$3,500
Seattle, Washington
Category
Travel Trailers
Length
13
Posted Over 1 Month
This heavily used old trailer won't win a beauty contest, but it is leak-free, cozy, self-contained, and has everything you need for immediate occupation. I've had several small old trailers, and this one is by far my favorite. This trailer has been in nearly constant use for the last 3 years, and surely has some other maintenance and/or repair issues that I haven't mentioned here, but is essentially ready to go right now. Hook it up to your truck, take it to the woods, and be cozy and warm. I've even left dishes in the cupboards, clean sheets in the cabinet, and silverware in the drawer. I use a handyman jack and jack stands for leveling; you can have the jack stands. General Notes The heating system is custom and is the best you've ever seen in a camper. The new (2013) axle has less than 5000 miles on it, and the tires are also fairly new and in great shape. There's a full-size spare in the rear compartment. The main bunk has a futon on it which is thick and great for keeping the cold out from below. There is new (2013) linoleum throughout the main living area. It's easy to keep clean and looks nice. All of the cabinets are in pretty rough shape, but serviceable. At least two of them have broken latches. The galley countertops and the table have heavy scratches and wear marks, but are intact and not structurally damaged. There is no refrigerator, only an ice box. It is original and also shows signs of heavy wear, but is not broken or damaged. The 3-burner propane stove is clean and trouble free. The oven looks like heck but works great and doesn't smoke. There is a large impromptu shelf above the bunk made from plywood. It's ugly but holds your gear. The roof was re-sealed in 2012 and is still perfectly water-tight. The windows are in pretty rough shape, one of them has been boarded up and all of them are drafty, but they open and close and have curtains. The door has trouble closing and is also drafty, and the doorknob is junk but works. There is no toilet. Thank goodness for that, if you ask me. The galley faucet does not work. I don't use the original water tank, because water in it freezes during the winter. There is a 10-gallon galvanized portable tank that I keep on the counter top with its spigot sticking out over the sink. The sink drains directly to the outside, I usually put a bucket under the drain. The 110V system is intact but has unusable because the plug on the outside is broken. I never replaced the plug because I don't use 110V. There are places to plug in your car chargers for phone and laptop, so the solar panel can power everything you need. Heating System Excellent and economical heat! A 4-gallon propane-fired boiler heats a glycol mixture to 170 degrees F, which is then circulated by a 12V high-efficiency pump through 3 independently controllable loops: 1 large double radiator under the galley table, 1 small single radiator in the center on the right side, and a foot-warming loop at the foot of the bed. There are two 7-gallon propane tanks (replaced the small tanks you see in the photos), which is enough fuel to run the heat and do your cooking for 4 weeks in zero-degree weather, and for up to 2 months in weather near freezing. The glycol mixture is currently 15%, I think, so you may need to adjust it if you're going to be in seriously cold weather. When the windows are sealed with plastic (I usually wrap the window screens in saran-wrap during the winter), this system can keep you warm in nearly any weather, compensating adequately for the poor insulation that these campers unfortunately have. The state-of-the-art European radiators provide clean, dry heat. The one under the galley table will warm you up fast when you come back from a long day in the blustery weather, and the little one in the middle is a great place to dry your socks. The foot-warming loop at the foot of the bed is directly above the boiler, and circulates by convection even without the pump. Enjoy a cozy night's sleep with warm toes, no matter what the weather is doing outside! The radiators have bleed valves you can use to purge air from the system. This is often necessary when the camper experiences big changes in altitude. Electrical System There are 2 marine-grade deep-cycle batteries, each of which will run the high-efficiency low-draw circulation pump for the heater for 2 weeks without re-charging. A top-of-the-line 60W solar panel and 6A charge controller keep your main battery fully charged, even in overcast weather. The panel's 90% efficiency means you don't have to worry about how much sun you're getting, just keep the panel free of snow. There are 12V lights inside, but I usually use the propane lantern above the galley table. The electric light over the galley is useful for cooking, though. LED tail lights are bright and safe, and won't change the blink speed even on older trucks using the old thermo-flasher. One of them is damaged from backing into a post, but it's just cosmetic. The light still works and since it's LED it's still red, so you won't get pulled over for it. There is no 110V power, but all it needs is an external plug to get that system working again. Note on the Photos The photos here are recent and representative, but they don't show the damage to the tail light and rear left corner or the broken front window and damaged awning. They show small propane tanks which have now been replaced with big ones. You are responsible for inspecting the trailer before you agree to buy it. My opinion about the worthiness of the trailer for occupation may differ from yours. I've been living in it and I find it comfortable, but I'm used to living a bit rough, so I don't guarantee it won't offend more delicate sensibilities. Please be sure before you commit to buy.
