Looking for advice with travel trailer

[KLF]

Wife and I are looking at a very small piece of property, there is a trailer included, a 21' Starcraft StarLite model 21DBB. Seller tells me it is a 1999, but I'd like to confirm that, not sure how. It just seems older than that.

The hot water tank leaked several years ago so now most of the floor is soft. I'm assuming it's a gut job to fix, just wondering how possible this is. I have significant woodworking and mechanical tools, but no experience with these things. The frame looks ok from what i can see. I see no evidence of roof leaks.

Any advice?

 

[Elk Hunt]

The vin/ ID plate should state the production date. Usually located on the hitch or front left of the trailer... or just ask to look at the title, if they have it that is.

 

[KLF]

I went back to look at it today, it's sitting at an RV place in their back storage lot. I found the actual VIN tag, riveted to the front frame crossmember. Date of manufacture is 8/98, so ya I guess that makes it a '99. I never thought to ask the owner if he has a title, but he must.

There is some surface rust on the frame, mostly in the front right behind the tongue A-frame. Nothing structural, but it won't take long if not addressed. I also found some corrosion in what appears to be a vinyl-clad aluminum underbelly covering. That will have to be patched. Just not sure I wanna try to tackle a project like this...

 

[TXLX100]

There are two things that would keep me from buying an RV I am interested in and that's the floor and the roof. Most RVs are already so poorly constructed with cheap materials, it doesn't take much water intrusion to wreck them.

RVs are built like anything else, they lay the floor first then the walls and roof. If the entire floor is damaged, seems like it would be hard to fix it properly. If it were me and I was basically getting it for free, I'd sell it to the first guy that came along for a fair price for a rough camper ($1000 maybe?) and put in another $2k and go buy something much nicer.

 

[jonnyquest]

Vintage trailers are very trendy right now. A 99 isn't vintage but you might be able to get something out of it as it sits. Surf the internet and see what a similar year and condition trailer might go for. See if you can find any restorations of that trailer. With your woodworking skills you might want to make it your own.

 

[jonnyquest]

Also, there are plenty of websites with travel trailer restorations. Some show a lot of detail that you could follow to rebuild this one.

 

[KLF]

I can't imagine this thing is all that valuable. I read all the websites and blogs I could on this, doesn't look like fun to me. Seems like something that ends up being much worse once you start tearing it apart. Generally ya seems like these things are built as cheaply as possible, and pretty flimsy.

 

[TXLX100]

Vintage trailers are very trendy right now. A 99 isn't vintage but you might be able to get something out of it as it sits.

I think airstreams, avions, and maybe a couple more lesser known brands might fall into vintage restoration category. Maybe some Prevost or BlueBird buses if you are talking about motorcoaches. Everything else seems to just become a usable item.... Sell it for $500-$1000 when you are done with it.

 

[KLF]

I think we're gonna ask if he'll sell without the trailer, pick up something nicer in the future, when we have a vehicle that can safely tow it. Man I'd love an old Airstream...