What would you expect to pay?

[Aces]

Hi!

I’m interested in some input of what you might consider reasonable to pay for this gal.

1976 31’
Center bath


If you can ignore the mossy exterior, which I know will clean right up.
Nothing that seems like much damage on the exterior. No big dents or dings, windows seem good.

The interior has mold and plenty of previous rodent tenants and is really pretty cruddy. Electric and all that is shot.

It has been sitting for quite sometime, ten years I believe, on a concrete pad, under a big ol tree.

I’d like to assume worst case scenario on the bits that I can’t see or don’t know about, and fully expect an extensive redo.

It lives only .2 miles away.


Any opinions are appreciated!
Thanks in advance

[Acheron2010]

I would expect to be paid $100 to take it off their property.

[GMFL]

Free would be fair. Because you are going to spend quite a bit fixing it up. What you cannot see is the frame rust. Need for tires, axles, window seals, Rat chewed wiring. Lots of unknowns.
Free is still a gamble.

[Aces]

Fair enough! �� haha

[Bill M.]

$1000 to $3000. They are gonna want something for it. Maybe more than that but that would be my buying guess. The amount will not matter much to you since it is just a down payment on the real expenses and work to come. Looks like it is all there there and no major dents, damage? A good find if you are looking for a project. Most have damage or somebody had already messed with them. And close to home. Saves a long trip on a flatbed.

[AlinCal]

How much free time do you have?
Do you like dirty, filthy projects with mold, feces and rotten wood?
Do you have readily disposable cash on hand ideally over 15K?
Or the possibility of having it drag on for years?
Do you have the space to work on it?
Is your dream to own a 31' Airstream?

If all that is OK with you "then" After assessing the frame condition by whatever means possible, pealing back flooring and subfloor or? would I then decide on how bad I still want it but in no case would it be any more than Bill's appraisal.

[brokeboater]

I'm not really qualified to place a value but I'll pass on the snark as that seems to have been well covered. If it's a model you like and you're up for the project it seems like a good shell.

[uraljohn]

Looks like a job for your new pressure washer!!!! Back in the 90's I used to buy some really awful looking cars (my DW's opinion) that I knew had potential. Some turned out great, others not so much. But I had a whole lot of fun fixing them up. I did frame off restorations on 5 of the best ones.

If you can get it cheap enough, free or very little money, go for it. You have to be honest with yourself about the cost. To do it up right will be $$$$$$.

[mikextr]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

$1000 to $3000. They are gonna want something for it. Maybe more than that but that would be my buying guess. The amount will not matter much to you since it is just a down payment on the real expenses and work to come. Looks like it is all there there and no major dents, damage? A good find if you are looking for a project. Most have damage or somebody had already messed with them. And close to home. Saves a long trip on a flatbed.

I agree with Bill M. A dent free shell with the complete door and all window frames is a great find. And if 1-3k is breaking your budget, then you will want to reconsider "fixing up" an Airstream.

[Aces]

Originally Posted by mikextr

I agree with Bill M. A dent free shell with the complete door and all window frames is a great find. And if 1-3k is breaking your budget, then you will want to reconsider "fixing up" an Airstream.

Thanks!
He's asking the high side of that (firm), which is fine. Being inexperienced with trailers, I can only go by what I can read and see which seems to be greatly conflicting. The listings I've come across in searching that appear to be in a similar state seem to be asking much higher.
I'm interested in digging in, getting hands on, on every little piece, learning as I go and am fully aware of how much of a mess everything can be and how costly of a project it is, and I'm into it.

With that being said, I just don't want to have overextended myself TOO much, if my head pulls out of the clouds at some point and I need to pass it on to someone else, in at least hopefully better condition than I found it.

[Aces]

Originally Posted by brokeboater

I'm not really qualified to place a value but I'll pass on the snark as that seems to have been well covered. If it's a model you like and you're up for the project it seems like a good shell.

Thank you!

[Bill M.]

I think you should grab it. Move it home and clean it. Then decide if you want to resell or to rebuild it.

