Found an RV you want to buy? Have it inspected by an NRVIA Certified RV Inspector before you sign. Tucson RV Solar comes to the RV, whether it’s on a dealer lot or in a private seller’s driveway, and inspects it top to bottom while it’s hooked up and running. We go over what we found before we leave, and your detailed written report with photos arrives within 2 hours.
What Is a Pre-Purchase RV Inspection?
A pre-purchase RV inspection is an independent, top-to-bottom evaluation of an RV’s condition before you buy it. A certified inspector checks the roof and structure, electrical systems, plumbing, propane system, appliances, and safety devices (plus the chassis and engine on a motorhome) and documents every finding in a written report. The report tells you what you’re actually buying, what needs repair, and what to raise with the seller before you commit.
We also inspect RVs for current owners who want a complete, documented picture of their rig’s condition.
One Inspection Level: Our Recommended Inspection
Every RV we inspect gets the same thorough, multi-system Recommended Inspection, performed to the NRVIA Standards of Practice. There’s no stripped-down tier to choose from, so you never have to guess which level you need. You get our full inspection every time.
What Our RV Inspection Covers
Our Recommended Inspection covers every major system on the RV, with real functional tests, not just a look.
Every RV
- Roof: overall condition, sealants and joints, and roof-mounted vents, air conditioners, and antenna
- Sidewalls and end caps: entrance doors, windows, and cargo doors, plus damage, discoloration, and delamination
- Slideouts and awnings: slide roofs, seals, sweeps, and wiring harnesses; awning frames, latches, and fabric
- 12-volt DC system: running lights, chassis and house battery systems (condition, age, and matched sizing), fuse panel, and tank monitor panel
- 120-volt AC system: power cord, breaker panel wiring and grounding, converter charging output, receptacle polarity, and a hot-skin shock test
- Generator and inverter if installed: model, serial number, run hours, oil level, and a start-and-run test
- Plumbing: city water connection, fresh tank and pump pressure, every fixture inside and out, and gray and black waste systems and drain valves
- Life safety: a 5-minute timed propane leak test, GFCI testing, emergency exit windows, fire extinguisher, and smoke, carbon monoxide, and LP detectors, including expiration dates
- Propane system: hoses, regulators, and ASME tank condition, date, and capacity where equipped
- Appliances: refrigerator on every heat source with temperature readings and a manufacturer recall check; water heater; furnace; cooktop and oven; a Delta T cooling-efficiency test on each air conditioner; plus washer/dryer, microwave, dishwasher, central vacuum, and electric fireplace where equipped
- Interior: ceilings, walls, and floors checked for water intrusion; windows, doors, lighting, cabinets, countertops, furniture, entertainment systems, shower enclosure, and ceiling fans and vents
- Leveling system, including signs of hydraulic leaks
- Data plates: VIN, frame number, RVIA seal, GVWR, and date of manufacture
Motorhomes also get
- Chassis, undercarriage, and steering, inspected visually from around the coach
- Engine: make and model, oil level, oil pressure, and any running noises
- Radiator, cooling fans, and coolant system
- Transmission fluid level and condition
- Running gear: axles, frame, springs, rims, and tires (age, tread, load rating, and pressure)
- Tow hitch system
Towable RVs (travel trailers and fifth wheels) also get
- Running gear: axles, frame, springs, rims, and tires (age, tread, load rating, and pressure), plus valve extensions and tire pressure monitors
- Hitch system
Watch Our RV Inspections
See what an inspection actually looks for. These videos are from real inspections on our YouTube channel.
Electrical, Battery, and Solar: Where We Go Deeper
Chris Killeen is an NRVIA Certified RV Inspector, and he’s also an ABYC Certified Marine Electrician and Victron Certified, a background most RV inspectors don’t have. As the lead installer behind 200+ RV solar installs, he knows exactly what good and bad electrical work looks like. That’s why every inspection includes a real capacity test on the battery bank and a full review of any existing solar installation, not just a check that the lights turn on.
Looking at an RV that already has solar? Read Buying a Used RV With Solar Already Installed? Here’s What to Check and 7 Signs of a Bad RV Electrical System.
