Advice when buying a used trailer

[undercoverbrother]

I am in the market for a used trailer.

I have been doing some research, but would love any advice. Common trouble areas on used trailers, manufacturers to avoid, etc.

[Locke]

The UV test....

[ken0042]

Pressure test the water system. This time of year the person might say they have already winterized. Too bad- he can buy another $10 jug of antifreeze.

Use the water pump. Make sure there is water in all lines, hot and cold, and run the heater up to temperature. Run a few litres from each line, shutting off the taps somewhat abruptly. Check for leaks, and the pump running more than it should. It will run for a few seconds after everything is off, and maybe once quickly a minute later. After 5 minutes it should not kick back on again.

The system should also remain pressurized for at least an hour afterwards. For example, I shut off the pump at night, and I can get 2-3 toilet flushes throughout the night.

Also make sure you have plenty of water storage- grey, fresh, and black. (In that order.)

I'll think of more stuff and post later.

[speede5]

Depending how old it is I would try and stick with a manufacturer that is still active. I have a Bonair trailer that I can't get parts for. You end up adapting a lot of things.

[V]

Half the fun of owning an old trailer is adapting things.

[indes]

Look for any sign of water damage. Once it gets in its a bitch

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by indes

Look for any sign of water damage. Once it gets in its a bitch

Discolouration? any other signs or areas that are prone to water entry?

[indes]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Discolouration? any other signs or areas that are prone to water entry?

Look for discolouration, replaced floors and look at the bottoms of any cupboard doors and any wood around the slides. If anything is swollen or cracking it's done. Another good way to see if it has been maintained is to look at the silicone around the trailer, if there is a lot of open spots then it has not been maintained.

Any bit of a soft floor and walk away.

[Neeper]

I highly, highly recommend Travler's RV Inspections http://www.travlersrv.ca/

I had Barry inspect a few RV's before I decided to buy the right one. I am so glad I found him because I for sure would have been stuck with a worthless lemon. The $250 spent was the best peace of mind I could have asked for.

[Derek Sutton]

How used are you looking? Two years old or 20 years old? A really used trailer will show some major wear and tear signs

Test water lines, pump, taps. Test gas lines, check vents and sky lights for holes and cracks. Condition of the tires,and awning, look for bent steps(make sure they go I and out).

Look for signs of
-mice
-leaky roof, water damage else-ware
-hail damage
-rotting floor/ soft spots in the floor

Is it a private sale? Lien search. Make sure it isn't stolen, so many have been lately, ask to see a copy of the registration.

[Titan]

Does the electrical work? Does it work when not plugged in? If he doesn't have a battery hooked up I would be suspicious.

Check all appliances/lights to make sure the electricity works on battery. Make sure the fridge works. Expensive to replace.

[Northendzone]

Test the toilet by Eat nothing but tacos and chili for a week - grab a magazine and head into the water closet and test the system

[rbochan]

If the mice can't operate the awning yet, you should be ok.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by rbochan

If the mice can't operate the awning yet, you should be ok.

Actually a good idea to open the awning and check that it works and is free of rips and stuff. I am not sure I have ever seen one without marks on it?

On a related note, anyone have some good tips for cleaning an awning?

[pylon]

Remember that every single trailer, ever, is a massive lump of crap, built out of B-rate components. Even the best trailer made, is about 5 times as bad as the worst car made. These things are handmade, somewhere in Indiana, by an Amish guy, with a bucket of glue, and a staple gun in an old cereal factory that has to go plow his field for 8 hours after he's done his trailer shift. And they pay piece work, so the emphasis is how fast they are built, not how well. There is no such thing as a 'good' trailer, just ones that aren't that bad.

After working in the industry briefly, seeing the quality control was an absolute eye opener. You could have 2 trailers, same model, off the same assembly line, with consecutive serial numbers and they weren't even close. Like the decals were inches out of alignment, the cupboards were totally crooked one way in one, and the complete opposite way in the other. One would have a good mattress, one would have a piece of crap. It like they just grab whatever is laying around.

Bottom line is this. Make sure whatever you buy, still has a warranty in tact, and make sure it is transferable. RV warranties aren't great, but they are better than nothing.

[undercoverbrother]

We are looking at model year 2000 +/-.


I figure an old trailer is the best way to get my wife into camping.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

We are looking at model year 2000 +/-.


I figure an old trailer is the best way to get my wife into camping.

Hard sided or tent trailer?

[pylon]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

We are looking at model year 2000 +/-.


I figure an old trailer is the best way to get my wife into camping.

Get a hard wall aluminum frame if you can. Stick and tin trailers (as the industry calls them) are disposable.

If size isn't a huge issue, and style not the be all end all. And older Bigfoot trailer is actually awesome. The are pretty much watertight for life as they are built like a big hot tub, and all but immune to hail damage.

I've been on the hunt for one for a while.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by habernac

Hard sided or tent trailer?

hard sided

Originally Posted by pylon

Get a hard wall aluminum frame if you can. Stick and tin trailers (as the industry calls them) are disposable.

If size isn't a huge issue, and style not the be all end all. And older Bigfoot trailer is actually awesome. The are pretty much watertight for life as they are built like a big hot tub, and all but immune to hail damage.

I've been on the hunt for one for a while.

Cool, I am looking for something around 6000lbs when loaded.

But want bunks (11 yr old boy and 13 yr old girl) and preferable at bed.

[woob]

Originally Posted by Neeper

I highly, highly recommend Travler's RV Inspections http://www.travlersrv.ca/

I had Barry inspect a few RV's before I decided to buy the right one. I am so glad I found him because I for sure would have been stuck with a worthless lemon. The $250 spent was the best peace of mind I could have asked for.

I, too, am looking for a trailer this fall and am in the same year ballpark as undercoverbro. Thanks for the inspections information! Would he still be money well spent if I'm looking to spend around $7,000? I'm kind of expecting a trailer of that vintage and price range to have some issues. However, now that I think about it, the inspector will probably ensure that at least the core systems are good and if not, he'll tell me what I'd be looking at for expenditures.