Towing vs. Hauling Trailmanor Across Country

[OCfamily]

Hi Everyone,

Been reading the forum because we are interested in owning a TM. We are located in southern CA, and actually have a 2010 Trailmanor 2619 lined up, but it is located in Maryland (2,700 miles away). We have a few questions and would appreciate any feedback:

1. We think it's a great deal at less than $9,000. Everything we looked at over here in the west coast (very rare/low to no availability) is substantially higher. We are buying it sight unseen, so there is a lot of risk but the price offers room to make necessary repairs. The dealership listed it in great condition with everything working. The TM passed the Maryland State Inspection regarding the towing conditions, wheels, and bearings, etc. What does everybody think?

2. To have to delivered to CA, we received a couple of quotes to both tow it behind a truck or haul it on an auto carrier or flatbed. The rate difference is approximately $500 more to haul. Given that the TM passed the state inspection, the dealer recommends towing it since that's what these things are made for, and that's how they are delivered to the dealerships. What does everyone recommend?

Looking forward to owning a TM and perhaps meeting any nearby TM owners.

Thank you,

 

[ArkyDoodle]

I've seen the folks at TM ship their new units on a flat bed but maybe that's because they move 'em more than one at a time.....

 

[Bill]

Since you didn't mention the rate for either towing or hauling, it is hard to judge whether either one is good. But I'm sure you have added the cost of delivery to the $9000 purchase price, to see if it is still a great deal, with "room to make repairs" if needed. It very well might be a good deal, since as you say, prices are substantially higher on the west coast than in the east, especially in the winter. But without considering the delivery charge, you don't have a complete picture.

As for towing vs hauling, you can't make a decision until you know what happens in the event that there is a problem on the road. If the trailer is being towed, and one of its wheel bearings smokes (for example), or it has a flat tire in the middle of nowhere on a Sunday afternoon, you can be assured that the towing company won't handle the issue for free. They won't let their tow vehicle hang around East Overshoe, South Dakota, for more than an hour or two unless you are paying an hourly rate. And in the worst case, they may simply drop your trailer beside the road, call a local towing company tp pick it up, and continue on their way. You need to know how this is handled. By the same token, if your trailer is being carried on a flatbed, and the flatbed dies for two or three days, do you have any recourse for the delay?

I am frankly surprised that it is less expensive to tow a trailer behind a hired pickup truck than to put it on a car hauler with 8 or 10 other vehicles. I would think that for a trailer the size of a TM (in other words, the size of a pickup truck), the hauler, either enclosed or open, would be a good deal less expensive, especially if final delivery for the entire load is to a single point (as opposed to your home address). I know that TMs are usually (though not always) delivered on a long car hauler with 4 TMs aboard, behind an F-350-size vehicle, rather than a single trailer behind a single truck. The comment that singletons are "how they are usually delivered" refers to big fifth wheels or big upright towables, rather than small trailers like the TM.

Have you contacted ABF U-Pack? I don't like them much, but you do get to rent space by the foot in one of their big semitrailers, and you don't rent more space than you need. Have you contacted one of the antique car haulers? They also rent space by the foot, and may be willing to fill out a load with your trailer if they don't have a full load of antique cars. When you talk to either, be sure to emphasize the low height of the TM - they load their semi-trailers on two levels, and will put another vehicle either above or below yours. This will cut your rate substantially.

Do any of the railroads do coast-to-coast hauling on a flatcar or boxcar? I know this is done in the east on the New York to Florida run, but I don't know if it is done between the coasts.

Finally, you mention that the TM passed the Maryland state inspection. Do you have any idea what that inspection includes? I'm not knowledgable, but I would bet that it centers around safety issues that would effect other dirvers - adequate tire tread, safety chains, breakaway switch, lack of hanging hunks of sheet metal, and so forth. Does it give you confidence that the trailer will actually tow successfully for a long distance? I don't know, but you might want to go to the Maryland DMV site online and see exactly what is inspected.

And for what it is worth, if you elect to have your trailer hauled, be sure to understand whether they will (or can) haul it as a triple with another trailer. At least one of our members has a horror story to tell about a triple haul that included his TM.

You need to be sure you do your homework in depth before you decide. The $500 difference you mention might not be the final arbiter.

