Buying a trailer

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I would like any opinions or advice on buying a trailer miles away without seeing it first. It seems that if I find one it is going to be far off, and phone conversations, pictures, ect. is still not the same as actually seeing it. I have mostly decided on casita or scamp with casita being first choice and have been getting to know the different models options ect. Also have been wondering about the 17' and 16'--is the price difference worth the advantages of the 17' ? I am currently looking at a 17' 1996 sd with front air for 7500 does this sound like a good price? Thanks!! :ola

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Hi
I paid 6100CDN for my 1978 Boler.I would not buy sight unseen. Also I would like to know for sure what frame and other parts are like.:wave

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I suppose it depends somewhat on the situation - but most of the time the deal isn't truely final until you go to pick it up and give it an inspection is it? You might have to eat a deposit I suppose - but I'd rather eat a deposit than struggle with a dog.

16 vs 17:
If neither one fits into your garage (17 is taller) - The main thing I'd factor in is the somewhat wider bed in the 17's. The 17's are also taller inside - but I'm not sure how critical that is. I suppose if you plan to do a lot of standing around inside the trailer - it's a bonus. I've gotta duck inside my Boler - but don't consider that a problem. Wouldn't mind a bigger bed though... :)

mkw

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Garage is not a concern as i live in the country and have a shop that i will shed off a garage with roof height to handle either. I am 6' tall and have been in both 16 and 17 and prefered the 17 although it was not a major concern. Now bed size i didn't know about. Tell me how much longer is the bed?:zz

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I'm probably not the best person to comment on this as I called him and he said it was clean and tires were good, I told the guy I wanted it and then drove 1000 miles to get it. he did say he'd saved it for me and could have sold it three times while he waited, but that could have been sales talk. well anyway
check the price using NADA guides.
prices on the fiberglass usually runs a little higher then they say, but it gives you a starting place.

the difference I noticed, when shopping, between the 16 and the 17 was weight. I could not pull a 17 but I could a 16. there are other things like heigth and such, but if a person's vehicle can't pull it, then what's the point of thinking about it.

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Something else.
sometime we have someone close who will go have a look see for you, if that would help.

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Good idea T&J, is anyone close to Midland tx?:wak

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Hi Charlie!

Personally, I like kicking the tires.

Having said that, if you ask:

1. Is there any fiberglass damage or repair?

2. Is there any frame damage?

3. Is the floor sound?

4. Are the axles and tires in good shape?

5. Any major water damage or signs of leaking?


Write down exactly what the seller says.

If you like what the seller says, make an offer, but verbially ... and written with your deposit ... make the statement ... my offer is contingent upon verification of the answers the seller gave me on such and such a date. Keep a copy.

When you go to pick up the trailer, if you find something different, show the seller the copy of the letter you sent with the deposit. Ask for your deposit back and keep looking.

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Charlie, the 17 also has a larger refrigerator option. You'll have to ask if they went for the option.

There are pros and cons on the fridge size, too: the larger one has a half-way decent freezer; the smaller one leaves you with an extra cubby beneath it, for storing canned goods and such.

Either way, the fridge size wouldn't make or break a deal, for me. But it's not available on a 16, if you think having the larger fridge is important.

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The 17' is also designed with a stronger roof because it is the only
model you can get a roof AC unit as a factory option.

Thanks...

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Scamp puts a roof a/c on their 5th wheel. And I seem to remember they now offer it as an upgrade on their 16 footer. Might check with the factory on that, however.

Don't know if they reinforced the roof or not.

Casita won't put install roof air on their 16 footer.

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There are three models of 17' Casitas... we have the Liberty - When both dinettes are made up as a bed, the bed is actually a King (76 inches wide by 80 inches long.)

All three models have the same large dinette in the rear - the Freedom and Spirit have their small dinette on the side and the Liberty has the small dinette right in front of the large dinette. The Liberty is great for us as we took the back dinette cushions out - purchased 2 mattresses - one 45 wide and the other 35 wide - both 76 long. During the day we make up the bed by putting the smaller mattress on top of the large back mattress - this gives us a dinette during the day where we can now seat 4 people to eat.

