Forum Discussion

MickyLuv's avatar
MickyLuv
Explorer
Aug 25, 2016

Problem features of used travel trailers

I'm steadily moving up the price range of used travel trailers on Kijiji, in the hope of finding one of reasonably good quality.

There are several recurring features that come over as disturbing but I don't really know the significance of them.

One is "light hail damage".
Is light hail damage a big no-no, or can it often be dealt with effectively?

Another is "New floor".
What are the usual causes of the need for a new floor?

Yet another is "Cracked Lino".
Does this usually stem from a deeper and more potentially expensive problem?

Any advice on these questions would be most appreciated.

Regards,

Mike
  • "light hail damage" -- the question is what was the damage specifically. It could range from superficial/cosmetic damage to needing a new roof or worse (though the latter hopefully would not be listed as light damage).

    "New floor" -- I think there are two common reasons to replace flooring. One is just because the floor covering is worn or grungy or of pattern/color that is unappealing, and at worse that indicates a good bit of use of the trailer. Sometimes it may be because of water damage and rot to the subfloor and supporting structure, which if improperly or incompletely repaired could be a big problem. RV floor coverings are typically not top-of-the-line materials from the factory (at least when you're not at the very top end units).

    "Cracked Linoleum" -- to me, this depends on the nature of the cracks. Some cuts and dings come from use or abuse from above. A crack that seems to follow a structural member (such as one in a nice straight line across the trailer) would worry me and suggest a more thorough inspection.
  • I don't know about up in Canada but if you look hard there are plenty of used trailers with none of those issues. New floor means previous water leaks. Cracked lino means poor upkeep. Guess. Light hail damage wouldn't hurt anything but it will sure hurt resale. You should be able to find like new condition unless you are looking at used rigs 7-10 years old.