Bill

 

[OCfamily]

Thank you Bill for the thorough reply. I placed a listing on U-Ship to get some bids and the ones to tow were around $1,500. I am currently using an auto transport broker to find someone to haul, and the estimate they gave me is $2,000. These are fully insured delivery companies and I will definitely ask regarding the break down in the middle of delivery, delays, and the full process prior to hiring someone. These rates are with flexible dates so the delivery company can fill out a load.

I also contacted a few other auto transport companies and their rates are $3,500 and up.

The statement regarding how TMs are delivered to the dealerships came from the dealership my TM is at, to justify their recommendation. And it appears they don't really have the full picture either.

Again, thank you. I'll look into ABF U-Pack and the antique auto transport.

 

[br2_wdc]

Finally, you mention that the TM passed the Maryland state inspection. Do you have any idea what that inspection includes? I'm not knowledgable, but I would bet that it centers around safety issues that would effect other dirvers - adequate tire tread, safety chains, breakaway switch, lack of hanging hunks of sheet metal, and so forth. Does it give you confidence that the trailer will actually tow successfully for a long distance? I don't know, but you might want to go to the Maryland DMV site online and see exactly what is inspected.

And for what it is worth, if you elect to have your trailer hauled, be sure to understand whether they will (or can) haul it as a triple with another trailer. At least one of our members has a horror story to tell about a triple haul that included his TM.

You need to be sure you do your homework in depth before you decide. The $500 difference you mention might not be the final arbiter.

Bill

Good Evening Bill:
I grew up in Maryland live in the area and am well versed in what a Maryland Inspection means, and while it's more then just a safety inspection for lights, etc ... , it's unfortunately only as good as the inspector doing it. So most dealers have an arrangement with a gas station or local inspection station were diligence may not be the top priority. So I would be skeptical of anything other then the basics being checked.

Thank you Bill for the thorough reply. I placed a listing on U-Ship to get some bids and the ones to tow were around $1,500. I am currently using an auto transport broker to find someone to haul, and the estimate they gave me is $2,000. These are fully insured delivery companies and I will definitely ask regarding the break down in the middle of delivery, delays, and the full process prior to hiring someone. These rates are with flexible dates so the delivery company can fill out a load.

I also contacted a few other auto transport companies and their rates are $3,500 and up.

The statement regarding how TMs are delivered to the dealerships came from the dealership my TM is at, to justify their recommendation. And it appears they don't really have the full picture either.

Again, thank you. I'll look into ABF U-Pack and the antique auto transport.

Hello OCFamily ... welcome to the forum! I feel your pain and frustration of limited options, and understand your situation completely, but I wanted to share some of my thoughts specifically to this unit.

I believe I saw it online this afternoon at a Maryland dealership in Joppa, MD. My main question from the pictures is the front window cover doesn't appear to have the Trailmanor logo. So best case it somehow got cracked and was simply replaced, and worst case the front shell was hit hard enough to do enough damage to replace the cover, which could mean alignment or some other unknown issues with the front shell.

My other question is similar to Bill's in terms of a "good deal". When you factor in the approximately $2,000 for shipping, the price advantage you mentioned shrinks, and this also cuts into your funds to make any necessary repairs. Let's say repairs run approximately an additional $2000, which puts us around $13,000 total. IMHO, you are no longer in the "good deal" category, just an OK deal, and no ability to have the dealer fix something they said was OK in order to get you to buy it!

I am pretty certain with some patience and some time, you'll find something closer to you that meets your needs and will be as good or better deal. But if you have already purchased it, then Bill's suggestions on transport options make the most sense and I'm sure the forum can help with any other issues you may find once you get the unit. Either way good luck!

 

[OCfamily]

Thank you Br2

That is the one! I noticed the missing logo in the front window shield/cover as well but from reading the forum, those sometimes are optional items that may have been added after the fact? The dealer does provide a 30 day warranty on everything operating, no leaks, etc. And the warranty allows me to have things fixed and be reimbursed for them.

I plan on taking the TM to a TM dealer in Ontario CA to have everything checked. The reason why I think it's a great deal is because in the west coast, a 2009 2619 at the Ontario CA dealership goes for almost $19k and anything 2010 and up is at least $15k-20k plus in nearby western states.

I ran a check on the VIN but did not find anything. (I couldn't find any info as oppose to the VIN showing no damage). If anyone knows where to look, I would appreciate it.

Br2_ have you have dealt with or spoke with that dealership in Joppa? Over the phone they seem to be nice and accommodating, but that's just my impression over the phone. Any insight on these guys? They claim to be a big reputable company and the reviews online are mixed, but fairly good.