We love our Liberty - Jim is 6'1 and the inside trailer height is 6'3. Our refrigerator is great.. Jim takes his ice cream with us.....
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3e57a3bb0f62c470-7022_IMG copy.jpg/>

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Scamp is now putting all their air conditioners on the roof, if I'm not mistaken. It doesn't necessarily follow, however, that if you can do it on a Scamp, that the same is true for a Casita. They are kissing cousins, but as time passes, they are getting less similar.

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Orginally posted by Charlie S III
anyone close to Midland tx?:wak

is Texas that big that no one lives close to Midland?
Looks like your going to have to take your chances, Charlie.

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Well T&J Texas is like a whole nother country, I live in the far east side and midland is about 10 hours from me. I have talked to the owner twice but haven't decided whither or not to drive out there yet. :)

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I think if it sounds like what you want, and the price is right for you , you should go for it. I mean it's fiberglass so it's fixable. :)

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Here's a story for you.
A couple weeks ago I called on a 1975 trillium in Niagra Falls. It was sold. The pictures looked so nice I thought, "when am I ever going to be first caller on something like this?" On Thursday the owner called me and said the previous buyer couldn't come up with the money so it was still for sale. Asking price was $3000 US, which was a little odd as he had sold it for $3500 Canadian the first time. I asked for interior photos. He sent them and they looked ok. I said I wanted it, and was on my way. He promised not to sell it before I got there. We got a trip permit from the DMV and a ball hitch for our 4x4. Drove awhile and got a room. Got up at 5 and made it to Niagra by 2pm. Long story short: the interior was hardly "like new" as stated, call it an unpleasant surprise. Still, we were too tired to haggle and not about to leave it, so we gave the asking price. Did we get a steal? Probably not. Do we love our new project? Yes! We had decided the most important things to us were lightweight and windows. These old Trilliums have the best windows. It tows like a dream. We didn't get caught in the forcasted ice storm. We're happy.

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Charlie,
If you are 5'9" or taller go for the 17'. Under 5'9" go for the 16'.:wave

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When Greg and I decided to buy a trailer and had narrowed down to a fibreglass trailer we also decided on what condition level we were looking for. We wanted a true 'handy-man special' because we intended to gut the thing and renovate with our own needs in mind.

We made a list of all the things that could be wrong with the trailer that would not stop us from haggling and buying. The list was long enough that it would be easier to share our "DON'T BUY IT" list....

1. If it's not road worthy to tow home, forget it.

Yup, our standards were pretty low. Anything else was just a price negotiation point.

We found what we were looking for a full day's drive away over the internet (bolerama website). And agreed to 'buy' the trailer sight unseen. We ended up paying $2000 CDN for our egg and got what we paid for..... a handy-man special. :-)

Right now, the egg is in our garage, with all the padding removed, seats removed, wiring removed, plumbing removed.... and soon to have the shell off the frame. We obviously traded elbow-grease for cash.

I think if I was buying something that I didn't intend to gut and redo, I'd have a direct relation between my need to see it first and the price I was paying.... (the higher the price, the more I'd want to see it first). :-)

This, of course, was just my humble $0.02 CDN on this topic.:wave

:-) What ever you end up with, I'm sure you'll love it too.

~ Melanie

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A risky deal.

We live in OKC, bought one motorhome from an individual on Puget Sound, Washington. Sold another one to a buyer living in Wisconsin. Both worked out good!

BUT..... it took lots of emails, photos, a few of phone calls, and an objective (not emotional) 'gut feeling' that the folks on the other end of the line were OK.

Haggled on the price over the phone with the agreement that if it was 'as described' we had a deal. Only commitment from the other person was that the sale was on hold for whatever reasonable travel time it'd take to see it in person. Then the buyer had the option to back out, or, it was a 'cashiers or certified' check, in full, deal. Clear title guaranteed! No ifs ands or buts!

I would NEVER make a downpayment on an RV 'sight unseen'!