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.
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.
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.
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That being said.....I would do it again, but I wouldn't pay more than $800.00 for it.
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.
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That being said.....I would do it again, but I wouldn't pay more than $800.00 for it.
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
I don't want to have to deal with a mess like this! :E
