Trailers Looking at Travel Trailers

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This too shall pass.
I'm looking at cheap older travel trailers for temporary housing while we get all the work done on the house -- figure I can sell the trailer when we are done with it, or keep it and use it as a guest cottage. I know to look for soft spots in the floor, and leaks, and to check the tires. I know I need to make sure I get a title (one guy on FB Marketplace admitted he didn't have title to the trailer he's selling). Probably won't need the furnace, but it wouldn't hurt to have that working; would sure like to have the stove, frig, water pump and water heater all working. I don't think we'll use the toilet, because I don't want to have to haul the trailer out to dump the tank every few days. Although, it seems like I've seen some portable tank that can be used, emptying into it rather than moving the whole trailer? Anything else to consider?

Kathleen
 

Faroe

Un-spun
Check the roof and ceilings also. Water damage is common. Look for staining. We had an experienced friend look at one that we were considering for purchase. He found numerous ugly problems that I wouldn't have noticed. End of that deal, and a good thing, too.

If you haven't found them yet, watch some Bob Wells videos, Cheap RV Living. He travels in his, but helps other people set them up and live comfortably in them for an indefinite amount of time. You might find some useful how-to. The easiest toilet situation for many people is a bucket and plastic bags.

Despite the channel name, he is not much of a fan of typical RV's. Everything breaks. He uses a van, others have toppers on pick-ups, some re-fitted buses, and delivery trucks. I think the best option is a utility trailer which can be set up with solar, basic plumbing, heat, and ventilation for a reasonable amount, and the structure is MUCH more sturdy. There are companies that specialize in this. We are planning the utility trailer route when we move out to our land.
 

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
Check the roof and ceilings also. Water damage is common. Look for staining. We had an experienced friend look at one that we were considering for purchase. He found numerous ugly problems that I wouldn't have noticed. End of that deal, and a good thing, too.

If you haven't found them yet, watch some Bob Wells videos, Cheap RV Living. He travels in his, but helps other people set them up and live comfortably in them for an indefinite amount of time. You might find some useful how-to. The easiest toilet situation for many people is a bucket and plastic bags.

Despite the channel name, he is not much of a fan of typical RV's. Everything breaks. He uses a van, others have toppers on pick-ups, some re-fitted buses, and delivery trucks. I think the best option is a utility trailer which can be set up with solar, basic plumbing, heat, and ventilation for a reasonable amount, and the structure is MUCH more sturdy. There are companies that specialize in this. We are planning the utility trailer route when we move out to our land.

Yes, I'll definitely be looking for any sign of leaks. Those ruin a travel trailer really fast. That and soft spots in the floors are two of the biggest problems.

I'll check out those videos. Last time we lived in an RV (a 26' 5th wheel) we used a sawdust bucket toilet. I was thinking about doing that again, so we don't have to worry about emptying a blackwater tank.

And I agree with him about everything breaking! There is a utility trailer on FB Marketplace for about the same money. I might look at that, too. But we should only need to stay in the trailer for a few weeks, and then sell it, if we don't decide to keep it for when we have company. (I may need to get the money back out of it, though -- I'd really like to replace most of the windows on the house, and that won't be cheap.)

Thanks!

Kathleen
 

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I can't remember the survival blog but there is a guy living in one that used a 50 gallon barrel to create a septic tank off of his. You might look into that.
 

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This too shall pass.
I was planning to try to get them down some on the price. My daughter had suggesting offering $2,900, but I can start at $2,500.

We are on a septic system, but I'm not sure where the cleanout or manhole or whatever is. I can look for it -- plan to put the trailer (whichever one I buy) close to that location anyway.

And definitely will check the ceilings! Seems like every older TT I've seen had a problem there!

Kathleen
 

Smoke

Veteran Member
Let us know how you make out, I'm looking for one about 22foot long max and 5000 lbs max, and not too pricey. So far I have to keep looking, as the ones I looked at had soft spots in the floor and a lot of the exterior plastic is breaking due to sun damage. I saw that one in KY, the lenght or weight may have turned me off of it.
 

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
I was planning to try to get them down some on the price. My daughter had suggesting offering $2,900, but I can start at $2,500.

We are on a septic system, but I'm not sure where the cleanout or manhole or whatever is. I can look for it -- plan to put the trailer (whichever one I buy) close to that location anyway.

And definitely will check the ceilings! Seems like every older TT I've seen had a problem there!

Kathleen

You can use the ceiling to push down the price even if you don't find anything. Just complain they go bad easy or something like that. Your daughter has probably gotten to the end price. $2900 is not a bad price. I have found that you can't go down once your start negotiating. Better to start low.
 

