We want an RV!

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Ok, we are ready to spread our wings a little, let someone baby sit the homestead for us and take along a little pull along camper. I sort of envision us in one of those little campers with the rounded top, But I don't even know what kind they are and what to start looking for. We know that we want something old and cheap, like maybe in the 1000 to 2000 price range. Does anyone have any experiance, any ideas of what I should look for in a camper? Just how does one check a camper out to make sure that it is in Ok, condition? Talk to me! We also think that it would be good to have one so that when we have company in the summer, they can camp out in our yard, instead of being packed into our small house. Ideas?

-- Trendle Ellwood (trendlespin@msn.com), April 01, 2002

Answers

Trendle, How about an Apache pop up? They are easy to pull, better gas mileage. (I have been looking into getting some type of camper too.) There is a forum on Lusenet about Apache pop up campers and here's another site to check out apache pop up buying guide

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.

First question you must answer is what are you going to pull this camper with? Then you can decide what type of camper you can SAFELY pull with that vehicle. I have had a 21" "box" type camper that was fully self contained but I now have a pop up style camper. I prefer the popup as it is smaller and simpler. Actually most of our camping is done with a tent but for vacations it's nice to have a camper. We don't use ours for anything more than sleeping comfortably. We always cook outside and have an awning that keeps the rain and the sun off of our outdoor area. The handiest appliance is the fridge which works on propane or 120v elctricity. Every camper, actually everything,I buy is a fixer upper. If you look around there are some deals to be had.

-- Emil in TN (eprisco@usit.net), April 01, 2002.

Camping can indeed be a lot of fun. I have many good memories of camping in different areas of the United States. Favorite campground of mine is no more from what I understand. It was Opryland campground. Hear they turned it into a new mall site. Priorities. Humph!

I used to have a pop up style trailer. The main thing I have against them is the insecurity they provide in this old crazy world. Someone can slit the sides and retrieve valuables or you pretty quickly. I would prefer to have a solid side between myself and them.

There are a couple of thoughts on trailers. If you get one just large enough to have a tandem axle they will be more stable and pull nicer on the road, er so I'm told. The single axle ones are easier to back though. Depending upon the size of trailer you wind up with, you may need one of the swaybar/lifting hitches. Sorry but the name of them escapes me at the moment.

I prefer a camper that is self-contained, i.e. with a bathroom where I can shower and have other facilities if you get my drift. The holding tanks for sewage should be as large or larger than the fresh water tank. Be sure to check the tanks for leakage prior to purchase.

When looking over the bathroom of a RV, do you shower over the stool, or is there a seperate area?

When you find a unit to look at, be sure to check the entire water system. Does the water heater leak. Many are aluminum and people do forget to drain them. Freezing can ruin them, but I once helped a friend remove one for successful welding.

The electrical system may be run by invertor. The is to say that there is a 12 volt system for lights, etc., with an invertor to give 110 volts on a small basis. The invertor usually serves as a battery charger when plugged into electricity.

Those are a few of the basics. A magazine called "Trailer Life" is an interesting read. In addition, most campers are very friendly folk and would be happy to throw in their $.02 worth of opinions.

I do like traveling by camper. No need to haul in 100 suitcases when you get to an area--everything is already in the closet. Snacks easily accessible instead of going to a restaurant. Camp fees not necessarily cheap, but there are many, many locations where camping is free or inexpensive.

Good luck, and as Cabin Fever would say, Happy Trails.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), April 01, 2002.


Leaks are probably one of the main problems. Either the roof leaks or pipes have frozen and they leak. Pipes can be fixed but sometimes they are in difficult to reach spaces and some of the built-ins have to be removed to get at them. You want to make sure none of the gas appliances leak gas for obvious reasons.

Secondly, I would look at the undercarrieage to determine if it has been in an accident and the frame or axles bent which may cause problems when trying to pull the trailer. Check to make sure the door fits properly. If it seems shifted, this can be an indication of an accident.

