Your right. I had just come down US 71 from Carthage and went east on 44 a few miles or so. Just came down from Des Moines that AM and was still tired. You can't miss the place, its huge!
I would call them to ask about a part you need or a fridge, or whatever. They had lots of that stuff. I didn't see a lot of really "old" campers in their yard. Here's the way its layed out:
1. They have units for sale in the front of the lot (maybe 10 acres or so).
2. Their building is divided up with a very large new parts area (bigger than most I expect) in the front half; and then the used stuff in the back room. They have an RV sales office off to one side. Its all very well lit and really pleasant to walk around in. Not like you'd expect from a salvage yard at all.
3. Then the back yard area has stuff stacked up behind the building (like doors and windows). Their shops were in the rear also for dissassembly.
4. As you walk out into the lot outside you start seeing rows and rows of trailers and motorhomes in various states of disrepair.
5. Airstreams were here and there, mostly 70's, and I figured there must be more; so I walked to the back NW corner and there they were! (See pics.)
6. Obviously, trailers that have had windows and vents taken out and are open to the weather start growing inside; like moss and stuff. Some trailers you wouldn't want to walk into, for sure.
7. They let you walk around anywhere, and if you need a part you tell them and they go and get it for you. I'm thinking of things I missed already.
8. Inside in the back (used stuff) they have every nut and bolt you can think of, hinges, doors, blinds, hardware, stoves, microwaves, toilets, doors, windows, lamps, lights, EVERYTHING! They obviously take out stuff pretty quickly; but some units still had lots inside the trailers, but were gettin' funky in there!
9. Units that have been on fire inside (some big $$ rigs) are very sad to look at; lots of trailers just torn open.
10. Oh yea, they have a pretty good side parts desk inside with really pleasant people to help you. But I don't think things are indexed like cars; i.e., I asked about the differences in doors of a couple of Airstreams and they said they don't have crossover lists like that. You'd have to measure and compare yourself, or rely on there personal knowledge. Their people are really good at what they do.
11. Things are not cheap though either. I got a stove knob for $5.00. A dinette I saw from a unit was $350.00. One of those oval overhead Airstream windows was $200.00.
Hope that helps a little. (I had been driving so long, I was anxious to look around as much as possible; but they closed at 5:00 pm and I didn't want to stay overnight for the heck of it. So I took somes pics, got a couple of things and headed back north!
Fritz in Hugo, MN.
fstuneck@comcast.net
Colaws trip
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