Quick advice on long-distance buying

[Amy M]

I am seriously considering driving 10 hours to possibly buy a Boler that looks like a great deal for a nicely restored trailer. I am excited at the prospect of getting a great trailer but am nervous about the process of driving all that way to respond to a Craigslist ad, particularly as I will be going alone. Any general advice for me about the process?

[Dave Fish]

Can you find anyone to go with you?

Where is it at? Maybe there is a member close to it that can take a look brefore you make the trip and/or go with you to look at it.

Dave

[Amy M]

I wish I could find someone, but I and all of my friends have small children and have trouble going on spur-of-the-moment road trips. It's in Fort Bragg, CA. My mom is actually closer than I am (200 miles versus 700 miles) and expressed safety concerns, but is apparently not concerned enough to make the drive herself!

Anyone near Fort Bragg?

[Dana T]

Re safety concerns -- take along your cell phone and wear the headset. Make a call to your husband just as you get to the area and keep the conversation going while you meet the owner and look at the trailer. Say something like "Oh, here's the owner now!" to clue in the owner that you are on an open call -- making it much harder for him/her/them to do something untoward. Using the cell phone in this way also lets your husband participate in the inspection and decision-making.

Oh yeah, make sure your husband knows the phone number of the Ft Bragg police dept in case things do get ugly or the call is mysteriously dropped.

Of course, also keep aware of your surroundings. If it looks dicey before you even pull into the driveway, do a little driving around to check out the area. If you don't like it, just leave. But you'll probably be fine.

[Amy M]

Well, my dear spouse volunteered to make the drive. It is going to be grueling, but the trailer looks pretty sweet so I hope it will be worth it. Fingers crossed that in a couple of days I'll be able to fill out that "RV type" on my profile.

[Bill and Jacquie G.]

Amy & Spouse

Congratulations on your pending addition to the Family!!!

Jacquie and I lived in Northern California for over fifty years before our retirement. After a brief chat we decided to offer some thoughts from our travels over the roads you plan to use. If you attempt to go from Seattle to Ft. Bragg in ten hours be assured you will have a police escort to the nearest hospital. Seattle to Grants Pass, OR. is Inter- State 5 with the flow about 60-70 MPH, depending on the weather. Grants Pass to Leggett,CA. is mainly good two lane highway with periodic passing lanes. Because these areas are somewhat remote cellphone service is spotty. Deer, Elk, and occasionally bear will step out to discuss right of way.(they aren't very polite ) You will be on HWY 199, cross into CA. and junction with HWY 101, and ease into Crescent City. Good cell service, food, rest stop, services, first look at the Pacific Ocean. ( about thirty years ago they had a real Tsunami here. Came inland about a mile. Next: 80 Miles to Eureka; largest town on the Northern California coast. Excellent town for resorces

[Amy M]

Thanks Bill. Upon the suggestion of the helpful seller, spouse (we'll call him Jim) will be taking I-5 all the way down to Highway 20 and then over. It adds quite a few miles, but I think they are easier and faster miles. But we did realize that 10 hours was an underestimate, so now we are just hoping he gets there before dark so he can do the inspection. He'll be staying overnight at least one to possible get a hitch installed there (we didn't have time to do it here, and if we can't, we'll go back next weekend to pick it up). Fingers crossed that the trailer is as nice as the photos and we can get it back here in this trip!

[Mike Price]

Amy & Spouse

Crescent City. Good cell service, food, rest stop, services, first look at the Pacific Ocean. ( about thirty years ago they had a real Tsunami here. Came inland about a mile.

I think you will find that the Tsunami occurred in 1964. It was the result of the 1964 Alaska earthquake. As I recall, the Tsunami warning was widely broadcast in California, and some of the less-than-brilliant locals actually went down to the beach to "watch" the little wave arrive, and some didn't live to tell the folks back home that it was a lot bigger than they expected.

Mike

[Bill and Jacquie G.]

Highway 20 is a good option! Williams (I-5) to Calpella (HWY 101) not freeway but ok. Calpella, Willits, to Ft. Bragg; roads become narrow and twisty.

Amy/Jim, even on a bright summer day this trip would be a challenge. You have invited the people of this board to join you in your hunt for your "perfect little egg" and we are vicariously with you every step of the way. May we stop for a moment and take a breath? DEEP BREATH !!!