Don't buy a larger trailer than you are comfortable pulling. My husband bought a 34 foot pull along as our first trailer and when we pull it behind our 15 passenger van we are 51 feet long. He didn't mind it but I would never drive it. Granted the large size makes it a really nice place to stay but you are almost taking your house with you. We bought them for going to dog shows which hubby does a lot of so he prefers having his house with him. He was not into the camping thing and wanted to live comfortably.

I agree with the idea of having the trailer as a guest house. We now have a motorhome and we use it as a guest house as well as to go to dog shows and it is great. Your guests have their privacy and you keep yours as well. I will never be without one to use as a guest house.

When we were first going to dog shows we borrowed my BIL's pop-up camper. We were using it in Canada in September and all I remember is how cold we were at night. So, if you are going to be camping in some cooler times of the year, you may not want a pop-up. I also agree with having solid walls around me. In our case the dogs we had with us were great danes so no one was going to bother us but if I didn't have them with me I would definitely have felt uncomfortable. Okay, now stop laughing at the visual of two adults and two grown great danes in a pop-up camper. Believe me, it was a sight.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), April 01, 2002.


Trendle, you have loads of great advice already, but also check out the floor. If you are buying an older trailer sometimes the floor can be soft (rotted) in places. They can be replaced if not too bad, but best to buy one with a good floor. Get a sway bar, and make sure your vehicle can tow what you buy. The trailers that are rounded on top are made by Avion I think, they look like a silver bullet (that's the one that comes to mind). Good luck with your purchase, you'll have lots of fun.

-- Carol K (ck7951@bluefrognet.net), April 01, 2002.


Gee, thanks everybody , this is great. We do love to go camping, did the tents when we were younger, then at the state parks around here, they have what they call camper cabins, which are just tiny little sheds, with four walls, a door, a loft, cot's , We do just fine there. I get excited when I think about taking, my own bed, and stuff in a little camper, right with us.

Thanks for all the input, I am printing this all out to help me with my research, the tips from Notforprofit, Colleen and Emil on what to look for when you check em out is so helpful. This seems to be the rhythm that my husband and I have gotten into when we start a project. I do the research, talk over the info. with him, then we make our decision.

Cowgirlone in Ok, yah My husband mentioned a pop up. But I am wondering how easily do they pop up, and I do like the idea of having it all there and ready without having to do all the set up. Thanks for the apache pop up buying guide link tho. Think I will check it out.

Oh Carol thanks for the clue on the rounded top ones, Avion's, I can keep an outlook for that one. Isn't it funny I just picture us in one of those, Maybe because they are little, and I really do want a small one. Just a simple little thing is all I need.

Thanks! I do think this is going to be a fun search. Looking forward to any more ideas and inspirations!

Love Tren

-- Trendle Ellwood (trendlespin@msn.com), April 01, 2002.


Trendle, the Avion and Airstream are both rounded toped. But VERY expensive. Even the older ones. It would be a mericle to find one for even 2000.00. Depending on how big your familey is one about 25ft. would be a good size and not hard to pull. But look them over really close. We bought a 32ft fifth wheel camper, the one that hooks up with a hitch mounted inside your pickup bed. It was only 3 years old. We didn't know it but it was leaking between the outside skin and the walls after having it only 2 years the floor was almost ready to fall out. It wasn't leaking inside is why we didn't notice it. But we really injoyed it and miss having one now. So good luck.

-- ruby (rubyfmc@cs.com), April 01, 2002.

The round top, polished aluminum trailers are Airstream brand, there is a nation wide association also.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), April 01, 2002.

Go to the top of this page and click on "Lusenet", then on "barter board" when that page comes up. Scroll to the bottom and click on "older posts, "everything else". About 11 posts down from the top is a R.V, for $1,800

-- Ed Copp (OH) (edcopp@yahoo.com), April 01, 2002.

