The real problem seems to be that manufactures don't take upon themselves responsibility for the trailer as a whole, they don't even process complaints. They just tell you to get in touch with whatever company suppliesAmazing! So REAL expensive brand new movable abodes can be a big let down just a few feet away from the dealership? Who knew? What an terrible sitch! I'm sure that the Chamber of Commerce will get to fixing this any second now! Crickets.
Do they have professional appraisers of RV's? Like they do for stationary houses? Sounds like having one in your corner would be a very wise investment.
I sincerely hope that you get to move into such a better and BIGGER place! Maybe your friend Row didn't like the Ramona series that was originally on PBS?
We had one, a pinto for 10years, a wedding gift from Patti's father.
I can not recall a single moment of comfort.
How we prayed for it to die, but it would not!
The real problem seems to be that manufactures don't take upon themselves responsibility for the trailer as a whole, they don't even process complaints. They just tell you to get in touch with whatever company supplies
You broken appliance. So if they install a bunch of crap items they don't really have a stake in getting you good service. You Paid and your out the door.
"Most" new buyers are ass holes who drag 10,000 pounds all over mother Earth without a care.
Fortuitously they are easy bored and almost all large trailers end up as somebodies permeate dwelling.
Hell if it's over 12 feet after a few years it gets parked and lived in.... Often this is about simply surviving.
I can't think of a cheaper way to go and still maintain a decent level of security and comfort.
If you start out with a trailer in decent shape they are not hard to maintain or all that expensive to repair the type of things that break on a parked trailer. We expect our new trailer to last us until we no longer need it.
Insurance runs under $200.00 a year...for a parked trailer.
If Only I could talk new trailer buyers into taking the wheels off and learning to live with themselves
in one place.
Nobody tail gates a pinto for very long without gastric indigestion.LOL! Sorta.
You are Pinto veterans? Knew a woman who I wished to know more of that had one, but a few rides does never equal ten years of having to live with one. At least nobody hit you from behind!!
So they build it and supply NO warranty with their product? How the H do they get away with such blatant irresponsibility?Sounds like Capitalist heaven to me. Oh wait, I forgot where we live for a minute. The shame of forgetting, sorry!
Then again, with insurance that inexpensive perhaps you enjoy the benefit of a "warranty" in a manner of speaking?
Oh man, if only I had a full size diesel pickup truck that had a fifth wheel installed, then I could pretend I was an eighteen wheel driver! And I'd of course modify the engine so I'd have a huge squirt of black smoke available to show 'em all who's boss! Plus an Easy Rider Rifle Rack with two rifles and a shotgun on display!! Dunno, maybe only gasoline engines can be so modified? Whichever, it's a blatant crime against reasonable people.
I guess the small cabin in the woods might be a "dream" retirement home for some non wealthy folks, but there's a mortgage and real estate tax due every year, ugh. Buy it outright? I said non rich people. Plus that pesky real estate tax. Which you pay as part of your rent--yet there's no escape from the tax man. If you breathe you must pay za Shtate for the privilege.
It looks like you have found the secret to an inexpensive home.
Last nigh the bull came right up to the door. Patti was around 5 feet away. He was A BEAST! at least a 1/3 bigger than his cows. Unfortunately going all native woulds leave me all dead.":O}Ah, so. Thank you for your nice explanation! It all makes sense now and giving your present trailer to someone who needs and deserves it rocks. "Row" strikes me as an unusual name, so she will hopefully have a "new" space for her non camping trailer in your old same park?
5 Elk?! And you actually talked to them? For an hour and a half??! Sheesh Dan, please don't go ALL native on us!
George, a while back you asked about professional appraising.
There is NADA and blue book for nearly all trailers and all newer ones.
That's to get ball park on an average trailer. they also have some of the more popular add-ins at purchase in book.
Now just trow all of that away. Condition is every thing. I have learned that the trailer market is always good for buyers and sellers. There is almost always many choices at a given size and quality.
What your looking for are water stains, soft spongy corners on the floor. Trailers show neglect and abuse like nobodies business, In a space as small as a trailer offers your never very far away from any give away.
