What to look for when buying a used AS

[stunami]

If you are able to find one with no body damage and has always been stored under cover then you are golden. Try to buy from someone who has kept up with all the maintenance, has receipts to back it up. If you buy from a dealer, it will probably already have been inspected, but you will not know any of the previous history. Like others have said use the sniff test and look for any sign of leaks or rot.

I bought my 01 Bambi used four years ago. It's 20 years old now and has been great. Replacing the axle and wheels this year, but other than that it is all original and everything works. A big maintenance item would be the caulking on the roof and around the windows. This is expensive if you pay to have it done right. Tires should be replaced at 5 years, regardless of use / ware. At 20 years old, as appliances break it is probably better to replace with more efficient models but I haven't had to cross that bridge yet. Filiform corrosion on the exterior is something to look for. It looks like white spider sh*t and there are threads on this forum on how to treat it.

Good luck.

[Nibort]

Originally Posted by CBWELL

It shows 23 potential inspectors in MI. Check with one of them closest to the trailer location, and see if they can be of help. Like anything used, the potential for replacement of things like A/C, hot water heater and fridge, is proportional to age and use. A trailer used full time has many more hours of use, therefore, POSSIBLY, these items will require replacement. Normal wear and tear is accelerated with full time use. This shoud be considered in the price. Look for flooring damage, upholstery damage, cabinet function(hinges and latches), door and compartment locking, electronics such as fantastic fans, radio/TV, Converters and inverters. Any number of things could be a problem. If you are handy and able to do repair/service work yourself, the costs are considerably less. Good luck!! Chris

Thanks for the tips. It’s at the dealer as a trade in. I saw it for a few minutes as it had just rolled in as I was about to leave. It looked to be in poor condition cosmetically and not well cared for, so perhaps I should run. My brother is a carpenter and interested/willing to help. I did get the chance to go into it so I could see the floor layout. There is a bad install job of vinyl plank over the original flooring, there was a strong chemical smell/air deodorizer covering up something. I saw a cigarette lighter in the shelf next to the bed. The fantastic fan screens were filthy, veneer worn, fabric upholstery cushions looked beaten up, blind on the skylight hanging/broken, outlets coming out of wall. It would need a lot of work and replaced parts. Dealer has not yet done an inspection. Price given for 2011 was 1/2 price quoted for 2022, but still more for the 2011 International Signature 23CB than someone I know with 2007 international signature 25CB in pristine condition. I’ll search specifically for 23 inspector in southwest MI. Thanks again, Robin

[Nibort]

Thanks much for your help. I was thinking to ask about maintenance records—if there was much ��. It looked like a hot mess and wasn’t initially considering a project, but I’m not planning on moving into it full time until a year from now. My brother who is a carpenter is willing to help and let me store it in his yard a few miles from where I live. It’s definitely a fixer upper and don’t know if it’s possible to fully remove someone smoking and living in it full time even with new mattress and cushions. Thanks much for your suggestions!