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Hi -i was thinking to buy and used Travel Trailer.
My idea is to buy from private seller.
Cheaper perhaps.
Any suggestions how to go about,and what to look for-and what to consider?
Also-how about legalities -ownership ?
What would be the insurance for a 17-20 footer?
Cheers
The obvious to look for is water leaks. You'll need to bring a flashlight and a small sharp screwdriver of some sort that will allow you to poke n prod in some of the the hidden nooks n crannies. Take your time and don't let the owner distract you as you do your inspection. Bring a buddy with you and he/she can keep the owner busy as you search. Have a good look at the frame also for serious corrosion.
check the interior lights. Are they LED? Water pump? Does it work? Stove? Does it work? A big item is the fridge. Have the owner start it up prior to you getting there to show it works when you do get there.
Shore power cord? Is there one? Look at the outside corners. Any sign of water damage from leaks?
I could write a book on buying a used trailer as I've bought a few and re-built a few over the years. There's good deals out there, but you have to do a meticulous inspection. Don't be oohed and awed by the cute interior curtains n such. Good luck!
Apply the exact same principles you would use in buying an older used car and you should be good. The older the unit,the more problems you can encounter. Oh,yeah,what Bushmoose said and don't forget to check for liens. Good luck.Quote:
Originally Posted by gbk
Also beware of soft spots in the floor, usually right inside entrance door, also age/ weather checking on tires
I wouldn't completely believe that older may be worse, the quality of any type camping trailers has dropped so much that a trailer a few years old will still be good and have all the repairs already done. I bought new, a 2019 Coleman. Windows not sealed properly, windows not installed level, windows not clamped together with the inner and out frames. All but one pipe union for water, hot and cold were still loose from the factory. After removing faucet aerators, wood chips and sawdust came out of the taps, I'd hate to see what's in the water heater and fresh water tank. 2 of the 120V AC electric outlets didn't work, wires not properly installed. Need I say more. Thor Industries who is the parent company of about half of the different name brand manufacturers didn't give a rats butt. Most are built in the midwest US by unqualified crackheads. I'm sure if you google it, you can find the video to show you how fast they can slam a trailer together from start to finish. Unfortunately I sold my old 1987 Terry, it was still more solid with no leaks or problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
Oh and Don't ever go to Lazy Acres RV to buy anything, the worst after sales dept, they never call you back, warranty, forgetaboutit.
I sure hear you on recent model quality. I used to have a 1998 35' Bonair travel model that was built in Canada (Quebec). It was extremely high quality that I regret selling it to this day. No trailers are Canadian built anymore. The American market is complete junk. Honestly,campers are better off with an outfitters tent and portable gear.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fisherman
Thanx guys with the the feedback,and advices.
WOW-i have now some "MORE"thinking to do............cheers
Plan on doing bearings and brakes on anything except a new trailer, and plan on tires anything older then 5 years. Just keep that in mind when considering costs. Remember you'll have to pay tax on a private sale too.
If the current doesn't have ownership that's a pass in my books.
There’s a lot of good information here. I’d also like to add, have a look at the roof. Check for rips or tears or repairs. Also check for plumbing issues (no one wants a leaky black tank). Make sure all appliances run, including furnace and a/c unit and awning too.
If you’re not a handy person I recommend buying from a reputable dealer that offers any kind of warranty.
Heidi’s and Globetrotter are easy to deal with in my opinion.
I couldn't agree more. They may look cozy, bright and well laid out and offer many options, but most are complete garbage behind that facade. Mass produced and held together with staples.Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
I would also like to buy a trailer and travel sometimes, but I understand that I won't have enough time.
Hi! I have stayed in trailers numerous times when traveling and I can firmly say that they're highly overrated. Even if you're buying one and you think you're making a great investment, trust me, it's not worth it. Trailers are great for when you're young, carefree and if your back doesn't hurt all the time, lol My advice would be to stay in a house or villa if you want to keep that adventurous "no hotels" vibe without basically sleeping in a car. Plus, it would e a much better investment if you also buy one. I recently stayed at a few
and now I'm considering investing in one!
