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Travel_n_Wrestl's avatar
Travel_n_Wrestl
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017

Buying a Northwood Nash from a private seller

Wow...so many questions! We will be purchasing our first TT soon and have narrowed down what we want as far as floor plan, weight / length etc, and manufacturer. We found a trailer we like near us. But it is being sold by private seller, not a dealership. Trailer is everything we want and more. Price is right considering that it comes with everything we would need to get started:
2015 Northwood Nash 25c with 20 watt solar panels, bike rack, BBQ, WD hitch with sway control (was going to have to buy one), Reese TB controller (was going to have to buy one) two batteries, large LP tanks, hoses, All heated tanks, 4 seasons insulation, antennae, power hitch jack. Everything we would need to get started. Seems perfect and we are ready to jump.

Here are my questions/concerns:

Northwood seems to be a good manufacturer. Anyone have any experience with a Northwood product, especially the Nash line?

TT is still under warranty until May (not transferable) and seller (original owner) has offered to take it in and have it checked out prior to sale. I asked if the trailer has had any warranty work and was told no. She did state she did not like the lines on the inside and complained (wife noticed...I had no idea what they were talking aobut lol) and that was how she got the BBQ and bike rack. Told roof has a 12 year warranty and is transferable. Told we have the option of extended warranty since we would be the 2nd owner.

Walked through the unit today and looked everywhere...but I don't know exactly what to look for except for water damage. I checked every inch of seam I could find (including inside cabinets, around windows, around sky lights) and could not find any damage / water marks. Cosmetically the inside looked pristine. Outside I noticed a white substance coming out of the seams (assuming caulking?) which says to me that too much was put in and over time with settling has pushed out...doesn't seem to be a bad thing, but again...no idea what I am looking for! lol. (edit: did some research and I guess it could be dicor sealant?) I took a picture but can't attach one apparently. On the top of the trailer (roof rack, ladder) there looked to be gray caulking heavily applied around any vent, opening, or device there.
Looked at the undercarriage...fully covered, no damage I could see.

Any suggestions on what else I should look for or ask about? Again, the seller will take it in for inspection so basic function will be checked. It's the little things that an experienced eye would be able to catch. Unfortunately I don't know anyone with that eye to go with me.

If you made it through that book I thank you and welcome any advice.

Ryan

17 Replies

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  • coolmom42's avatar
    coolmom42
    Explorer II
    Apr 12, 2017
    I would recommend packing lighter. Probably a lot of stuff you could manage without. And travel with only a partial tank of water.
  • Travel_n_Wrestl's avatar
    Travel_n_Wrestl
    Explorer
    Apr 12, 2017
    donn0128 wrote:
    Have you actually weighed your 1500 loaded ready to travel?

    Funny you should ask, on the other page I have open I am searching for a scale near me!

    Edit. Got to the scale. With the kids, me, and the dogs, 3/4 tank fuel (wife is at work so added 120 to scale weight...if she asks say I added 105 :W)plus some random stuff I threw in from the garage (bin of snowboarding clothes that just came out of the back from our Tahoe trip yesterday, a bag full of baseball gear that usually is always with us, and a case of water)and the truck was 6100 lbs. GVWR is 7200 and Rear GAWR is 3950. So I have 1100 lbs. to play with. Figure hitch weight (dry is 550 according to sticker on TT) should be closer to 900 lbs. if the trailer weighs 7000 (loaded correctly)from what I have read. The Trailer has the payload to handle more than we would load it with so not having stuff in the truck besides us and maybe a little bit is an option right?
  • Travel_n_Wrestl's avatar
    Travel_n_Wrestl
    Explorer
    Apr 12, 2017
    spoon059 wrote:
    My first camper was a 1998 Nash 22H. Very well built trailer, they are heavier than comparably sized rigs.

    What do you mean by the "lines on the inside"...? Check the roof thoroughly. Perhaps consider a pressure leak test to ensure that the exterior is sealed.

    I'm guessing the white substance coming out of the seams is probably butyl tape caulking. By seams do you mean the corner trim where the side walls meet the front/back walls and where the window/door trim meets the siding? If so, then yes it is likely butyl tape.

