What TT would you buy for 5k

[Riverboy]

Hi all,



Here I thought I would be buying a 5er with my Truck set up but money doesn't grow on trees up here so I have to settle for a TT. Alot of you have 5er's but had to start out with a TT probably somewhere. Any advice for a newbie Rv'er would be great. I am setting my budget for around 5k. I don't mind if its dated just want something built good. So if there is any brand out there that you remember having that towed well and wasn't put together by a bunch of monkeys let me know.



Thanks RB

 

[JMetzger]

A lot will depend on what you want,what length. I don't think that you are going to find much for $5000. 00. I have a 96 Holiday Rambler & I know that I wouldn't sell it for $5000. 00 but it is in excellent condition. Tell us what you are looking for.

 

[Riverboy]

Something that sleeps 5/6, 25ft-30ft or so. I found a few HR's for around 5k.

 

[FFL8N]

you need to check out crankyape.com It is an auction site and there are a few good deals on there. You may have to be patient. There are a lot of bank owned repo's

 

[HBarlow]

The most valuable piece of advice I can offer is spend three months or more reviewing ads in various places and going to look at the trailers then inquire here.

What you will find in that price range is a bunch of little stick-built, aluminum-clad, rectangular boxes that have not been taken care of and are now unwanted by their owners. You will find some with obvious or hidden water damage in ceilings and walls and non working appliances. You'll find some that have been damaged by striking trees and parked vehicles, some that have been carelessly altered making them junk, and some that have had their television sets and appliances removed.

If you are serious go back and read every post in some of the long running threads here about RV quality. There are many RV manufacturers out there. Some of them build decent trailers for the price, some build junk. You'll find lots of them, you'll want to educate yourself and learn the difference between good and cheap.

 

[RVTRKN]

I was patient and found a smoking deal on a Arctic fox, although my budget was a lot more, through New RVs & Used Motor Homes For Sale, RV Classifieds from RVs.com - RVs.com but had to travel quite a distance for it, which was a gamble that paid off. You need to look at sites that support pictures and Dealers as well. You are getting into the end of the "over stocked" used market due to economy. When the new have to compete with the Repo's that are as good as new, it also drove the used market down. Now that the market is starting to level out, it will be harder to stretch your Dollar, but my advise is to be patient. But if you come across a deal thats just a little over your budget and is a good deal, go for it.



The one thing you will need to consider for 5K, is that the axle's will need tires and brakes and possibly more attention to bearings and seals. Then expect the electronics/appliances to be needing TLC or replacement. The fridge will be the most important thing to make sure that works. They are expensive and will cost close to $1000. 00, if you have to replace it, so beware. Make sure it works in both elect/gas mode.



Quality is good if you can find it in your budget, but a starter TT, is not as critical when it comes to quality, besides you will replace it sooner than latter once you get the bug.

 

[Jim W]

I can not add any more to what Havery, has said to you.



I did attach a link to RVsearch.com at the bottom of this post. You can modify the parameters any way you want to, on the RH side. Then use the advice that Harvey and other users have given you.



I and my DW started out in a tent and worked are way up from there over 40 years ago. We went the rout of tent for a couple of years. Then a COX pop-up trailer which was nothing more than a tent on a trailer. To a StarCraft 8 pop-up with an ice box, sink and heater. Then on to a use 5er for three years then traded for a new 5er in 2010.



RVSearch.com Find an RV Results for



Good luck?

JIM W

 

[MChrist]

Have you considered pop-up trailers? We had one before we moved up to a 29' Jayco. Sure, the TT is nicer and has more room, but then you would be able to get a pop-up in better condition for that money, not a beat-up TT.
Just an option... then again, maybe not... ... ...

 

[Grizzly]

First of all, don't discount a 5th wheel. They are much better for towing. Consider a good used Nash. They are 4 star rated, but low budget. You're close to their factory, which is Northwood Mfg in La Grande, OR. Check Craigslist.org in all the towns in your general area. Sometime you can find a great deal.



Good Luck, george

 

[AClayton]

I don't have much to add due to others already mentioning good advice. What I will add is to factor into consideration the cost of upgrades and/or repairs to a used RV in that price range. And then use that money to add to your budget and get a better RV package to begin with. Just something else to consider is all!! Like others have already posted... ... . you can find RV's in that price range but it will require additional money and work to upgrade enough for use.



Alan

 

[EGroeneveld]

To answer your question:

The one with no water damage, thats well taken care of, does not smell like mold or smoke, and everything works Well built trailers that are not taken care of can be worse then the ok trailers that have been babied. I'd personally be looking for anything in the 8-9K range and offer them 5k cash. Its quite possible but might take some travel and/or time. Don't be affraid to offer with cash on hand.

 

[Riverboy]

Thanks all, your all talking to a guy who searched a year for my truck. I knew what I wanted and looked all over while subscribed to this forum. I am what they call a Craigslist junky. Anyhow Harvey I have looked at alot of stick built junk and have told the wife a few times maybe we ought to go get a real nice tent for now! We all know the end of that conversation.



I have looked at a few threads on here and Hbarlow you seem to be the one in the "know". I will hit ya up when I have the cash for a 5er. For now I need to find a ol stick built junker in good condition that will last us a few years before we jump to the Hitchhiker.



