50 Questions to Ask During Your RV Walkthrough

This post may contain affiliate links. See our affiliate disclaimer here.

Getting ready to purchase your first RV or upgrade to a new RV? Congratulations! Picking up a new RV is an exciting day, but it is important not to rush the process. The RV walkthrough that most dealerships provide is an opportunity to learn all the key facts about your new RV.

Here are 50 questions to ask during your RV walkthrough to ensure you are an expert on your new RV.

Pre-Walkthrough Preparation

Read the Owner’s Manual

I highly recommend reading your RV’s owner’s manual before your walkthrough. You will likely find the answer to many of the questions below in the manual. Then, you can quickly verify the answers or skip those questions in the walkthrough.

The answers that aren’t clear to you after reading the manual are the ones you know you have to have answered before you take possession of your new RV.

Film the Walkthrough

Before the walkthrough starts, ask the employee performing the walkthrough if you can film it. Filming the walkthrough means you don’t have to take notes or worry about forgetting any important details.

Ideally, you will have two people present during the walkthrough. One person can ask the questions, while the other person films.

Print the Walkthrough Questions

Print a copy of the RV walkthrough questions to ensure you don’t forget any. Click here to access a printer-friendly file with the questions.

Test All RV Functions

Just because an RV is new doesn’t mean everything works. That’s why it is important to test as much as possible before leaving the dealership with your new or new-to-you RV.

Most RV dealerships make it a standard practice to complete a pre-delivery inspection (PDI) where all major RV components are tested. We recommend requesting to be present for the PDI, or if you can’t be present, request that it be filmed.

Watching the PDI not only ensures that everything is fully tested, it also teaches you how to use the basic features of your RV. Everything from the awning to the water system should be tested during this process.

Know Who is Leading the Walkthrough

The person leading your walkthrough should be knowledgeable about RVs and your specific model. During negotiations, ask about the dealership’s process for PDIs and walkthroughs.

Make sure both will be conducted by an RV technician. For the PDI, also confirm that you will be allowed to observe, and any issues found will be fixed. Then make sure this is all in writing. Some dealers already have a thorough process in place, others try to get your out the door as quickly as possible.

50+ RV Walkthrough Questions

Basic RV Walkthrough Questions

Below are some basic RV walkthrough questions every new RV owner should ask. Some may seem so basic as to be silly, but they will help you prevent silly mistakes and ensure the RV’s basic functions are operating properly.

1. How do you open the door?
2. How do you lock the door?
3. How do you open the windows?
4. What keys come with the RV? What is each key for?
5. How do I turn on the interior lights?
6. Are there exterior lights? How do they turn on?
7. How do the entrance steps work? Are they automatic?
8. How do I extend and retract the awning?
9. Does the RV have a built-in stereo? Can I connect via Bluetooth?
10. Where are the propane tanks located?
11. Where are emergency exits located?
12. What is the weight, length and height of the RV?
13. What type of roof does the RV have?
    

RV Holding Tank Questions

1. How large are the gray water, black water, and freshwater holding tanks?
2. Where do I fill the freshwater tank?
3. How do I drain the freshwater tank?
4. How do I sanitize the freshwater tank?
5. Where is the city water connection?
6. How do I turn on the water pump?
7. Is there a winterize setting or a winterization hose?
8. Is there a black tank flush? Where is it located?
9. How do I open the gray and black water tanks?
10. Are there tank heaters? How do I turn them on?
11. Is there an onboard water filter?

RV Electrical Questions

1. Is the RV 30 or 50 amp?
2. What is the proper way to plug in the power cord? Does it have a twist lock?
3. What kind of battery is the house battery?
4. Where is the breaker box?
5. Are the breakers labeled?
6. If the RV has solar panels, is there a controller? How do I switch to solar power?
7. If the RV has an inverter, how do I turn it on and off? What can I run on the inverter?
8. If the RV has a generator, how do I turn the generator on and off?

RV Mechanical Questions

1. What is the proper way to put down and raise jacks?
2. What is the proper way to put down and raise stabilizers?
3. Does the RV have auto-leveling? How does it operate?
4. How do I open and close the slide outs?
5. What type of slide-outs does the RV have? What maintenance is required?

RV Appliance Questions

1. What type of water heater does the RV have?
2. How do I turn the water heater on using electric power? And gas power?
3. Where is the water heater bypass located?
4. How do I operate the RV thermostat? To turn on the air conditioner? To turn on the heat?
5. Are there other thermostat settings I should be aware of?
6. How do I light the stove?
7. How do I turn on the oven?
8. What type of refrigerator does the RV have? How do I turn the refrigerator on and off? Are there different power settings (i.e. gas and electric)?

Interior RV Questions

1. Does the dinette convert into a bed? Can you show me how?
2. Are there any hidden storage compartments?
3. Look at the control panel area, are there any additional buttons or functions that you haven’t covered?

Hitching and Towing Questions

1. How do I hitch and unhitch from my tow vehicle?
2. What is the speed rating of the tires?
3. Is there a spare tire? Where is the spare tire, and how is it accessed?

---

Combined with a thorough reading of your owner’s manual, these questions should help you learn the functions of your new RV and be prepared for your first trip.

Download our free ebook The Beginner’s Guide to RVing for more ways to prepare for your first camping season.

Happy Camping!