Quote:
Originally Posted by Cgmcfadden
Honestly, I have no idea. I bought sight unseen (and a leap of faith). Im driving to SD next week to pick up. My mind is already racing with possibilities ��. Definitely I’ll take a season or two to settle on any major changes. I’m happy to have found this forum! You’ll be hearing from me again I have no doubt.
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Sight unseen and 21 years old (2001
Scamp 16, according to your other post)...
Just a reality check. I would prepare (mentally and financially) for a few surprises. Before you begin to think about upgrades, there may be some basic maintenance and repairs to deal with.
Start with a thorough buyer's inspection when you arrive to pick up the trailer. There's a
Buyer's Checklist here. Biggest thing I would check for is any sign of floor rot. Check very carefully inside every lower cabinet and bench. Rot usually starts around the outer perimeter of the floor close to the walls due to leaking
windows and vents. Look underneath as well.
Next is frame condition, with special attention to the area under the front of the cabin where the frame bends to form the tongue. Look for cracks there. It's not common, but older
Scamp frames from rust-prone climates have been known to break at that transition. Third is the
fridge. Have the seller turn it on 24 hours before you arrive, because the type of
fridge used in most RVs takes that long to reach operating temperatures. It's also the single most expensive appliance to replace.
Obviously a two-decade-old trailer won't be perfect, but it should be substantially as represented in the sale ad. I don't know exactly what financial arrangements you made with the seller, but if the condition has been intentionally misrepresented, you have cause to back out of the transaction.
Then prepare for towing it home. What are you towing with? Do the trailer
brakes work, and does your tow vehicle have full (7-blade) trailer wiring and a brake controller? Do all the running
lights work? When were the wheel bearings last serviced? How old are the
tires? Don't rely on appearance or tread depth, but check the date codes (WWYY, week and year, stamped into the sidewalls). Anything over 5-6 years I would consider replacing before your long trip home.
Not trying to scare you, just want you to be aware of potential issues. If you have previous RV experience, all this is probably already on your radar. If you are new to this, feel free to post questions once you have the trailer in front of you (photos help, and you can access the forum and post from your phone in the field).
Best wishes!