@MChrist I have thought about a tent trailer... its a good choice in my price range. Although I can just see the big guys jeering me at the campgrounds when I pull up in my Dodge with a 1000# tent trailer. Mpg's would be a hair better though.



Cash always talks so someone out there has what I need for now and will let it go when they see my pretty wife holding 5k... . or at least I am hoping so.

 

[JMetzger]

Riverboy, using Harvey would be good as he probably has pulled every trailer made as he delivered new rigs & he could tell you which ones pull good & hold up. I don't know how long he did it but he might be able to tell you about some of the older ones that he delivered. Not saying that some of the other members didn't also.

 

[HBarlow]

Riverboy,

Lots of us who post here have owned, traveled, and camped with RV for many years and we can all offer our experiences and opinions. Opinions freely expressed are what we have most of!

It sounds like you are a wise shopper and understand the bargain buying technique so I think you have an advantage over most first time RV buyers already.

Go out and do some looking, tire kicking, and if you want our opinions describe what you've seen here and we will tell you what we think.

Now is a good time to be looking with cash in hand. Private RV sales are likely to be very poor right now and some may badly need money because of lost jobs, winter utility bills, Christmas spending, etc. The man who has cash in hand and it not pressed for time holds all the good cards.

 

[JMetzger]

Riverboy, I just went on NADA & looked up my trailer & I was shocked that it is only worth $4100. 00. It is a 1996 Holiday Rambler Alumalite 32Ft. If you could find something like that & in the condition that mine is you would be getting a good buy. The $4100. 00 was for a trailer in excellent condition. So I guess I was wrong when I said that you wouldn't get much. Like everyone has said search them all & see what has to be done to them. I know that mine would need nothing done to it so I guess they are out there.

 

[HBarlow]

Jack Metzger's post points out something I should have mentioned.

The absolute best buys to be found are often older higher quality travel trailers that were purchased new by older couples who could afford them. That type of buyer often knows what they want, buy it, and take excellent care of it for years. They buy quality, don't have children, and don't abuse or neglect the trailer.

Sometimes they upgrade to something larger or fancier, sometimes their health fails as they advance in age. In either case, their second hand trailers are often great buys. They will normally give you an honest description of the trailer you can trust.

Back in 2001 or 2002 I had experienced not one but two Airstreams being severely damaged by hail storms and had received insurance settlements on each and sold them in private sales.

I found what appeared to be a very nice, very clean, 1987 Avion 32' travel trailer for sale in northern IL. It was advertised on an internet classified ads site. I called the owner who was retired from Caterpillar. He had bought it new and used it gently and had to sell it due to health issues.

I agreed to buy it without seeing anything more than three or four crude photos and immediately sent him a check for $1000 to show good faith. A week or so later I drove to IL and met him at a local RV dealer's lot where the trailer was consigned for sale. It was precisely as he had described it, perhaps a bit better. I handed over the cash, (illegally) hung my Texas trailer license plate on it, and continued my journey into New England.

It was a beautiful trailer in perfect condition except for a crease on the rounded roof edge on the street side where he had hit a gas station canopy. I knew about that.

I pulled that trailer more than 60k miles in two years including a trip to Alaska. I loved it. I replaced all the appliances (myself) and made some improvements thinking I would keep it for many years. It "shrank" on me during a seven week Alaska trip and I got the bug for a fifth wheel. I sold the Avion for nearly double what I had paid for it. A broker from NM came to Lbk and bought it from me for resale to a bunch of weird, dope smoking hippies who lived on a mountain in Colorado.

 

[DennyDay]

Be careful - -There are a bunch of used FEMA trailer out there for $3,500 and they are NO GOOD for use as a travel trailer. If you don't know about them ask - - you'll get a bunch of answers

 

[Shadrach]

I grew up camping so when we wanted to buy our first trailer we rented a truck camper, borrowed my parents class C and rented a 19' TT to see what we liked. We shopped around to see what we liked for a floor plan and discussed what our "needs" were, knowing we couldn't afford anything new or big. We ended up buying a 24' Prowler, then 13 years old, from a dealer and we bought it in November ( they are cheaper then ). We are still using it today and it still suits our need. I have learned a lot about what I would get next time and about quality both from experience and especially from on here. I have replaced the fridge and furnace, 2 tires and the canopy fabric, all part of buying something used. While the quality is not top notch it works for what we use it for. My brother bought an brand new 27' about 5 years ago and soon found out you get what you pay for.

First trailers are a starting point and help you to find out what is right for you. An 8' truck camper was just too cramped for us. A 32' would not fit into some of our favorite campgrounds. Be patient, Be realistic. Shadrach

 

[HBarlow]

Denny,

Some of the FEMA units were just ordinary 24' or 26' travel trailers with normal travel trailer holding tanks, RV style toilets, RV refrigerator, etc. Everything was standard production travel trailer except for graphics decals. I pulled a few of them from factories to Baton Rouge to a huge staging area right after Hurricane Katrina.

They're okay as long as they have standard RV appliances and waste tanks.

Don't believe any of the fraudulent lawsuits about lung damage, etc. by parasites and their ambulance chasing attorneys. Gertrude, my female traveling companion (who happens to be a German Shepherd), and I slept in a lot of them.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Off the top of my head, if I could find a 29' American Star 5th wheel with metal roof and eight hole wheels in that price range that would be my choice. bg