So you guys might already know my story. Basically my TT rollover when I was making a left turn. I do see most of the folks suggest I should take the money and buy a new one, but here is my situation:1. Insurance offers $18.7K for total loss settlement, purchase price 20k, buy back price 4k2. I can not find a similar TT within 500 miles unless I add another 6~10k.We brought the TT for COVID travelling and need to rent storage for it, was only plan to own it for 1-3 years. My feeling is if I buy a new one and sell it in a year, I easily lose 5k due to devaluation. And to sell a RV is another hassle.3. Seems to me now I have the chance to spend 4k to get a usable TT,to me it's actually much better than those popups which still cost 10k+4. Most tempting part is I went to the tow yard and checked the RV, everything inside still working OK. It rained the past few days and I don't see any leaking inside. Plus in my previous post someone mentioned most RV tends to leak anyway. My plan is to replace the edge trim and bottom trim myself, and for the crack I plan to add something like a vent cover to hide it and make sure water won't get in. All these should be done within 1k budget.5.Checked with DMV, they have no problem to register/title in my case, even I don't fix my TT properly. There's no RV insurance requirement in my state, this is another plus to me6. My WC case is the frame damage gets worse and I have to junk it, I did learn little business will take salvaged TT, but I feel mine still looks in good shape. WWC scenario: I pay another 1k to get rid of it?All in all, risking 5k for a usable TT rather than paying 20k for new one+ is tempting...What am I missing? I'm ready for any sarcasm and yes please wake me up.:?

You want to buy it and fix it up so what are you waiting for?

I think this has a whole lot to do with your knowledge base and readiness to repair. Yes, it seems 'useable' to you, but what do you really know?Do you have the capacity to know if the frame and axle are still true? Was the hitch-head bent or warped in any way during the accident? How many internal components on the appliances are loose that will fail once it spends some time on the road? Are the cracks in some of the walls that will lead to delamination problems once the stress of travel is exerted on them? This list goes on and, for me, is the reason I would not take on a trailer that had been in a severe accident. I'm pretty good with the DIY stuff, but many of these are simply beyond my ability to predict based on a simple walkthrough of the camper. If you feel you can judge it properly and want to do the work - go for it. For me, the unknowns would simply be too significant.

So you get the trailer and 14.7k? You said something about frame damage, what is it?Edit: Bush’s rv in twin falls, Idaho has the 16bhs for 17,995. How far is that from you?It doesn’t appear to be the black label though.

If you have the time Miller has the beer...Really all you need to do is make sure it will not fall apart driving it, and that it will not leak. Duct tape special or just spend the time to get it dry and looking not wrecked and you will be fine.Unlike a car, nobody is in the camper going down the road so if the frame breaks and you drag the trailer sideways a little while then so what?I once drug a trailer 11 miles on the hub, then axle as the hub ground off. No biggie. Trailer had to be abandon, but it was so nothing that I had to be told that the trailer was broken while in motion. Lesson: as long as the trailer is not in danger of flipping sideways and taking the truck with it then you are fine towing junky trailers. If frame is damaged then you might have tire wear.

Still very tempting to buy my totaled TT back | Good Sam Community

bgum
Explorer
Jun 08, 2021
You want to buy it and fix it up so what are you waiting for?
IDman
Explorer
Jun 08, 2021
Are you a junk collector?
Mickeyfan0805
Explorer
Jun 08, 2021
I think this has a whole lot to do with your knowledge base and readiness to repair. Yes, it seems 'useable' to you, but what do you really know?

Do you have the capacity to know if the frame and axle are still true? Was the hitch-head bent or warped in any way during the accident? How many internal components on the appliances are loose that will fail once it spends some time on the road? Are the cracks in some of the walls that will lead to delamination problems once the stress of travel is exerted on them?

This list goes on and, for me, is the reason I would not take on a trailer that had been in a severe accident. I'm pretty good with the DIY stuff, but many of these are simply beyond my ability to predict based on a simple walkthrough of the camper. If you feel you can judge it properly and want to do the work - go for it. For me, the unknowns would simply be too significant.
capacitor
Explorer
Jun 08, 2021
So you get the trailer and 14.7k? You said something about frame damage, what is it?