Thank you,

 

[Shrimpburrito]

For the reasons Bill eluded to, if I were to have a TM shipped cross-country, the ONLY way I would do it were on the back of a truck/flatbed. If my only option was to have someone pull it, I would simply find another TM. There are lots of things that can go wrong, especially on a used unit where the condition of the tires, bearings, and brakes are unknown. If it were towed, what happens when your hired driver goes a little fast through some areas that are hot on a road in rough shape? That's a perfect recipe for a blowout, and on a single-axle TM, that means damage. And it can be pricey -- thousands of dollars potentially if there is damage to the grey tank. Not worth the hassle for a few hundred bucks savings.

I wouldn't spend the extra cash to have it transported in any sort of enclosed trailer. I don't see any benefit.

I too have checked into hauling a TM cross-country, and it too was my experience that flatbeds were more expensive than someone towing it. I presume that is partially supply/demand, but probably mostly because a multi-vehicle carrier can load up with a bunch of cars/trailers, and then start hauling. But even once he drops off a unit, he can keep going to deliver more units. Someone towing a trailer then has to turn around to pick up another job, or have carefully scheduled to pick up another load nearby.

Another option I would consider: go pick it up yourself. It would be a long haul, but you can make it from SoCal to the east in 3-4 days, so you could conceivably be back in a week. You'd camp the whole time the way back and see some incredible countryside in the process, so it would basically be a bit of a vacation. ROAD TRIP. Plus, now is a perfect time because fuel prices are the lowest they've been in years, and most campgrounds are pretty much EMPTY. I drove from LA to Tennessee to pick mine up, then headed to the Northeast to visit some family, then up into Canada where we kept heading west before dropping down into Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then through the Dakotas, etc. It was an awesome trip. After all, these campers have wheels!!

Doing that also gives you an opportunity to see the unit first hand before leaving the lot. I'd ask that the bearings be replaced before pickup (a $100 job), brakes inspected, and I'd also have plans to replace those tires before you get on the road unless they were just replaced (check the date code). You're going to have to do it when you get home anyway, and the extra miles are free since you never replace trailer tires due to tread wear.

Give them a deposit, and start driving!

Dave

 

[Shane826]

Beware on U-Ship those are mostly all BIDS by brokers. That means they put your cargo, pickup, and destination on a board with a bid attached. When a driver accepts the job, your item gets shipped. But as I'm sure you can imagine the higher price,, shorter mileage jobs always go first. Your TrailManor could sit quite a while before someone accepts the bid. I was looking to ship a TrailManor from Missoula, MT to Rochester, NY and went through all the runaround on U-Bid. The long distance ultimately killed the deal.

 

[br2_wdc]

For the reasons Bill eluded to, if I were to have a TM shipped cross-country, the ONLY way I would do it were on the back of a truck/flatbed. If my only option was to have someone pull it, I would simply find another TM. There are lots of things that can go wrong, especially on a used unit where the condition of the tires, bearings, and brakes are unknown. If it were towed, what happens when your hired driver goes a little fast through some areas that are hot on a road in rough shape? That's a perfect recipe for a blowout, and on a single-axle TM, that means damage. And it can be pricey -- thousands of dollars potentially if there is damage to the grey tank. Not worth the hassle for a few hundred bucks savings.

I wouldn't spend the extra cash to have it transported in any sort of enclosed trailer. I don't see any benefit.

I too have checked into hauling a TM cross-country, and it too was my experience that flatbeds were more expensive than someone towing it. I presume that is partially supply/demand, but probably mostly because a multi-vehicle carrier can load up with a bunch of cars/trailers, and then start hauling. But even once he drops off a unit, he can keep going to deliver more units. Someone towing a trailer then has to turn around to pick up another job, or have carefully scheduled to pick up another load nearby.

Another option I would consider: go pick it up yourself. It would be a long haul, but you can make it from SoCal to the east in 3-4 days, so you could conceivably be back in a week. You'd camp the whole time the way back and see some incredible countryside in the process, so it would basically be a bit of a vacation. ROAD TRIP. Plus, now is a perfect time because fuel prices are the lowest they've been in years, and most campgrounds are pretty much EMPTY. I drove from LA to Tennessee to pick mine up, then headed to the Northeast to visit some family, then up into Canada where we kept heading west before dropping down into Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then through the Dakotas, etc. It was an awesome trip. After all, these campers have wheels!!

