How To Avoid Your First RV Mistake: The Pre-Delivery Inspection

Stuart Doing Stuff: Do you want

that same new car feeling when you

2

drive off the lot in your new RV?

3

You know the one where everything is

shiny and new and has that new car

4

smell and everything works perfectly?

5

Well, you need more

than just a set of keys.

6

Today we're gonna dive into how to

avoid your very first RV mistake

7

as we talk about the Pre

Delivery Inspection, or PDI.

8

Let's ensure that your first journey isn't

to the repair shop, but to a destination

9

unknown and memories waiting to be made.

10

Buckle up, it's time to learn the ropes.

11

And welcome to the RV dreaming podcast.

12

This podcast is for people who

thrive on adventure, embrace

13

unconventional lifestyle, and

seek life beyond the ordinary.

14

RV dreaming, start here and go anywhere.

15

My name is Stuart from Stuart

Doing Stuff on Instagram.

16

I've been a full-time

nomad for three years now.

17

I split my time between my 40 foot Super

C and my little mini sprinter van here.

18

And I traveled with.

19

With my two cats camden izzy follow

me on instagram at Stuart Doing

20

Stuff for more stories and videos.

21

All right, today we are going

to talk about the very first

22

thing you do when you buy an RV.

23

And no, that's not take a camping.

24

This is the pre delivery

inspection, the PDI.

25

And the pre delivery inspection

is what happens after you buy the

26

rig, but before you actually take

possession and drive it off the lot.

27

And the PDI is usually scheduled right

when you're signing the paperwork.

28

And it's normally a few days to a

week or whatever after you actually

29

go through the buying process.

30

So it's not like a new car where

you sign on the dotted line.

31

You get a drive off with it that

day, what they do is they schedule an

32

appointment, they give you a tech, and

they'll go through this system up and

33

down, and they, they say that they're

going to show you how everything

34

works, but there is so much more to it.

35

Now let me give you a real quick story.

36

When I was doing my PDI on my Super

C, it was like a balancing act.

37

Cause my rig was in Buffalo, New York, and

I was in LA, Los Angeles, California area.

38

And I wasn't gonna fly to Buffalo

in January and pick up the rig

39

and drive it through the ice and

all that other kinds of stuff.

40

So I came up with a deal with

the dealership that they would

41

bring it to Des Moines, Iowa.

42

And I would fly from California, from Long

Beach to Des Moines, Iowa, we would do the

43

transaction there, that was their furthest

west location, and I'd drive it back.

44

So, we had a lot of coordinating to

do with that, making sure that the

45

rig got from Buffalo to Des Moines on

time, to make sure that my flight got

46

there on time, to coordinate the, PDI.

47

And then I had to coordinate my

trip back to Long Beach from there.

48

So when I did that, we set up our meeting

for early, I think like around eight,

49

because I wanted to hurry up and get

through this, hit the road and work

50

start working my way back to California.

51

But at the same time, If there was

anything that needed to be fixed, my fear

52

was I couldn't get it fixed, because, you

know, I was doing it on, I don't remember

53

what day it was, it was, I remember the

day, I don't remember the date, or is

54

it the other way around, it was January

6th, because I remember when we were

55

doing the PDI, we kept stopping to watch

all the stuff going on at the Capitol,

56

so that was going on on all four TVs,

or however many, three TVs that I had at

57

the rig, and then, you We're trying to

go through all these different systems.

58

Does this work?

59

How does this work?

60

And is this functioning?

61

So anyways...

62

We were doing that,

but they pushed my PDI.

63

They called me at like 8 in the morning

and said, Hey, we need more time, we

64

need more time, we need more time.

65

And so finally, we had to

check out of our hotel room.

66

So at around 11 o'clock, we

had to check out of the room.

67

We walked down to the dealership,

because we couldn't get an

68

Uber because it was snowing.

69

So it was like a mile away,

and it was, it was ridiculous.

70

But, you know, whatever.

71

Everyone was like, you should have

had the dealership come and get you.

72

You know, you just spent a lot of

money, but we enjoyed the walk.

73

And it wasn't snowing, it was just

snow on the ground and it was cold.

74

By the way, I didn't

know it snowed in Iowa.

75

I hear you guys already, like, rolling

your eyes, forgive me on that one, but

76

prior to me RVing, I spent 12 years

in Long Beach, California down in L.

77

A.

78

I didn't really think about

the weather that much.