[Aces]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

$1000 to $3000. They are gonna want something for it. Maybe more than that but that would be my buying guess. The amount will not matter much to you since it is just a down payment on the real expenses and work to come. Looks like it is all there there and no major dents, damage? A good find if you are looking for a project. Most have damage or somebody had already messed with them. And close to home. Saves a long trip on a flatbed.

Thank you!
That's basically how I was looking at it. Like a down payment...I know the overall will be a ton of $$$ so I didn't want to have gotten ahead of myself right off the bat and I really don't know how much you should genuinely pay for one sitting like this.
I go over listings and have looked at the price guides and it never adds up, so I thought best to ask the crowd.
The location is ideal and it really does appear to not have been messed with at all or damaged, just very neglected.
I appreciate your input

[brokeboater]

Originally Posted by Aces

(firm)

That sentiment has a way of softening up over time.

[RSC]

You might be very pleasantly surprised when you drag it out and clean it up with a power washer on the outside. The inside takes some heavy duty cleaning after mice have lived there but it might surprise you also. Stored on a cement slab is a real plus. With the age, tires are an automatic for piece of mind. I agree with the pricing as totally stripped out shells are in that price range around here. Free is wishful thinking for these trailers.You will invest time and money but you will know what you have when done. Good luck... they are the best!!!

[VDR928]

I love projects like this! Yes, it will be lots of work but you can make her beautiful again! I say jump in and do not look back!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The big questions involve the frame and the floor. It's a pretty good bet you have floor rot. You may also have frame rot. If the floor is far enough gone, you will have the "fun" of pulling the shell off of the frame. That takes a pretty substantial space as well as some planning. Frame rot (once it gets to a point) is the same sort of thing. The result is that neither one is cheap to address.

With tire / brake / frame / floor / axle issues, even moving the beast a fraction of a mile down the road is not a simple task. You do need to do it safely and without damaging things any further.

So, rather than focusing on a price, dig into the real condition of the frame / axles and floor. If there are significant problems there, start looking for a (big) truck to hoist it onto to move it.

Bob

[rucos]

as an owner of an old girl who's been totally reno'd I would think a maximum of about $4000 ...plus then figure about $18-25,000 if you do all the work .... axles/brakes.... upholstery .....floors ....new plumbing....appliances? etc etc and on the list goes .... you're in Oregon so does it look like the rain has been getting in much??? .... don't forget the 5-700hrs of labour.
Also keep in mind that on resale the 31ft isn't as good or desirable as the under 25foots
If it was a 23ft I would scoop it up and be willing to pay possibly $4-6000 for a good shell.
Check that the windows are all glass and if any have been replaced with plexiglass/lexan
expect rear floor rot
10 years of sitting ?(check the last license plate).... probably the fridge is shot.... stove should be salvageable ...furnace??....AC shot....hot water??

If you love a project and want a 31ft ....it is worthwhile.

[Jacob D]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

I think you should grab it. Move it home and clean it. Then decide if you want to resell or to rebuild it.

I agree with Bill M. but with one added thought. Airstreams are prone to leak. Check for rotten spots in the floor, especially at the rear. Unless I wanted to do a shell off restoration I would walk if there is rot I couldn't get to without gutting and/or removing the shell.. Small soft areas can be repaired with a product called "Git Rot" which was developed for the boat folks. I bought mine fro Amazon.

[J. Morgan]

Well, it's going to have floor rot at least around the front windows from the entry door around to the fridge.... The wood in the rear of the trailer will be rotten too, likely also the bath floor.

The frame could be sound or it could be rotten, the axles will need replaced.......

The trailer could be a great candidate for an entire interior refit, (that's what I would do)

The frames were mostly sound both on my 72 and my 75.

The 75 I patched up cheap for a few years of use so far, my 72 was a full gut and refit.

I didn't pull the shell on either trailer.

The 72 was up and camping in less than 120 days and about $20K, the 75 fix took 14 days and about $1,500.