The trailer insurance goes normally under the car insurance, but I suggest you confirm that with your insurance co., don't get any trailer that does not come with the ownership document, after going down that road myself it can be a PIA to get the ownership transferred without it. Make sure your vehicle is rated to tow the gross trailer weight, if not and you get in an accident you could be facing some liability.
I have had a few small camp trailers and enjoyed the comfort they provide for longer trips (week or more), especially with non-campers.
Even if rated i would never tow close to a vehicle's max. It can be done but really represents ideal conditions. Try it on a day with 70 or 80k wind gusts or see what happens when you blow a tire doing 100+ km/hour on the highway and the trailer pushing you from behind is loaded to the max. Myself i try to stay under 75% of rating and separate but related pay attention to the payload of tow vehicle as one can easily exceed the axle ratings on the tow vehicle even when well below the tow rating.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marker
I think the one advantage a trailer has over the “villa” idea is the adventure. You are not tied down to a single location. And if you are like me, and not into neighbours while camping, the vast amounts of crown land in Ontario can offer up some great potential getaways.Quote:
Originally Posted by kongyydy
If you have enough money to buy a tourist van from an official dealer, it is best to take it from him. However, if you don't have that much money for it, then buy from people. The main criteria for buying a car from people are the mileage of the car, whether the car was in an accident and whether the vehicle was repaired. Then decide at your discretion. I prefer to use ready-made tours, since I do not have my own transport. Fortunately, transport is already included in these tours and I don't have to think about it. For example, a week ago I went to "Garbage Deleted" and we were taken to the place of the tour in special cars, more like a cart. It was an interesting and funny experience at the same time. I hope you buy a decent van. Good luck!
Start outside of the unit. Check the roof. Look at the sealant around vents, antennas, and other openings. The sealant shouldn’t be cracked or easily pealed. Keep an eye out for silicone as it’s a giveaway for a home patch (silicone shouldn’t be used on RV’s). Check all seams for water-tightness. Check sealant around windows and doors. Examine the condition of the siding, look for dents, holes, repairs. Look underneath the unit, check axel and tire condition. When were the brakes and bearings serviced? If there a battery and propane line, check condition. Inside: check for smells, look for water stains on ceiling, swelling of wall panels, discolouration, firmness of the floor. Check inside cabinets and cupboards for water damage or signs of rodents. Inspect around sinks, tub, toilet. Check function of oven/stove, hot water tank. Are there alarms, do they work? Look for signs of repairs and alterations.
Good luck.
Check the heater/AC vent system. When we sold our travel trailer in 2015 we did it as a consignment through a dealer. He turned the AC on and there was all kinds of toilet paper, grass and other crappy things flying through the air. We didn't know it but mice had built a huge nest in the ducts. We saw it with our own eyes. He sent me pictures and we drove to the dealer to see it. He also found out that the roof had a leak in it, The manufacturer hadn't sealed it properly and the summer heat made it fail.
We really enjoyed our trips we had and would love to do it again if life permits. All of the suggestions that everyone else has pointed out are valid.
I would also add that you should not buy the cheapest one you can find. Look for reviews of the company and talk to reputable dealers about their brands. Even if you don't buy from a dealer.
One last thing! Make sure that you buy toilet paper meant for use in a RV. Household toilet paper doesn't break down quickly and will plug the system. Don't ask me how I know.
Just for a little though, the centre island in the kitchen, when wing/wings are folded in does it block the fridge from being used. On a raod trip it is nice that the kitchen is usable without having to open up wings if you make stops on trips to eat or you want to use bathroom. Insurance is about $250 per year. Mine sits in a park all year on a drivethru site but we do take it out of the park some weekends. 33 1/2 foot Keystone Montana Mountaineer. CHEERS!
The newer ones have furion appliances which look good but that company is owned by lippert which churns out a lot of junk.. make sure the fridge can run on propane rather than just 12 volt and 120.. that company also makes frames for the big manufacturers and they have real quality problems
Amen on that one.Quote:
Originally Posted by pics
My dad bought a older Jayco trailer from a private seller, mainly issue was as mentioned soft spot on the entrance floor. He ripped it out and rebuilt part of it. Good as new. Invest in a generator too if you domt have one. Always good to have it in case.
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