79

So anyways, we, got there and It just

kept going on and on and they kept

80

dragging it on and on , , to the point

where Paul and I, who was helping

81

me pick this thing up, we just ended

up ordering Domino's Pizza and it

82

delivered to the rig and everything.

83

So finally, later in the day, they

went through the entire rig with us,

84

but man, it was an ordeal because my

fear was what if something's not right?

85

What if something's not working?

86

Then...

87

We might get stuck here for another

day trying to wait for them to be

88

able to fix it before I officially

said, okay, so those are going to

89

be in the in the tips and tricks of

what we're going to talk about here

90

on your pre delivery inspection.

91

So why is this important?

92

Why is a PDI so important?

93

Well, it's your last chance to ensure that

everything is in proper working order.

94

prior to you actually taking

possession of the rig.

95

It's there to help you learn about

the systems, the functions, and

96

the capabilities of your rig.

97

And it's your chance to have

things repaired or fixed

98

before taking possession.

99

So this is really important

because you don't want to take

100

possession of a busted rig.

101

You don't want to take possession

of something where the dealer goes,

102

Oh yeah, that's, that is broken.

103

I'll tell you what, why don't we make

an appointment for X date and then you

104

can bring it back and we'll fix it then.

105

Don't fall for all that kind of stuff.

106

That, that is absolutely ridiculous.

107

We're going to kind of get into that too.

108

So, that is the, , one

of the biggest things.

109

So what is included in your PDI?

110

Well, in a word, Everything.

111

You should go through all of your

electrical components, all your

112

plumbing, your air conditioning, your

heater, your furnace, your hot water

113

heater, your fire and CO2 alarms,

your microwave, refrigerator, propane

114

slide, seals and gaskets, cosmetic,

your roof, your windows, your awnings,

115

cabinet doors, furniture, blinds,

shades, curtains, flooring, window

116

coverings, engines, generators,

and most importantly, A test drive.

117

Believe it or not, I just dropped six

figures, large six figures, on this Super

118

C that I was picking up and I had never

driven it before I drove it off the lot.

119

I didn't even do a test drive.

120

That was my bad.

121

And I didn't even think about

it until after I was leaving.

122

When, when we were all done and they

pulled it out of the garage and they

123

gave me the keys and they said thank you.

124

They actually said thank you.

125

I went...

126

I've never driven this before.

127

Holy crap.

128

I've never driven this rig I

hope it drives right because I

129

was so obsessed on making sure I

got all the other stuff, right?

130

I completely forgot about the most

obvious which is driving the darn rig.

131

So Anyways there's a whole list of

everything that I just gave you that

132

will be attached to the show notes and

on the website at RV dreaming TV that

133

you can download And you can check

off as you're going through your PDI,

134

because it's very, very important.

135

So, I also want to give you a couple

do's and don'ts of a good PDI experience.

136

So let's go through this here.

137

So here's one for the do's.

138

You do...

139

Want to test everything when

you're on shore power, that's

140

going to give you an idea to make

sure that everything is right.

141

Everything is working properly.

142

Everything is the way that it should be.

143

And that's running everything.

144

Your water heaters, that's checking your

slides, making sure they go in and out.

145

That's making sure your refrigerator is

on, making sure that your air conditioning

146

is working all the components.

147

You're going to go

through this three times.

148

One of the times you're going

to do it with your shore power.

149

Okay.

150

Then you're gonna go do it again every

single little thing when your shore power

151

is off and you're just running on your

house batteries Because you're gonna want

152

to learn what's on the inverter and what's

not and make sure that everything is as it

153

is supposed to be Do it turn your inverter

on make sure that everything is working

154

Make sure that your refrigerator is still

running because that should always be

155

on with the inverter make sure that your

heaters or any other components that

156

you have that's supposed to be plugged,

that's supposed to be operating when

157

you're on, when you're on your inverter,

when you're dry camping, is working.

158

And then, believe it or not,

we're going to do it a third time.

159

We're going to go through every

single little thing one more time,

160

this time with the generator.

161

Because the generator is, in theory,

supposed to kick on, provide enough

162

power to be able to power your rig.

163

So you're just going to go

through those systems again.

164

Make sure that when you turn your

generator on, Your automatic transfer

165

switch switch is over, you're able

to run your air conditionings,

166

you're able to run all the different

components that are supposed to be

167

run as if you're on shore power.