How an RV Inspection Works
- Request your inspection. Send us the RV’s year, make, model, and length; where it’s located; the seller’s or salesperson’s contact information; and your name and email.
- We email you the next steps: what we’ll inspect, the Points of Inspection sheet, the inspection agreement, and a payment link.
- The seller prepares the RV. It needs to be de-winterized and connected to shore power, city water, and sewer, with the refrigerator running for at least 12 hours before we arrive.
- We inspect the RV top to bottom where it sits.
- You get a verbal report before we leave, so you know the big picture right away.
- Your written report arrives within 2 hours. It’s delivered online or by email and runs 60 to 100+ pages depending on the model, with 30 to 50 photos, manufacturer brochures, and recall information.
Why the RV Must Be Hooked Up
RV systems operate differently depending on how they’re powered and plumbed. Appliances, the converter, and the electrical system can only be properly tested under real operating conditions, and plumbing leaks only show up when the water system is pressurized. That’s why we inspect at a fully hooked-up site (shore power, city water, and sewer) and ask that the refrigerator run for 12 hours first so we can confirm it actually cools. If the RV can’t be hooked up where it sits, contact us before booking.
Who Performs Your Inspection
Your inspection is performed by Chris Killeen, founder of Tucson RV Solar. His credentials:
- NRVIA Certified RV Inspector: see our RV Help provider profile, where NRVIA’s inspector directory now lives. He follows the NRVIA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
- ABYC Certified Marine Electrician
- National RV Technician
- Victron Certified
- Retired U.S. Air Force Weapons Officer with 26 years of Air Force aviation experience
- Author of The RV Flight Manual, which covers pre-purchase inspections step by step
Tucson RV Solar was formerly A to Z Mobile RV Services. Same owners, same inspector, same thorough inspection.
How Much Does an RV Inspection Cost?
Our Recommended RV Inspection starts at $849, plus travel outside the Tucson area. That includes the full multi-system inspection, the battery capacity test and solar review, a verbal report on-site, and the complete written report with photos within 2 hours.
Send us the RV’s year, make, model, and length and where it’s located, and we’ll confirm your exact price before you book.
For how inspection pricing works across the industry, and what separates a thorough inspection from a cheap one, see How Much Does a Pre-Purchase RV Inspection Cost?.
Where We Inspect
We’re a mobile service based in Tucson, inspecting RVs throughout Tucson and Southern Arizona: at dealerships, private sellers’ homes, and RV parks, anywhere the RV can be fully hooked up. Inspections outside the Tucson area include a travel charge.
RV Inspection FAQ
How long does an RV inspection take?
A thorough inspection typically takes several hours on-site, because it involves real functional testing of every system rather than a quick visual pass. A large motorhome takes longer than a small travel trailer.
How soon will I get the inspection report?
You get a verbal report before we leave, and the full written report within 2 hours of the inspection finishing.
Do you inspect both motorhomes and towable RVs?
Yes. We inspect motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth wheels, using a Points of Inspection checklist written for each RV type.
Do you test drive the motorhome?
No. Our insurance doesn’t allow the inspector to drive the motorhome, and for safety, the chassis, undercarriage, and steering are inspected visually from around the outside of the coach rather than from underneath. If a test drive matters to you, arrange one with the seller.
Can you inspect an RV at a dealership?
Yes. Give us the salesperson’s contact information and we’ll coordinate with the dealership. The RV still needs to be de-winterized and hooked up to shore power, city water, and sewer when we arrive.
What if the RV can’t be hooked up?
Contact us before booking. Systems that can’t run can’t be fully tested, so we’ll talk through the options for your situation first.
Can I use the inspection report to negotiate?
Yes. Every finding is documented with photos, so the report gives you specific, verifiable items to ask the seller to repair or reflect in the price before you close.
Do you check the solar and batteries?
Yes, on every inspection. That includes a capacity test on the battery bank and a full review of any existing solar installation, its components, and its wiring.
Do you inspect RVs I already own?
Yes. We inspect RVs both before and after purchase. An inspection on an RV you already own gives you a documented baseline of its condition and a clear list of what needs attention.
Schedule Your RV Inspection
Found the RV you want? Call (520) 910-1237 or send us the RV’s details, and we’ll email you the next steps.
