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Old 06-01-2021, 09:55 AM   #1
TK4444
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Default Debating Purchase of 2011 TM 3124KB

Hello all! I am new to this forum and joined yesterday. We have a friend who loves his TrailManor and did his research before purchasing years ago. We're now thinking about purchasing one as well. We found a 2011 TM 3124KB for sale online yesterday, located 2 hours driving distance from us. The owner said it has had three previous owners and that she and her family have only owned it a few months. They have decided to sell because her husband's new work schedule has changed their traveling plans. She seemed to be very up front in listing the mostly minor repairs she is currently aware it will need. The previous owner installed tape to prevent a leak. But the current owner has not detected leaks in the midst of very heavy rains since they have owned it. The pictures show it to be in very good shape, inside and out. But I have a feeling it was not been stored with a covering of any kind. She did mention that the hydraulic built-in stabilizing jacks are acting a little weak, but can be raised manually as well. Since we have never owned a TM, is this manual process difficult? My husband has had three back surgeries. Would I be able to manually raise the unit, if it proves to be too much for him? The asking price for this 10 year old TrailManor is 12K. Is this a good investment, even if we may find that it is in need of repair? Our sons both live 5 hours from us and we are wanting to invest in a good, reliable rv that will give us many years of great use as we travel the miles to visit them. Thank you, in advance, for your great insight. We are not in a hurry and want to be wise in our purchase.
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Old 06-01-2021, 10:56 AM   #2
Larryjb
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Welcome to TM, (hopefully)...

Just about anything can be repaired on a Trailmanor, and the help availble on this site is incredible. This site was a big reason I got a Trailmanor.

Many of the repairs are fairly straight forwards and similar to any camping trailer. I have learned a lot about sealing leaks because the design of the Trailmanor actually prevents many leaks from entering the living space. As a result, some leaks can be hidden.

If I were you, the first thing I'd do is actually remove the vents from the roof and apply new sealant so that it goes between the vent and roof. I've played the game of sealing on top of the edges like so many others, only to find it still leaked. Also, if the vent is secured using screws through the roof, apply sealant into the holes and on the threads of each screw before screwing it in. This method works very well.

There was no "hydraulic" system on the Trailmanor, it is all mechanical. However, if everything is adjusted properly, I can lift each shell with one hand easily, and my trailer is almost 20 years old. If you are unable to do this, the torsion bars need adjustment, and are fairly easy to adjust. (In the technical section of this forum I go through a process to adjust the torsion bars.)

If you husband has a bad back, you may need to have one of your sons do some of this work for you, or take a trip to the the Trailmanor factory in SD. I hear they are wonderful people.
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Old 06-01-2021, 01:11 PM   #3
TK4444
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Larryjb, thank you so much! Your information is very helpful! I agree that this forum is very helpful as well. Your reply to my statement about the hydraulic lift made me wonder if I misunderstood what she had said. I went back and read that she was referring to the hydraulic jacks and that they were weak, not the system that raises the unit. I went back and edited my post to reflect the correct information. The more I read about the TM, the more I'm impressed. Thank you again!
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Old 06-01-2021, 01:39 PM   #4
Bill
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One source of pricing is NADAGuides.com. Be aware that this site is NOT a holy grail, but more of an indicator. Prices vary, depending on condition (of course) and installed options. Prices can also vary depending on location, with west coast being higher than east coast. Since you did not give us a location, I entered something from the central midwest, and the indication is that the asking price is quite good. By the way, when using NADAGuides, they ask you to indicate which options your trailer has. Then they give you a dog's dinner of possibilities, almost none of which are actual options on a TM, and therefore should not be selected. On a TM, about the only options that have any effect on price are the air conditioner and the awning.

As Larry said, there is no hydraulic system on a TM. (The term sounds like it is describing a HiLo trailer, which has only superficial similarity to a TM.) The TM shells are "spring loaded" - the "springs" are actually torsion bars, which are used by a few cars instead of coil springs or leaf springs. They work well, and the nice thing about torsion bars is that the amount of lift they provide can be adjusted, as Larry describes in his article.

The market for RVs is very hot right now. Don't be too leisurely about making a decision.

Bill
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Old 06-01-2021, 01:50 PM   #5
Larryjb
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TK4444 View Post
Larryjb, thank you so much! Your information is very helpful! I agree that this forum is very helpful as well. Your reply to my statement about the hydraulic lift made me wonder if I misunderstood what she had said. I went back and read that she was referring to the hydraulic jacks and that they were weak, not the system that raises the unit. I went back and edited my post to reflect the correct information. The more I read about the TM, the more I'm impressed. Thank you again!

I'm also not sure what hydraulic jack the owner is referring to. If it is the tongue jack, I thought most were either mechanical or electrical only. Whatever the case, it can be replaced very easily.

The corner jacks are almost certainly mechanical scissor jack type.

The current owner may be confusing terms and calling the lift system "hydraulic jacks". As Bill said, many confuse it with the HiLo system which is hydraulic. Whatever the case is, no matter what jack/lift system it has, it can be adjusted or replaced. Even the torsion bars can be replaced (don't ask me how I know that!)
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Various TM images that you may or may not find elsewhere:
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