Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikkira
I'm looking at a Trailmanor this weekend. How important is it to have it hooked up to electric when I look at it? If everything works off of battery/propane correctly, can I assume the electric works? We are meeting somewhere w/o an electric hookup.
What else should I be looking for when checking it out? I will read through as many threads as possible on here before looking at it, but if there is anything in particular to look for, I would appreciate any advice. 
Thank you! |
Not everything is 12 volt DC. The air conditioner will only run on 110 volt AC, so if you are looking at it where there is no 110, then you can not run the a/c. Also the hot water heater runs on 110 but can also run on propane. There will be no way to tell if the electrical heating element is burned out or not. Ask about the anode rod in the hot water heater and how long it has been since it was changed. The anode rod is a device that dissolves so the water heater's tank won't over time. It should be changed every couple of years depending on how often the water heater was used.
If there is propane in the tanks then you can run the hot water heater on that if there is water in the tank, just to see if it works on propane. With propane you can check out the stove (unless it's electric, which is almost never) and oven (unless it's a microwave which is pretty common but they run on 110 also). You can also check to see if the trailers cabin heater is working and running like it should.
It's real easy to burn up a hot water heater electrical heating element. You just turn on the electricity without the hot water heater having any water in it and ZAPP...it will burn out in about 15 seconds.
Now where you are going, does it have the water service hooked up? If not you won't be able to check out the plumbing to make sure all the faucets work properly (unless there is water in the fresh water holding tank, then you can run that pressure pump and check out the plumbing) or if there are any leaks in any of the plumbing components (this must be at a storage place). Plus you won't be able to see if the holding tank for the gray water leaks and that the valves are good or if the sensors that tell you the tanks levels are working properly.
Everything else, like the lights and radio (if it has one) is 12 volt. If it has a TV (and most are 110 ac) you can't check that out either (unless it's 12 volt also or is run off a 12 volt inverter).
Ask about the tires. When they were new. How many miles on them. How long it has been sitting up. When was the last time they rolled down the road and what pressure they ran at. Also check the spare and look for any deterioration. See if it has air in it and ask how much is in there. A good owner will know all of this stuff. Most TM owners are good folks! They want to and do take care of their investment. Dealers on the other hand don't have a history with the trailer and just want to sell it. Keep that in mind.
Going hand in hand with the tires are the bearings. Ask if they have ever been replaced and when was the last time they were repacked and how often have they been serviced (once a year is a good answer....more than two years is not good...I don't know is a crap shoot with loaded dice).
Now I bought my TM from a parts and salvage yard in Bloomfield Iowa (1500 mile away), sight unseen. But I got it at a premium price too ($5500) and they assured me that everything worked. When I got there I looked it over and it seemed ok to me. So I took it to a local tire shop and had new tire put on ( I had brought these with me) and where I put a battery in it as well ( I had this too because they had told me it didn't have one). So with new tires, a new battery, and fresh grease in the bearings ( I greased them myself with a grease gun) I was ready to roll home. The only thing wrong was the bathroom wall had come off its track. That was easy to fix and everything else worked just as it should....until I turned on the electricity on the hot water heater not knowing that it should of had water in it first. OOOOPS! But that was pretty easy to fix as well and didn't cost much.
You'll be in better shape than I was in this department. At least you have the brains to get on this forum and ask questions. So I hope I was some help to you. I hope you get your TM and that it's a good one. I've had women tell me,... "you have a good one" and I'd say...You're right...or at least that's what my wife tells me!
TC
Looking at a Trailmanor
I don't think he was trying to be deceptive. 
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