1977 Holiday Rambler a good buy?

Donnoh wrote:

westend wrote:


I would take I beam or C channel frames anyday over a boxed frame (I HAD a trailer with a boxed frame and didn't like the fact that I couldn't see the condition of the inside).

He "had" a trailer with a boxed frame, but he couldn't see the inside of it so he "assumed" it was bad. My parents owned a Holiday Rambler of about the same vintage and I can tell you it was built like a brick house. In the 70's Holiday Rambler was one of the best TT's you could buy. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the one you're looking at.

You quoted me.

I DIDN'T assume that the frame was bad in fact it appeared to be in good shape when I sold it other than some surface rust.

The problem however with ANY "sealed" item like boxed beams, rectangular tubing and even pipe is the FACT that you can clean and repaint the OUTSIDE but you can NEVER check, clean nor repaint the inside.

Basically you are relying on the MANUFACTURERS "paint" or surface treatment to last. In the real world, rarely is the INSIDE of the beam treated or painted in any way. Not to mention that there are often screws and bolts going through the box beam which allows water to get in and SIT..

Boxed beams are used to SAVE weight AND costs, the advantage is they can use THINNER materials . Basically 1/8" wall 2x5 rectangle steal tubing can be used in place of 1/4" 2x4 C channel. The weight savings is nearly half of the weight of the C channel.