Long trip with 95 year old lady

Go get the trailer and bring it to Minnesota first. by then you will know where the bugs are in the trailer and can have them repaired. I would think you would need to travel for short periods each day. How about being able to pick up her medicine along the way?

You need to ask yourself honestly........."Is a 25 yr. old trailer that hasn't been used in 15 yrs. worth dragging from CA to MI?"
"Is a 25 yr. old trailer worth putting new tires, new brakes, new wheel bearings on?"

Take your mother out to CA. to see your sister for a visit and call it good.
Better yet.....fly :B

Otherwise......'Forget-about it'

Are you saying it sat for 15 years with no preventative maintenance or upkeep?
Or was it in use and not moved for 15 years?

If it sat with no PM, you need to check more than the tires, brakes and wheel bearings.

Bull Rider wrote:

Bull Rider - I like your post and pic...though pics of JD and his friends can quickly get this thread off topic.

Back to the OP - nobody but you know how well a 95 year-young lady will travel -- what does she say? As for as the TT - 15 years in one spot may have many issues -- tires, brakes, and bearings may be just the beginning. Was it covered? How much UV damage to the roof? Water leaks? When was the last time the roof was sealed -- I hope sometime within the last year (or two).

These are all things to consider in regard to a trailer that is pushing the better part of 25 years old. The cost of getting it back to a point where it can be pulled, plus the cost of fuel, may not be worth what the TT's value may be -- unless it is sentimental (and belongs to the 95 year-young lady). Then all bets are off and you BEST go get it! :)

I have no idea as to the condition of the trailer you wish to pull -
BUT... if is 15 years since it has moved, the basic maintenance and repairs will most likely be more than it is worth - unless you get the parts donated and do the work yourself!! In addition to the tires and brake work you mention, ALL plastic and rubber hoses should be replaced, Wheel bearings replaced, electric wiring checked and replaced as appropriate, fridge and furnace checked with care and repaired as needed, Bedding and matresses replaced, and the list goes on and on!!

Then...Grandma certainly will not be happy with the likely problems to be encountered with the old trailer as you travel along the way!!

If flying is not an option, Use the car / RV and stop at hotels / motels to make it a pleasant trip!

JMHO - learned the hard way!!!

Bull Rider wrote:

The 95 year old ladies I know don't drink any more, but they don't drink any less either :C

I say go for it , life is a gamble it could be quite an adventure . Last year this old guy came rolling in the campground in a late 1970's trailer , there was moss on the roof , looks like it had not been washed for 10 years , plywood on 2 windows . he made it from Florida to Pennsylvania . His tow vehicle was a old uhaul box van . It worked .

SprinklerMan wrote:
I say go for it , life is a gamble it could be quite an adventure . Last year this old guy came rolling in the campground in a late 1970's trailer , there was moss on the roof , looks like it had not been washed for 10 years , plywood on 2 windows . he made it from Florida to Pennsylvania . His tow vehicle was a old uhaul box van . It worked .

I'm guessing that campground didn't have a 10 year old rule? :)

Sure, it could work out good. I would plan your overnights carefully. Have some backup spots in case a half days travel is in order so that no one gets stressed.

There's a lot of info left to be put between the lines like health conditions, purpose of trip, will you be flying to CA, etc. The one ton van and the trailer should be a good match, no worries there as long as a WDH is in the mix.