    You should see large gobs of caulk on the roof penetrations, thats a good sign. Inspect those very well, inspect the seam between the roof and the side walls and back/front walls.

    Make sure everything else works... fridge, AC, heater, microwave, tv etc. I would also put a couple gallons of water in the fresh water tank, turn on the water pump and make sure that the water pump works. Open your sink and flush your toilet to get all the air out, then close everything and wait and listen. If your pump keeps cycling, either your pump is leaking back or you have a water leak in your lines somewhere.

    Northwood makes a great product. If it checks out, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it. Good luck!


    The sealant / caulking was on the exterior of the trailer for sure where the sidewall met the front wall. Not sure it was near any windows or other openings. I will make sure to look next time I get to look at the trailer.

    Thanks for the suggestion about the water pump. I am hoping that that kind of stuff will be checked when the seller has it checked out. Also nice that the warranty is still active till May so anything that is under warranty and is amiss could be fixed. If not I will check that myself.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Apr 12, 2017
    Have you actually weighed your 1500 loaded ready to travel?
  • Travel_n_Wrestl's avatar
    Travel_n_Wrestl
    Explorer
    Apr 12, 2017
    donn0128 wrote:
    Northwood builds aan excellent but HEAVY products. Be positive before purchase that you have enough load carrying capacity. Nash is their lower, or entey line, but is built the same as the Arctic Fox except less standard equipment. My only real concern with Northwood is the tires. They tend to use cheap ST tires. So if you decide to buy, budget in for new Maxxis or Salun tires.

    Thanks for pointing this out because it is my main concern over everything else. Here is where I am: Called Northwood with the VIN and they gave me a weight of 5800. This model has dry weight of ~ 5300 lbs. So the options added 500. Loaded with stuff for a trip figure Gross of 7000. Leaves us around 600lbs of payload on the TV for wife, kids, me, and gas. This is under specs for my truck, but heavier than I wanted to go. I was hoping to keep it at 6500 gross. The extra weight means going over mountain passes would be rough, and windy conditions are not going to be ideal. But, we do have a 2005 2500 Chevy HD (diesel not gas) with only 90K original miles / original owner (father in law) available to us at any time for longer trips that will take us over mountains (i.e. driving from Sacramento, Ca to Central Point, Oregon for a 4 day country music festival in July) And my father in law is already drooling to trade me trucks for the trip :C
    For local trips around the valley I think I should be confident pulling the trailer. I know some people will say way too much, some will say I could go more. The owners of the TT have pulled it with their Tundra...but I'll take my Chevy any day of the week ;-)
  • spoon059's avatar
    spoon059
    Explorer II
    Apr 12, 2017
    My first camper was a 1998 Nash 22H. Very well built trailer, they are heavier than comparably sized rigs.

    What do you mean by the "lines on the inside"...? Check the roof thoroughly. Perhaps consider a pressure leak test to ensure that the exterior is sealed.

    I'm guessing the white substance coming out of the seams is probably butyl tape caulking. By seams do you mean the corner trim where the side walls meet the front/back walls and where the window/door trim meets the siding? If so, then yes it is likely butyl tape.

    You should see large gobs of caulk on the roof penetrations, thats a good sign. Inspect those very well, inspect the seam between the roof and the side walls and back/front walls.

    Make sure everything else works... fridge, AC, heater, microwave, tv etc. I would also put a couple gallons of water in the fresh water tank, turn on the water pump and make sure that the water pump works. Open your sink and flush your toilet to get all the air out, then close everything and wait and listen. If your pump keeps cycling, either your pump is leaking back or you have a water leak in your lines somewhere.

    Northwood makes a great product. If it checks out, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it. Good luck!
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Apr 12, 2017
    Northwood builds aan excellent but HEAVY products. Be positive before purchase that you have enough load carrying capacity. Nash is their lower, or entey line, but is built the same as the Arctic Fox except less standard equipment. My only real concern with Northwood is the tires. They tend to use cheap ST tires. So if you decide to buy, budget in for new Maxxis or Salun tires.

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