No help, but I think its a great post.  You should find some good help.

LB

Have you already signed a contract to buy this rig?  I think that
would come before the special entry handles would be installed.  If
so, you are already holding the short straw, not the dealer.

Tom J

Hi,
You should make sure you get along well with your dealer. Don't go in
there with an aggressive attitude.  They are the first line of defense
between you and the manufacturer if you start having problems.
Sometimes that's hard to do with some dealers but the more you can get
along with each other the easier everything is going to be down the
road.

If this is a new RV, most if not all of the things you have listed
should be done when you go and pick the RV up.  You should get a walk
through of the vehicle showing you how everything works.  Take a video
camera with you and film the walk through.  It's will be a good
reference later if you have any doubts about how something works.
Don't be afraid to ask ANY questions.  It's better to ask what even
you may think is a dumb question then to be stuck with a problem later
on because you were afraid to ask.  Take your time with the walk
through, if the person conducting it says you know how that works,
right?  Say no and have them explain it while you tape it.  It may be
that you thought you knew how something works but this might be
different.

Again if this is a new vehicle, the propane system should have been
checked at the factory for leaks.  The dealer might also have
performed a leak check when they received it or on their check list
before selling it.  Doesn't hurt to ask.   You may or may not get full
propane tanks, depends upon the dealer.  Most put at least some
propane in so the appliances that use it can be checked.

They should run all systems for you.  First to show you how to do it
and second to make sure they work.  They should have been checked out
before you got there but you never know.  If they don't ask them to.
That includes the AC, the refrigerator, stove, microwave, TV's, VCR's,
radios, water pump, water heater, slide outs, etc.  The water tanks
should be full when you get there.  If not have them fill them.  Look
inside the compartments where the water tanks are located several
times to make sure they don't leak.  Draining the fresh water tank
usually isn't a problem but you can ask them to show you where all the
low point drains are.  If the black and gray tanks are empty they can
walk you through how to dump them, or if they have a dump station they
can show you even if the tanks are not empty.

Most dual wheels have extenders anymore for filling the inside tire.
But if this one doesn't it won't hurt to ask to have them installed.
You might want to give them a call about this ahead of time so they
can get them installed for when you pick the vehicle up.  The tires
will probably be aired up to whatever the pressures are shown on the
tire and weight sticker.  You should ask where that sticker is
located.  There should also be a weight sticker somewhere in one of
the cabinets, a lot of times they are in the cabinets in the bathroom,
but could be anywhere.  That will tell you exactly what the weights
are.

You can ask about the battery charging and the converter and how it
works and if there are any battery monitors.  Usually they have a
monitor installed, though they are not normally very precise.

All of the above should be done BEFORE you sign any paper work taking
ownership.  You never know you could find something major wrong, with
the engine or coach.

You should try and stay at the dealership a day or two, or at least
at a campground nearby and actually camp and use the RV.  That way if
there are any problems that you find you can take it right back and
have them fixed.  Tell them you are going to do this and would like to
have any problems you find fixed right away, so they can have someone
assigned to take care of you if you do find problems.  This is also a
good time to sit down and read all the operators manuals for the RV
and all the accessories.  You can fill out the warranty cards too.
Some dealerships may ask you to take the vehicle and use it and make a
list and then come back.  Which is ok too as long as you don't have to
wait months to get an appointment.

Congrats on your new RV.  May you have many years of enjoyment and
pleasure with it.

Take care and Happy Campin...
RichA
"We Get Too Soon Olde and Too Late Smart"

About the batteries being tested full charge.  Batteries can
deteriorate while a new unit sits on the lot.  Better than a
full charge is to make sure the batteries are new, hopefully
made in the current quarter.  All batteries have a date code on
them, so you can check. Insist on new batteries, THEN make sure
they are fully charged.

John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee

JA> I should add that I am a disabled vet and have already ordered special
JA> entry handles installed. Any thing else I should get regarding HC
JA> help? Only problem I really have health wise is left leg has lots of
JA> healed holes and several screws still in, but it works fine if I use
JA> those special hand assists to climb stairs. Since I can climb regular
JA> steps ok, I not worried. I currently am able to get in and out of my
JA> daughter's
JA> 34' TT by backing out to get that last LONG step. Tricky bitch that
JA> last step.

Carry an extra step with you. Build it or buy it.

JPinOH
Jon Porter <jporterDropthis@netwalk.com> Sat, 21 May 2005 19:11:37 -0400

I can help you with a low cost back up video.
Go to Walmart and purchase the $47.89 or so 1 camera and monitor system
expandable to 2 camers with a timed delay switch. (It is B&W).
hard wired and 12V compatable. I mounted the monitor on the "step" to the
top bunk/overhead cab bed.
I have it position so that my rear view mirror can "see" it. It reverse the
view so that right is left and left is right.
I used a 2 part epoxy putty to seal the hole in the rear strorage
compartment. Mounted to the rear bumper (note my sewage hose doesn't store
here). slightly to the right (driver side).
Is this system perfect, NO but at 1/15-1/20 of the price well it works for
me and $50 is dirt cheap for some extra safety. It saved my butt once where
I had to back up out of a bank parking lot that was being repaired on to a
semi-major thourough fair.

Ed
aka
tat-2

We bought a Class C, 31', Chateau three years ago.  We love it!

The electric step works fine.  It's quite low, not like a lot of TTers
I have seen.

As far as seeing the back, you can look in the rear view mirror and
see behind you.  We have that flat plastic thing that sticks to the
back window. I can see fine.

Bill & Cathy