New to everything

[Itsforusbtw]

Hello fellow campers. We’re homeless living in a hotel so we decided to take on the travel trailer workd. Like everything else I’ve dkne my research for our price range. Everything was 9-12K and we can’t afford that. We finally found kne listen for 5K that was also nice so we made an appointment. It’s a 2012 Lacrosse luxury lite by lrime something. The listing was accurate but the price we settled on was $2700. I’ve been making payments and I owe him $1000. Here’s the issue, it’s the right price but it’s nit feeling like the right trailer. First off it’s slot of trailer for me to haul as my first. Second he was forthcoming with the soft spots being the only issue. I find that hard to believe it’s the only issue. He took out recliners, kitchen table and added a few futons as he’s gir lots of children. I know I won’t get a luxury camper for that price but my gut is screaming dint do it. Idk why. Any advice from seasoned bets woukd be appreciated. I’ve included photos but keep in mind the furniture is gine never the mattress.

 

[Itsforusbtw]

I should add were a couple in out forties with 5 kids from 19 down to 5.

 

[Boat Bum]

From the pictures and what you've said I'd say that was worth the $2700 all day.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

Since you’re already $1700 in and I doubt that you can afford to lose that amount, I think you’re committed to this rig.

 

[rvlifer]

Welcome to the forum. Are you planning to travel in it or just park it? Not easy to find one at that price these days. Recommend you go over the roof. Do standard maintenance and make sure it is sealed properly. Look for leaks and take care of those asap.

If you are gonna be staying in it during cold weather get familiar with how to deal with that in an rv. Lots of threads here covering that. Leaks and cold weather will probably be the first things ro worry about.

Rvs arent like houses especially when you move them. Things tend to break a lot more in an rv.

 

[Domo1]

If it keeps water out and the heaters/furnace work and there are no plumbing leaks under sinks, etc. Then you simply have to learn EVERYTHING you can about each appliance, what materials and tools to have on-hand to do repairs, how to troubleshoot and how to accept life.

It's the same for all of us - we buy, we find issues, we dream of improvements, we ask for advice and we bite the bullet when issues occur.

Congratulations on a new home - don't be bashful at campgrounds, many of us want to help others and with a large family, you have your hands full.

 

[Onyrlef]

I suspect you're right to be apprehensive. You're homeless, 7 people living in a hotel room. You're $1700.00 in on a 2700.00 travel trailer with some flooring issues. In all liklihood the owner isn't going to refund what you've already invested or at best only a partial refund. If as you say it's a lot of trailer to move, which is true, it's also true there will be 7 people sharing a 1 bedroom, 1 bath trailer.
What would concern me is 7 people will be living in a travel trailer in Delaware or whereever with a 6 gallon water heater which hopefully works, is the furnace in good working order? What about the a/c? Refrigerator? Does the roof leak? If it has grey and black tanks, which is likely, with 5 kids and two adults you're going to be dumping the grey probably twice daily and the black probably once a day. Those two 15 lb propane bottles on the front are going to go fast with that many people on board, so you should plan on having extras on stby. ( It's much cheaper to have them filled than swapping).

 

[rvlifer]

Assuming they will be in a long term rental with hookups they could leave the gray water open and contract with a local lp company for a large external tank. Heating it in the winter wont be cheap so look into ways to insulate and weatherproof it would help

 

[Oldgator73]

We live in Delaware. It was 8 degrees last night. Not a good night to be in a travel trailer. Our son lived in an RV for a couple years here. That was several years ago. He paid $500 a month lot rent with metered electric and he had a dish system installed that was spotty at best. In the winter if he did not take action to keep the water lines from freezing the owner of the park would shut the water off. It was not a nice park. You don’t get something nice for $500. There’s a dilapidated MH park not far from us. It was the same price per month with metered electric.

 

[tlmgcamp1]

Soft spots in the floor probably means it has rot

 

[Onyrlef]

I suspect were Oldgator in an RV in Delaware @ 8°F with the grey tank valve open he'd be out there about now bent over a flex line with his wifes blow dryer. You might could get by with that by hard piping 3" abs @1/8" fall per ft., but even the slightest sag in a flex line would be a frozen solid ptrap after an 8° night.

