TrailManor Owner's Forum  

Go Back   TrailManor Owner's Forum > TrailManor Owners Community > Prospective Owner Questions
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-08-2010, 07:16 AM   #1
Reldma
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Indy
Posts: 90
Default Used Checklist before purchasing

We are looking at a 1998 Trailmanor SL and would like some help in what to look for.
How can we tell if there is any wood rot under the skin?
Does anyone know if you can tell the year a TM was manufactured from the serial number, like you can with a car?
Is there anyone thing that shows more wear than any other part, that we should look for.
Can't think of anything else at this time. Kind of nervious because of it's age and it appears it sat outside all the time.
Appreciate your help.
Ray
Reldma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2010, 10:15 AM   #2
RogerR
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

If you are buying from an individual you might consider taking it to a RV shop for a check.
They should know where to look for rot. Don't forget the very important brakes and tires.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2010, 11:11 AM   #3
Jim&Joan
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Can't say for a '98 for sure, but on our TM there is an ID plate by the water heater access and water connection area that identifies the 'born on' date.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2010, 12:13 PM   #4
Wavery
TrailManor Master
 
Wavery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,824
Default

It's pretty hard to identify wood rot in these trailers because of the sandwich construction. The best that you could do is to remove some screws around the window frames etc and see if you have clean wood in there or black rotted wood. However, if I were a seller, I wouldn't be real excited about some guy taking a screw driver to my trailer unless there was a good reason to be suspicious of a particular area.

Wood-rot occurs from leaky seems, window frames etc. Leaks will usually leave stains on the inside of the trailer. Look around for signs of stains on the ceilings and around windows if you are concerned.

I bought out '98 TM from a guy in Richmond, Washington (1100 miles from home). The TM was stored outside and it shows it. We've owned our '98 TM for over 2 years and have no issues with wood-rot (which means nothing for your case). I have heard very little complaints of wood-rot in the TMs. However, if you go to most PU camper forums, you will find horror stories of wood rotted ceilings and floors. I just haven't seen that here.

Check the floors for "soft spots" and the ceilings for stains. That's about all you can do.

I'll be opening my trailer this afternoon to finish some wiring work. I'm almost positive that there is a tag on the left side front of the trailer with a manufacturer date on it. I'll let you know.
__________________
TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
Wavery is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2010, 01:00 PM   #5
Larry Gault
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Yes, my 2000 has a tag on left front stating manu date. I haven't found any wood rot on mine either and I've looked for it.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2010, 01:09 PM   #6
Bill
Site Team
 
Bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,088
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by harveyrv View Post
It's pretty hard to identify wood rot in these trailers because of the sandwich construction. The best that you could do is to remove some screws around the window frames etc and see if you have clean wood in there or black rotted wood. However, if I were a seller, I wouldn't be real excited about some guy taking a screw driver to my trailer unless there was a good reason to be suspicious of a particular area.
Similarly, raise the front shell. Along the bottom of the wall, there is a series of screws (every 6 inches or so). Pull a few of these out. Look at the wood crumbs in the screw threads. Shine a flashlight in and look for rot. Push a piece of stiff wire (coathanger) up into the screw hole and make sure you poke solid wood. Since this is the low point of the wall, water would tend to settle here, and this is one of the common places where I have heard of rot happening.

Another is behind the trim where the roof meets the sidewall. That's a harder place to check.

Since the seller wants a sale, he should recognize that your concern is valid. As long as you are gentle and methodical, and pull-and-replace one screw at a time (or suggest that he do it), he should go along with your request.

Bill
__________________
2020 2720QS (aka 2720SL)
2014 Ford F-150 4WD 5.0L
Bill's Tech Stuff album
Bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2010, 04:07 PM   #7
mtnguy
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reldma View Post
Does anyone know if you can tell the year a TM was manufactured from the serial number, like you can with a car?
Check out the 10th digit of the VIN, and compare with this chart.......I am pretty sure it works for trailers, as well as cars.

Click image for larger version

Name:	VIN.JPG
Views:	436
Size:	41.6 KB
ID:	4291

And just like cars, it could have been manufactured the year before when that particular model year was started.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2010, 07:27 PM   #8
B_and_D
Site Sponsor
 
B_and_D's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Santa Cruz County, CA
Posts: 2,405
Default

Some board members put together these threads to read before buying used:

http://trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8878

Hope this helps.
__________________
'97 2720 & '01 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4
2011 & 2017 Prii, 10'x18' & 10'x9' Tents
B_and_D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2010, 08:14 PM   #9
Reldma
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Indy
Posts: 90
Default Thank You All

Thank you all for your answer to my post. They are very helpful. We missed the 2720SL that was for sale at a dealer in Missouri. We will continue to look for our 2720SL. We are willing to look beyond Indiana borders for what we want, but know it might take more time than we would like.
Thanks again.
Ray
Reldma is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Purchasing a 1996 Trailmanor 3023 rnunie Prospective Owner Questions 14 11-22-2015 09:01 AM
Have Question About Purchasing TrailManor larroni Prospective Owner Questions 26 09-30-2009 01:48 PM
Purchasing new 2720SL - Recomendations for additions at the dealer Compac Camper Prospective Owner Questions 12 04-24-2007 08:58 PM
Checklist mikedixon Tips and Tricks 5 03-17-2007 06:35 PM
Purchasing New TM Carol Hagy Prospective Owner Questions 21 12-09-2005 07:48 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 2022 Trailmanor Owners Page.