Buying a used RV can feel exciting and overwhelming all at once. Most people, including us, focus on the obvious things when inspecting a potential RV purchase: water leaks, roof condition, appliances, and signs of mold. Those are important—but there is something else that many buyers overlook that could literally save your life.
The underbelly of the RV.
Recently, we had an RV specialist come out to do a walkthrough with us as we continue remodeling our fifth wheel for our Me Gone RVing Adventure. While we were going through the normal checklist, I mentioned that I had been smelling propane inside the RV from time to time.
Thankfully, I insisted on having a third set of experienced eyes look at everything.
When the specialist crawled under the RV, he immediately spotted something alarming: a previous tire blowout had damaged the propane line leading into the RV. This was hidden damage we never would have noticed during a typical inspection.
That moment made my stomach drop.
Had that propane line failed completely, the situation could have turned deadly. Propane leaks are nothing to take lightly. One spark could lead to fire, explosion, or carbon monoxide exposure.
Yes, the repair will cost us more money. We are looking at about $1,000 in immediate fixes, but honestly, I am incredibly grateful we caught it now.
Safety Check After the Discovery
Once the propane issue was discovered, Justin immediately began checking all of our safety equipment inside the RV. What we found next was just as concerning.
Our safety setup was not where it needed to be.
We discovered:
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Only one fire extinguisher was present when we should have three.
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No carbon monoxide alarm installed at all. And so we ordered this immediately https://amzn.to/4aWtbyP
Damage done by a
TIRE BLOWOUT-
Several extinguishers needed replacement.
To correct this, we are installing:
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A fire extinguisher at the main entrance
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A fire extinguisher in my office, where I run my Traveling Town Crier heat press equipment
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A fire extinguisher in the outside storage compartment
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A new high-quality carbon monoxide detector that I immediately ordered
These are not optional safety items. They are essentials for anyone living or traveling in an RV.
Why RV Inspections Are So Important
This experience reinforced something I want every RV buyer to understand:
Always have a professional inspection done before and after purchasing a used RV.
Many hidden issues simply cannot be seen during a casual walkthrough. Damage from past accidents, tire blowouts, propane line problems, frame damage, electrical issues, or poorly done repairs often exist underneath or behind panels.
A qualified RV technician can check:
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Propane systems
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Electrical wiring
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Structural integrity
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Water damage
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Roof condition
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Suspension and underbelly damage
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Safety equipment
Even if the RV looks perfect on the surface, hidden problems can exist. Spending money on an inspection is far cheaper than dealing with catastrophic repairs—or worse, a safety emergency—later.
Our Remodel Approach: Pay As You Go
For us, this RV remodel is being done slowly and responsibly. We are taking a pay-as-you-go approach rather than draining our savings.
Why?
Because life happens. Jobs change. Medical emergencies happen. Unexpected expenses appear. If we poured all of our savings into this remodel at once and something went wrong, we could end up in a difficult situation.
So each paycheck, we invest what we can into making our fifth wheel stronger, safer, and more prepared for the boondocking life we dream about.
Growing Through the Process
Surprisingly, when we discovered the damage, I didn’t cry.
Instead, I felt grateful.
Grateful that we found the problem before something terrible happened. Grateful that we had someone knowledgeable helping us look deeper. Grateful that we are learning as we go.
This journey isn’t just about getting the RV ready for travel again. It’s about growing through the experience and doing things the right way.
Safety is our number one priority, and we are not taking shortcuts.
If you are shopping for a used RV, take this advice seriously:
Look under everything. Ask questions. Get inspections. Protect your future travels—and your life.
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