168

Because it is not uncommon for a

component to work when it's on shore

169

power, but not work when it's on the

generator, and you gotta figure out why.

170

Those are big things that

need some diagnostic presence.

171

And your best leverage as a buyer

is to ensure that all those things

172

are looked at and taken care of.

173

Before you take delivery because these

guys want to get this stuff done and

174

and get you off the books so that way

they can move on to the next person so

175

your best leverage is right then during

this PDI so that way you know that

176

you're getting everything taken care of.

177

Before you take possession, because

that's when the pressure is on them.

178

A couple other do's in this session.

179

Do record and take videos and take notes.

180

You're going to get a lot of information

about your rig, and if you've never RV'd

181

before, you're going to be thrown into

the deep end on a lot of new components.

182

Don't be afraid to bring a notepad.

183

Don't be afraid to take video, and

ask the person doing the walkthrough,

184

say, I'm sorry, excuse me, that was

a little confusing, can you do it

185

one more time, so I can record it?

186

And that way you can have a document.

187

You have some sort of verification that

you can go back on and look at so that

188

way you don't ruin anything or, or if

it's confusing, , you have some, better

189

information to be able to do that.

190

So do take notes, , and ask

questions and, and take videos.

191

The other thing, do ask

questions, ask a lot of questions.

192

Don't be afraid to say, you don't

know, don't be afraid to say, wait,

193

can you explain that one more time?

194

I thought this, you're saying

that, am I getting this right?

195

Don't be afraid to be able to do this.

196

Remember.

197

You're buying this rig, and especially

if you're full timing or you're kind of

198

going through this process, it might take

you a while to figure out how A connects

199

to B, which represents C, and, and all

this other kinds of stuff, so don't be

200

afraid to say, Hey, I have a question.

201

Another do.

202

Check to ensure that you have all of

your keys, all of your TV remotes, all

203

the little knick knacks, all the owner's

manuals, all the warranty information

204

on all the different components.

205

It's gonna come in a big, kind of like,

um, Like a duffel bag kind of a thing and

206

and and it's got a lot of information.

207

It's got all your warranty information,

all your owner's manuals, , everything

208

that you can possibly imagine and check

your keys to make sure that you have

209

two keys or at least on your engines,

your keys for all the storage bays,

210

bins, everything underneath, make

sure you have all your TV remotes.

211

If your rig has three or four TVs,

make sure you have three or four

212

remotes that come along with it.

213

Don't forget Be afraid to say, hey, wait

a minute, we're missing something here.

214

And most importantly, like I

mentioned before, don't rush it.

215

Take your time on this.

216

This is supposed to be your time

to get familiar with your rig.

217

So you take your time and you

don't let the dealership rush you.

218

If you feel like you're being rushed,

just tell them, hey, wait a minute.

219

Hold on.

220

This is a lot of information.

221

I just want to make sure

that I'm getting everything.

222

Right, you know, and, if they're

worth it, if they're worth a darn,

223

you know, if they really do care

about your 100 percent total customer

224

satisfaction, then they will take that

time to really make sure that they

225

explain it well, so that way you are

comfortable when you leave the facility.

226

And here's a big don't.

227

And this is, this is the one

thing that, when I was looking

228

for rigs, was a deal breaker.

229

Do not pay extra for your PDI.

230

Do not pay extra for your

pre delivery inspection.

231

I've seen things, when you look at your

bill, when you're signing to buy, it'll

232

have a little line item in there, and

it'll say pre delivery inspection, or

233

it'll say something walk through, or

something along those lines, and I've seen

234

fees range from anywhere between 1, 500

all the way up to 5, 000 for this service.

235

Do not pay for a PDI, that should be

part of the deal, and if a dealership

236

is going to insist that you pay for it,

then you insist that you're not going

237

to buy it, plain and simple, walk out

of that dealership, as a matter of fact

238

don't walk, run out of that dealership,

get to your car, get online, and tell

239

everybody, these guys are trying to

charge me for a PDI, and just watch the

240

internet blow up, because this is the

It's the biggest markup, the biggest

241

nonsense that I think is out there.

242

So do not ever pay for PDI.

243

They should not even put it on

there and hope that you catch it.

244

That's how ridiculous this is.

245

This is part of the overall experience.

246

This is the thing that

they, they should just do.

247

It's part of the entire process.

248

Alright, so.

249

And finally, if there is anything

that needs to be fixed, have them

250

do it before you take possession.

251

Do not wait.

