BlissRamblyn wrote:
I am new to campers. I used to tent camp but with a little baby and a heavy work schedule that isn't much of a reality. So we purchased a 1991 Palomino soft side truck camper. It's fully functional and seemed like a good deal at $500 with a set of Happijac tie downs. We got it home and noticed it does have a leak and there is some water damage around one of the jack mounts.
Is Palomino a good brand? Is the system which raises and lowers the top reliable? Do they stand behind there product and are replacement parts for the top mechanism available? Is this a camper worth putting time and money into?
What I have and I had a Lance before it. It's not a 4 season camper by any shot but it it light and yes parts are available for the tent and the camper itself. In fact Palomino is right here in Michigan, just south of 3 Rivers or west of Coldwater about 20 miles.
I have a new one with a solid one piece door and the Reico-Titan electric roof lift, push button up and down.
Mine is new (last year) but I stay after the seals and caulk every 90 days.
They are wood framed so I'd be thinking about taking care of that leak and repairing any rot.
people say it's an 'entry level camper', but it fits my needs and lifestyle just fine and it didn't cost a fortune either.
Not heavy either. I have the top of the line model with a full wet bath and full of water, 2 full propane bottles and all my 'stuff', it weighs 2200 pounds, way below the payload capacity for my F350 Ford SRW diesel 4x4. I don't even know it's back there. I surely knew the Lance was back there however......
For 500 bucks, you cannot go wrong, even if it needs some repair.
If you need parts, advice or manuals, Goggle up Palomino Campers, Colon, Michigan and get the phone number and ask for Brian, he';s the parts manager and knows about everything about the campers, They will sell you parts direct and ship them to you. I know they do tent repairs there in Colon. Last time I was at the plant, they had 4 older units in the back for tent replacement.
It's not a double / triple slide camper with a sauna and widescreen TV but for the wife and I, it's just fine and being a pop-up TC, no wind resistance going down the road either.
Nice folks to deal with.
