on the unit goes a long way.

5. Water heaters

Water heaters round out the list. Descaling is part of routine water heater maintenance, and it's one of the maintenance services we offer.

The pattern behind the list

Slides, windows and the roof are the three places water intrusion does the most damage. That's where we'd put your attention first.

The hard part is timing. Water damage is quiet. Delamination — the outer wall skin separating from what's behind it — starts about three years before you can see it. By the time a wall looks wavy, water has been working on it for a long while.

What you can do about it

Most of what's on this list is preventable. A few habits make a real difference:

Check your own sealants. Look at the roof, window and slide seals and make sure the sealant is still in place.
Walk around the rig before every move. A quick visual walkaround catches problems while they're still small.
Keep up with appliance maintenance. Air conditioners and water heaters last longer when they're serviced on schedule.

If you're buying

Buyers tend to judge a rig by its interior, and a clean inside says nothing about the seals on the outside. A pre-purchase inspection looks at all five of these — and the Premier Package adds a moisture and water intrusion evaluation for exactly this reason. Package details and pricing are on the home page.