nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Apr 9, 2014 16:32:25 GMT -8
First the photos, then a long story I bet you have never read on this forum. [/URL][/span]
I am on the flight back from Colorado now. Here is my story about how I broke every rule to buy this camper. First my theory on craigslist. If a true bargain comes along, it sells to the first person to see it usually in less than an hour. Sometimes within minutes. Three days ago I came in from doing yard work and used searchtempest to search every Craigslist in the country. Up pops this Shasta Compact for $1750. Owned by the same couple of 26 years, in the desert. Rule 1 I broke: never buy without seeing. I called within an hour of the listing and an older man answered all my question. He went out and took photos and send them to me instantly of areas I wanted. He says, "I don't know why the phone keeps ringing about this old camper. I've been telling people I'll show it in the morning". My answer, "No need to show it to them, I'll take it." He answers, "Son you're in North Carolina, that doesn't make any sense..." Rule 2 I broke: My answer was part of a craigslist strategy I wanting to try, "I will give you a non-refundable deposit, I'll fly out the day after tomorrow. If it is not what I expect, you keep the few hundred dollars." Side note: I fly for free because my wife works for an airline. Rule 3 I broke: I trusted somebody I didn't know. That's when he surprised me and said, "I'll trust you and cancel the ad now so the phone stops ringing, you can give me the money when you come." I flew out and love the camper. It is everything he told me. The aluminum is excellent, the roof straight with no sags, the frame seems solid, and only water damage on the back panel. Amazing. I figured what do I have to lose, a few hundred dollars and two days? I have looked for over a year and not seen one of these in NC. What do you think? I will use this as an excuse to camp for two weeks in the southwest. I'm having new tires put on it, the bearings repacked, and the wire harness checked. Then I will camp in the area for a few days prepping it for the road. Any advice? Think it will survive a 2500 mile road trip? One rule I didn't break, he had a title in his name. Sent from my iPad
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pirateslife
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1969 Shasta Compact
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Post by pirateslife on Apr 9, 2014 16:36:07 GMT -8
Sometimes it pays to brak the rules Love the story and even bet lots are jealous lol. Very nice the find
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Apr 9, 2014 16:57:37 GMT -8
Nope, "jealous" does not begin to express.....
Congrats. And by the way, for as long as you have been looking, you haven't looked near as long as some. But this just points out how they come along when you least expect....
Beautiful unit, needs a little typical work, but the photos are wonderful...
Safe journeys home!
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Apr 9, 2014 17:10:29 GMT -8
We'll bet you could hardly sit still the entire flight. What a WONDERFUL story, and a wonderful find. We'd be jealous, but we can't, we're just too happy for you. The skin is in excellent shape, everything inside is there. So it needs the rot fixed and the wings replaced. Pretty much all of them do. You must have made the seller's day. He certainly will have something to talk about! Again, congrats on your beautiful new family member!
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shastajeff
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1965 Shasta Compact - "Stu"
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Post by shastajeff on Apr 9, 2014 17:44:09 GMT -8
Wow! I thought I had a long trip to pick up my Compact! I drove 800 miles in one day from Ohio through hilly West Virginia and back. Total trip took me around 15 hours. Hope you enjoy your Compact as much as we do ours.
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bmxovich
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1952 Airfloat Skipper
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Post by bmxovich on Apr 9, 2014 18:32:42 GMT -8
Very nice! A clean tight looking compact. You did really well.
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SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Apr 9, 2014 18:36:07 GMT -8
I love it! It's mine's twin except it looks better on the outside! You did well!!! I'm very happy for you!
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61 Shasta
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Post by 61 Shasta on Apr 9, 2014 18:41:14 GMT -8
What a great story and with a happy ending. Congratulations and safe travels. I couldn't camp in mine when I purchased it so you are very lucky.
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59shastadeluxe
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'59 Shasta Deluxe
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Post by 59shastadeluxe on Apr 9, 2014 20:05:02 GMT -8
Great story and congratulations! Besides... rules arw made to be broken.
