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Lance M · 07-31-2012, 05:38 AM

Hi Kingfisher,
That is a nice looking trailer. $28,500 is a steep price. It should have everything in as new order. Looks can be deceiving. Axles are usually guaranteed for five years. There are some inspections you can do to determine if they are serviceable or not. I would suspect they are not. The wood laminate floor is a hint that there may be floor rot issues that were covered up.
It takes a lot of work and money to restore/refurbish a vintage trailer. There should be pictures to document the work. Ask for photos of the work that was done.

xrvr · 07-31-2012, 07:49 AM

Cortez? Someone else remember him? Jim

kingfisher24 · 07-31-2012, 08:42 AM

1975 tradewind....going to dallas rv this morning for a full checkup ahd roadworthy report...i am putting a deposit down on her and if she checks out with flying colors....she's coming home with us...

TBRich · 07-31-2012, 06:55 PM

Wow, you two! I just stumbled across this thread and am shocked to hear that you've sold your Airstream! Call me surprised! Say it ain't so! But at least you still have aluminum running in your veins... I'm not much help in answering any of your questions on a vintage rig, but hope you can get it figured out to your satisfaction...and we hope to see you around the 4CU campfire again soon...in a new Airstream. We were wondering where you went...well I knew you were in Texas...but not Airstream-less! Enjoyed running into you often on the road... Please some home!

PhiDor · 07-31-2012, 07:04 PM

That hitch is for a boat or utility trailer. It is much too small for a travel of that size. The original was probably rusted or broken and replaced with much less expensive type. I'd look at the frame very closely, front AND rear. I have seen trailer of that vintage have the rear fall right off. But you don't see the damage in advance without looking carefully.

What's under that shiny tread plate?

This trailer may be too good to be true.

kingfisher24 · 08-01-2012, 04:09 AM

and for all i know they are a great company...and i should feel confident with an independent paid assessment of the roadworthiness of this trailer...

randy roland is the guy who is going to check her over...

everything seems above board...the owner is an established business man in the dallas area...he commissioned and hired a 30 year rv tech to do this restoration...

the trailer looks immaculate///tooo good to be true...don't know what else one could do other than what i am doing to check this thing out.....

kingfisher24 · 08-01-2012, 06:59 AM

here is one comment i got in a private message

Just from the pictures and the text of the ad there are a few things that tell me this is what they call a polished turd;
It is polished
The diamond plate covering the frame
The dent in the cs front "banana wrap" was not fixed.
Laminate wood floors
Original axles

a polished turd??????

i cannot see the dent in the pictures...i believe to be just shadows...

as far as thje frame and axles...i really am in a quandary

Distantdrummer · 08-01-2012, 07:59 AM

Why put a deposit down ?
At 28 grand I doubt this thing is going anywhere too fast.

If you are still smitten offer him 17 and be preparted to go to 19,500.
Dont blink and drive away if he refuses. Be sure he has your telephone number and go back to Elgin, and get the ants outa your pants.
time will tell, and if it goes away, there are plenty more out there.

Sure hope you see this before you pay.
I've heard both good & bad bout North Dallas RV.
But if they had anything to do with the trailer, what do you think they are gonna say...?
Certainly not an unbiased opinion..honest or not.

Lily&Me · 08-01-2012, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distantdrummer

Why put a deposit down ?
At 28 grand I doubt this thing is going anywhere too fast.

If you are still smitten offer him 17 and be preparted to go to 19,500.
Dont blink and drive away if he refuses. Be sure he has your telephone number and go back to Elgin, and get the ants outa your pants.
time will tell, and if it goes away, there are plenty more out there.

Sure hope you see this before you pay.
I've heard both good & bad bout North Dallas RV.
But if they had anything to do with the trailer, what do you think they are gonna say...?
Certainly not an unbiased opinion..honest or not.

This is REALLY good advice, guys,

Maggie

kingfisher24 · 08-01-2012, 08:30 AM

that is the best thing about this forum...and everything...mostly is taken with a grain of salt...

so...i felt to really get this trailer looked at..to do an honest due diligence...i needed to , like a real estate contract...give this guy some option money...and get it independently checked out and then gather as much info from this forum and any other source i could find......

the way i piece it together...the owner, hired a 30year veteran rv tech...put him on his staff to refurbish this trailer...the pictures look great....he was going to personally use it and then is dear wife said no, no, no......

so io am biding my time and will go look ...long and hard before i pull the trigger....

thanks to all....

soldiermedic · 08-01-2012, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

and for all i know they are a great company...and i should feel confident with an independent paid assessment of the roadworthiness of this trailer...

randy roland is the guy who is going to check her over...

everything seems above board...the owner is an established business man in the dallas area...he commissioned and hired a 30 year rv tech to do this restoration...

the trailer looks immaculate///tooo good to be true...don't know what else one could do other than what i am doing to check this thing out.....

Carol, I had my trailer at north Dallas rv fir 6 months with the word and promise from Randy Rolland that they would be working on it. Every two weeks i would call, amd every time they said they would be starting ASAP. 6 months,and it never was touched. From looking at the pics (laminate screams cover up), the diamond plate and BBQ on the a frame, and the axle situation along with that HUGE price, I would run...not walk.....run from this. I have owned I streams and have seen how people cover their tracks...don't fall for this.

Wabbiteer · 08-01-2012, 09:15 PM

Do I see... Original furnace inlet/exhaust & original water heater cover ~ may mean neither of them have been updated? Do I see... Lotsa wrap dings, dents and even cuts, plus a surface patch ~ if there was anyone who had peeled them off and back on w/o even flatteningthen not much time was allowed for non-cosmetic repairs? Do I see... streetside segment above the tail light creased and dented? Do I see... everything everyone else already mentioned?

For that kind of money, new wiring - perfect shell sealing and expensive insulation, all glass intact - new plumbing, pump, filters, fixtures, toilet, dump valves - all LED fixtures interior and exterior - Vista view windows repaired - New flooring & subflooring - repaired & upgraded frame in all the hidden places... All new and un-patched rolling Tarnbour doors... Egads, this list could be endless!

And you would still have a Formica & plastic interior mid-seventies trailer.

kingfisher24 · 08-02-2012, 03:46 PM

so i ended the saga for this trade wind....might have check out but when i offered $18000 even if it did check out....he called uncle

so the hunt continues and am on the trail of a 2004 25ft international ccd.....
here in the austin area

soldiermedic · 08-02-2012, 05:38 PM

Phew...this is a HUGE weight off my shoulders as I had BAD feelings about this trailer from the get go!

Keep looking, there is always another trailer.