Hi all, I've read through a few posts here about hail damaged trailers and was hoping for your expert opinions. I'm looking to buy my first travel trailer, I have a wife and 4 kids so sleeping 6 is my minimum for size. I found a trailer local to me that is "new", a 2017 K-Z RV ESCAPE 231BH . I checked it out at the dealer knowing that it had hail damage. They told me it has "already been discounted" for the hail damage but I'm not so sure that's true. Current price: $17,932. The trailer itself doesn't have any dimples/dents around the sides, but the top aluminum is pretty dented and some of the plastic has been cracked, they claimed they were going to replace any plastic that got hit by the hail. Initially this felt like it might be a good deal however I've been searching online, I've found a few of the same model in other states for less $$, no damage, and a year newer. My question is, should I even bother with the hail damaged trailer (good title), and if I do, how much bargaining power do I have? My wife/family all like the layout/floorplan/trailer, it's light enough I can tow with my old 2005 denali, so everything lines up except the hail damage and questions about resale value. Here are some pics of the roof: https://goo.gl/photos/tadBtc8koxGSBHfT8Thoughts?

Just because a dealer says it's discounted don't count on it. Salesmen have been known to fib. Some have called them outright liers.

jlrosine wrote:Initially this felt like it might be a good deal however I've been searching online, I've found a few of the same model in other states for less $$, no damage, and a year newer. I think you answered your own question.

I would walk away, that's entirely too much damage. Also, aluminum roof is a little strange as most TT have a rubber or TPO roof. Better RVs may have a fiberglass roof. Also, after purchase of a new unit, you would want a warranty on the roof. Much too easy for leaks to occur and you would have no recourse. One small leak can cause major delamination to sidewalls.

Consider that many insurance companies will not insure hail damaged trailers or they will put a rider exempting anything that was damaged.I would tread carefully.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone, much appreciated.

Should I offer less for this new Hail damaged KZ trailer?

Camper_G
Explorer
Jun 24, 2017
JIMNLIN wrote:
jlrosine wrote:
Thanks everyone for the insight. I think I'm going to pass on the hail damaged trailer unless they can give me some screaming deal....I might buy it for 10k but I don't think much more :).

Wise choice.
Your a first time buyer so don't buy a trailer that will need repair or has a short lived rooflife because of the beating hail can gave it. Spend that 10k on a trailer that doesn't look beat up or create down the road issues. Also think about resale value.
Depending on the size of the hail and how deep those dents are aluminum has been stretched and some years later may crack in those spots as aluminum material gets brittle with age especially in sunny parts of the country. I saw this when I did mobilhome/rv repair years ago.
From galvanized roofing panels to seamed aluminum roofing material in a roll to white seamless aluminum roofing material in a roll to finally rubber roof material I'll take a rubber roof over aluminum material anytime. We saw much less year to year maintenance issues when rubber roof material came on the rv trailer scene.

,
I'd much rather spend some maintenance time 2 times per year on my aluminum roof than i would praying a new rubber roof will last me more than 10 years.

To each their own. I just looked at a new jayco Jay flight and climbed the rear ladder to the roof. I touched the tpo toof material and it was loose at the rear edge of the roof. It felt very thin also like a tree branch would blow a hole in it very easily. No thank you.

When someone can show me a factory inatalled rubber roof thats 28yrs old, thats as nice as my 28yr old oem aluminum roof is, we'll talk.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jun 24, 2017
jlrosine wrote:
Thanks everyone for the insight. I think I'm going to pass on the hail damaged trailer unless they can give me some screaming deal....I might buy it for 10k but I don't think much more :).

Wise choice.
Your a first time buyer so don't buy a trailer that will need repair or has a short lived rooflife because of the beating hail can gave it. Spend that 10k on a trailer that doesn't look beat up or create down the road issues. Also think about resale value.
Depending on the size of the hail and how deep those dents are aluminum has been stretched and some years later may crack in those spots as aluminum material gets brittle with age especially in sunny parts of the country. I saw this when I did mobilhome/rv repair years ago.
From galvanized roofing panels to seamed aluminum roofing material in a roll to white seamless aluminum roofing material in a roll to finally rubber roof material I'll take a rubber roof over aluminum material anytime. We saw much less year to year maintenance issues when rubber roof material came on the rv trailer scene.
Camper_G
Explorer
Jun 24, 2017
I personally love the aluminum roof on my 28 yr old camper, which is original and still in great shape. How many of today's rigs will still have their original, uncoated rubber roofs at that same age? I don't think too many.

That roof is hammered though. I'd want a steep discount. The roof on my rig is not perfect either, but i don't care i don't see it normally.

I did see in the pics the fins on the ac unit are hit pretty hard. That's a concern. Was the tubes damaged or weakened? I'd maybe want a new ac installed or at least the cover removed and fins raked and factor a new unit into the purchase price in case that one fails. It may be ok. But its a gamble. Good luck
stevemorris
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
Dennis12 wrote:
I'm a rv salesman, I have always delivered on time, never cheated anybody, always sold for what the customer ask, the dings are probably from that little old woman that owned it driving it to church picnics on that gravel road. And believe me I have never told a lie.

holy**** batman, better call Charles Darwin. a new species of humanoid, an rv salesman, one that doesn't lie, bull**** you or right out cheat you and may even know a little about weight stuff

rv salesman in general in my experience, are the used car salesmen of the 60's and 70's and earlier of course, bull s*** talks, money seals the deal
valhalla360
Navigator
Jun 23, 2017
I wouldn't worry about an aluminium roof. My Dad's 1978 is still good. As long as you keep the seams sealed, it should be dry for another 30-40yrs.

But if I'm buying a damaged unit, I want a discount commensurate with the damage and that means a discount equivalent to full retail price of replacing the entire roof and any other damage plus a little extra for the hassle factor. (and as others have alluded to it has to be fully insurable)

If you are finding new undamaged units for the same price, it's not even close.
moresmoke
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
I think you are on the right track. Just to give you an idea, I bought a TT in 2015. About 2 months later we got golf ball size hail. There are probably 25 dings in the front panel that you don't notice unless you really look for them. The insurance company cut us a check for 50% of the $15000 we paid for it.
jlrosine
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
Thanks everyone for the insight. I think I'm going to pass on the hail damaged trailer unless they can give me some screaming deal....I might buy it for 10k but I don't think much more :).
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Jun 23, 2017
Lwiddis wrote:
See, Ford truck guy found a better deal than I did, and I always buy from Dennis cuz he never fibs.

And I'm not even looking to buy.. Now if I was looking, I would never have seen that add . .
yillb
Explorer
Jun 23, 2017
I find that around this time ( trying to buy another one ), dealers don't seem to really care if they make a sale, apparently, they sell so many, some other shmuck will be in in the next few days and buy it if you don't. It's disappointing really.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2017
See, Ford truck guy found a better deal than I did, and I always buy from Dennis cuz he never fibs.

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Should I offer less for this new Hail damaged KZ trailer?

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