Hello all!

[AprilL]

I'm a total newb and looking for a cheap very small travel trailor to live in for about a year. I really like the older 70's trailors I've been seeing. I found one but since I don't really know what I'm getting into I'm a bit nervous. Since it's a over a two hour drive I haven't gone to look at it yet. I talked to the guy and he says there are no soft spots on the floor and it doesn't spell moldy, but maybe a little musty. There are no leak stains anywhere and he says it seems quite sound. Surface rust on the frame. Nothing compromising. It's been sitting for quite a while. It needs complete tires and I don't know if brakes or lights work. I would have to pay a flatbed service to pick it up. I getting in over my head? Thanks for any advice! Here's a link to the ad....https://allentown.craigslist.org/for/d/fan-travel-trailer-camper/6583836206.html

 

[darsben]

PA in the winter in that will be very cold. Lots of moisture will accumulate inside when you run the furnace and in that old of a trailer it may be a gravity furnace with no fan to circulate the air. and how will you get water and Dump sewage?

Where will you put it?

 

[Rene T]

First, welcome to the forum. You've come to the right place if you need questions answered. At times, you might not want to hear what we have to say. Good luck. You're going to,need it I think. Make sure he has a title for it. Make him get it.

 

[AprilL]

Thanks for the good advice! As I said I know nothing about this at all. So what I'm understanding is older furnaces dont do well in really cold weather. Are there better furnaces for this region? As far as getting water and dumping sewage, are you saying I wont be able to hook up to water or dump sewage in the winter? I guess there's no way of stopping it from freezing? Thanks and I don't mind harsh truth, haha.

 

[AprilL]

Oh also as far as the title, the owner says he doesn't want to go through the hassle of obtaining one and that I have to do it.

 

[darsben]

What I am saying is RV's in general do not do well in below freezing weather. Rv's with old gravity furnaces do worse.  You will not be comfortable in cold weather. You will go through propane very, very quickly making your heating costs REALLY high.

What will you do if you cannot get a title.
WHere are you going to park the trailer? Most RV parks close for the winter in PA. You can bring water to the trailer in buckets I guess but how and where will you dispose of Poop etc in the toilet holding tank (black water)

 

[Pugapooh]

If the title is a hassle for him,it will probably be a nightmare for you.  Tell him you don't want the hassle.  How can he even prove he has a right to sell it?

Yes,you would not only be freezing yourself,but the pipes would likely freeze.  Were you planning on parking it on private land or a campground?  You would need a water source and you need a sewer source to dump the tanks.  Aside from being nasty,it is probably illegal to dump on the ground.

Why live in a camper?  It will be expensive to have it hauled home and fix it up.

Welcome.  Feel free to ask BEFORE buying anything. 

 

[AprilL]

I was thinking of going the way of composting toilet in the winter and maybe all the time and jugs of water instead of an rv water tank. That leaves heating and moisture and condensation?

 

[Arch Hoagland]

"Oh also as far as the title, the owner says he doesn't want to go through the hassle of obtaining one and that I have to do it."

No title....no way!

 

[darsben]

Not to be cruel BUT I would rent a room somewhere before I did what you propose.
What you are proposing is IMO dangerous (CO, explosion because propane might be leaking on that old a trailer or Freezing to death if something happens to heat and you cannot get out ), It will be Tedious and the composting toilet will be smelly unless you empty it frequently. If you go out for a few hours and the furnace goes out it may be a long time before the heat is sufficient to even be a little comfortable
However, My tolerance of bone chilling cold may be different than yours
Again where do you propose to keep it?
Private land (zoning issues maybe)
Public land where you may be asked to leave
Campground which will probably close in November
What will you do for electric?

A 1970's trailer may not have ever had a title you would have to check with the DMV in Pa. ON that old a trailer you probably will never find the VIN to title the thing if it needed one
But regardless even a newer trailer than what you are looking at will not be good. No insulation in most.

 

[JudyJB]

Trailer may have no title because it was stolen.  You do NOT want to buy stolen property!!!  Also, you need to shop around for a place to put it before you buy something.  You need to get all angles of this set up before you spend any money.  We are really trying to save you from making a bad mistake that will end up costing you a lot of money. 

Northern states are very bad for living in a camping trailer because you will never be able to stay warm.  Most of us who live in RVs head south for the winter where it is easier to heat the RVs.  In other words, we are "snowbirds" for a reason.

A better choice would be a mobile home or what is called a "park model" camper that is already set up in a campground/trailer park.  The park models are campers that are not meant to be moved and they have MUCH better insulation.  Ditto for an older mobile home, although the older ones are often required to be moved out of the park when sold. 

If you look for a mobile home to buy or rent (preferable to buying), make sure you look at the space lease and talk to neighbors in the park.  Mobile home parks can be a real ripoff because some will keep raising rent, knowing you cannot move your trailer without it costing you a lot of money. 

 

[JudyJB]

Also, the problem with jugs of water is that what goes in, must go out.  Where will the water drain to?  Every trailer has a grey water tank for used washing water, but it will freeze in the cold.  So, you will not be able to use even the kitchen sink without a place for the water to go. 

And composting toilets are not as good for full-time use as they are advertised.  How will you manage a frozen lump of compost when you need to dump it? 

 

[linywiny]

I just got an RV in the past few months,I got really lucky with the man who sold it to me. He was so kind and helpful & the motor home is in immaculate condition-he taught me how to drive it-gave it to me full of diesel 100 gals. and let me store it with him the first 2 mos. until I could move it. I don't think you should get this trailer it doesn't sound good or legal. This man is trying to get over on you., You will need to pay out $ $ and then more $.  You can find a better deal, keep looking, this is not something to rush. You cannot even get tags,registration,insurance,vin inspection if you can't get title. You will not be able to tow it or move it anywhere if you need to. Trailers,motor homes especially older ones don't have good insulation as one person stated that's why they move with the weather conditions. If you have to trailor your trailor just to move it do not get it. Save yourself a lot of grief and pass on this.