Doing that also gives you an opportunity to see the unit first hand before leaving the lot. I'd ask that the bearings be replaced before pickup (a $100 job), brakes inspected, and I'd also have plans to replace those tires before you get on the road unless they were just replaced (check the date code). You're going to have to do it when you get home anyway, and the extra miles are free since you never replace trailer tires due to tread wear.

Give them a deposit, and start driving!

Dave

Dave:
Excellent advice & I agree 100% that seeing any TM in person before you buy it is the preferred path. And while I love your idea about a cross country road trip, I am guessing the cost/time to do that will be prohibitive as a viable option.

Thank you Br2

That is the one! I noticed the missing logo in the front window shield/cover as well but from reading the forum, those sometimes are optional items that may have been added after the fact? The dealer does provide a 30 day warranty on everything operating, no leaks, etc. And the warranty allows me to have things fixed and be reimbursed for them.

I plan on taking the TM to a TM dealer in Ontario CA to have everything checked. The reason why I think it's a great deal is because in the west coast, a 2009 2619 at the Ontario CA dealership goes for almost $19k and anything 2010 and up is at least $15k-20k plus in nearby western states.

I ran a check on the VIN but did not find anything. (I couldn't find any info as oppose to the VIN showing no damage). If anyone knows where to look, I would appreciate it.

Br2_ have you have dealt with or spoke with that dealership in Joppa? Over the phone they seem to be nice and accommodating, but that's just my impression over the phone. Any insight on these guys? They claim to be a big reputable company and the reviews online are mixed, but fairly good.

Thank you,

Hello OCFamily:
I see you are getting quite a bit of responses and some excellent advice! This forum is the reason I decided to get my TM, and the folks here are extremely knowledgeable and hopefully you're not getting too overwhelmed.

I do not know this particular dealership, but did a quick search and did find some of the complaints you may have seen (I'll put the link below). A large RV dealership is always going to get complaints, so I don't know that you dismiss the dealership on that alone.

But I realized in measuring the value of this unit we really have to understand: what are your requirements? Is there a reason you must get a 2619, which is one of the smallest units? Do you have a space limitation based on your garage or the place you'll store it? Does your tow vehicle have limits that prevent you from looking at the larger units?

The reason I am asking is I initially wanted a 2619 and then I went and saw one, and in person it seemed a little small. So I went back and remeasured my garage and figured I could get a bigger unit if it had the swing out hitch option, and I am thrilled I have the extra space and the parallel couches the 3023 offers!

I have just checked rvtrader.com, and there are other larger units then 2619 that look to be in as good or better shape then this one for 15k-17k asking, and they would probably take less if you move quickly and have cash, and they are on the West Coast.

My best advice is to not jump on something simply because you think you are getting a deal; I would suggest doing a little more homework through the weekend on your requirements, and if you haven't done so, go see some of these larger units near you. On a parallel path, you can check on the shipping options as Bill and the others have suggested, and get as much additional information on this particular unit and this dealer as you can. If by Monday you still feel strongly about this 2619, then go for it!

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/chesaco-rv/joppa-maryland-21085/chesaco-rv-con-artist-or-just-devious-liars-joppa-maryland-1163538

 

[OCfamily]

Thank you everyone for all the great suggestions and input. My wife and I frequent this forum quite a bit before we seriously considered buying a TM. The cross country road trip would be nice, but we have a 1 year old and a 3 year old so that becomes quite prohibitive. As for the 2619, we will be towing with a 2013 toyota sienna with towing package. I've read quite a bit of discussion regarding that as a TV (I'll spare everyone another discussion)...I have a 800 lbs wdh with sway control and tekonsha p3 ready to go. Because of our TV, we feel we are pretty much limited to the 2619 or 2720 model. We don't mind the smallest model as it fits our family needs...for now. And we live in an hoa complex so the TM would need to fit in the garage. So far my measurements puts this particular TM very tight in the spot where I'm thinking of putting it. The garage sits on a steep driveway, again another discussion at a later date.

As for the dealership, I've read all the reviews and agree that with such a large dealership that they'll be some unhappy customers but overall they have been good to deal with. I think we are pretty much set on this one just barring the delivery issue. At the beginning when we were shopping for shipping quotes, we were adamant about having it hauled, however the price is over $3500 and the current quote of $2000 to haul is going into its 3rd week as the broker is trying to find someone willing to fill a load. That's the reason why we are now contemplating towing it as the broker found someone willing to tow for 1700 but we declined initially.