Trust one whose learned the hard way. If you open your eyes a lemon is not hard to spot.
Last nigh the bull came right up to the door. Patti was around 5 feet away. He was A BEAST! at least a 1/3 bigger than his cows. Unfortunately going all native woulds leave me all dead.":O}
It gets worse! How? Mind you this is for the long haulers, a one up-menship kinda thing.
The Trailer Row is getting is a 54 footer. The floor is higher than a mans head.
She intends let it grow roots under it's wheels. The next move it makes will be to avoid fire or flood.
I got nothing against burning a barrel of oil to move house from harm. Much cheaper for the world to do so.
But a fifty-four footer requires a full blown Diesel engine usually reserved for long hauling fright.
But even at 36-42 foot we find self centered lunatics buying "Toy haulers"
(Think of them as 30 foot trailers with a 10 -15 ft. garage.) or just full blown garages on wheels.
Water goers, snow goers, Motor cycles, 4X4's, every thing you should have never bought in the first place can now be dragged into anywhere you feel needs to be desecrated.
The word of Climate change has simply been rejected in favor of having "Fun".
Until they are outlawed as recreational transport, we Live in's will always be just a little uncomfortable
by way of association.
But more than a few who buy them as weapons against our ecology end up living in them as a result of irresponsibly buying 100.000 dollar status symbles.(sp.)
Bear in mind your talking about a 8X 32 to 42 space.I really meant what may be called a house "surveyor?" A person that looks in all the nooks and crannies of a house someone wants to but to find every defect and all possible faults that may raise their ugly heads after the sale. Maybe "mobile" houses don't have nooks and hidden areas like stay in place houses do?
Bear in mind your talking about a 8X 32 to 42 space.
A trailer has specific systems. Heat, cooling, appliances, seals everywhere. Fresh water grey water and black water. The push out systems and general wear and tear.
I leave out the running systems like brakes, shocks, hitch and tires as they are of very little import to the stationary trailer. You can scope out a trailer in under an hour, far less if it's a junker.
There are probably are folks who can do this for hire. But if you live in a trailer park chances are someone of real knowledge, (We have folks here who have lived in trailers all there lives, (grew up in them.)
Who you can ask to help you appraise. The price of any trailer is easy to come by. What is tricky is getting your moneys worth. As value goes back to condition. But if one is patient and careful and has a friend A good trailer at a fair price (or even a steal) isn't hard to find.
Most people have trouble with financing. They wait to long as we did and are usually in bad shape when they decide this trailer thing is a way to go. They are inexperienced as we were and very short on cash.As we were.
Moving into such a small space especially if you have kids is not an easy decision before it becomes the only choice for you.
I feared ending up in a trailer all my life. (My grandmother was miserable back in the 60's in hers. She lived in San Diego without air conditioning.Seemed like every time I visited her someone was being pulled out by medics for heat stroke...it left an impression!
the biggest hurdle most face, after money I think is the down sizing. Say good by to almost everything you own.
I have by extraordinary cramming and a year to figure out an arrangement that would "Mostly" work have been able to hold on to my PS3, PS4, computer and receiver and speakers. My 60 inch monitor had to go.
Patti lost everything she had acquired over our 45 or so years together and most of the family heirlooms.
It can be daunting. But as I have said before we have never been happier with our living situations.
A word to the wise. Where you park it becomes pretty much everything. We would be miserable in this trailer parked in a city park or the more standard square mile of RVs 10 feet apart in a very black top world.
out doors is critical to happy trailer life.
Find a spot you really like before you buy your trailer. A spot you really like can cost a ridiculous amount of money in the city. So can a spot you really detest. Me and Patti just got lucky at every turn. Once you fumble your way into a good trailer in a better spot
and you have let go of your attachment to the things of your life you no loner need. There is the possibility of real happiness living in your spot in your trailer.
"Look at me, I'm old but I'm happy.":O}
Cat Stevens sang this when I was 22. I have worked hard all my life to be able to say this of myself.":O}