How Bad Is It?

I really appreciate all the great advice and support this message board has provided.  Without this board I would not have known where to look for all these issues and what common issues to worry about (and which ones to accept).

Jimmy Davis thought the corner damage was more cosmetic than structural, but water damage could still be an issue.  Some of the lift mechanism issues could be complicated and related to the door problems.... In Jimmy's words "you adjust one thing and then something else needs adjusting too"

Here is the final list I provided to the dealer, with an offer for $9,500 (including a $250 Reese weight dist. hitch).  

-Damage Wheel Well requires repair and resealing
-Damaged Nose (front corner) requires repair & resealing broken corner seam
-Broken Radio Antenna needs replacement
-Misaligned/Broken Exterior Door Hinges
-Repair or Replace worn carpeting
-Replace Deep Cycle Battery
-Repair and Replace Velcro Throughout Trailer
-Misaligned/Broken Interior Door Hinges (bath door, cabinets, etc)
-Repair or Replace Screws/Bolts on hold downs, lift mechanism, and other areas
-Clean trailer, holding tanks, etc. (there is a nasty stain on the sofa!)
-Adjust Misaligned Top Half to sit level
-Replace broken latch on refrigerator
-Replace broken knobs on awning & clean awning

They told me no thanks ("I don't think we'll be doing business&quot, and please don't look at the trailer anymore.  I assume they asked me to stop looking, because they might be under legal obligation to disclose some of this damage to perspective buyers.  Then again he might just want to keep it quiet so he can get his $12,500 asking price.

The search for a 3124KS resumes....

oilspot,
do you live near Texas? we seem to have some great deals on TM's here :. i found ours, a 98 2720sl in brand new condition, for 7000.00. and if i hadn't gotten that one, i had found one near dallas for 8000.00. again, beautiful condition. and another just sold here in town(amarillo) for 6000.00--it was an older model-- 88, i think.seems texans don't know what these are :. i also found some good buys on the web. listen to larry--i think he's right on . 2swans.

Hmmm.....one more option. How's about getting a friend that he doesn't know to go look at it as a potential buyer, have him go through and make up the same list, and more if he can find it.......and offer the guy $7,500 for it.......LOL, he might reconsider your $9,000 offer. Find something on the web similarly priced, and just explain "he doesn't want to drive so far for it" or something like that, and would rather buy it locally. Just a thought.........I *know* he's not going to get 12+ thousand for it.........

Happytrails......

Not to beat a dead horse, but I just thought I would close out this thread with a quick observation...

As Larry Loo pointed out, a lot of the items on my original list were wear & tear items.  As I looked around at other units and read more threads on this site, I began to understand the subtle issues and maintenance demands of these trailers.

Here is my final conclusions:  The trailer wasn't really that bad.  A lot of the items on my list were not necessarily "repair" items.  Many were just characteristics of TM design per Jimmy Davis.  The dent was cosmetic, but really a minor issue.

Other trailers I have looked at have been in similar condition, but were cleaned and repaired prior to the sale.  Plus the one I eventually purchased had a 30-day warranty.  This dealer was unwilling to stand behind the trailer or reduce the price (at least one of which were required for my deal).

As a side note, I am more comfortable towing the 2720SL instead of the 3124KS.  Although I really craved the extra room (and larger water tank), it would have been another 4 feet and 300+lbs to contend with...

Perhaps in 5-6 years I'll be on the prowl again and can get one of the 2002/3 models.

Oilspot...saw the pics, and all of that.....don't be suprised if ya run across the same TM....Again, mine's 10 full years older.....NONE of the probs you were describing....