1. This trailer needs a "outside/under - house" mechanical inspection, by a professional, before you hook up to bring it
home:
Cracked/broken frame?, tires/wheels including spare, all exterior lights and connections, safety chains, trailer ball
coupler, propane tank secure and shut off, does door lock securely (may pop open while on the road. carry some
lightweight rope and bungee cords to hold it closed if necessary)
2. Wheel bearings grease should be repacked. If they fail on the way home, it would be a VERY EXPENSIVE rescue.
3. Does the trailer have current California registration papers and ownership pink slip? Lic. plate? You are good to go
home if they are current.

[Raya]

May we stop for a moment and take a breath? DEEP BREATH !!!
1. This trailer needs a "outside/under - house" mechanical inspection, by a professional, before you hook up to bring it
home...

Bill and Jacquie,

I think your list of things to be checked is a good one, but I disagree that it has to be done by a professional. Many trailer shoppers/owners are capable of doing these things (in fact, some might say that they are very desirable skills for any trailer owner to have).

I've done all of the things you mentioned myself before picking up any new trailer. The one exception is that I have not always re-packed the wheel bearings, for various reasons (one trailer they had just been repacked, and I believed in the seller's word on that for good reason; another time I checked the bearings and the grease looked good and fresh, so I did not re-pack, etc.)

In fact I do most of the things on your list before any trip I take with my trailer.

Of course each person will have different skills and comfort levels, but I wouldn't just assume that it has to be a professional to do these things.

I believe the buyers' checklist (in the links to the left) would cover many of these items; hopefully our intrepid shoppers have a copy with them.

I can't wait to hear what Amy and her spouse (erm, I mean "Jim") find! Fingers crossed that it's a keeper!

Raya

[Amy M]

I asked about the bearings and the seller said they were new, including "bearing buddies" and that he would give an extra squirt of grease if we wanted. I gave Jim the checklist and stressed looking underneath and inside the cabinets (for water damage). I am not sure it will be possible to take it to a professional, but we'll see. I found a place to have a hitch installed but it's an hour drive away from where the trailer is located. If the seller is willing to tow it there, maybe the shop would give it a look. Of course, I think we will have made a decision before installing the hitch.

The previous owner of this trailer posted on a thread in the "Referrals" section and said it was sound (with lots of upgrades) when he sold it to this owner just a few months ago. This owner has been very communicative and seems to be knowledgeable about mechanical things. I have a generally good feeling about the quality of the work that has been done to it. Of course I haven't seen it, so the proof will be in the pudding.

[Bill and Jacquie G.]

Good Call Mike!!!

I believe that some of the offspring of the Tsunami survivors are living on the Oregon coast. Last year there was a well rehearsed/announced test of the Tsunami warning devices and the locals asked that the volume be turned down because it was annoying.

[Bill and Jacquie G.]

You got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Amy M]

I can't wait for Jim to arrive home with her. Since she is small and round and orange, I have named her Clementine.

[Emily R.]

I can't wait for Jim to arrive home with her. Since she is small and round and orange, I have named her Clementine.

I love the name!
I name all my vehicles....it's so much fun!

[Raya]

Amy,

Not quite sure which thread to put this in, but I was just looking through some Boler pics for something else, and I ran across this one I had saved of a Boler with your same outside colors. Looking quite cute and shiny. Just thought you might like to see it





Raya

[Amy M]

Wow, that is cute and shiny! I imagine I will look into my options for making our new Boler shiny because it would be nice. But I like the orange color so much that the lack of shine doesn't bother me as much as it might.

[Raya]

Amy,

Since the orange is almost certainly the original gelcoat, you can probably "compound" it (this is essentially buffing it with a slightly abrasive paste made for this purpose) and get the shine back. What you are doing is taking off the oxidized surface layer to reveal fresh gelcoat.

Gelcoat is relatively thin, so you can't just grind, willy-nilly, but if it hasn't been compounded before, and you are reasonably careful, you could end up with a nice, shiny Clementine.

Raya

[Robin G]

I can't wait for Jim to arrive home with her. Since she is small and round and orange, I have named her Clementine.

Sweet Name, so I am taking it as he liked what he saw? Wooo Hoooo! Congrats!

[Amy M]

Oooh, intriguing! Thanks!

Amy,

Since the orange is almost certainly the original gelcoat, you can probably "compound" it (this is essentially buffing it with a slightly abrasive paste made for this purpose) and get the shine back. What you are doing is taking off the oxidized surface layer to reveal fresh gelcoat.

Gelcoat is relatively thin, so you can't just grind, willy-nilly, but if it hasn't been compounded before, and you are reasonably careful, you could end up with a nice, shiny Clementine.

Raya