Hello Trendle,

I have a fixer up that I have been trying to sell this Spring! My family and I lived in it for a year and a half before we had enough of our house built to move into it. It is a 1975 Dodge 21 Foot Camper. It is the kind that you drive. It has a 360 motor that runs fine except for exhaust manifold leaks. It needs painting and some of the plumbing is in need of repair but, if you don't mind those things you may be interested in it. I have been asking $1800.00 for it. Check out my webpage for a picture of it so you can see it before making any commitments. I live in Southern Missouri.

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.



Don't buy a motorhome for a camper. They are another vehicle to maintain, buy license plates for and insure. Popping up a popup is usually quite simple. Mine has a crank in the frt. and you just turn the crank handle, which my daughter does, until the roof is elevated. Mine works by cables and when I bought it a cable was broken. Easy to fix and saved me some bucks. Fully self contained campers have a complete plumbing system that has to be winterized every year if you live where it freezes. This usually requires blowing the lines out and adding non toxic antifreeze, more expense. Box type trailer also use electric trailer brakes which require a brake box controller in your tow vehicle. If it has brakes it's not a recommendation that you use them it is a law on interstate hwys. You still haven't mentioned what you will tow with, let that be your guide.

-- Emil in TN (eprisco@usit.net), April 01, 2002.

You might also want to consider a camper with jacks that fits the bed of your pickup truck. Makes a great guest house when you take it off the truck. You can leave it on jacks at a campsite if you'll be there a while, and you don't have the hassle of pulling a trailer everywhere. Also, around here, you can get decent older ones very reasonably.

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), April 01, 2002.

I ageree with the responses here. I have a 1968 Airstream 28 feet I bought for $2,500. The water pipes had frozen and burst, the roof leaked badly and the carpeting stank! When I pulled up the carpeting I found the floor had rotted. I got Kool-Seal and had a man paint the roof and another man replaced the pipes and put plywood down in the floor and put in a new furnace. Then the propane people would not deliver propane because it was an electronically-fired furnace! I don't have electricity on my land, although I did have a battery and a generator to charge it. Finally I found a reputable Airstream repair man and he told me that the old ones (except the Bambis) are not safe to pull on the highways as they were not built for our high speeds. The chassis/frame can be replaced but it's very expensive!

I live in my airstream in the summer with a propane lantern and camping stove. Cleaned it all up, put down nice linoleum, and stained all the woodwork. I love it!

For $500 I bought an old Scottie trailer. I wouldn't dare try to pull it on the road, but it makes a nice "guest house" and after a bear raided my chicken food, I began using it to store all my animal feed, seeds and other things. All the built-in cabinets are great.

I don't believe you will have much luck in the lower price ranges with something you can safely pull on the highway, but you can have a lot of fun searching trailers for sale on the internet. Airstreams are marvelous and have some great sites. Ralph Lauren, the Polo guy, bought four Bambis and fixed them up with his great design stuff and sold them each for I think $250,000! Last time I looked, they were on the Polo website, if you want some decorating ideas!

-- Elizabeth (arvon104@cs.com), April 02, 2002.


Camping is a great stess reliever my vote goes to a school bus, there is alot you can do with them. I have a diesel and i get better fuel milage than my dodge ramcharger. I traded and got mine for nothing. we use it alot and so far i have under 500 into it, and you don't have to do everything at once

-- Bob vadnais (robertvadnais@aol.com), April 02, 2002.

Hi Tren. My neighbors used to have this small fully enclosed camper trailer. I think it was called a Burro. Small---maybe 7'wide x 12' long. Cute, maintenance free exterior(some kinda long lasting paint over fiberglass) and designed to be light enuf to tow behind smaller cars.

I've seen some really nice busses converted to campers.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), April 03, 2002.



Had a hard time refinding this thread! Hey John , good to hear from you.! Bob and John I like the bus idea. Interesting.

-- Trendle Ellwood (trendlespin@msn.com), April 03, 2002.

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