Exterior Body Leaks

• Exterior body leaks are common in older motor homes and are costly and difficult to repair, according to the RV For Sale Guide website. Leaks can occur because of the flexing of the motorhome as well as a condition called "ponding." This occurs when water sits on the rooftop of a motorhome and increases the chance for leaks, algae growth, slime and run off from dirty water while you are driving. On older motorhomes, ponding is caused by the weight of air conditioners and vents, transporting heavy items on top of the roof or walking on the roof to check seams and make repairs.
  
  

Delamination

• Delamination is a separation problem that is especially common in older motorhomes, according to the Back Road Travelers website. Delamination appears as lumps and bubbles on the sides of the vehicle body and is an indication of water leaks from the outside. Wood under the fiberglass skin provides rigidity and stability to the exterior, but when the wood remains wet for long periods of time, it rots and breaks down, adding enough weight to cause the whole skeleton of the motorhome to sag. Floors that have soft spots may also indicate delamination which is usually the result of a poorly designed roof and seams.
  
  

Useful Life

• The air conditioning and the engine may be at the end of their useful life. Air conditioning that is more than six years old, and has been subjected to sun continually, may have deteriorated plastic covers. Housings with cracks appearing around the mounting bolts will break and fly off the roof while you are driving. Additionally, the typical gasoline-powered engine on a mobile home is close to the end of its useful life when the odometer registers more than 80,000 miles.
  
  

Other Problems

• Interior leaks caused by water entering the motorhome create costly damage. Walls and ceilings that yield to hand pressure are an indication of water having entered the shell. Home-made modifications are another problem in older vehicles. Previous owners may have allowed water to enter while doing work, or added poorly fitted accessories, and in doing so invalidated the warranty. Additionally, when buying an older motorhome, there may be a problem with finding spare parts.
  
  

Test Drive Problems

• Once you have decided you want a particular older motorhome, ask to start the engine yourself. An engine already pre-warmed may hide starting problems. A lot of play in the steering wheel may be an indication of a worn steering gear that is a fairly serious problem, according to the Practical Motorhome website.