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This too shall pass.
Well, I got it! They came down a little, but not a lot -- had a bunch of people planning to look at it tomorrow. It's a '94, 22', clean -- no musty, moldy, mousy smell. No signs of any leaks or soft floors. Everything works; the trailer has been in regular use right up through this summer. I might have passed and kept looking for one a bit lower in price, but this one has a bathroom arrangement that will allow me to get in there when my daughter needs help -- hard to find a bathroom in a trailer this size that will allow for two adults being in there at the same time! It could use new tires, but the ones that are on it will get it home. My friend who hauls cars and stuff for a living will be home from her current trip on Monday, so hopefully Tuesday she'll have time to haul this home for me.

Tomorrow I will start pulling the paneling off the inside walls of the house.
Kathleen
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
It looks nice, wish I had another one for emergencies. In case of a forest fire, although DH had kinda fixed up his cargo trailer that we could use if really necessary. Good luck with all your goings on.

Judy
 

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This too shall pass.
The trailer is home! Susan parked it next to the bigger of my two barns for now. I'll have to get a longer extension cord to plug it in, but if we put it up next to the house it would be in the way when the propane tank gets delivered (hopefully soon). Tomorrow I'll work on getting it leveled and see how to start everything up. Need to take the propane tanks to town and get them filled (I don't know how much is in them), but that will have to wait, as my truck is in the shop getting a new alternator put in, so we are driving a loaner car.

I'm leaning towards keeping it for a while, so we can use it for a guest cottage (the house is small and only has two bedrooms).

Kathleen
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I
The trailer is home! Susan parked it next to the bigger of my two barns for now. I'll have to get a longer extension cord to plug it in, but if we put it up next to the house it would be in the way when the propane tank gets delivered (hopefully soon). Tomorrow I'll work on getting it leveled and see how to start everything up. Need to take the propane tanks to town and get them filled (I don't know how much is in them), but that will have to wait, as my truck is in the shop getting a new alternator put in, so we are driving a loaner car.

I'm leaning towards keeping it for a while, so we can use it for a guest cottage (the house is small and only has two bedrooms).

Kathleen

Which one did you get? Before you plug it in you might want to get one of those thingies that keeps your trailer from blowing circuit breakers. Is it a 30 amp unit or 50 amp unit?
 

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
I got the one I put the link to above...it's a '94, 22' Dutchmen with bunks at the back, next to the bathroom. I'll have to check on the amps. My brother and his wife live in a motorhome, and he said I can call him for advice (which I already did, while I was at Lowe's to get the extension cord -- spent $150 on a 10/3 generator-grade 100' extension cord) on setting up and everything.

Kathleen
 

WanderLore

Veteran Member
4 pallets, tie in square. throw in some dirt if you got it, dump your potty in there, let it sit, great compost.
sewer should have a pump out cap somewhere. good going momma
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
DH has been itching to get a camper to fix up. He found a couple decent priced ones at a dealer in a big town 70 miles from us. We are going to look tomorrow. Last year he kinda fixed up his box trailer but it would be really uncomfortable and I told him that I wouldn't stay in it. So we'll see.

Judy
 

Faroe

Un-spun
We decided on a utility trailer, new, with some amenities. Not sure, however if there is a supply chain remaining to actually build the order.

We'll see.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
The campers he was looking at on FB that were lower priced are probably a scam, so he has to look elsewhere. If its too good to be true then it most likely a scam.

Judy
 

Firebird

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We are in the process of looking too. Used to RV back in the 90’s and would like to take the grandkids camping some.
 

Faroe

Un-spun
The trailer arrived, but was not built to the specifications on the work order. Grrr....
Not a big deal, we don't need it today, but I expect there will be some wear and tear to take apart what needs to be made right.

Saw an old classic school bus parked at the local HS. They are obviously not using it to transport students. I WANT! Love schoolies.

Good luck in your search, Firebird.
 

Firebird

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We have been faithfully searching for a camper almost daily, and they are selling faster than we can get to them to look them over!
 

Faroe

Un-spun
We have been faithfully searching for a camper almost daily, and they are selling faster than we can get to them to look them over!
The closest dealer of new trailers has been selling his stock as fast as he get it in, and is taking orders (or was, last may, the factory was 12 weeks behind).
 

Firebird

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We finally found a travel trailer, man, what a difficult search! They are selling so fast here in Florida, that you can hardly get to see one before it gets sold. Someone was going to buy it before us, but they only had a half ton truck, so they couldn’t pull it. We pick it up next week
 
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