Most RV dealers charge setup or delivery preparation fees ranging from several hundred to over a thousand dollars, but these services focus heavily on cosmetic walkthroughs rather than safety-critical systems. The typical dealer prep prioritizes items that are visible during your walkthrough — slide-out operation, appliance demonstrations, and interior features — while potentially overlooking less obvious mechanical and safety systems.
The most commonly missed items during dealer prep involve propane system integrity, electrical connections, and structural hardware. Propane fittings may not be properly torqued, slide-out adjustment bolts might be loose from transport, and 12V connections could have corrosion or poor contact that won’t show up until you’re actually camping. These aren’t necessarily deliberate shortcuts, but rather the result of prep checklists designed more for customer satisfaction than comprehensive safety.
Smart buyers schedule their own independent inspection within the first few weeks of ownership. Have a qualified RV technician check propane connections with soapy water, verify all electrical systems under load, and inspect slide-out mechanisms and leveling systems for proper adjustment. This typically costs a few hundred dollars but often catches issues that would be expensive emergency repairs later.
The goal isn’t to distrust your dealer, but to recognize that their prep process serves a different purpose than a thorough safety inspection. Many experienced owners view dealer prep as handling the paperwork and basic functionality, while treating the independent inspection as their real safety verification before heading out on longer trips.