 

[Oldgator73]

I suspect were Oldgator in an RV in Delaware @ 8°F with the grey tank valve open he'd be out there about now bent over a flex line with his wifes blow dryer. You might could get by with that by hard piping 3" abs @1/8" fall per ft., but even the slightest sag in a flex line would be a frozen solid ptrap after an 8° night.

Oldgator is smart enough not to be in an RV in 8 degree weather. It can be done. We were traveling through South Dakota many years ago and our grey and black discharge pines froze. Luckily nothing cracked and once we got out of the freezing temps everything thawed out.

 

[TXMOOSE]

Yes ma'am it sounds like a good deal. While your under hitting those soft spots wrap any exposed pipes. Get what you need tocover the bottom but remember some stuff isn't really an insulation so maybe detach if it's covered and add insulation, even spray foam and secure it all really well.
As people said too, I'd find somewhere warm. I'm in jersey at the shore near Delaware and it's gonna me cold. Florida has some cheap spots. I found a site for almost all states for yearly parking I think Delaware is in there too but these are $350 sites I guess that's how you look it up.
Things I've read in here I've also noticed a great idea they've posted. With all your family and your slides I'd get a few things extra. Go to Harbor Freight I guess and pick out some jacks. I was just looking at them. Makes your trailer feel more stable and secured. But get the jacks and say some 2x4s, and 2x8s, put them under the slides and a couple across your bottom coming across after winterizing there. Remember to keep your closets open towards any taks or pipes, keep them warm. I never had a pipe problem in my other but I've heard some nasty stories.
Though I'm heading to Florida, if it's not me then back to Texas. Either way I'm going to besure of winterizing. These guys make great points about that and it's scary thoughts. When I set back up and skirt it ill have a good set up for lights and even a couple of electric heaters under there for if there was a reason
But it's all got to be safe. Actually thought of putting halogen lites under for heat. I've worked with them in sample homes with no heat and they warm up a house nice.
Not talking big ones but Amazon has some great solar lites for out and in. Again figure a clean way to run the wires in and set up. Even have fans to blow or exhaust the air, keep it cool save on the bills. In the mean time to, till you can put a coat of sealer on the roof if where you are you can put a tarp up there. Just to be safe. Your soft spot may have come from a small pin hole from a pipe so run you water have someone working a plunger on that drain see if it pushes out a drip, just to be sure. Can get it from moving and a rock gets it.
Your kitchen, that many people is crazy but. I never felt the need for the air vent, another reason and place to put in one of those solar 5in fans for exhaust in that wind. Take down that exhaust fan. You can buy one of those nice fold down covers for the stove too. But where thefan was you can put and stain ot to look like it was always there but put a shelf for one of those air fryers. One that has you know toaster oven and stuff too. I just was looking at the too. It all comes out good. You probably have a 3 burner. The back 2 will be lower pots but not bad and the front normal. Keeps your heat inside down too. I know it's probably mostly the grill but ya save for it and it will come in handy. Make sure it's big enough for the 13in pizza. The kids done wanna here your excuse, though they come out great on the grill.and your oven is normally for pot space. They get hot to use.
If you need little things, Delaware has a great Free spot in Craig list and Facebook. Got grills and all. It's all when ya got the money, priority first but it's ideas. You came to the rite people here their great.
Good Luck

 

[Itsforusbtw]

Welcome to the forum. Are you planning to travel in it or just park it? Not easy to find one at that price these days. Recommend you go over the roof. Do standard maintenance and make sure it is sealed properly. Look for leaks and take care of those asap.

If you are gonna be staying in it during cold weather get familiar with how to deal with that in an rv. Lots of threads here covering that. Leaks and cold weather will probably be the first things ro worry about.

Rvs arent like houses especially when you move them. Things tend to break a lot more in an rv.

I plan to live in it and get into long term campground

 

[Oldgator73]

I plan to live in it and get into long term campground

In Delaware?

 

[Professor David]

I plan to live in it and get into long term campground

As stated above, once you include everything (unit cost, repairs, lot rent, propane and electricity costs, etc…)…it would less expensive to rent a small apartment. It would also be much, much more comfortable. These rvs are not made for cold weather. Recommend that u reconsider, unless you are not able to rent?