Edit: Bush’s rv in twin falls, Idaho has the 16bhs for 17,995. How far is that from you?
It doesn’t appear to be the black label though.
mr_andyj
Explorer
Jun 08, 2021
If you have the time Miller has the beer...

Really all you need to do is make sure it will not fall apart driving it, and that it will not leak. Duct tape special or just spend the time to get it dry and looking not wrecked and you will be fine.
Unlike a car, nobody is in the camper going down the road so if the frame breaks and you drag the trailer sideways a little while then so what?
I once drug a trailer 11 miles on the hub, then axle as the hub ground off. No biggie. Trailer had to be abandon, but it was so nothing that I had to be told that the trailer was broken while in motion. Lesson: as long as the trailer is not in danger of flipping sideways and taking the truck with it then you are fine towing junky trailers. If frame is damaged then you might have tire wear.
Walaby
Explorer II
Jun 08, 2021
Just go ahead and do it.

I wouldn't. But you're not me.

Mike
protel
Explorer
Jun 08, 2021
capacitor wrote:
So you get the trailer and 14.7k? You said something about frame damage, what is it?

Edit: Bush’s rv in twin falls, Idaho has the 16bhs for 17,995. How far is that from you?
It doesn’t appear to be the black label though.

They are actually the 1st dealer I checked with since I got my unit from them. But like a lot of other dealers, althrough they list lot of TT, they are actually not available and then they ask you to put deposit and wait 3-6 months...
gbopp
Explorer
Jun 08, 2021
Buy it, do the repairs and go camping/traveling.
If you can't sell it in a few years, give it away.

My only concern would be the salvage title. Your state does not require RV insurance. Ask your insurance agent what happens if, while towing, the frame or axle breaks and the TT causes a crash. Are you covered for liability?
MarkTwain
Explorer
Jun 08, 2021
protel wrote:
So you guys might already know my story. Basically my TT rollover when I was making a left turn. I do see most of the folks suggest I should take the money and buy a new one, but here is my situation:

1. Insurance offers $18.7K for total loss settlement, purchase price 20k, buy back price 4k
2. I can not find a similar TT within 500 miles unless I add another 6~10k.We brought the TT for COVID travelling and need to rent storage for it, was only plan to own it for 1-3 years. My feeling is if I buy a new one and sell it in a year, I easily lose 5k due to devaluation. And to sell a RV is another hassle.
3. Seems to me now I have the chance to spend 4k to get a usable TT,to me it's actually much better than those popups which still cost 10k+
4. Most tempting part is I went to the tow yard and checked the RV, everything inside still working OK. It rained the past few days and I don't see any leaking inside. Plus in my previous post someone mentioned most RV tends to leak anyway. My plan is to replace the edge trim and bottom trim myself, and for the crack I plan to add something like a vent cover to hide it and make sure water won't get in. All these should be done within 1k budget.
5.Checked with DMV, they have no problem to register/title in my case, even I don't fix my TT properly. There's no RV insurance requirement in my state, this is another plus to me
6. My WC case is the frame damage gets worse and I have to junk it, I did learn little business will take salvaged TT, but I feel mine still looks in good shape. WWC scenario: I pay another 1k to get rid of it?All in all, risking 5k for a usable TT rather than paying 20k for new one+ is tempting...

What am I missing? I'm ready for any sarcasm and yes please wake me up.:?

Your BIGGEST questionable unknown in your idea and plan is that you are assuming you can find a RV repair shop that can and will be able to repair your damaged trailer. How long will the repair shop take to make all the repairs and what warranty will they give if any of their repairs goes bad. What will be the total costs to do all the repairs?????? I would not choose to buy it back IMHO!!!!
philh
Explorer II
Jun 08, 2021
you can put lipstick on a pig...

Trailers in general are very poorly assembled. Yours got tossed on it's side with unknown damage. I would be very concerned with it's structural integrity.