Im looking at this Trailmanor....any advice?

[BigDaddyRog]

I spoke with this guy on the phone earlier......he said he's owned this for 3 years, lived in it for the last 2 years (after marital separation, she had a stroke last month and he's going back to take care of the kids).

He replaced the floors when he first bought it (is that a sign that I dont want this? Or is that a good thing being that the floor is new?), and painted the interior. He said the ceiling lights havent worked since he bought it, but he has always just used a lamp on a countertop.

Im thinking that if the floor needed to be replaced,and the cieling lights arent working....its because a leak destroyed the lights and then got to the floor. Now, I could easily just attatch a flourescent shop light to the cieling....but how concerned should I be....arent these trailmanors made of mostly aluminum, fiberglass and styrofoam? Other than the floor....is there anything that can be damaged by water? There is no wood framing on these, is there?

Here's the CraigsList Listing.

You know how much I value you guys' advice. Should I consider this...or turn and run like a bat out of hell?

 

[musicmama]

As the owner of a previously-owned camper, albeit mine is a MH, his later description sounds kinda scary to me. But maybe it looks better in person - and if it's not too far away, it would be worth checking that out.

I know that some of you on the camping board are very repair accomplished, whereas some are like DH and me (not). We bought what was described as being in mint condition, what my experienced brothers-in-law said was in very good shape, and it's still needed repairs. Repairs that I have to get others to do, on their schedule, or pay more to a shop.

If it looks better in person, maybe you could offer an amount that would take potential repairs into account?

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Thanks musicmama...after a second cnversation with him...it turns out that he doesnt have a title for it....so I couldnt legally tow it anywhere. So much for that....its always something.

 

[big kahuna1]

I think you should have stayed away anyway with the water damage. It probably had a moldy, musty smell and who knows what other hidden damage that was not repaired.

 

[Just Beachy]

Rog, if I ever win the big lottery, I'm gonna buy you and Gina a brand new rv of your choice. I feel so bad for you that every Craigs List post you look at doesn't work out! I've got my fingers crossed, buddy!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

The floor damage was a big sign to stay away from it, who knows what else was damaged and just covered up instead of being repaired. The lights could be something very simple of very complex, that one would require some time to pick apart. The other issue is that he full times in it, most RV's are made for occasional use, the wear will be much greater on a unit that was lived in, figure if you had it for 10 yrs and used it once a month you would have probably 40 days a year in it, living in it full time for 2 yrs would be almost double the nights in that short time.

No title is a deal breaker also, he probably bought it as a salvage and repaired it, many times salvage items wont have titles anymore.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

As for me,, heck, don't know, you may not have any problem out of the TManor,,but I too eould be pretty skitty bout water damage.

 

[SCCamper]

I owned a Trailmanor before buying my current TT.The unit he is selling looks like a 2619 model. (26' open, 19' closed) Did this guy say he replaced the floor covering or the entire floor. The floors are 3" thick foam. I'm not sure about that model year whether they used wood in the support structure. There is a Trailmanor owners forum where you can ask anything you would ever want to know about them. www.trailmanorowners.com.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Rog, if I ever win the big lottery, I'm gonna buy you and Gina a brand new rv of your choice. I feel so bad for you that every Craigs List post you look at doesn't work out! I've got my fingers crossed, buddy!

Thanks Kell!!!!! If "I" win...you guys have a BigDaddyRog custom designed class A coming your way as well!!! Yes, it will be loud and tacky....but cool as hell!!



Thanks for all the info guys....Im past this one now....still searching through a pile of scam filled ads and over-priced pieces of crap to find my diamond in the rough!!!

 

[disney4dan]

Good luck Rog, the trailer for you guys is sitting out there right now, just like a big 'ole bass lurking in the shadows waiting for you to find it. Keep fishing.

We spent months before we found the one we have now, and it's sitting in the driveway right now waiting for me to load it up for this weekend. The kids are almost as excited as they are at Christmas, getting ready for the first trip of this season.

I'll check out the listings in this area, and if I find something good we'll deliver it to the Fort! I just need to win the lottery first.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Thanks Kell!!!!! If "I" win...you guys have a BigDaddyRog custom designed class A coming your way as well!!! Yes, it will be loud and tacky....but cool as hell!!



Thanks for all the info guys....Im past this one now....still searching through a pile of scam filled ads and over-priced pieces of crap to find my diamond in the rough!!!

Good Karma coming your way

 

[poohbearwithme]

I have always heard that you should stay away from campers that have been lived in for a long period of time.

 

[BRDof3]

Thanks Kell!!!!! If "I" win...you guys have a BigDaddyRog custom designed class A coming your way as well!!! Yes, it will be loud and tacky....but cool as hell!!

I'd pay $100 just to be able to buy that RV, just so I could see what it looked like after Rog pimped it out.

 

[musicmama]

Sorry about the title (or lack of). I agree with whoever said it sounds he bought it for salvage. You are definitely better off elsewhere. Have you tried ebay motors as another source? A lot of times people start an auction with a "local sale" clause - that's actually where our camper came from.

Good luck with the next one!!!

 

[Flametamr]

Rog I agree with everyone else. Run or walk away quickly. The water damage could be minor or major but regardless $2800 for a 1996 camper in shody condition is nuts. Heck give me 1000 over pay off (Total of about 7000) and you can have my 2008 Jayco 1207 thats still under warranty for a year. I'll even throw in the extra canvas end I scarfed out of the dealer. There are much better deals to be had especially in these tough times. I see deeply discounted campers all around here.

 

[Flametamr]

Oh and it is garage kept and only been camping 3 times so it looks brand new. And I'm not actually selling it but would trade up to help a friend. I want a light weight trailer.

A pic just for reference.

 

[mrsscooter]

Ok, so I know this might sound hokie, but have you looked on EBay? Beleive it or not, we got our 26' Yukon TT on there. We just kept looking local or within the tri state area. We were lucky and found a screaming deal in Massachussetts, and got everything that we wanted. GRANTED it is an '88, BUT.....it really was is great condition, and for our *first* tt, we figured we could learn on this one, and then in a few years upgrade to a new or new to us one, that way, if we screw up something, well, its better than screwing up something on $2,200 rather than $25,000. At any rate, if you dont mind an older unit, check out Ebay. You can email the seller and go and look at it if its close enough before you bid, or you can talk him/her out of finishing the auction and you can buy it on the spot. Ok, sorry for carrying on, I am finished now.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Run Forrest Run.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

...And I'm not actually selling it but would trade up to help a friend. I want a light weight trailer.

A pic just for reference.

Flametamr...its beautiful....but its soo far out of my $ range!!

Ok, so I know this might sound hokie, but have you looked on EBay? ...

At least twice a day!! Im spending so much time looking at listings I hardly ever have time to DIS anymore!!! I WILL find a good camper in my price range eventually...."patience Grasshopper"

 

[mrsscooter]

It will happen.........when you least expect it! Too bad you didnt live up here, they are selling them like crazy!!! Unless your willing do drive up here....I will keep my eye out.