Excited... but a little anxious :-)

[Marie Lee]

Hello! I'm Marie from Portland, Oregon, and I'm planning to check out a 1984 Burro 13' trailer for sale ($4400 OBO) a few hours from here. I've printed out the buyers checklist, as well as Ian's excellent article on buying a Boler (for general reference). I've wandered through the various threads on Burro issues, and I've come up with the following things to look for:

*check floor for rot (spongy? musty smell?)
*look where body meets frame (bad if body has settled on frame)
*check where center seam meets floor and windows for cracks
*check frame (especially where it forms a triangle)

Is there anything else that I should be looking at? Could you suggest questions that I can ask the seller before I go to see the trailer? I'm not very handy, and looking at some of the pics on floor replacement is making me a bit anxious.

Thank you in advance for any advice/help! This is a wonderful group of people -- in every thread I've read, folks are extremely helpful and supportive :-)

Marie

[tractors1]

Have him/her demonstrate that any appliances work (water pump, furnace, etc) and if it has a fridge have them plug it in to cool down before you arrive.

[marlaannyoung]

Hi Marie Lee;

I know that anxious feeling. We just bought a 1977 Boler 17' a couple of months ago and making that decision was a bit nerve wracking however all of the great info on this site helped a lot.

Before we bought we made our peace with knowing that we were buying a vintage surprise package and we would more than likely have to spend some money on it. So far the surprises have been minor and we are enjoying the quirks of vintage trailering.

Have fun!
Marla

PS - We're just over the river from you in Vancouver, WA

[Steve L.]

On this site's home page is a Buyer's Check List (along the left side). It's pretty good. I suggest you print it out.

[Bob Miller]

Gotta say, if you are "Not Very Handy" I think that you are about to fall into a pit buying a 30 y.o. FGRV that's already known to need floor repair.


Having already needed repairs done commercially on these trailers can get very, very expensive very fast. I always suggest buying the very best unit you can afford vs. one needing repair, it almost always come out a lot cheaper.

[Roger C H]

I recall an article a long time ago where a new Chevrolet cost about $10K but if you bought all the parts and assembled it yourself it was close to $100K, or some such figure.

[Bob Miller]

That figure sounds about right, especially if you had to pay a mechanic to assemble it for you.... LOL


When a thermostat for a Dometic refrigerator can cost 1/3 of the price of a new refrigerator, it' even easier to burn up the excess money in your pocket.

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

That figure sounds about right, especially if you had to pay a mechanic to assemble it for you.... LOL
When a thermostat for a Dometic refrigerator can cost 1/3 of the price of a new refrigerator, it' even easier to burn up the excess money in your pocket.

Shouldn't that be "burn up what you THOUGHT was excess money" in your pocket?

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by Borrego Dave

Shouldn't that be "burn up what you THOUGHT was excess money" in your pocket?

No, that's in my right pocket, everything in my left pocket is excess.... LOL

[Radar1]

Originally Posted by Roger C H

I recall an article a long time ago where a new Chevrolet cost about $10K but if you bought all the parts and assembled it yourself it was close to $100K, or some such figure.

I seem to recall that Johnny Cash built a Cadillac one piece at a time and it didn't cost him a dime!

[Pam Garlow]

Marie, It sure sounds like you are doing your homework! Even if you decide not to purchase, it will be a learning experience to go through the trailer and experience what floor rot feels like (LOL) ... or maybe it will be in pretty good shape! You just won't know until you look at it.
Best thing to remember is that there are other trailers out there, so be ready to walk away if needed. You CAN find another trailer, given enough time. So, enjoy the drive out there, and be a tough cookie when inspecting, and when negotiating the price.
Good Luck!

[Cat futrell]

Good advice Pam.

Also, Marie, listen to your gut not your heart. Best wishes on your new adventure.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Cat futrell

Good advice Pam.

Also, Marie, listen to your gut not your heart. Best wishes on your new adventure.

Even better, bring along a mechanically-inclined friend who is not emotionally invested in purchasing a trailer.

[Marie Lee]

Thank you everyone for the encouragement and advice! I'll go and check it out -- if nothing else, it will be a learning experience...