1970 coachman

I'd suggest to pull it out onto a surface where it can be inspected. Jack up the suspension and pull the drums. Inspect and confirm that the brakes are working. Inspect hubs and bearings for adequate grease.

I've pulled trailers out of swamps where they were buried for many years. It is a roll of the dice what you'll find. My '71 Starcraft was driven 30 miles to my house on the tires that came with the trailer. The water damage was so bad that I could put my arm through a gap in the wall siding. It has, since, been restored.

I would just hitch it up and go. Visual check after a few slowish miles.
I would give good odds it will be fine if the tires hold air.

Danno1281 wrote:
1970 coachman travel trailer ....that it hasn't been towed out of the campsite since 1984. ....ts about a 160 mile drive through the mountains and I havent been able to get under it to check out axles and suspension ......I know i have to change the tires but other than that im not sure.

1) Tires without a doubt.

2) Rewire brakes from the cord all the way back. The insulation will be brittle and as another said, who knows what critters might have been munching on the wires. They love to eat that old insulation

3) Pull brake drums and inspect. You might even consider just installing new backing plates for $27/each and avoid a bunch of headaches.

4) The bearings could possibly be okay of the seals were in good shape and dust caps in place. A good cleaning and repacking will do it. If the hubs weren't in good shape, the bearings will need replaced too.

5) Springs and shackles. Setting in the grass all those years can allow for a bunch of moisture build up and heavy rust on the suspension components. Make sure shackle bolts and mounts look okay. If they have thick crusty rust I don't think I'd trust them.

That's a decent list and will take a good bit of time and money to make all that happen. I wouldn't tow that camper 2 1/2 hours without doing/checking all of that. By the time you put on tires, re-wire with new umbilical, possibly backing plates, seals.....you'll have about $750 in the camper. Be sure to check over the whole camper for water intrusion, rot, or other major issues. If those exist, it's not worth dumping that money in it. If it checks out, and you want to spend that money, then knock yourself out.

KJ

Something like that sitting for 33 years may not be road worthy. Pull it out from where it sits and on hard ground, or preferably pavement. Then you can inspect the running gear and condition of the frame. It is entirely possible, even probable, that the frame, hitch, springs, axles, etc, have deteriorated to the point it is not safe to be on the road, and repairs are not feasible.

I would not crawl under it until it was move to avoid a medical emergency with the snakes.

If you decide you really want this project, put it on a flatbed and haul it home. I wouldn't even consider towing it.

I'm not as bad of a pessimist as the rest of these guys are. But,,,

That being said ; There is absolutely no way you can tow it home until you get it out of the spot it is "stuck in" after all these years. Then you will have to inspect and replace a lot of things. Tires, Wheel bearings, and such.

After that you will need to inspect it some more to make sure it is in good enough shape to keep.

For free, If it were me, I might go check it out. But !! I doubt that it is worth the trouble. I would not promise them anything and I would not move it until I serviced the running gear,,, at the very least.

If you are looking for advice on the internet then I really doubt that it is worth the trouble to you.

Have a nice day.

Well...I voted against you being able to join but since you have...your "friend" is "giving" you something you don't want. 33 years since it moved? Brakes are? DECLINE this junk. He is giving you nothing.

I hate to be the voice of doom, but I can only IMAGINE what the rodents and the elements have done to that trailer over the years. Be sure and check it out stem to stern.

Probably be better off rolling it onto one of them there flat bed trailers till ya go through everything.

The bearings will probably be frozen on the spindles, ie, bearings will be shot, the brakes will be shot, and the tires; who knows? It can be done but be prepared and don't expect it to move.