Buying my first Trillium - What am I looking for???

[JPO77]

I'm in Ottawa, Canada. I grew up camping but have never bought a trailer before. Any advice on what to look at or for when looking to buy a 73' Trillium. I've been told it's in decent shape but what is a good price?

Thanks in advance,
Jeff

[theresa p]

jeff--now, that's the thing---you'll find so many opinions on the relative value of any trailer. what i would pay might be totally out of sight to what someone else is willing to pay. it'll depend on the condition of the unit---what needs to be fixed/renovated/modernized etc. it'll depend on what time of year you look to purchase it. it'll also depend on how many are available in your area at any given time, plus a million other factors! hmmmm...not much help, was i?
is there a link to a specific trillium that we could all check out?

[WildBirder]

Originally Posted by JPO77

I'm in Ottawa, Canada. I grew up camping but have never bought a trailer before. Any advice on what to look at or for when looking to buy a 73' Trillium. I've been told it's in decent shape but what is a good price?

Thanks in advance,
Jeff

Theres' a buyers check list in the Document centre of this Forum. On most FGRV's frame cracks, shell damage and floor rot are the first three that I look at. Hopefully a few trillium owners will pitch in for make specifics. Also Check out the Buy/sell section history in the forum and Molded Fiberglass Trailers | Fiberglass RV's For Sale to price compare. Location can also dictate price.

Good Luck,
Mark

[Raz]

Hello Jeff and welcome to the forum. Three issues come to mind.

1) early trilliums had frame crack issues that required gusset plates be welded to strengthen the frame. A search of the forum will yield details and pictures.

2) look for damage due to leaks. It turns out the rivets holding the belly band can leak causing the washers on the inside to rust, expand, and create leaks into the trailer. Again a search of the forum will yield information on this.

3) the door lock will be a bargeman L300 or L400, neither of which is still made. Check how well it works. You can buy nos and used on eBay but they are expensive.

All of these issues are repairable but are good to know about when shopping. Bear in mind that any trailer that old will probably need some work. Good luck, Raz

[David Tilston]

Bias Alert!

The Trillium is a wonderful trailer. I will discuss the original appliances.
- If it has a furnace, then it will likely be a Duo-Therm gravity furnace. No fan. This makes it less efficient, and large, but much less noisy. You can't get one now. I would score a working furnace at $500.
- A fridge is also expensive. A working 3-way, $1000
- Stove - $200
- The converter is useful for lights and a fan when plugged in. But hopelessly obsolete, (don't try to charge your battery with it) $100 if it works.

User added upgrades are a different story. Some you may run into.
- A good vent fan, (Fan-tastic, MaxxFan, ComfortAir,...) - $500
- Fluorescent Light - $80
- LED lights - $80
- Good Awning - $800

These are just the guidelines I have in my head, not very scientific.

[Donna D.]

"Decent price" is what it's worth to you to have it in your driveway True story! You can always wait for a "better deal" but every month that goes by, you've lost opportunities to make memories. AND, the one thing you can NEVER get back is time.

I hope it works out wonderfully for you