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znorm
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Post by znorm on Apr 9, 2014 20:56:22 GMT -8
I can relate. We were so excited. We bought a 64 Shasta Airflyte in Dec. 2011 on ebay for $1,525 and drove from California to Kingston, New York to pick it up in July 2012. I had it flat bedded to Camping World in Kingston, New York. They stored it for 7 months and made it road worthy for us. We camped in it for 15 days on the way back to California. We were on the road for 25 days, 7,800 miles and $2000 in gas. We saw 5 national parks and many Monuments like Arches NP, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA, Ellis island, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Time Square, Broadway Show / Called Memphis, Central Park, Empire State Building and Ground Zero. Then we picked up our trailer in Kingston and headed to Acadia NP, Niagara Falls, Canada/Dinner & Show, Cuyahoga NP, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wind Cave NP, Yellowstone NP, and finally home. What a trip in that amount of time. It had some water damage to it and it was weathered from being outside for so long. We were excited to get it home. I decided to completely restore it. I took it apart in 105 degree weather in August of 2012 and hit the road like new in July of 2013. We have put 8,000 miles on it so far. The first NP was Yellowstone, Grand Tetons on our way up to Glacier NP in Montana point of destination, Waterton NP back through Washington, Oregon, Redwood NP, Morro Bay and home. We have been to multiple camp sites since then and 2 trailer rallies. One in Buellton, Ca/ Flying Flags 160 trailers and another in Morro Bay Strand 40 trailers. The next one is Pismo Beach May 15, 16 & 17 2014 @ 300 trailers. One big party! Enjoy your trailer! We have no regrets and it is a good excuse to go somewhere that you haven't been before. I never thought I would have taken on such a project, but helped me fine tune my skills as a journeymen carpenter. All my friends thought I was crazy. But, it will be around for 50 more years so my Daughter and 2 Granddaughters can use it when I am done with it. It will never be sold and will be in the my trust. Even if I am kidnapped and I tell my daughter to sale it for ransom. Her response would be "Sorry Dad you told me not to sell it". This truly was a labor of love for me and my wife and my Family. We look forward to the next trip out on the road. Drive safely!
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ladywendolyn
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1964 Golden Falcon
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Post by ladywendolyn on Apr 9, 2014 21:04:07 GMT -8
I love this last post about the big trip and camper being in trust to grand kids .. Kinda sums up we I love these old campers, a reflection of values that are heartfelt ..
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znorm
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Post by znorm on Apr 9, 2014 21:22:15 GMT -8
It took a lot of time and some money to bring it back to life as it should be. But well worth it. My wife will actually go out to the trailer and read the newspaper or a book in our driveway. It is that cool and knowing that I literally massage this trailer together with some help from some vendors like remake the frame, powder coat the frame, polish the stripe and anything that is aluminum and the final paint job. All the stuff in between was my doing. Once I started I was committed as I always say. It was was a lot of fun.
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Post by vikx on Apr 9, 2014 21:30:34 GMT -8
Wonderful! So happy for you, nccamper....
To make the trip, inspect the frame and springs and brackets closely. Poke around a little at the skirt boards to make sure they are in reasonably firm condition. Also be sure that you have the correct equipment to tow the trailer at the right height. These little guys like to drag the back over bumps and into driveways...
Lots of pictures or else.
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SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Apr 9, 2014 22:10:12 GMT -8
Also be sure that you have the correct equipment to tow the trailer at the right height. These little guys like to drag the back over bumps and into driveways... Excellent advice about having the correct equipment to tow at the right height. When I first went to look at mine (62 Compact), the person said they had towed it with an F-150. They assumed I was going to come back and get it with the vehicle I was in. Well, I went back with our 4WD F-150 and the hitch was way too high. Luckily, they guy took my hitch and welded a drop on to it because we were at least 50 miles away from civilization.
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