Matt,
We lived in L.A. and vicinity for 50 years. I worked right downtown at 1st and grand for 40 years although living in sundry burbs. We bought our Lance camper from an ad on The Recycler, an L.A. local merchandise buy-sell-trade paper similar to Craigslist. We were very lucky to wrap it all up in one day. Very lucky. We're still using it 14 years later.
Expect to inspect the Recycler in the entire So. Cal. area, and drive a few hours to look at prospectives. Few, very few T.C. owners have the space to keep their campers inside when not in use. No machine sheds in this burg, just freeways. We had so little space at our palace, I had to pay to keep the little Lance at a storage yard.
The good news is weather is not much of a problem so TC weather wear is mostly confined to sun damage. More good news is how many T.C.'s are for sale, mostly the large 9.5-11.5 foot variety in every stage of deterioration and price range. I think you are at the right place at the right time to buy a decent used TC, although spring is the worst time for the buyer and best time to sell. Lance is just over the hill on 14 to Lancaster. Many of the TC dealers had just folded when we left town in 2006. If you can find a dealer, they have plenty of time, so buy an hour of their expertise and take notes on what to look for in a used camper.
If I still lived there I would go with you to pick away at the prospects as you whittle down your list. Alas, we now live on the west slope, Northern Sierra Nevada, thank you, so you are on your own.
Our furthest north camp in a gravel quarry near Coldfoot AK. 11 p.m. and were drinking Margaritas (till the sun goes down, which it didn't on June 18th, 2003)
jefe
