INFORMATION FOR YOU
Here are some facts about the damage that water causes inside your RV:
RVDA Fact Sheet
RVs and Flood Damage
Compiled by RVDA Staff
Flood-damaged RVs can be structurally unsound and unsafe on the road. While rebuilders may be able to hide most of the cosmetic flood damage, it is very difficult to completely fix a motorhome engine that has been flooded or do an adequate job restoring the structural integrity of a travel trailer or motorhome that has been submerged for an extended period of time.
When assessing trades, it’s important for RV dealership personnel to understand that the RV may look acceptable from the outside, but could be rotting from the inside—putting your customer and your dealership’s reputation at risk.
Flood Damaged RVs & Salvage Titles
In many cases, RVs that have undergone flood damage are considered a total loss by an insurance company and, if refurbished, will carry with them a salvage title. A salvage title is an important indicator that a vehicle has serious damage.
It’s important to ask about the nature of the damage on a salvage titled vehicle, and usually walk away if it's been flooded.
Signs of a Flood-Damaged RV
Smell
In many cases, common sense will allow dealership employees to identify a flood-damaged RV. The most obvious signs of flood damage are the same as with a home: smell, watermarks, and structural integrity. If you pick up a damp, mildew scent, be suspicious of where the RV has been.
That smell is strongest if the RV has been sitting with its windows closed for a while. Equally telling is the opposite smell of cleaning agents and air fresheners trying to mask the mold.
Sight
Water damage is sometimes visible. Even dry, water rings can be visible on couches, chairs, and fabric.
Look for those marks on all the interior fabrics of the used RV, including:
• Rugs
• Upholstery
• Ceiling fabric
Recently updated fabric on late model units can be another warning sign. Conversely, brand new fabrics on an older RV, or non-matching fabrics/upholstery, can be red flags.
Sometimes you will also see mud or silt leftover from the flood. This and other debris get caught in all the nooks and crannies of an RV and are hard to cleanout. Be sure to check under the rugs, seats, and storage areas for any pooling water or muddy residue. Headlights and tail lamps also trap moisture, so don't forget to take a close look at those.
Rust can also be a sign of water damage that is hard to conceal. Rust on the inside of the RV, inside appliances and other components, will be especially telling since that is one place rust shouldn't show up through normal wear and tear.
Electrical and Mechanical Components
An RV with extensive water damage may have problems with its electrical components. Test electrical elements, including its:
• A/C
• Interior lights
• Stereo/TV
• Seats
• Windows
• Slide mechanisms
• Generator and power supply systems
• Automotive electrical system
Floors and Walls
Floors and walls are also good clues when detecting water damage. Walk the entire floor to determine if there are any spongy spots under the carpentry. Water leakage that gets behind the panels and moldings will rot out the floor giving it a spongy feeling. Examine the bathroom, door entrance, and kitchen area. Also, look for discoloration in vinyl floor covering.
Walls that are delaminating or contain soft spots are also telltale signs that vehicle could have been in a flood. There could be swelling in a sidewall from the bottom that stops at a line above the floor line. This would be visible on the outside of the vehicle, as well as from the inside.
RVDA Fact Sheet
RVs and Flood Damage
Compiled by RVDA Staff
Flood-damaged RVs can be structurally unsound and unsafe on the road. While rebuilders may be able to hide most of the cosmetic flood damage, it is very difficult to completely fix a motorhome engine that has been flooded or do an adequate job restoring the structural integrity of a travel trailer or motorhome that has been submerged for an extended period of time.
When assessing trades, it’s important for RV dealership personnel to understand that the RV may look acceptable from the outside, but could be rotting from the inside—putting your customer and your dealership’s reputation at risk.
Flood Damaged RVs & Salvage Titles
In many cases, RVs that have undergone flood damage are considered a total loss by an insurance company and, if refurbished, will carry with them a salvage title. A salvage title is an important indicator that a vehicle has serious damage.
It’s important to ask about the nature of the damage on a salvage titled vehicle, and usually walk away if it's been flooded.
Signs of a Flood-Damaged RV
Smell
In many cases, common sense will allow dealership employees to identify a flood-damaged RV. The most obvious signs of flood damage are the same as with a home: smell, watermarks, and structural integrity. If you pick up a damp, mildew scent, be suspicious of where the RV has been.
That smell is strongest if the RV has been sitting with its windows closed for a while. Equally telling is the opposite smell of cleaning agents and air fresheners trying to mask the mold.
Sight
Water damage is sometimes visible. Even dry, water rings can be visible on couches, chairs, and fabric.
Look for those marks on all the interior fabrics of the used RV, including:
• Rugs
• Upholstery
• Ceiling fabric
Recently updated fabric on late model units can be another warning sign. Conversely, brand new fabrics on an older RV, or non-matching fabrics/upholstery, can be red flags.
Sometimes you will also see mud or silt leftover from the flood. This and other debris get caught in all the nooks and crannies of an RV and are hard to cleanout. Be sure to check under the rugs, seats, and storage areas for any pooling water or muddy residue. Headlights and tail lamps also trap moisture, so don't forget to take a close look at those.
Rust can also be a sign of water damage that is hard to conceal. Rust on the inside of the RV, inside appliances and other components, will be especially telling since that is one place rust shouldn't show up through normal wear and tear.
Electrical and Mechanical Components
An RV with extensive water damage may have problems with its electrical components. Test electrical elements, including its:
• A/C
• Interior lights
• Stereo/TV
• Seats
• Windows
• Slide mechanisms
• Generator and power supply systems
• Automotive electrical system
Floors and Walls
Floors and walls are also good clues when detecting water damage. Walk the entire floor to determine if there are any spongy spots under the carpentry. Water leakage that gets behind the panels and moldings will rot out the floor giving it a spongy feeling. Examine the bathroom, door entrance, and kitchen area. Also, look for discoloration in vinyl floor covering.
Walls that are delaminating or contain soft spots are also telltale signs that vehicle could have been in a flood. There could be swelling in a sidewall from the bottom that stops at a line above the floor line. This would be visible on the outside of the vehicle, as well as from the inside.