'73 Holiday Rambler

weedlady wrote:
Thanks Doug,
Your info is extremely helpful.
We got a chance to look at the interior today. It is the Holiday Rambler, has twin beds and rear bath, sofa across the front.It is actually all still original, curtains, carpet and all original appliances.
I liked the interior layout and the roominess and obvious quality. The color scheme is just a little too harvest gold for my likeing, but I could work with that.

The owner's parents bought it new. Current owner inherited it and it has been sitting in his driveway for 15 years. He plugs it in and supposedly uses the systems every summer, but I am leery. I don't think he really knows anything about the trailer. He insisted it didn't have a gray water tank. There is no antifreeze sitting in the toilet-so I'd be concerned that the seal is dried out. I would guess the dump valves haven't been used in the last 15 years either. The owner was not aware that the fridge was two-way-has never run it on propane, but says it makes ice in about 2 hours on electric.
The trailer is not hooked up now, so we did not run any systems today.

His lack of knowledge makes me concerned that he has not maintained things properly. Any input?

Martha

15 years is a long time for an RV to sit in one spot. My guess would be that the tires are 15 years old then and I wouldn't move it off the drive way until they where changed. Even if they look good and are holding air they can rot from the inside out and it just not worth taking a chance going down the road. I would also have a complete brake and wheel barring service done, even if the brake work have them serviced. They have been siting for 15 years and who know what condition they where in before it was parked. You should be able to get a cost for this at any tire and RV service center and would make that cost part of my offer to the owner when I started talking money. One other thing I would do is get all the rubber hoses for the LP system changed. This isn't a big project since Holiday only had used rubber hoses from the LP tanks to the LP regulator and then in some cases down to the main supply line under the coach. The main LP line under the coach should be a heavy wall black iron pipe and the feed lines to the appliances should be copper. I would also have the LP tanks inspected before I filled them, you can have this done at most LP service centers but I wouldn't do it at an RV park or RV dealer. Find someone that business is selling LP and knows what to look for. Holiday used both steel and aluminum tanks in 73 and think you will need to have the valves up dated to the modern version if they have not been already. Again not a hard thing to have done but I'm not sure if they can just change the valve or if you have to replace the tanks

I would also fill the fresh water tank to the limit turn on the compressor and run water through all the sinks and shower. Look for leaks and that there isn't rust in the water if the original galvanized water tank is still installed. If there is rust in the water the tank is bad even if it doesn't leak. Holiday used a galvanized water tank that was porcelain lined. If there is rust the porcelain is cracked and the tank will fall at some point down the road. Figure the cost to replace it and change over to a demand pump set up if this is the case. If the pressure system is still installed check that the air compressor will pump up to 40 lbs and the water system will hold the pressure. The change over to a demand pump isn't something that is hard to do but I would look at the cost to have this done before I purchased. I would also want to see all the system running before I made any offer. Run the water system off the city water and the pressure tank separately and check for leaks every where. Have every thing up and working or if it isn't working find out why. Luckily you shouldn't have to many problems find parts or replacements for the appliances if need be.

They gary tank in 73 was an option so he is correct in his thinking that there wasn't one. The only problem with the all in one tank is there can be a smell if the p-traps don't have water in them and you need to keep the tank empty and all the drain plugs in the drains of the sinks and shower when traveling. The water in the P-traps can moved around as the you go up and down hills hit bumps and then the odor from tank can get into the trailer. I

I do know what you mean about the gold interiors, just be happy it isn't avocado that was popular back then. All I can say about that interior color is YIKES!!!

Let me know if you make the purchase and I hope this or some other RV is in your future.

Doug