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nomadic housing

Newbie Looking for Advice on Buying First RV/Travel Trailer

Harmony Dybala

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Location: East Texas, USA

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posted 3 years ago

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I am in the market for a used RV. The immediate plan is to park it on land semi-permanently, but I would like to have the option of living on the road in the next couple of years. I have never lived in an RV, though I have spent a summer "homeless" couch-surfing out of an SUV with four younger siblings, a dog, two cats, and a bird, so I'm used to living with space constraints. I'm also a first-time homebuyer, but I have family and friends who will offer me trustworthy second opinions and back me up in negotiations. What are some things I might not know to look out for? What advice would you throw at a starry-eyed newbie fool, or a slightly cynical newbie with a bit of common sense for that matter?

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Pete Podurgiel

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posted 3 years ago

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One bit of advice I've heard is not to purchase a model year 2020 RV, many have construction defects due to lack of skilled labor and material shortages. Manufacturers would ship them to dealers with known/unknown defects and let the dealer/new owner worry about how to fix the problems. This might extend into 2021 models as well. In short, test everything before purchase and if unsure what to look for, have a thorough inspection performed by a third party.

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Harmony Dybala

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posted 3 years ago

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Thank you! I'm looking at much older models than that. I'm planning to go look at an '87 Holiday Rambler this afternoon. The budget and size are right for me, and from photos it seems to meet my needs and be in fine condition. It's older than I am, though. My thought is that if it is still working at this age, it must have been well-made.

Harmony Dybala

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I went to see a couple Aluma-Lite Holiday Ramblers today: an '85 and an '87. The '85 was a bust ("Grandma left it in a barn for 20 years" and you can tell) but the '87 was a dream, except for the undercarriage. It came from Oklahoma, which apparently gets enough snow to cause some rust damage underneath. I'm afraid it might be a considerable problem, but It's still a great deal and exactly what I want in other respects. Would you run away screaming if you saw this damage to the thin panels underneath, or just plan on cleaning and patching?

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Glenn Herbert

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posted 3 years ago

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I would poke behind the rust holes, and if I didn't see more internal damage, I would just plan on patching and sealing the holes.

I bought a 20 year old 16' travel trailer for $1800 when I started building my house in the mid 80s, and soon found that the floor and counters etc. were made from water-soluble chipboard. I ended up replacing large parts of it, but that was okay as I had no plans to resell when I was done with it, just scrap.

Edward Norton

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posted 3 years ago

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I have friends with RV's, some with lots of cash who pay other people to fix things and some who are skilled up and learned how to maintain on their own. You're a PEPPER so know the value of running a self-sufficient homestead. I think you need the same mindset for an RV. If you're initially semi-permanent, you'll have plenty of opportunity to learn without the risk of being stranded. Good luck, sounds like a great plan.

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Anne Miller

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posted 3 years ago

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Are you looking for a motorhome or a travel trailer? Or either?

As far as I know, Holiday Ramblers are motorhomes.

There you would want a mechanic to look at it to see if it were in good running condition and no breakdown on you after a few hundred miles.

If you are looking at a travel trailer bee sure to watch for water damage in the ceilings and in the bathroom around the toilet and tub. Anywhere there are pipes.

If either has a rubber roof at that age it is probably shot and will need to be replaced. The industry started using rubber roofs around 1983.

If I were buying one in that age group I would look for an airstream or a silverstreak.

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Harmony Dybala

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It's a trailer, not a motorhome, so I don't have the engine to worry about. The roof is metal like the body. I reckoned the rust superficial after shoving my camera up in the hole, and decided it was within my diy comfort-zone. I'm now a home-owner and happy with my investment!

Alana Rose

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Harmony d'Eyre wrote:I reckoned the rust superficial after shoving my camera up in the hole, and decided it was within my diy comfort-zone. I'm now a home-owner and happy with my investment!

How is the trailer holding up for you? Would you like to show us the improvements you’ve made?

I am also a newbie who was recently looking to buy my first RV/Travel trailer. Due to some recent health issues a friend and I have had due to mold exposure, she recommended that I be cautious of water damage and look for signs of mildew & mold.

Do you have previous experience & tools DIYing these sort of things?

Blessings,

Blessings,

Alana

Harmony Dybala

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Location: East Texas, USA

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posted 3 years ago

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Well, I'm content with a good living space, but it turns out the rust actually came from a leak in the freshwater tank intake, so my work got cut out for me a little bigger than I had hoped

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