On a side note to everyone, woke up sat morning with no real use of my right hand...pinched nerve, why I've not said anything in a while.....I'll be ok tho......and update, found a spot on match to my tow vehicle, and my insurance is gonna get it for me tommorrow. As a side note, don't EVER let an insurance company tell you ANYTHING till you're satisfied!!!!! Trust me, I KNOW that game........I simply did my homework, and told em "NO", and guess what? They are COMPLYING! And it's my own insurance company picking up the tab through "Uninsured" motorist......Guys, I deal in aftermarket and O.E. parts for a living........we talk CONSTANTLY with adjusters....IF ya find yourself in a similar situation.......simply go to two-three carlots, find a "spot on match"....which will be at least 1,000 over what they tell ya.....and tell them their offer is just COMPLETELY uacceptible.......they WILL take care of ya......On the flip side of this is I went to court today...the guy who did it caused a 4 car pileup, totalling three including his.......he walked away with being downgraded to "improper" driving, Never was charged with driving without insurance............and got a whopping $75 fine! I guess VDOT will get him. Just kinda burns my butt. No......before the lawsuit issues come up, we're talking about an old black carpenter that lives literally on crack street. Kinda feel sorry for him, In va, to get his license back.......he will have to pay back my insurance..........and the rest......

[kempert]

Hope your hand's ok.  I wouldn't want to be the guy who has to deal with DMV (that's who you meant, not VDOT?).  I've never had any problems with DMV but have heard that the red tape can kill you.  Btw, what is a "spot on match"?

Yeah, VDOT (Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles/transportation) or DMV.....same thing.......No improvement really in my hand....go in for an MRI 6 next month. :-/ Spot on match.....well, found a blazer almost exactly like the one I had.....with brushguard and all, same milage, within an acceptable price range, well, maybe a tad nicer than what I had.... But it was reasonable, and they couldn't argue about it....and hey, it's sitting in my driveway now! (No complaints) I simply did my homework, and found a suitable replacement vehicle. The guy who owned the car in front of me didn't, and lost $1,000 when his was totalled because he took the first check the insurance company handed him. My new blazer was $5,200 and change....tax title, plate transfer etc........Had I taken the first check offered, I'd have gotten a whopping $3807.00! Had I sold my old blazer, it would have sold for right at $5,000.00, which was the asking price for the new one w/o tax, title, and all that. Out of pocket, my new blazer cost me $89.60 + $3.41 to transfer/ get a new county sticker.........so I guess I came out alright.....but since it was a year newer than my old one, I'm stuck holding the bag on another tow package.....but that's ok, got a hitch from a junkyard for $55.00, and still had to get the brake control installed anyway......just got to find a good deal on a tranny cooler now, and I'll be in business....it's got a class 2 hitch now which can't handle the TM's toungue weight, but can at least tow the boat with it as is. Overall, I'm pretty happy, my insurance is happy, and it wouldn't have been so if I'd not done my homework.....afterall, insurance companies aren't working for you.....and they don't do car shopping..........something to think about if ya get in an accident.

Happytrails........... 8)

[kempert]

Sorry to hear about your hand.  
Thanks for the good tips on dealing with insurance companies.  It pays to do your homework.  I hope a lot of people read what you did, in case they end up in a crash.  

Update on my hand.....ROFLMAO! I'm gonna be alright. Just take a little time. Today I took Karen up to UVA for a visit with her neroligist. I happened to ask her about it. Well she, (Karen's Doc), happens to be a very straight up, laid back, down to earth, and really nice. She knew EXACTLY what was wrong with me. I told her I had fell asleep in my chair, and woke up the next day that way. She calmly said it was the most common of paulsey's (sp). (Yikes!)................(I have a paulsy?!?!?!?), then she said she had a name for it.......was commonly referred to as "Saturday night Paulsey".......(HUH?!?) She then pretended to kick a beer back while describing the same, then pretended to pass out.......Then said next morning.....welp, ya get the picture. Karen and I were laughing our butts off so hard we were in TEARS! LOL! (Yup, that's pretty much what happened, but on a fri night! ROFL!) :-[ :-[ Anyway, it's nothing serious, and will come back with time. She even wrote down it's (medical) name, the test for it, and what she thought my regular doc should look for. Now is that cool or what? Anyway, I'll be ok....just stuck in the "penalty box" for a bit. I still can't help but to chuckle about it when I think about it!

Happytrails...................chuckling........

Ok, what the heck does ROFLMAO mean Happy T. ???....I think I will have to invest in a computer abbreviaton dictionary, if there is such a thing.  .....Glad to hear your hand will be ok...
Red