What should I do with my Travel Trailer? Student needs help!

[mongldroid]

Hello,

I am a student at a Texas university looking for some advice... In search of the most affordable housing solution this semester I ended up purchasing an old travel trailer off facebook. I am trying to decide if I should flip it at the end of the semester and find something better or if I should rebuild it this summer between semesters.

Details:

I paid $2500 for the trailer as is. I have $2500 left to spend in my housing budget for next semester.

I have already been offered what I paid so can easily get out at the end of the semester if I've invested poorly.

I was given financing to pay for an apartment but I bought the trailer with the money instead to own something rather than paying rent down the tube.

I park the trailer near campus for free so have no bills other than propane.

I have 2 more years of school (at least) I would benefit from the total rent free scenario.

All electronics were tested once, at purchase, and everything other than wood damage is in good shape (tanks,stove,fridge,ac,shower,pump)

I do not think electric brakes work.

Questions

Do I flip the trailer after the semester and cash in the 1 rent free semester or do I put my $2500 for rent next semester into a rebuild and have something nice for the rest of school?

I would expect to salvage alot like windows appliances, hinges, doors...

Photos

[Keen_Family]

Ditto on pretty much everything above.

Can't advise you on whether to stay in a TT or move into an apartment - thats a lifestyle question. Don't put money into that TT - if you open that wall up, you will find a lot of issues, and you'll end up needing a lot more than $2500 for a proper rebuild. If you want to stay in a TT, flip it and put your money into a better TT.

By the way - if you do intend to get a better TT, start looking now, and avoid anything with water damage. You may be surprised what you can find....

[SprinklerMan]

Fix only whats necessary , anf you have $ 2500 for beer

[CavemanCharlie]

mongldroid wrote:
Thanks for the input. The consensus seems to be to hunker down and endure and while I love living outdoors I would enjoy nicer accomodations. Considering the time I have left in school, and the fact I have dedicated funding for housing to spend, rebuilding or upgrading seems to be where I am headed. I really think rebuilding would be cheaper for what I could produce

Is there any value in all the odds and ends of my trailer if they are in good shape (cabinet doors, blinds and blind box,windows...)

Not a lot of value in the stuff you listed. If the roof mount AC and gas electric fridge are good they are worth some. Then things like the stove, toilet, and water pump are worth a few bucks but not to much.

[mongldroid]

Thanks for the input. The consensus seems to be to hunker down and endure and while I love living outdoors I would enjoy nicer accomodations. Considering the time I have left in school, and the fact I have dedicated funding for housing to spend, rebuilding or upgrading seems to be where I am headed. I really think rebuilding would be cheaper for what I could produce

Is there any value in all the odds and ends of my trailer if they are in good shape (cabinet doors, blinds and blind box,windows...)

[colliehauler]

RVcircus wrote:

JnJnKatiebug wrote:
I would sell it, get my money back and take the $5000 and look for a better trailer. When you start repairs, think money pit. I have seen some really good clean units in the $5000 range that needed no work at all. I saw a 28 footer with no slide the other day for $8000 that looked like new.

I agree, from my searches $5000 seems to be about the point where you start to see nice trailers. We have about $5000 into ours after the rebuild, so we may be breaking even on it value wise.

This is what I would do as well.

[Timtation]

5K probably would get you something that is still worth something at graduation more than a keg party. Search for a replacement and take the money. NPV=$2500, FV may possibly be a large $-. Don't overlook class A's, sometimes minor problems with an older unit leads to major discounting.
Good luck and let us know the end of the story with updates.

[nineoaks2004]

I would live in it until the semester ends then see if you want to spend any money on repairs or flip it, , you could consider to sell it, then put that 2500.00 with the other 2500.00 and up grade to a better TT.

[CavemanCharlie]

JWRoberts wrote:
Ditto

boogie_4wheel wrote:
Keep trailer. Leave it as is, fix only what needs to be fixed. Save the rest of your money.
Sell for same money after graduation.

I agree with this too.

[JWRoberts]

Ditto

boogie_4wheel wrote:
Keep trailer. Leave it as is, fix only what needs to be fixed. Save the rest of your money.
Sell for same money after graduation.

[RVcircus]

JnJnKatiebug wrote:
I would sell it, get my money back and take the $5000 and look for a better trailer. When you start repairs, think money pit. I have seen some really good clean units in the $5000 range that needed no work at all. I saw a 28 footer with no slide the other day for $8000 that looked like new.

I agree, from my searches $5000 seems to be about the point where you start to see nice trailers. We have about $5000 into ours after the rebuild, so we may be breaking even on it value wise.

[JnJnKatiebug]

I would sell it, get my money back and take the $5000 and look for a better trailer. When you start repairs, think money pit. I have seen some really good clean units in the $5000 range that needed no work at all. I saw a 28 footer with no slide the other day for $8000 that looked like new.

[RVcircus]

There's likely not too much wood left in that corner and it looks like it's buckling. We had some similar damage and needed to rebuild the rear 10' of the trailer and replace the roof (along with many other things). It's doable, but I wouldn't expect to recoup all of the money you put into it when you sell if that's your goal. You could always live in it for now and keep your eyes peeled for a better deal, but that $2500 offer might not still be there.

[2012Coleman]

So I take it you can use facilities at the school to shower? What do you do about using the bathroom when at the trailer? It doesn't look like your currently using it.

How cold does it get in the winter, and have you experienced living in it during the winter?

The biggest question I have - do you have a fire extinguisher, and carbon monoxide and smoke detectors?

[coolmom42]

*Invest a little money and re-caulk every opening on it with some good RV caulk--NOT silicone.

*re-seal the windows---lots of info on this forum on how to do it.

*clean up all visible mold with bleach, then seal the surfaces with Kilz and maybe some nice paint.

*you need to sanitize the water system and keep some water in that toilet to keep the seal wet. If the toilet won't hold water, the seal replacement is simple, again, lots of info on here on how to do it, or replace the entire toilet.

*do your reading on here about how to manage water usage and holding tanks, to prevent problems.

*you don't mention what you are doing for power---if you want your 12 V system to work, you need a decent deep cycle battery and enough generator to charge that battery.

* you don't mention what you are doing for water---you need to consider that.

*and will you be able to live comfortably there in the summer, with no AC?

If you really really like living there, invest a small amount of money to make it a comfortable set up, and one where you could have friends over if you wanted to. That means a functional bathroom, a water supply, and a way to charge a battery. Clean it up, decorate a little, and you will have a decent place to live for the remainder of school.

I totally understand that it's better than dealing with student apartments or roommates, plus the noise and congestion of a town, and it's a good use of your money if you really like it.