If you've recently purchased a used RV, one of the things you should do is have it inspected by an RV repair technician to ensure that it is in sound condition. RVs are prone to a variety of different issues, many of which aren't easily recognized by those who are new to these vehicles. Before you take your RV to a repair technician for evaluation, here are a few of the areas that are commonly affected by age and wear.

Floors

RV floors are prone to wear and damage in many different ways. Whether it's excess weight putting strain on the materials and causing weak spots or damage that's caused by travel on the road, your RV's floors are a hot spot for damage and issues.

Sometimes, you'll notice these issues yourself, even without the evaluation of an RV repair technician. If you walk through your RV, note any areas of the floor that feel soft, spongy, weak, slanted, or bowed. It's easy to dismiss these issues when the symptoms are minor or subtle, but doing so will allow the damage to worsen. You'll want to have it addressed right away.

Leaks

Many people don't realize that RVs are vulnerable to leaks. It's easy to look at them and consider them a vehicle, which is highly unlikely to have a leak. However, RVs have a variety of areas that can be vulnerable to wear, which can cause leaking when it rains or when ice and snow melt. 

For example, any skylights on the roof are vulnerable to leaks if the seal around the light fails. The roof itself may be susceptible to leaks if it's damaged by a falling tree branch or not properly maintained. Additionally, the area around your slide-out is another common place for RVs to leak. You'll want to have your RV repair technician assess the seals around these areas and apply a coating of sealant to the roof to help prevent leaking.

Gauge Failures

Every RV has a set of gauges that tell you the fill level of the fresh water, grey water, and black water tanks. Another gauge will tell you the battery's charge level. Even if you have digital gauges inside the RV, they are usually controlled by floats in the tanks. If a float gets dirty or stuck, you won't get an accurate reading. 

This can leave you out of water unexpectedly or with an overflowing wastewater storage tank. When you take your RV to the repair shop, ask your technician to inspect the floats and test the gauges. You should have this done every year when your RV is inspected and maintained.

These are some of the most common issues that new RV owners experience unexpectedly. Understanding that RVs are vulnerable to these problems can help you be proactive and prevent them.