Toy Hauler

[cannonball55]

I found a 16ft toy hauler for super cheap i'm thinking about picking up and refurbing and building into a dual duty toy/cargo hauler and camper. the thing looks to be in pretty rough shape, but i think i've got the skills and tools to repair it and still keep the budget low.

ive been looking online for skin replacement videos since the whole exterior skin would need to be replaced but havent been finding much. i think it just rivets or screws to the frame. but thought I'd post here to see what was recommended and if it was even worthwhile.

Trailer i'm looking at:http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/rvs/4688683675.html
and here's a pic

 

[Curmudgeon]

Any idea how it got so thoroughly trashed? San Diego isn't known for hurricanes or hailstorms.

 

[cannonball55]

i dont know anything other than what the ad says even the condition as seen from the pictures I'm very interested. I emailed the guy today and am going to call tomorrow. the ad does say it's been sitting for 5 years used for storage, im not sure if the temperature swings we see during different times of the year could have caused it, but i agree that it is quite thrashed.

 

[Titanpat57]

I wouldn't touch that with a 10' pole.....looks like it was submerged.

So when its all said and done you may end up with just a trailer frame.....what is your time worth?

If you' re that skilled then I would reserve my skills for something in a bit better shape.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[cannonball55]

Right now my time isn't really worth anything. I'm unemployed going to school full time.

And being that skilled and being able to afford something in better shape does not run hand in hand. If it did end up becoming just a frame it would end up sitting like that for quite some time.


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[mdmead]

Looks like it has either been towed a lot on rough, washboard roads and/or the design/construction originally wasn't sturdy enough. It wouldn't be my first choice of projects as I'd be afraid what I might find once the outer skin was pulled. (If the inside is open, you'd want to do a very carful inspection of the framing for cracks/broken welds.)

 

[java]

$150 sure. Almost a grand NO WAY! Its been thoroughly soaked. It would be on a 99% rebuild.

 

[dddonkey]

I would run, and run fast! For the time and money your going to put into that you can build one from scratch. If the body looks like that what's the frame look like, swish cheese? Good luck with what ever you do.

 

[cannonball55]

So i went and took a look at it. the floor would need to be replaced. the wiring would need to be replaced. the siding would need to be replaced. the interior would need to be replaced, and the roof would probably need a section replaced. as for rot, the bones of the structure appeared to be in good condition just the plastic exterior paneling looks downright awful. the history of the trailer was given as a few years use as a toy hauler, 8 years as a construction site trailer, and 5 years as a storage trailer. no identifying names or marks anywhere i could find. there is a tag on the tongue that was painted over and after picking at it for a few seconds with my fingernail it began to chip and fall apart. the tires are in useable condition to tow home, but would need to be replaced, and i'm sure the wheel bearings would need to as well. one spring on the gate is broken, and the gate would probably end up just being rebuilt. it was squishy with just my 185lb self on it. there is a water tank, and some external hook ups but nothing that appears to be connected, the connectors probably are useable but the wiring would need a thorough going through as it looked like a rats nest met a tumbleweed underneath.

so really what do i have that is useable? this:

trailer frame
basic structure + some insulation maybe
trim pieces appeared to be in good condition
axle
most of the interior is useable in its current condition (walls, roof and carpet after a cleaning) but all would be replaced over time.

i made no offer and am still mulling it over. i still may be interested if it's in the $500 or less range. i guess i didnt really estimate the size based off the ad and i've not been around rv type trailers much, so it feels huge, and is at 16ft... but the size seems like it would fit my needs quite well.

 

[java]

Are the wall structures metal or wood? If metal, ok, wood, it will be rotten.

Speaking from experience on the exterior, if its a laminated wall system, ie not much framing, its toast. Once the outer sheet has delaminated the strength is gone. I have a few spots on my RV that are doing that from past water intrusion. Its not fun to try to fix....

 

[cannonball55]

the structure is wood. i peeled back a couple interior panels that were loose and the wood framing has the black color to it, but isnt rotting away and still felt relatively dense using a key to probe it. i dont think it's too far gone to salvage at least most of the frame if not all of it. im not sure what constitutes not much framing, but there are "studs" about every 16 inches, and even more in some areas. the entire exterior skin would be coming off and being replaced if i did purchase it which would make replacing any supports fairly easy task should they be found to be too far gone.

i think my biggest worry would be picking it up, and basically having to tear it down to the trailer frame. and then starting from scratch. and only because the budget will not allow for that in the near future. I'm fairly certain i could address the basic needs to make it water tight and safely towable within my budget and a short amount of time. i say fairly certain because if i tore into it and found it required a ground up rebuild, it would end up sitting until more funds became available or i scrap/sell it.

 

[java]

If its wood id pass on it. It will rot. Even if its kept dry from here on out. The dry rot spores are in it.

I see it as bying the frame, title, and whatever RV parts may be salvageable. To do it even close to right, it will need to be torn down to the frame and rebuilt.

 

[cannonball55]

Yeah, no title either... I'm gonna pass on it. I'll just keep searching.

Thanks for all the input everyone!


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[drgrenthum]

good call.... $200 is about all it is worth. If they are asking $950, offering $200 would probably just piss them off. i wouldn't be surprised if it was towed to the junk yard and the junkyard operator is trying to sell it.

 

[cannonball55]

Do they have trailer salvage yards? Like they have auto salvage yards?


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