 

[Craigrrr]

I too would have to agree , look at it in person before you buy. I drove 1300 miles to look at one, I was told it was good. Even pics all looked good, but when I was there I had found that the bathroom had pee all over the wood trim and turning green the shell did not close properly . It just was not as good as I was under the impression. I passed on what I thought was going to be a good deal. I drove home and looked some more. I then found a newer unit 8 years newer to be exact and it was only 40 miles away.

So the moral of the story is LOOK in person, your idea what good, bad and excellent condition varies person by person.

Oh one other one I made a tentative deal with was with a dealer, at the last moment he had told me there had been a tree branch that went through the roof and the front of the unit , but it was repaired. . PASSSSSS

 

[digditches]

We are also in Southern California. We have been looking for something within driving distance that's the model/year we're interested in for about six months and have found nothing. So, we decided to expand our driving range. We just found something in Nebraska. A friend of a friend purchased a TM two years ago and also had to go out of the area. I don't know the details, but I think they went to Idaho.

It's interesting that you posted this today because when I mentioned our find to a co-worker today, he suggested using an auto transport. After reading all the comments, we're going to explore that as an option. Currently, we're planning to make a bonsai run to Nebraska and back. We're concerned because of the potential weather and road conditions at this time of year ... not only as we go farther north, but also getting over the Cajon pass if our weather turns bad.

We have a feeling that the cost of using an auto transport vs. driving is going to be a wash. If we use an auto transport, we get to save our vacation days. If we drive, we get to walk away if we don't like it.

Before we even called about the unit, we spent a lot of time studying the pictures that were posted. Then, we spent a lot of time on the phone asking questions. They offered to do another video for us besides the one that was posted on their web-site. The salesman did point out a repair on the video that he wasn't aware of when he spoke with us on the phone. We feel comfortable that the unit is in good shape, but also nervous about buying something sight unseen.

Good luck to you. I'll be interested to know what you finally decide.

 

[Shrimpburrito]

Hmmm...yes, cross-country trip with 1 and 3-year olds would be a bit dicey. You might end up giving the dealer money and not taking the camper.

As for buying a unit sight unseen, in addition to what's already been discussed, you can always take a red-eye to the east coast, or where ever you are going, to arrive at the airport at 6-8am, ask the dealer to pick you up (they will be happy to do so), spend a few hours checking it out, and then get back on a flight no later than 4-5pm. You'll be back home within 24 hours, and the whole trip will only cost you airfare.....maybe $400-$500. Free if you use miles or points.

Or, there are lots of forum members here that, if the unit is nearby, would very likely be happy to check it out on your behalf.

Another thought -- for some reason I was on the phone with the Casita factory several years ago. Casita doesn't have any dealers, so if you want to buy a new one, you have to pick it up in Texas. Or, you give the retired guy that lives next to Casita, whom they call upon often, and he'll bring it to your house. That kind of arrangement is more comfortable to me than a Uship bidder, but obviously much harder to make happen. Know any retired or unemployed friends or family that want to make some money?

Dave

 

[OCfamily]

I'll try to update as best as I can. We did ask for the video run down of the TM from the dealership and we should be getting that soon. Another point to add is that because it is a 2010 model, only 6 years old, that we would be more comfortable with buying sight unseen. We actually got the dealer to come down to 8k for the TM plus he thew in some minor extras. Right now I'm sitting at $8500 with all paperwork and state inspection. So hopefully if the delivery comes in at $2000, we feel that might be worth the risk of buying sight unseen. If seems like the forum feels hauling is the route to go if we decide to go with this unit.

Thank you

 

[HIKERZ]

If I were to have a unit such as a TM hauled on an open platform I would insist that it was not hauled positioned backwards. I think the wind/rain could have a negative impact on the shell and A/C unit.

 

[ChefLamont]

If the dealership is so large, they should have a rolodex full of shipping contacts. Have you pressed them for options? I would tell them that you haven't been able to find any reasonable shipping quotes and that is jeopardizing the deal. That might incentivize them to get you something reasonable.

I too given the choice would haul vs tow, but right now it doenst seem like you really have the luxury of the option. When you said 2K for hauling all the way cross country, that sounded low to me.