252

Do not fall for the, Oh, well,

you know, our tech is gone.

253

We don't have time.

254

We don't have parts.

255

We don't have this.

256

We don't have that.

257

You know, if that's the case

and say, you know what, then

258

let me know when it's ready.

259

I'll come back and pick it up because

you lose all leverage the minute that you

260

Take delivery of that rig

and drive it off the lot.

261

They want to get rid of it.

262

They want it out.

263

It's taking up space.

264

It's, it's, , It's amazing on

how fast your rig will get to

265

the top of the priority line if

there's something wrong with it.

266

So, because I did that when I had my

Super C, I went through all these systems

267

and we were there for a long time.

268

It delayed, not only did it

delay because of what they did,

269

it delayed because I took a lot

of time trying to get that done.

270

, I didn't have any problems with my rig.

271

There was one that we were able to

identify and it was on my touch screen

272

that monitors like your water tanks

and your holding tanks and all that.

273

There was, there was the propane

sensor that was not reading right.

274

It was reading zero on the sensor, but

you go to the tank and it was full.

275

And they couldn't figure out why that was.

276

And so they just determined

that it was a faulty sensor.

277

I said, no worries, I'm not going to worry

about it, because that's an easy fix.

278

It's just a sensor, then whatever,

but all the mechanical stuff.

279

But that's how detailed that

I went through this PDI.

280

Because as I was going through

the touchscreens, I saw it was

281

zero, and I was like, wait.

282

I thought you said that I get a full

thing of propane, so they jumped into it,

283

they looked, and they looked over, they

opened it up, and they, and, the poor

284

tech guy, he, he probably spent about 20

or 30 minutes trying to diagnose this,

285

cause you can tell, he was a good guy,

you can tell he wanted to get it right,

286

he, you can tell that he, , took pride

in his job and pride in his work, so he

287

wanted to figure this thing out, you know,

even after I told him it's fine, we, at

288

least we identified it, and now we have

a solution, and it's not, detrimental,

289

he still went, no, I'm going to, I'm

going to try and check this thing down.

290

So anyways, that's how granular you

have to get with these PDIs, with

291

these pre delivery inspections,

because it is that important.

292

The key to having a great first trip is

to make sure that you're not going to

293

have any surprises when you hit the road.

294

So I'm going to leave.

295

Everything that I just told you,

everything that you should check,

296

these do's and don'ts, I'm going to

put this on our website at rvdreaming.

297

tv, I am also going to put it into the

show notes down below, so that way when

298

you go and you are scheduling your PDI,

you can take this checklist with you, and

299

then you can always add your own depending

on what kind of rig you're going to get,

300

like you're going to look for different

things if you're going to get a motorized

301

versus a travel trailer versus a fifth

wheel, so you can add You know, other

302

unique elements that you want to do or

things that you don't want to forget

303

because it can be very overwhelming.

304

So you can add your own items there to it.

305

So I'm going to leave that on the website.

306

You can find that in the show

notes, just go and click on

307

it and it will take you there.

308

Or you can just go to the show notes and

copy and paste and put it into your phone

309

or do whatever it is that you want to do.

310

So recap, do not be rushed.

311

During your PDI, this is your time.

312

All right.

313

Do not let the dealership rush

you check everything three times.

314

Once on a short power, once on the

inverter, and then again on the generator.

315

And please, please, please do

not pay extra for this service.

316

Do not pay extra.

317

This has got to be the biggest mistake

I see people do is they will pay big

318

money because they don't know any better.

319

Do not fall into that trap.

320

Do not pay extra for a PDI.

321

I hope you learned something new in this

episode and just kind of reiterating

322

the importance of making sure that

you have a free, a very great, a very

323

exciting, very fantastic first trip

324

because that's when you're going

to fall in love with the RV

325

lifestyle is when everything works.

326

If your very first experience out of

the gate in your brand new rig is where

327

things just aren't working and things

are broken and things aren't going your

328

way, you're going to have a really bad

experience and you're going to drop out.

329

Don't do that.

330

Make sure that your experience,

your very first experience, is

331

a positive one by knowing that

you have confidence in your rig.

332

Everything is working.

333

All of that starts with a successful PDI.

334

I hope this helped you.

335

that's going to be it for this

episode Thanks for listening

336

to the RV dreaming podcast.

337

Enjoy your travels.

338

Make them safe.

339

Make them fun and make the memorable

We'll see you in the next episode