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optimistic
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# Posted: 3 Jul 2012 05:29pm
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I will start looking at campers/trailers in the next couple of weeks. I have no experience with them and I have never owned one. I will try to get a 'large' one - over 30ft...
My plan is to plunk it on my land, fix it up and renovate it to our taste, and then stay in it for the year until we start the cabin construction.
I will hook it up to solar, septic, grey water, and rain collection system. It will have a wood burning stove as well.
I saw several campers from $500-$1500 on Craigslist. When I go up to look at them, what should I look at and what should I check?
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VTweekender
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# Posted: 3 Jul 2012 05:38pm
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Most older ones the roof leaks, or leaked at one time or another, thats one of the main things to look for. If it is leaking, or did leak before then chances are the walls and floor materials rotted, and even might be holding a lot of mold. Look up there very good, if there is what looks like patches of gook everywhere then they were trying to stop a leak.
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rayyy
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jul 2012 05:46pm
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There are thousands of them out there on the market..Older campers will show signs of age with stained ceilings(water leaks) and musty smells.Appliances that don't work.All depends on what you want and how much your willing to spend.Best thing will be to look at a bunch of them.then you'll know which one you like and can afford.Make sure the frig works on propane and the stove,all burners and the oven work.All lights come on.Have the seller show you everything that came on the camper is in good shape and in working order.
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vandersysml
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2012 04:36pm
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We wasted 1300 on one before we built our cabin. It looked good, but the first night we slept in it the slide-out bed collapsed, dumping my wife and I on the ground and destroying the slides. The entire structure is made from 3/8 plywood fins hidden by cheesy paneling, and those fins were rotten. There was no way to inspect this, so no matter what it's a gamble. It infuriates me how cheesy the construction of camper trailers is. They're nice if new, but for the same price as a trashed out used one you could build a MUCH nicer/more durable (although heavier) trailer. Good luck in whatever you get, hope your experience is better than ours.
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sparky1
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2012 01:01pm
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I have 5 old campers a couple im rebuilding the others are Junk storage.
the roof can be resealed with a gallon or Mobile Home roof sealer (silver) DO NOT USE silicone to attempt to stop a leak--IT WON"T stick to aluminum,.
I lived in a 17 ft -er for several years I stripped it out-took side screws out put Tar paper as a Vapor barrier between metal & wood put new & more of screws,put new insulation back-cheap paneling from Lowes,OH yes---new wiring before the paneling.made my own Plastic interior Storm windows,,,BIG difference since the windows were (jelosy) lovered (SP)windows.My floor was fine--but later developed a leak at the door,and softened the wood.took whole door off--Replaced the 1/2? floor at door-new Grey stuff sealer /caulking , PS DO NOT put 120 volt Ground to the Frame if it's also has 12 volt wiring,& battery lighting, -12 volt ground is to the framing. you could get the shock of your life..
have fun i love camping and getting away,Just Be safe.
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 8 Jul 2012 07:55am
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roof is the most inportant---i think they all are going to leak it you leave them in the elements....i keep my camper under a shed---
if i bought a older one--i would put up some 4 x 4 's and make a free standing shed roof over it with metal roofing--when you get finished with your cabin---pull the camper out ( and sell it to the next person) and you have a nice shed to store things under ( lawnmower/golf cart/4 wheeler/firewood--etc) lots of campers in hunting camps have these type sheds built over them.
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 8 Jul 2012 10:49am
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turkeyhunter excellent idea. If you get a lot of snow it can collapse the roof of a rv.That happened to us.
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