 

[TXMOOSE]

Well then these are some good ideas I gave ya. You got time to work at them. This is the same thing I'm getting ready to do. Sold my house cause of health, came to an apartment that is killing me. So I've been looking at one's to get had a 21ft before it was awsome. Now I'm looking at 30-35 or such to live in. I've seen a few of the pop up trailers too. I may get one of those if I want to venture out somewhere. If I go to Florida I'll pack that one at my aunts or maybe at the Moose Lodge, I'm a member at them.
But paying a simple lot rent seems easier than these other idiots. And I found insurance to cover myself that isn't bad at all.
The only difference is it will be me and my son if he wants. I sleep in a recliner cause of my back so he can have the room. I have my TV , beer Meister and golf cart or scooter, .
You can find places with or without a pool and stuff but I don't want any hill Billy slobs around and ignorant dogs or cats climbing my screens, . Also would like to be able to get or have one there a shed. A 8x10 or 10x10. A simple one.
Have to check on the years aloud. Most places allow the 2 people with the tent but you pay the others. No playing with the water. Like filling a pool everyday , washing cars and RV. Just besure to check your laws good. If you got a dog you can't pen them or tie them outside or have them barking away when your out. I've read alot of these rules. Some ya see it's like wow, didn't know you could do that with a camper.
Don't know if you've done this before, just putting it out there. Hard enough with what your going through for any surprises. Also there's all kinds of help with your bills including the rent. You own your home but you rent your spot so just like rent at home some states help with the lot rent.
Stuff is crazy when you can't sleep and read stuff, lol. For lites outside I used those dollar ones at Walmart, they were great. My house in Ocean City everyone thought I got an electrician to do my fence and deck. They couldn't find the wires. Those lites were better than at home depot. Whole house lit up every nite from the sun. When my nephew needed a place, I got him a job. Then I put these couple of spot lites in, solar, they were Brite. One off the back door, lit up the yard. The other off the garage, I had a 6 cat driveway it was great. I doughty you need that for a campground unless you tuck it good. But the came with an in off switch. I put a couple in the back in this stand I made , kept them charged for storms. Now they lit the house big time. Had to get smaller ones for the bedrooms and bathrooms. But still.
Ya that's the life I'm gonna do. Shame you couldn't find one with the bunker house in the back. Could of had the kids there. But where your recliners are, I'll have one. On the other side my beer meister . You'll have the screaming kids . Sorry , it was fun when I went through it the first time.

 

[TXMOOSE]

Professor Dave. Sorry buddy it must be a while since you saw rent. Now I dint know how long she will have her oldest there but rent compared to RV costs you just mentioned. It's way out there. My 2 bedroom is over $2000 a month. You have to pay your own water and sewer wich most apartment complex do now. Since I'm disabled I get help with electricity it's great for the summer. But if she watches and cares for it she should have no repairs that matter. My other 21ft trailer I used 6 months out of the year alot and the only repair was replacing wallpaper I wanted , removed the exhaust fan for a nice made TV shelf. Never painted not even my ceiling. PLEASE DINT PAUNT THE INSIDE, your wood looks great. Oh for the hell of it I did my roof in the beginning and I washed it each year and checked my windows. Oh I apologize, when I bought it I felt like the floor at the door felt a little soft so I replaced it all. I built a front deck to it ,set up my grill , built a big nice fire place and decorated around. Not alot I'm not big on that. A table and white chairs you know. Oh and a spot to put my boat.
But ya rent prices are out of control. If you didn't own before covid , well now your just screwed. So I think she made a good call for her family.

 

[TXMOOSE]

You should get a solar panel, maybe a little trickle charge one to set up for your battery or batteries. In case you need one. You cab buy yourself a used 100lb propane tank, not a nasty one, but you know sand it paint it up. I shouldn't have gave mine away. Cost me $30 when I got it. Most the time you'll use electric for other stuff. Skillet and if you set up that air fryers. Propane will be mostly with the grill if ya plan that use. Or tell the kids it's PB&J and hotdogs on the stick at the fire.

 

[Onyrlef]

She's likely only 30 amp ( with the one a/c) . That means she'll be quite limited on what she can do as far as electrical appliances. Ordinarily you can't operate a small microwave with the rooftop a/c running, a blow dryer will trip the breaker as well.