Ok, here we go. Have located (locally, belive it or not) a 2007 Arctic Fox 29V. Dealer says wardrobe slide leaked & he has replaced the entire floor of the front queen bedroom. He says slide has also been repaired. He's discounted the TT several thousand dollars owing to this condition ($9900). In your opinion, is it possible to repair water damage & move on? I have asked him to hook up the TT so I can evaluate all systems (which he says are all operational) and, if it passes my inspection, the next step will be to contract a mobile tech to conduct a learned evaluation. (Thanks to all of you who have tutored me in this respect). He didn't have many good things to say about mobile techs, which only strengthened my resolve.I will be bringing my creeper, my list of options & a camera to my appointment. What, specifically, am I looking for with respect to the water damage? I'm confident some of you will answer this question with "The nearest exit! Run! Do not walk!" And that's okay if that's what I need to hear. Ready... Hands over game show buzzers... and... DISCUSS.

Proof is in the pudding! Wait for rain and then go visit the camper! If no leaks, you're good. If indeed the floors were fixed, I see no reason why it could not be a good camper. About mobile techs? The reason he frowns on them is because they are a competing business. Of course he's going to down-play them.After you jump up and down all over the floor like an excited 5 year old at Christmas time, pound on the walls like a 3 year old throwing a fit and make sure they are solid too.Then play Santa and get on the roof and see how it feels!If all seems good, no squishy floor, no soft spots on the roof, no walls bending or moving in-an-out, then call your mobile tech friend and pick it apart. Have fun! You've got not nothing invested yet, except your interest.

Look for any soft spots in the floor, walls and roof. Any discoloration and don't forget to check the backs of cabinets. Check inside the underbelly as well for insulation and/or wood damage. They could have replaced plywood and left a mess underneath. I'd also insist on a pressure test on their dime to prove the leaks have been repaired.On top of that I'd negotiate HARD. A few thousand below market wouldn't cut it for me. Remember the next guy will do the same to you if you go to sell it down the road.

DutchmenSport wrote:Proof is in the pudding! Wait for rain and then go visit the camper! If no leaks, you're good. If indeed the floors were fixed, I see no reason why it could not be a good camper. About mobile techs? The reason he frowns on them is because they are a competing business. Of course he's going to down-play them.After you jump up and down all over the floor like an excited 5 year old at Christmas time, pound on the walls like a 3 year old throwing a fit and make sure they are solid too.Then play Santa and get on the roof and see how it feels!If all seems good, no squishy floor, no soft spots on the roof, no walls bending or moving in-an-out, then call your mobile tech friend and pick it apart. Have fun! You've got not nothing invested yet, except your interest.Thx, DM. Did you find one AC unit was sufficient for your 31 foot Dutchmen? 29' is a little longer & heavier than I would have liked? I hope the length won't impair me at State & National Park sites?

Here are my thoughts. Did he also fix the leak? Or just the visually damaged area? Water damage would likely be the number one cause of a trailer falling apart, losing it's value and not lasting as long as it should. I would also think that the dealer only "fixed" what could be seen, and not necessarily the complete limits of un-seen damage. So many other rigs out there without the damage, I would continue looking.

Would u buy this TT w "repaired" water damage? | Good Sam Community

CopilotCompanio
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
Here's a link to the Coach
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
Proof is in the pudding! Wait for rain and then go visit the camper! If no leaks, you're good. If indeed the floors were fixed, I see no reason why it could not be a good camper.

About mobile techs? The reason he frowns on them is because they are a competing business. Of course he's going to down-play them.

After you jump up and down all over the floor like an excited 5 year old at Christmas time, pound on the walls like a 3 year old throwing a fit and make sure they are solid too.

Then play Santa and get on the roof and see how it feels!

If all seems good, no squishy floor, no soft spots on the roof, no walls bending or moving in-an-out, then call your mobile tech friend and pick it apart.

