gmw photos wrote:
Hi Dan,
I've followed your blog and see how you use your trailer. My bet is, that for the money, you'll be way ahead in the long run to keep that trailer, and rebuild as needed in the coming years. It's small and simple construction will make it easily repairable.
My personal take is that it's a myth that trailers of this design and construction are short lived. The key is in proper maintenance and repair. In my travels I see many, many trailers of this type of construction in the 20 to 30 year old range that are still serviceable. The interiors may be dated in style, but that is easy enough to upgrade.
!
You're inspection skills need upgrading. A probe equipped moisture meter for starters. Ten years is the approximate lifetime for the disposable trailers. Patching the roof, etc, won't matter once rot takes hold. And it does. The exception MAY be one constantly under cover. It's granted a few more years.
There's very good reason resale drops like a stone on these trailers. I've several parked near me at present 10-15 years old with serious problems. They're long past being road worthy. Rotted in place. Owned by those with an incentive to keep them up. Or, you can look at it this way: where, in the half century of photos my family has of several trailers are all those ones of conventional construction? Hint: not on the road.
My Dad sold his 1975 trailer in 2002. The Houston owner is still out on the road with it.
The OP ought to take a very long look and consider long term. If he really wants a short trailer there's a 1962 Bambi of eleven feet for sale in Heber City Utah.
The RV world is big. Not limited to the local dealer. Or to opinions voiced by those barely experienced in the "whys" of what works and what doesn't.
