Needs some work, a project camper

[kevinlongisland]

Cabin fever comes to me pretty quickly. So, being in Phoenix Arizona since March hasn’t been good for me. A friend mentioned this thing called dispersed camping, and since I’m cheap, and love being outdoors, it sounded like a great fit for me! So, being cheap (and creative), I used what I had already to make it happen; a 2012 Scion xB, an air mattress, a piece of 1/4” board to bridge the gap behind the front seats, 5 roughneck storage bins, two camp chairs, etc, etc. I’m about 8 trips in, with three nights being the max we (my wife and I) have stayed. It’s time for an upgrade!





A truck camper is perfect as we both like secluded places, and I love 4 wheeling (used to have an 85 4Runner bobbed, locked axles, etc). A truck with camper is best to get us where we want to be.

So my search began. Today I ran across a camper and I’m not sure how much to offer. It needs work; it clearly hasn’t been properly taken care of for years. And in a way, I don’t mind that. I love fixing things! As a child I always took things apart to figure how they worked. And fixed anything I could get my hands on; it’s just fun for me. So in some ways it’s an opportunity. But having just started I’m not sure what it’s actually worth. $1000? $2000? It’s a 2003 Alpenlite 850. Photos show the plethora of issues I found. And what I’ve learned through the years buying used cars, for every issue you find when doing an initial inspection, there’s two or three more issues you’ll find later when you own it. So I know there will be more than what I found initially. Also, they weren’t able to power it up and show me if anything inside worked (it’s an estate sale).

Any help or suggestions on what to offer for it are greatly appreciated!!






Lot's of areas that show the sealant hasn't been done regularly.

[kevinlongisland]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I appreciate it.

joerg68 and BurbMan, thanks for the link to that re-build. Was very informative to see what all is involved. Awesome job on that rebuild BurbMan. And love the sig photo, the ocean/beach is about all I miss from LI. 🙂

Bert the Welder, loved the quote " "I get board so quick and easily, I'm surprised I'm still married...." And great advice. I love working on stuff so a free camper would be fun to fiddle with in my free time. But, I'd prefer to get out on the road sooner than later, so I'll purchase a ready to go camper when a fair deal pops up.

[Bert_the_Welder]

Biggest factor with any diy project is honesty with ones self. Are you able to do the work? are you mentally prepared to stay on it start to finish? Look around your place; how many diy/fix projects have you completed and how long did they take and how many have been sitting for months/years?
Skill and tools can be acquired. Your default tendencies are what they are. Not better or worst. They just are what they are. 🙂
As a friend once said, "I get board so quick and easily, I'm surprised I'm still married...." 🙂

[BurbMan]

Your pics aren't coming thru...

Short story, we got our 2002 Lance 811 for free with some visible damage and a bunch more we didn't see....start to finish on the rebuild was about 4 months of nights/weekends, about $4000 in parts, supplies, and appliances. It's been a fun project, and I saved some $$ making a road trip to shop the RV salvage /surplus places around Elkhart IN. Probably 200+ hours of work so far.

Link in my sig if you want to read the details....

Bottom line, if it's sketchy offer to take it away for free. I found out if you don't have a truck you can put a TC on a Home Depot rental....

[joerg68]

Just a few threads down in this very forum, you find this one:
https://forums.trailerlife.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/30079382.cfm

[mountainkowboy]

My $0.02....When I bought our S&S I knew it would need some "attention", I bought it for $4,000.00 with the truck it sat on.



I swapped the wheels and tire with my truck and sold the crew cab for $3,600.00 and kept the camper. It took me 6 months to "fix" the S&S working on it like a full time job to bring it back.

from

to


That being said.....I would do it again, but I wouldn't pay more than $800.00 for it.

[midnightsadie]

it could. just bouncing down the paved road will loosen things up.

[ppine]

Can't pull up the photos. Old campers are worth very little if they have water damage and rot. There is nowhere to attach the jacks. They leak and they fall apart. $250 is close to the right answer.

I have never thought of working with the old sheet metal and whimpy framing, black mold, and rotten wood and insulation to be rewarding at all.

[Lwiddis]

If you want a project aka a total rebuild, buy it. If you want to go camping in the next year or year and a half, buy a different TC. Your choice.

[kevinlongisland]

Thanks for the quick feedback! What happens structurally and exterior skin wise to a camper like above when exposed to highway and off road driving forces? Will it fall apart?

I don't want to have to deal with a mess like this! :E

[kohldad]

Even in Az there is going to be a decent mount of water damage in the unit from it being open. Adds are several years. If there is any delamination in the skin, looks like it in the picture with the jack, means you will have to take the skin off and possibly replace it since it won't come off in one piece.

If you want to take the time and have the tools, would probably be a good cheap to get it to being a useable camper. The Apenlite was a quality rig when it was made.

Gray and black water tanks are small at 10 gallons each but the water tank is a nice 33 gal.

I think the offer of $250 or just hauling it off for them is a good place to start. Figure new ac, new roof, new vents and then hope the water lines are good. Figure a useable camper of the same size type is only worth $5000-$7000.

[midnightsadie]

$250 bucks, your doing them a favor by getting it out of there way. you got some work ahead of you.

[JimK-NY]

It would not be worth anything to me. Fixing up an old camper is one thing. Trying to disassemble it and rebuilt the bones due to leaks and rot are another issue.