Have fun! You've got not nothing invested yet, except your interest.
RVcircus
Explorer II
Oct 06, 2016
Look for any soft spots in the floor, walls and roof. Any discoloration and don't forget to check the backs of cabinets. Check inside the underbelly as well for insulation and/or wood damage. They could have replaced plywood and left a mess underneath. I'd also insist on a pressure test on their dime to prove the leaks have been repaired.

On top of that I'd negotiate HARD. A few thousand below market wouldn't cut it for me. Remember the next guy will do the same to you if you go to sell it down the road.
CopilotCompanio
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
DutchmenSport wrote:
Proof is in the pudding! Wait for rain and then go visit the camper! If no leaks, you're good. If indeed the floors were fixed, I see no reason why it could not be a good camper.

About mobile techs? The reason he frowns on them is because they are a competing business. Of course he's going to down-play them.

After you jump up and down all over the floor like an excited 5 year old at Christmas time, pound on the walls like a 3 year old throwing a fit and make sure they are solid too.

Then play Santa and get on the roof and see how it feels!

If all seems good, no squishy floor, no soft spots on the roof, no walls bending or moving in-an-out, then call your mobile tech friend and pick it apart.

Have fun! You've got not nothing invested yet, except your interest.

Thx, DM. Did you find one AC unit was sufficient for your 31 foot Dutchmen? 29' is a little longer & heavier than I would have liked? I hope the length won't impair me at State & National Park sites?
korbe
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
Here are my thoughts. Did he also fix the leak? Or just the visually damaged area? Water damage would likely be the number one cause of a trailer falling apart, losing it's value and not lasting as long as it should. I would also think that the dealer only "fixed" what could be seen, and not necessarily the complete limits of un-seen damage. So many other rigs out there without the damage, I would continue looking.
CopilotCompanio
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
RVcircus wrote:
Look for any soft spots in the floor, walls and roof. Any discoloration and don't forget to check the backs of cabinets. Check inside the underbelly as well for insulation and/or wood damage. They could have replaced plywood and left a mess underneath. I'd also insist on a pressure test on their dime to prove the leaks have been repaired.

On top of that I'd negotiate HARD. A few thousand below market wouldn't cut it for me. Remember the next guy will do the same to you if you go to sell it down the road.

Many thanks. Couple of followup questions...

Stupid Question Number 849: How do you look inside the underbelly? Don't you have to remove the whole thing to see inside? Or, are there access hatches/ports? /CC <--not only a TT newbie but also naturally blonde!

#850: Will I learn what a pressure test is if I plug it into the Search field? Does this check the integrity of the slide's hydraulics? Or does it somehow measure the integrity of the seal? Is this a test a mobile tech can conduct and how many $$$ are we talking about?
CopilotCompanio
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
korbe wrote:
Here are my thoughts. Did he also fix the leak? Or just the visually damaged area? Water damage would likely be the number one cause of a trailer falling apart, losing it's value and not lasting as long as it should. I would also think that the dealer only "fixed" what could be seen, and not necessarily the complete limits of un-seen damage. So many other rigs out there without the damage, I would continue looking.

He says he installed some kind of bar commonly employed by other RV manufacturers to ensure that the slide closes properly. ???
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
CopilotCompanion wrote:
DutchmenSport wrote:

...Did you find one AC unit was sufficient for your 31 foot...

Our 31 foot had a 13,500 BTU air conditioner and it did quite well for us. BUT the camper did not have any slides either. We never had problems cooling the camper, but we also never went to Arizona where it can get 110 degrees in the shade either.

We never had problems parking at any State or Private Park or anyone's back yard (except my own when we lived in town). But, you do have to choose your sites a bit more careful when you get over 25 (ish) feet. But we've been able to camp at every park we've ever wanted... somewhere.
sch911
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
Does it have a salvaged title? IOW: Has he already had it totalled, bought it back, repaired it, and is selling off as salvaged? Worth asking!
CopilotCompanio
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
sch911 wrote:
Does it have a salvaged title? IOW: Has he already had it totalled, bought it back, repaired it, and is selling off as salvaged? Worth asking!

Thx, I never would have thought to ask this. Does a "salvage title" preclude me from registering/licensing it?

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Would u buy this TT w "repaired" water damage?

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