is it risky buying a travel trailer that is 8 years old

I went up to the lake this weekend and saw a 1949 trailer a friend is restoring to use on the weekends.

Bill

Yes, it is risky. But if you are getting a great price, and you are handy with tools, it may be a risk worth taking. (Is there any warranty??) We bought a used trailer from a private party for a good price and enjoyed it for several years. We later bought a new one with an extended warranty.

Hee, hee, hee......look how old mine is...

I would guess the most risk in the transaction is trusting the dealer to do an adequate job of inspection. If you're new to RV's it may be in your best interest to hire an independent inspector to examine for water damage. Everything else in a used TT pales in comparison to water damage for expensive repair.

We bought a 1984 5er a few years ago. Had less trouble with it than most people have with their new rigs. Still love that rig (too small for full-timing). our friend bought it..I know he'll get lots of use out of it. It isn't the age you should be concerned with......it's the condition of the rig.

It is only risky if;
1) You know nothing about the equipment you are buying
2) You have no one to check it out for you before you pay for the unit
3) You believe the dealer
4) YOU BELIEVE THE DEALER.
You need to have a thorough predelivery inspection done by someone who knows RV's and is not associated with the dealership.
Your purchase will be "as is" regardless of what the salesman says about taking care of you, the contract is the binding agreement and it most likely will say "as is".
During the predelivery BEFORE YOU PAY all (REPEAT ALL) systems are proven to function. THE refrigerator is a very expensive item and can take 24 hours on initial cool down. One gambit by a dealer would be to say "Oh we forgot to plug in the rig in yesterday that is why the fridge is not cool. You sign, fridge does not work, you buy new fridge. SO everything must be proven to work no matter what.
The tires might look like new and the tread may be great but if the tires are 7-8 years old they have aged out (sitting and sun deteriorates them worse than auto tires cause they are not used much). DO NOT BELIEVE the dealer look for a date code on the inside of all tires. If they are ST tires they may be inferior for the job they must do and some here have gone to LT tires to avoid blowouts.
Hidden damage from water leaks could be an issue and you or someone you trust needs to get on the roof and look at the roof. Is it well maintained? Does it need caulking?
Interior of all cabinets and closets needs to be inspected for water incursion.

Frame needs to be inspected for damage as some Lippert frames seem to be having issues.
How are the trailer brakes? they need to be checked for function

Lastly what do you have to pull it with. That rig can dry weight out at up to 8000 pounds depending on model. The salesmans assurance is not enough. You need to figure out the weight from your tow vehicles placard. If you post the model of the trailer and the make and model of vehicle along with the ratings off the placard on the tow vehicle people here will tell you if oyu have enough vehicle to SAFELY pull the trailer.
There is lots more but these are the basics on buying ANY used RV>

REMEMBER the salesman is not your friend. You are the way he feeds his family and the kids are hungry.

I really wouldn't worry about buying something that new.
At that age it likely now has the bugs worked out of it and is going to be a good unit for many years to come.

Mine is a 97 and functions just fine.

what i know is this: trailer is a 2007 keystone hornet 26rbs. vehicle is a 2009 suburban ltz 3.42 6 speed with tow package....tow capacity 8100...payload 1593.....curb weight 5607..planninng on a equalizer to go along with it.....hope that helps...thanks so much

My first trailer (5 years ago) was a 1998 Nash 22H. Bought it from my wife's uncle. I should have done a better job inspecting it (it had a small tear in the rubber roof that had been leaking and caused some rot in the roof and wall). If you buy from a dealer, have them pressure test it for you. Basically they increase the air pressure inside the trailer and then spray soapy water all over the exterior to check for leaks.

If it hasn't leaked and everything on the inside looks nice, buy it and have fun.

If it has leaked... do a VERY thorough inspection of the roof, walls and floors to determine if their is any soft wood.

There is no reason that a properly cared for 8 year old trailer can't be perfectly fine.

We have a 10 year old TT which sits under a metal carport when not in use. It gets cleaned inside and out after every outing. Never had a leak or othe major issues. People have commented on how "new" it looks.

The point - if the TT has been cared for then I would not worry about buying an older TT. If the unit had a leak, then it would be obvious by now (stains on the walls - inside and out).

See if the dealer will offer a "non-leak" guarantee for say 6 months - to put your mind at ease. All mechanicals are pretty simple and if your handy then you should be able to rectify any issue.

But it is 8 years old - so don't expect it to be perfect but also it should not be trashed.

Gerry

Don't depend on the dealer to check it out. Have them show you that everything is working - hook it up to power, run the AC, the heat, tell them that when you come, you want to open the fridge and freezer to feel the temp, check for obvious signs of water penetration. Check to make sure you have hot water and good pressure. Look under the cabinets to be sure there are no drips. Then get up on the roof and inspect the roof. Don't expect it to be pure white, but it should be in good condition - and check the caulking for cracks. If you see cracks, then it needs to be redone - most likely needs it anyway. Inspect caulking around the exterior - especially the door and windows.

If they don't want to accommodate any of this, then walk away. Good luck.