 

[Bill]

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but if bottom-line cost is a big deal - and of course it is - and if your wife can stay home with the kids for 10 days, then I'm still thinking road trip. If you calculate the per-mile cost of actually running your car, you might be surprised at where it comes out. I used to tell myself that it cost about 25 cents a mile to run my Explorer, but that is when gas was $3.50 a gallon. Now that gas is down around $2.00 average, the per-mile cost has dropped to about 15 cents. Gas is by far the biggest cost driver. Oil and tire wear are both about a penny a mile. And I don't count insurance since it is a fixed cost regardless of how much you drive, and I don't count value at trade-in since 5000 extra miles will have little effect. You can use different assumptions if you prefer.

So if you say 5400 miles at 17 cents per mile, you are at $918. Add $400 for 10 nights stay (cheap hotels on the way out, campgrounds on the way back) and $75 for tolls, and you are sitting sat about $1400. If space on a multi-vehicle 18-wheel car-hauler ends up costing $2500 or $3000 - well, you can do the math and evaluate it.

Just my thought. By the way, gas is now running $1.50 here in greater Phoenix, and will be less than that all across the midwest. Don't let those California prices discourage you!

Bill

 

[br2_wdc]

Thank you Br2
I plan on taking the TM to a TM dealer in Ontario CA to have everything checked. The reason why I think it's a great deal is because in the west coast, a 2009 2619 at the Ontario CA dealership goes for almost $19k and anything 2010 and up is at least $15k-20k plus in nearby western states.

Thank you,

I believe I see your point, if what I see on rvtrader.com for the Ontario, CA RV dealer is correct: 2005 3124 for $15k? That seems quite high ...

Thank you everyone for all the great suggestions and input. My wife and I frequent this forum quite a bit before we seriously considered buying a TM. The cross country road trip would be nice, but we have a 1 year old and a 3 year old so that becomes quite prohibitive. As for the 2619, we will be towing with a 2013 toyota sienna with towing package. I've read quite a bit of discussion regarding that as a TV (I'll spare everyone another discussion)...I have a 800 lbs wdh with sway control and tekonsha p3 ready to go. Because of our TV, we feel we are pretty much limited to the 2619 or 2720 model. We don't mind the smallest model as it fits our family needs...for now. And we live in an hoa complex so the TM would need to fit in the garage. So far my measurements puts this particular TM very tight in the spot where I'm thinking of putting it. The garage sits on a steep driveway, again another discussion at a later date.

As for the dealership, I've read all the reviews and agree that with such a large dealership that they'll be some unhappy customers but overall they have been good to deal with. I think we are pretty much set on this one just barring the delivery issue. At the beginning when we were shopping for shipping quotes, we were adamant about having it hauled, however the price is over $3500 and the current quote of $2000 to haul is going into its 3rd week as the broker is trying to find someone willing to fill a load. That's the reason why we are now contemplating towing it as the broker found someone willing to tow for 1700 but we declined initially.

The same dealer appears to have just put online a 2009 2619, but no price, which I am guessing is going to be equally inflated, but I'll post it below.

IMHO, no question spending a bit more and having the ability to take it back to the dealer you purchased it to hold them to their word if there is an issue makes the most sense to me, but again it's not my money.

I'll also play devil's advocate on one aspect of shipping cross country: proving damage occurred while shipping. Whomever insures your shipper would need proof, and how would you prove it haven't not seen it yourself? I guess you could have the salesman vouch for it and maybe use the pictures they took, but once they have your check/money, I am predicting they will be hard to reach. To me that also raises the risk factor for this unit, because over 3,000 miles a lot could happen.

Continued good luck with your options, and please keep us posted.



http://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Custom-RV-Inc.-717403/listing/2009-Trailmanor-2619-117234164

 

[Bill]

That reminds me. Your shipper may not offer partial insurance. When we shipped a houseful of stuff and a car via ABF-UPack, the only insurance they offered was catastrophic total loss. They did a bunch of damage during shipment, none of which would they cover.

Bill

 

[Laura FM]

I have had experience with the So Cal Trailmanor dealer and all I can say is good things. I suspect anything used that comes off their lot has been scrupulously inspected and is in good repair. This might be why their used trailers are more expensive.

If I were in the OPs position, I would also feel comfortable and confident that I could ask the advice of the So Cal people about this rig - show them the pictures.