Forum Discussion

jvc456's avatar
jvc456
Explorer
Apr 30, 2016

Upgrading to expandable travel trailer from pop up

Hello, we are a family of 4 and were ready to take the next step to a travel trailer from a pop up. We love our pop up but only problem is the set up and having no bathroom is the biggest inconvenience with our young children plus we're getting older.

We did find a nice 11' Starlight Travel Trailer in very nice condition and a few thousand below NADA value but when looking at it along the edge of the dinette both near the fridge and along the side of it and then along the bottom of the rear wall below the pop out the particle board walls are swollen and look to be water damaged. The damage goes abut an inch or so up along the bottom edge. The edge of the kitchen and other areas of where the walls meet the floor don't look damaged. I of course asked the current owner if there are any leaks answer was No and that it may have been from cleaning and mopping. Does anyone agree with that answer? Also is this common with cleaning or usage? I don't see any signs of water seepage on the walls and when looking underneath can't see any rot but the floor underneath has a black coating not exposing the floor board. Pressed where I could and didn't notice any soft spots. The camper really looks very nice. Excuse for sale is another didn't use last year and don't plan to this year with a new born. Tires are all cracked up too but owner agreed to replace prior to sale. Roof looks in good shape but very weary to jump in...private sale. Any advice would be appreciated. Our budget is tight to buy a new one or at a dealer. Thank you, John
  • poppin_fresh's avatar
    poppin_fresh
    Explorer
    May 05, 2016
    Looking back at how you describe it (and looking at the floor plan), I have a couple ideas.

    With the damage along the wall near the fridge and dinette makes me think either the fridge roof vent is leaking, or the fridge condensation drain is draining on the floor behind the fridge. My top suspected culprit,however, is something in the bathroom, probably the shower.

    If it is leaking because of plumbing, or even because someone didn't pay attention to the shower curtain while showering, it could allow water to migrate along the floor to the side and the back walls.

    The roof vent leak would be a reason to run as it could do some serious damage. The other two, might not be a huge deal as long as they have been corrected before anything major happened outside a little swollen luan. It might be worth having it inspected by a pro to determine which it is.
  • pitch's avatar
    pitch
    Explorer II
    May 03, 2016
    There are many many trailers for sale. Why buy a problem? walk away and find a clean one.
  • PAThwacker's avatar
    PAThwacker
    Explorer
    May 03, 2016
    I just rebuilded 07 r vision 26 qbs. The one with sunken propane tanks inside the front wall curve. Entire wood in front rotted out. Floor shot. Bathroom floor shot. Leaked since day one when the idiot at the factory over tighten the screws on the front fantastic van. Cracks exposed for 10 years. My father bought it at auction as a repo to flip. Holy hell he should never buy a fiberglass TT without me present. Previous deadbeat owner never checked the roof for leaks in a decade and the front propane tank pocket leaked.
  • toedtoes's avatar
    toedtoes
    Explorer III
    May 02, 2016
    jvc456 wrote:
    Its a 2011 Starcraft Travel Star Expandable Hybrid 176RB. Just spoke with the owner on my concerns, to clear up any confusion he said it may have been from cleaning but since the day they bought it from the dealer it was always like this and they didn't notice any leaks. It wasn't at all soft to touch but something caused that wood to swell along the bottom. I did go there and pushed from underneath the trailer and didn't notice any soft spots. There is some kind of black membrane underneath so I can see the exposed floorboard to really know. The price is great and we are so tempted to trust the seller as they don't live far from us and seems like they just really don't plan on using. I haven't checked the bunk end doors they do seem sealed and didn't see any signs of water entry inside along where the bunk doors close.


    He just sounds fishy. I'm not one to necessarily shy away from some water damage, but this guy's statements just don't ring honest.

    Why would he say it "may have been from cleaning" if it was that way when he bought it? And again, cleaning will NOT cause that sort of damage - ever. If he's willing to lie to you about this, what else is he lying about? Maybe the hot water tank burst? Did you check it out? Maybe the pipes burst? Did you check them out? So many things could have caused that damage. And if he bought it like that, why didn't HE question it then? All that damage and he just bought it without getting any answer as to WHY it was damaged?

    I know it sounds like a great price, but when you get it home and find out that this guy lied about other things, you're likely to find out it wasn't such a great deal after all and you're putting a LOT more money into fixing all the problems. You're better off paying a bit more for one without the damage - or at least damage that can be better explained.
  • bikendan's avatar
    bikendan
    Explorer
    May 02, 2016
    you didn't say what you'd be towing with.

    and the bunk doors, seals, hinges and door frame area are the #1 water intrusion areas of a hybrid TT.
    they are the first area to go over with a flashlight and fine tooth comb.
    also check the area where the bunk door hinge is. this is often where water pools and swells the wood around the hinge or wicks into the bed platform.

    your statement tells me you didn't look close enough at them.
  • jvc456's avatar
    jvc456
    Explorer
    May 01, 2016
    Its a 2011 Starcraft Travel Star Expandable Hybrid 176RB. Just spoke with the owner on my concerns, to clear up any confusion he said it may have been from cleaning but since the day they bought it from the dealer it was always like this and they didn't notice any leaks. It wasn't at all soft to touch but something caused that wood to swell along the bottom. I did go there and pushed from underneath the trailer and didn't notice any soft spots. There is some kind of black membrane underneath so I can see the exposed floorboard to really know. The price is great and we are so tempted to trust the seller as they don't live far from us and seems like they just really don't plan on using. I haven't checked the bunk end doors they do seem sealed and didn't see any signs of water entry inside along where the bunk doors close.
  • bikendan's avatar
    bikendan
    Explorer
    May 01, 2016
    first, there's no 11' Starlight hybrid TT.
    there's a Starcraft but no one makes an 11' hybrid TT.

    i'd suggest walking away from this trailer.

    but you need to post the brand and correct model number.
    and what will you be towing with?

    if it is a hybrid, if there's that much wrong inside, no telling what the bunk end doors are like.

    did you check the condition of the bunk end doors, the seals and the door frames?
  • Jayco-noslide's avatar
    Jayco-noslide
    Explorer
    Apr 30, 2016
    We upgraded from a pop-up to a hybrid and then a small 5th wheel. If I were doing it over I would skip the hybrid and go right to a full trailer if you don't have a truck for a 5th wheel. Why? There is still set up/take-down with a hybrid, still canvas covering you and in our case a wet bath. If money is an issue you could probably get a regular trailer used for less than a new hybrid.
  • kknowlton's avatar
    kknowlton
    Explorer II
    Apr 30, 2016
    I'd pass on it too. Not sure if the trailer you're looking at is a hybrid (i.e. a travel trailer with tented bed ends that pull/fold out) but if so, they have tended to leak around the edges of the bed ends if towed in the rain. A soft floor may not show up for some years, but if there has been water damage, eventually there will be a soft floor, and major repairs. My advice: keep looking. Good luck!
  • toedtoes's avatar
    toedtoes
    Explorer III
    Apr 30, 2016
    "Cleaning and mopping" will NOT cause water damage of any level. And if it my miracle did, the guy would absolutely know how the damage happened - not an "I guess this is what happened". Because he's flat out lying to you (and couldn't even give you a decent lie), I'd pass.

    Personally, I'd tell him "I really like it and even with the slight water damage, I'd have been interested in buying it. But, because you chose to lie (horribly) about the damage, I can't trust you about anything else. How many other things don't work that you're lying to me about. Nope, sorry no deal. I'll look elsewhere."

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